Lupus is a common disease and yet many people have not even heard of it. It is said that lupus affects more people than multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and leukemia. The treatment of lupus is difficult because of this massive ignorance when it comes to the disease. So what is lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the sufferer’s own body turns on itself. Antibodies are created that start attacking the body instead of protecting it. Some of the symptoms resemble those of other diseases so the treatment of lupus often goes ignored. The symptoms often lead to the condition being diagnosed as arthritis or multiple sclerosis. At the time of writing, the effective treatment of lupus is hampered by the fact that there is no one single test that can positively identify a disease as lupus.

Sometimes, lupus affects just a single part of the body, the most common areas being:

Lungs: lupus can cause an inflammation of the lining leading to pneumonia or pleuritis.

Kidneys: lupus can also cause inflammation of the kidneys, and this could lead to nephritis. In this case, there is usually no pain before the onset of nephritis so the lupus could go untreated.

Heart: in this case, chest pains might be experienced, or a hardening of the arteries may occur.

Blood: lupus can also result in anemia and it could also cause the blood vessels to become inflamed.

Lupus usually involves a red rash that breaks out somewhere in the body, most usually the face. The treatment of the rash should include a good sunscreen. Sometimes, the treatment of lupus has to take into account the fact that the patient may be on some medication which triggers off the attack. In the treatment of lupus flu shots are also recommended, as they can prevent secondary infections common to those with lupus. Some patients feel that lupus could be triggered off by dental fillings and hair dye although so far no conclusive evidence has been found of a connection. Fear and anxiety may trigger off an attack, so stopping the use of certain products may have a placebo effect, even if physiologically there is little benefit.

Natural Treatment of Lupus

An all-round healthy diet that includes all the necessary vitamins and minerals is the most effective way to prevent and treat lupus. The treatment of lupus must ensure that the patient has a good nutritious diet and exercise is a must. Calming breathing exercises and meditation could also be tried in the treatment of lupus to calm the patient and reduce the risk of skin flare ups.