Lupus is often a chronic lifelong condition with flare-ups and remission. For others, lupus is life threatening when the lungs, kidneys or heart are attacked by auto-antibodies.

Lupus can be mild or it can be extremely serious, depending on which organs it affects. Earlier this century, lupus was fatal within a few years of onset. Today almost all lupus patients live out their normal lifespan, provided they and their doctors carefully manage their symptoms.

Presently, quality of life is the most important issue for lupus patients. Orthodox medicine has not been terribly successful in offering lupus sufferers relief from painful flare-ups - powerful drugs for pain and for antibody suppression are their best treatments.

If at all possible, it is best to minimize the need for these aggressive measures or to use them in conjunction with specific natural methods. According to Dr. Linda Page, PhD., natural therapies help rebuild a stable immune system, but require many months. In her experience, you may typically feel worse for 1 to 2 months, and then suddenly, as a rule, you feel much better.

• Butterfly-shaped Facial Rash
• Disc-shaped Lesions on the Scalp, Face, Neck, and Ears
• Low Grade Fever
• Great Fatigue
• Headaches or Migrains
• Joint Pain
• Muscle Aches
• Mouth Sores
• Sensitivity to the Sun
• Weight Loss
• Enlarged Lymph nodes
• Anemia
• Amnesia
• Nausea
• Rough, Red Skin Patches
• Shortness of Breath
• Chest Pain
• Red-purple Areas on Palms and Fingers
• Tingling, Numbness, Coldness in Hands and Feet
• Psychosis
• Presence of Lupus Antibodies

• Viral Infections
• Drug Reactions from Hydralizine, Procainamide, and Beta-blockers
• Bacteria Infections, Especially Streptococcus
• Extreme and Prolonged Emotional Stress
• Use of Synthetic Hormones
• Food Allergies
• Candida Albicans Infection
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Poor Digestion and Detoxification
• Toxic Metal and Chemical Poisoning, Including Hair Dyes

Like all autoimmune conditions, lupus is triggered, in large part, by the cumulative toxic insult in the body. Researchers have discovered a variety of conditions that seem to contribute to it or provide attacks. Viral or bacterial infections are leading suspects. Because women are the ones predominantly affected, it also suggests that there might be a link to excess estrogen or a deficiency in androgen – both factors that contribute to autoimmunity. Connections are being found in studies on ultraviolet radiation and lupus.

Other factors that are commonly associated with autoimmune issues and lupus are: stress, digestive problems, heavy metals, chemicals, plastics, vaccinations, food allergies, refined and processed foods, yeast, fungus and mold.

Consume a diet that emphasizes natural, whole foods such as legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, non-mercury fish, healthy fats and oils, and nuts and seeds. Eat plenty of low-to-no-mercury cold-water fish. Canned sardines in olive oil are especially beneficial as they are high in omega-3 fatty acids which will reduce inflammation as long as the typical omega-6’s and omega-9’s (inflammatory) are reduced in the diet.

Avoid refined, processed, packaged, and sugary foods as these increase inflammation and feed an overgrowth of yeast and fungus in the small intestine.

Regular exercise is very beneficial for increasing circulation.

Get plenty of rest and reduce stress. Learning to practice self relaxation and/or meditation every day will significantly improve all autoimmune symptoms and disorders. This is very very important as stress is one of the key triggers.

It is of utmost importance to decrease the toxic burden on the body, give proper nutrients to the cells, and effectively decrease inflammation. This will enhance the quality of life for lupus sufferers, no matter what the level of severity.

If there is one thing that seems to be universally true with autoimmune patients, it is that they have a toxic body. The more discomfort you are in, the more pain you are feeling, the sicker and more toxic you are. Inflammation and irritation are classic signs of a toxic body. Although environmental toxins are not the only cause of autoimmune symptoms, they may be what is at the root cause of the other factors such as candida, viral or bacterial infections.

All autoimmune diseases have one thing in common: an underlying autoimmune process. For strategies on how to combat this autoimmune process, please click here for our Autoimune Repair Plan using natural supplement and detoxification therapies.

What is Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmunity is, simply put, the process by which the immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and organs.
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Causes of Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases do not have one specific cause; rather, there seems to be a combination of factors involved.
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Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease
Although the different autoimmune diseases vary widely in terms of symptomology, the following are the most commonly experienced symptoms.
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Sterols and Sterolins
These immune supplements have been shown in clinical trials to have anecdotal usage to provide nutritional support for autoimmune diseases.
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Author's Autoimmune Disease Experience
Author shares her own personal experiences with autoimmune diseases and how she found her way back to health.
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Resources and Consultants
This page lists some autoimmune resources and consultants that may be helpful to you.
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