Most Effective Natural Remedies for Lupus Patients

Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by the body’s immune system targeting and attacking its own vital organs. It is a chronic condition that cycles between active and latent periods. Additionally, it can systemically affect any and every organ of the body, and, lastly, it is a heterogeneous affliction due to its wide variety of signs and symptoms, which can manifest in unique ways. Fortunately, mild versions of the disease, which produce only a small amount of symptoms, are more commonplace, making treatment simpler and unobtrusive. However, if left unchecked and untreated, lupus can cripple and even put a person’s life at risk.

Since its discovery, lupus has become one of the most widespread autoimmune conditions, affecting around 20 to 150 out of every 150,000 individuals, depending on the person’s ethnicity and geographical location. Race and gender also play an important role in the disease’s incidence, as it affects women more than men and African-Americans over Caucasians. In this sense, the incidence in Caucasian women is 164 for every 100,000 individuals; meanwhile, for African-American women, it stands at 406 out of every 100,000 individuals, more than double the appearance in white women. Furthermore, women are almost 10 times more likely to develop lupus than men.

Despite our knowledge on how to approach lupus nowadays, it is not known what actually causes the disease. However, several genetic elements that trigger the affliction when exposed to certain unknown environmental conditions have been discovered.

Lupus can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including fatigue, constant headache, sore joints, trouble sleeping, and skin rashes. Sometimes, for a person to get properly diagnosed, it may take several years. Several methods such as hormone replacement therapies, drugs, and pain relievers are available to treat the disease, but they come with many side effects. However, to reduce the symptoms and improve the condition of the patient in an organic way, other options exist:

• Dietary changes: Certain foods can exacerbate the ailment and trigger symptoms. Lupus patients have poor gut heath and so need to avoid processed foods to prevent inflammation. Gluten, added sugars, alcohol, excess caffeine, and trans fats can promote inflammation, and the immune system’s activity can be increased by added sugars. Also, in order to prevent inflammation and liquid retention, high-sodium foods and salts should be avoided. Anxiety levels are increased by alcohol and caffeine, and they worsen other symptoms as well. Organic and unprocessed ingredients should be included in one’s diet. Toxins can be removed from the body by eating raw foods, and inflammation can be reduced by eating fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Eat foods rich in antioxidants to reduce joint pain, too.

• Adopt an exercise routine: This is an important element. Exercise creates a sensation of pleasure in a healthy way by producing dopamine. It helps improve sleep quality by creating fatigue and lowers stress, as well as keeps vital organs active. Complications can also be reduced through exercise. For those who suffer from lupus, sedentary habits are bad and can have magnified consequences.

• Pursue a stress-free lifestyle: Lupus symptoms can be prevented entirely by reducing stress. An exacerbated immune response is caused by excess stress that can increase the symptoms. The factors that negatively affect a person should be avoided in order to lower stress. Medications, nature walks, daily yoga sessions, or reading a good book all can help to reduce stress, and, in more serious cases, seeing a psychologist may be needed.

• Affected skin areas should be protected: Rashes can manifest on several areas, such as the legs, arms, and face in those suffering from lupus. Itchiness, boils, and other undesirable symptoms cause these rashes and further complicate the disease. Further, these lesions are often accompanied by joint pain and fatigue. They may disappear and reappear in other skin areas.

• Using organic products: Rashes must be taken care of to avoid further complications. For this, irritants such as inorganic makeup products, direct sunlight, sunscreen, and skin moisturizers that negatively impact the skin should be avoided. Skin rashes may be exacerbated by products with strong odors as well. Non-organic products should be replaced by organic ones; for example, use jojoba, coconut, essential oil, or shea butter. Use lukewarm water instead of hot or scalding water, and properly moisturize the skin using colloidal oatmeal powder. Immediately afterward, apply an organic cream.

Delaying symptoms

For most individuals, lupus is a crippling and tiresome disease. Follow the methods suggested above and have regular check-ups with a physician. With the right steps, the symptoms of the disease can be prevented and one’s quality of life can also be improved.