Unlocking LUPUS Relief in TCM: Comprehending LUPUS both in TCM and Western medicine

 

TCM/Traditional Chinese Medicine approach on LUPUS

In traditional Chinese Medicine/TCM, LUPUS is a combinatory condition of deficiencies and excesses based on an imbalance and disharmony of Yin/Yang in the body. It often related to a combination of deficiencies in the Zang organs such as  Lungs, Kidneys, and Spleen as well as excesses of pathogenic factors such as Dampness, Heat, Dryness, Wind, Cold, etc. TCM treatment approaches LUPUS through a holistic perspective, aiming to restore balance and support the body’s natural healing mechanism by tailored methods for each individual. Treatments are focused on tonifying the deficiencies and purging the excess of pathogenic factors by identifying patterns of disharmony and imbalances of energy/Qi, blood, and organ functions.

1. Common diagnostic pattern for LUPUS in TCM

2. TCM Treatments

• Acupuncture helps to harmonize and balance Yin and Yang, preventing or treating drug side effects.
• Cupping therapy helps to relieve tenderness/pain, enhance circulation, and detox the body. 
• Moxibustion helps to strengthen the immune system naturally by reducing inflammation and promote healing.
• Qi Gong/Tai Chi exercises assist to reduce stress, improve mobility/stiffness, and enhance overall health.
• TCM Herbal Remedies - Utilizing herbs with therapeutic qualities that cause sweating to open pores, detoxifying to lower skin temperature, and warming and chilling to raise core temperature.

3.  NuTrition/Diet 

Foods can act as both poisons and medicines. Due to the temperature difference between the inside of the body and the outside of the skin, cellular thermodynamics should be the primary focus of nutrition in lupus patients rather than a general diet plan.

LUPUS Diet Principles

• Natural/organic foods – check GMO before purchasing foods
• Keep a diary for the daily diet
• Less meats, more fresh fruits & veggies
• Take Foods with Low glycemic index numbers (Check out the page below for the glycemic index chart - https://aculoverbooldongyi.blogspot.com/p/glycemic-index-chart-of-foods.html)

• No Sweets to prevent inflammation

• Formal/full breakfast, soft/less dinner
• Away from preservatives/pesticides
• Cautious of tonic foods/herbs/supplements that boost immunity
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea..)
• Avoid foods that result in pain or discomfort

Foods to eat & avoid for LUPUS

Dietary therapy is an integral part of TCM, focusing on foods that balance the body’s internal environment. Good Diet focuses on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, controlling the immunity, including proper supplements:

• High quality of Omega3 that helps to prevent clots, clear blood, reduce risks of cerebro/cardio-vascular risks, and improve headache and blood flow. 
• High quality of Probiotics that helps the gut health and immunity. 

Foods to eat

• Anti-inflammatory – turmeric, ginger, green leafy veggies, fatty fish like salmon & mackerel
• Managing immunity – mushrooms (shiitake, reishi), berries, citrus fruits
• Blood nourishing foods – beets, carrots, spinach, black beans 

Foods to avoid

• Processed foods – high in additives & preservatives that exacerbate inflammation
• Sugary foods/ beverages – trigger inflammation & disrupt blood sugar levels
• Nightshade veggies – tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, which may    worsen joint pain in some individuals

4. Life Style

It is necessary to have a physiological understanding of the human body, where nutrition raises body warmth, lowers skin temperature, and opens pores.

• No binge or over eating – better to have small portions or divide into small portions.
• Self-care to avoid getting tired, but having proper activities for muscle strength and flexibility.
• Be aware of fever or severe chest pain as an emergency – cerebro/cardio-vascular symptoms as one of the most risky signs.
• Manage seasonal change due to neuro- sensitivity to changes in barometric/temperature pressure – cold, dryness, or fever.
• Be careful of side effects/allergic reactions at taking sulfa antibiotics and certain medications.

Physical rehabilitation

It is advised to work out for an hour every day until you start to perspire, but no work out in the water.

Be cautious of:

• Medications that prevent the metabolism of cellular heat energy cautiously.
• Processed foods and foods that contain additives.
• Acidic and sweet foods 

In Western Medicine

Lupus is known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus /SLE in Western medicine that is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. It leads to inflammation and damage in various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, Kidneys, Heart, other organs, and the brain. Symptoms vary but commonly include fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes (particularly the characteristic butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose), and fever.  Western treatment primarily involves immunosuppressive drugs, anti-inflammatory medications, and lifestyle modifications to manage symptoms and prevent flares. 

Inflammation results in cellular damage. The core temperatures of all five organs, including the brain, drop when cells sustain damage because damaged mitochondria produce less heat energy, which hinders ATP synthesis.
To lessen the output of body heat, the hypothalamus, the thermoregulation center, seals the pores in the extremities. The body produces heat energy when we eat and exercise. This energy is then directed toward the hip joints' high-friction areas and discharged, raising the skin temperature there and producing inflammation.

Conversely, as the surface temperature of the inflammatory area rises, surface tension weakens and stresses increase, creating a stronger pushing force into a region of lower pressure and density. This is comparable to pulling on both ends of a rubber band, which stretches before it thins and breaks. Tissue atrophy resembles a rubber band's thinning precisely.

When the tension is greater, the tissue shows up as protrusions, hypertrophy, swelling, and other signs including nodules, boils, and masses. The elasticity of the rubber band is expressed as the tissue hardens and keratinizes. Furthermore, ulcers, desquamation, and other symptoms may arise from the tissue's mucous membrane peeling off due to excessive stress.

Guidelines for Managing Lupus

• Raise the body's core, visceral temperature.

Raising body temperature causes blood vessels to widen, blood flow rate to rise, and immune cells in the blood—lymphocytes, platelet-forming cells, red blood cells, and white blood cells—to become more active and strengthen immunity. This may lessen the signs of inflammation. 

•  Get used to the higher skin temperature.

One sign of inflammation is elevated skin temperature. When utilizing medications that prevent the metabolism of cellular thermal energy to lower skin temperature, exercise extreme caution. This is due to the possibility of a simultaneous drop in skin and core temperature.

• It is necessary to open closed pores.  

Heat energy is dispersed equally throughout the body when the pores open, preventing heat concentration in any one place and aiding in the treatment of inflammatory symptoms. The pores open from the region around the heart to the extremities of the limbs.

Conclusion: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Lupus

In the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), lupus is addressed through a holistic approach that considers the complex interplay of internal and external factors contributing to the disease. One of the key treatments in TCM for managing lupus is acupuncture, which has shown promise in alleviating a range of complicated symptoms associated with the condition.

Acupuncture offers several benefits for lupus patients, particularly for symptoms characterized by internal low temperatures, external high temperatures due to inflammation, and closed pores. This traditional practice helps regulate the body's internal environment, promoting balance and harmony. By stimulating specific acupoints, acupuncture can enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, and open pores, thereby alleviating both the internal sensations of cold and the external manifestations of heat and inflammation. Patients often experience relief from pain, reduced fatigue, and improved overall well-being.

For optimal results, it is generally recommended that lupus patients undergo acupuncture treatments 1-2 times per week. This frequency allows for the gradual yet steady alleviation of symptoms and helps maintain the benefits of each session. The exact duration and frequency of treatment can be tailored to the individual’s condition and response to therapy, ensuring a personalized approach that maximizes the therapeutic effects of acupuncture.

In summary, Traditional Chinese Medicine, particularly acupuncture, offers a valuable complementary approach to managing lupus. By addressing the intricate balance of internal and external factors, acupuncture helps mitigate complex symptoms and improve the quality of life for lupus patients. Regular and consistent treatments are essential to achieving and sustaining these benefits.

info@naumaculover.com