Project Description
What is Lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease which can affect numerous areas of the human body. Areas commonly affected include joints, skin, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Most cases of Lupus occur in women under 50 years of age. Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from Lupus than Caucasians.
What are the common signs and symptoms of Lupus?
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Joint pain, headache, skin rashes, hair loss, fatigue, muscle pain, low grade fever
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The classic butterfly shaped rash on the nose and face
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Lupus can affect any organ in the body, symptoms can vary from person to person and can change over time even in the same patient
How is Lupus diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Lupus is usually made using a combination of symptoms and laboratory findings.
What laboratory findings are consistent with Lupus?
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A positive (ANA) finding will be present most of the time
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Anti-bodies may be present in the blood to the following molecules; RO, double stranded DNA, Smith, etc..
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Anemia may also be present
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Urinalysis will be positive if the kidneys have been affected
How is Lupus commonly treated?
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Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
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Corticosteroids
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Low dose chemotherapy
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Monoclonal antibobies
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These drugs can have serious side effects including bone loss, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes
Is Lupus a genetic disease?
No, Lupus is not a genetic disease. There are certain gene variations that can increase a persons risk of developing an autoimmune disease like Lupus. However, it is important to remember that just because someone may have these gene variations does not mean that they will definitely develop Lupus. Important factors that affect “gene expression” play a significant role and are discussed below. Your genes are not your destiny.
What causes Lupus?
According to conventional american medicine the cause of Lupus and other auto-immune diseases is unknown. However, a careful analysis of the peer reviewed scientific literature reveals a number of important factors that can lead to the imbalanced and malfunctioning immune system seen in Lupus. It is these important factors listed below that will ultimately determine whether or not a person will develop an autoimmune disease like Lupus.
What are these important factors?
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Vitamin D deficiency
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Increased gastrointestinal permeability (Leaky Gut)
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Gastrointestinal microbial imbalances (bacteria, yeast, parasites, etc..)
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Adrenal gland dysfunction (the adrenal gland regulates the immune system)
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Environmental chemical exposure (pesticides, herbicides, industrial pollutants, etc..)
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Toxic metal exposure (mercury, aluminum, arsenic, etc…)
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Nutritional deficiencies
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Over consumption of inflammatory or potentially antigenic food molecules (gluten, partially hydrogenated fats, omega 6 polyunsaturated fats, lectins, advanced glycation end products, etc…)
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Over consumption of high sugar and high carbohydrate processed foods (cake, cookies, pastry, soda, juice, pasta, bread, etc…)
What should a Comprehensive Holistic Health Protocol for Lupus include?
A Comprehensive Holistic Health Protocol should always be customized to meet the unique needs of each person. Not only do people have different genetic variations, but differ in important lifestyle factors that influence their overall health outcomes. A persons diet, stress levels, professional and family responsibilities, sleep patterns, exercise choices, as well as pre-exiting and concomitant medical conditions all must be considered in protocol design. Of the over 11,000 Customized Holistic Health Protocols we have designed in the last 27 years of clinical practice, no two have been exactly the same. An appropriate protocol should accomplish the following:
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Evaluate and Establish how many of the above factors are involved in each persons unique clinical situation
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Design and implement a Customized Dietary Plan (CDP) that will address the above factors involved in each persons condition
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Design and implement a Targeted Nutritional Supplementation (TNS) strategy that will address the above factors involved in each persons condition
