Lupus UK, a national charity for people affected by lupus, believes evidence that Ayurveda may treat or manage lupus is mixed as some studies suggest that Ayurveda cannot treat lupus while other studies show that Ayurvedic medicine can treat lupus effectively.
Complementary and Alternative (CAM) Treatments of Lupus
INTRODUCTION
Complementary and Alternative (CAM) treatments are a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary Medicine is used in addition to conventional or mainstream medicine, whereas, Alternative Medicine is used in place of it. Most people use therapies as Complementary Medicines with true Alternative Medicines being less commonly used.
This definition of CAM hides its overlap with modern medicine. Treatments widely used as mainstream medicines could be considered as CAM in their original form. Aspirin was isolated from willow tree bark, atropine from the plant Bella donna, Digoxin from Foxglove amorphine, from the poppy Papaver somniferum. Alternative healthcare systems such as Ayurvedic, meditation and relaxation techniques, emphasise the interplay between psychological factors and the immune system. Stress can trigger immune mediated conditions such as Psoriasis and may affect lupus disease activity.
The link between these “natural” products and modern medicine makes the use of CAM appealing. Although tempting to extrapolate from these examples, it is important to review the evidence for the most widely used CAM products to determine whether other natural products are potentially medicinal.
BACKGROUND
What is CAM used for?
About 30% of all CAM usage, the majority, is for musculoskeletal conditions, especially back and joint pain. The most frequently used CAM are non-vitamin, non-mineral products such as omega 3 oils, ginseng, deep breathing, meditation and yoga.
What drives the use of CAM?
People who use CAM aim to improve their health and wellbeing. Unhappiness with side effects or effectiveness of conventional treatments are important factors in usage. Some patients believe that using CAM provides a more natural or holistic approach, allowing greater control over their condition and its management.
CAM use in SLE
Evidence suggests lupus activity in patients who use CAM is the same as those who do not. However, perhaps over 50% of lupus patients use CAM and do so because they believe they have worse disease activity than those who do not. While current disease activity may be similar, SLE patients who use CAM may, however, have worse historic organ damage and greater pain and incur greater direct health costs. Some CAM users may feel less secure about their condition and see their doctor more frequently or utilise other resources more avidly. They may also be unhappy with conventional treatments or want to augment these treatments.
