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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Domination of Heat-toxin
  b. Internal heat due to Yin- deficiency
  c. Deficiency of spleen-yang and Kidney-yang
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation


1. Overview and Causes

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is related to autoimmunity and genetic factors. Many organs and connective tissues can be involved. It occurs in young or middle age of the females in the categories of TCM, it is considered with fatigue, swollen, Channel blockage and epidemic disease with eruptions, etc.

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2. Symptoms

1) Early stage: There are weakness, anorexia, emaciation, arthralgia, low fever, skin rash, and photosensitization.
2) Middle stage: there is the damage of liver, kidney, cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems. The common damage mainly is cardiovascular system and kidney.
3) Additional examinations: -- Anemia, low count of white cells and platelets and increase of the ESR. -- There are low serum albumin, high globulin and immune globulin
4) The globulin is elevated in the prominent renal lesions. Some of the patients are positive of rheumatoid factor (RF).
5) Lupus cells are positive in 70-80%, antinuclear antibody ( ANA)is positive of 95%; Sensitivity to anti-DNA-antibody is high; The serum total complements and C3 are used for the complication of the lupus nephritis.

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3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an immune system disease, so the early diagnosis and treatment are very important. TCM is very effective since it can balance yin and yang, clean up the blood and improve the immune system.

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4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM

This ailment, according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown below.

Syndrome (a)
Domination of Heat-toxin

Main symptoms and signs: High fever, red face with fresh red skin rash and purpula dotted ; anxiety, thirsty, arthralgia, constipation, scanty and dark urine, red tongue with yellow greasy fur, full and rapid or taut pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Clearing away pathogenic heat and toxic materials, cooling blood and nourishing yin.

Prescription/Formula: Red Rehmannia Root(Shengdi) 15g,Red Peony Root(Chishao) 10g, Moutan Bark(Danpi) 10g, Anemarrhena Rhizome(Zhimu) 10g, Honeysuckle Flower(Jinyinhua) 10g. Decoct the herbs to drink.


   

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Prescription/Formula: Quchi(Li 11), Fengmen(Bl12), Xiexi(St 41), Weizhong(Bl 40).

  

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Syndrome (b)
Internal heat due to Yin- deficiency

main symptoms and signs: low fever or hectic fever in the afternoon, feverish sensation in the palms and soles, dark red eruption, night sweat, fatigue, insomnia, joint pain, low back pain, hair loss, red tongue with yellowish fur or mirror - like tongue, thready and rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Nourish yin and clearing away pathogenic heat, cooling blood and removing toxic material.

Prescription/Formula: Sweet Wormwood(Qinghao) 12g, Stellaria Root(Yinchaihu) 10g, Wolfberry bark(Digupi) 10g, Ophiopogon Root(Maidong) 10g, Phyllodendron Bark(Huangbai) 10g.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
 Prescription/Formula: Daling(Pc 7),Fengchi(Gb 20), Taixi(Ki 3), Taichong(Lr 3).


  

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Syndrome (c)
Deficiency of spleen-yang and Kidney-yang

Main symptoms and signs; Pale complexion, swollen limbs, fullness of abdomen, cold feeling, shortness of breath, indigestion and disturbance of urination ,pale tongue with whitish moist fur, deep and thready pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Warming and invigorating the spleen and kidney and activating yang to promote diuresis.

Prescription/Formula: Astragalus Root(Huangqi) 15g, Dodder Seed(Tusizi) 10g, Tangshen(Dangshen) 10g, Poria(Fuling) 10g, Water-Plantian Tuber(Zexie) 10g.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
 Prescription/Formula: Zhongwan(Ren 13), Zhusanli(St 36), Sanyinjiao(Sp6), Piyu(Bl 20).


  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here.

Generally, Qigong can relieve pain as it improves the circulation of qi and blood. Results won't be visable right away, however it takes less time for Qigong to heal pain than other ailments.

The following types of Qigong may help:

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
1) Heat-toxin and deficiency of kidney-yin types: Chrysanthemum Flower 20g Peppermint 6g One pound of the pork muscle Two liters of water Cook them as the soup for a week ; take 250ml once a day.
2) Yang deficiency of spleen and kidney: Wolfberry fruit 50g Atragalus root 20g Chinese yam 30g One pound of pork muscle Two liters of water Cook then as the soup for a week; take 250ml once a day.


(c) Life style
1) Improve the immune system by doing daily exercise.
2) Keeping good life style and relaxing the nervous system.
3) The steroid hormone is necessary for the severe cases.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.