Medihub - Medical Information - Traditonal Chinese Medicine - TCM in the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythemathosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic illness with autoimmune disorder involving multisystem microvascular inflammation and the generation of autoantibodies. It can affect any and every organ system of the body. Although the specific cause of SLE is unknown, multiple factors are associated with the development of the disease. These include genetic, racial, hormonal, and environmental factors.

In TCM, SLE is likely caused by insufficiency in “qi”,”Yin”and”yang”; deficiency in heart, liver, spleen, kidney; stagnation of “qi” and blood, pathogenic factors such as “wind”,“heat”,”dampness”etc...

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can help to improve the patient’s condition by increasing the ‘qi’, ‘yin’ and ‘yang’, strengthening the organs, improving the ‘qi’ and blood circulation and dispelling the pathogenic factors.

SLE patient with following condition are suitable for TCM treatment:

1) Early stage of SLE, only have skin and join symptoms, no major organs are affected;

2) Early stage of SLE with light or no major organ damage, such as slight reduction in blood cell, urine protein below 150mg/dl(++) etc.;

3) Fever except infection cases with early stage of SLE;

4) Patient who is not taking steroids.

5) Patient who are long term steroids users, suffering from the side effect and need to reduce the dosage or stop consumption without any risk in life.

6) Anti ds-DNA antibody positive and below middle range, Sm Antibody is positive or negative.

Subject to the patient’s health condition, Dihuang (Radix Rehmanniae)、Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae)、Shashen (Radix Adenophorae) etc are commonly prescribe to enhance SLE patient’s immune system; Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis)、Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuangxiong)、Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra)、Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis)、Suhiniujiao (Cornu Bubali) etc. is able to reduce the micro vascular inflammation and blockage.

You should approach your physician for a prescription as the dosage, combination of medicine and the patient’s health condition makes a great different of the prescription.

It is necessary to avoid sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. The patient should have sufficient rest and avoid overwork and stress; keep warm and avoid any infection. During the acute stage, it is advisable to be bed-ridden, take rich nutrition food and avoid alcohol, spicy, cold and raw food. It is advisable to limit salt intake during edema.