The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Lupus (23 page)

counseling, and pharmacology.

128 Lupus Nephritis

Mind-Body Interventions

Mind-body interventions employ a variety of techniques designed to

facilitate the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Only a

select group of mind-body interventions having well-documented theoretical

foundations are considered CAM. For example, patient education and

cognitive-behavioral approaches are now considered “mainstream.” On the

other hand, complementary and alternative medicine includes meditation,

certain uses of hypnosis, dance, music, and art therapy, as well as prayer and mental healing.

Biological-Based Therapies

This category of CAM includes natural and biological-based practices,

interventions, and products, many of which overlap with conventional

medicine’s use of dietary supplements. This category includes herbal, special

dietary, orthomolecular, and individual biological therapies.

Herbal therapy employs an individual herb or a mixture of herbs for healing

purposes. An herb is a plant or plant part that produces and contains

chemical substances that act upon the body. Special diet therapies, such as

those proposed by Drs. Atkins, Ornish, Pritikin, and Weil, are believed to

prevent and/or control illness as well as promote health. Orthomolecular

therapies aim to treat disease with varying concentrations of chemicals such

as magnesium, melatonin, and mega-doses of vitamins. Biological therapies

include, for example, the use of laetrile and shark cartilage to treat cancer

and the use of bee pollen to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Manipulative and Body-Based Methods

This category includes methods that are based on manipulation and/or

movement of the body. For example, chiropractors focus on the relationship

between structure and function, primarily pertaining to the spine, and how

that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.

Chiropractors use manipulative therapy as an integral treatment tool.

In contrast, osteopaths place particular emphasis on the musculoskeletal

system and practice osteopathic manipulation. Osteopaths believe that all of

the body’s systems work together and that disturbances in one system may

have an impact upon function elsewhere in the body. Massage therapists

manipulate the soft tissues of the body to normalize those tissues.

Researching Alternative Medicine 129

Energy Therapies

Energy therapies focus on energy fields originating within the body

(biofields) or those from other sources (electromagnetic fields). Biofield

therapies are intended to affect energy fields (the existence of which is not

yet experimentally proven) that surround and penetrate the human body.

Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure

and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in or through these

fields. Examples include Qi gong, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch.

Qi gong is a component of traditional oriental medicine that combines

movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of

vital energy (qi) in the body, improve blood circulation, and enhance

immune function. Reiki, the Japanese word representing Universal Life

Energy, is based on the belief that, by channeling spiritual energy through

the practitioner, the spirit is healed and, in turn, heals the physical body.

Therapeutic Touch is derived from the ancient technique of “laying-on of

hands.” It is based on the premises that the therapist’s healing force affects the patient’s recovery and that healing is promoted when the body’s energies

are in balance. By passing their hands over the patient, these healers identify energy imbalances.

Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of

electromagnetic fields to treat illnesses or manage pain. These therapies are

often used to treat asthma, cancer, and migraine headaches. Types of

electromagnetic fields which are manipulated in these therapies include

pulsed fields, magnetic fields, and alternating current or direct current fields.

Can Alternatives Affect My Treatment?

A critical issue in pursuing complementary alternatives mentioned thus far

is the risk that these might have undesirable interactions with your medical

treatment. It becomes all the more important to speak with your doctor who

can offer advice on the use of alternatives. Official sources confirm this view.

Though written for women, we find that the National Women’s Health

Information Center’s advice on pursuing alternative medicine is appropriate

for patients of both genders and all ages.
48

48 Adapted from
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/alternative.htm
.

130 Lupus Nephritis

Is It Okay to Want Both Traditional and Alternative Medicine?

Should you wish to explore non-traditional types of treatment, be sure to

discuss all issues concerning treatments and therapies with your healthcare

provider, whether a physician or practitioner of complementary and

alternative medicine. Competent healthcare management requires

knowledge of both conventional and alternative therapies you are taking for

the practitioner to have a complete picture of your treatment plan.

The decision to use complementary and alternative treatments is an

important one. Consider before selecting an alternative therapy, the safety

and effectiveness of the therapy or treatment, the expertise and qualifications of the healthcare practitioner, and the quality of delivery. These topics

should be considered when selecting any practitioner or therapy.

Finding CAM References on Lupus Nephritis

Having read the previous discussion, you may be wondering which

complementary or alternative treatments might be appropriate for lupus

nephritis. For the remainder of this chapter, we will direct you to a number

of official sources which can assist you in researching studies and

publications. Some of these articles are rather technical, so some patience

may be required.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

(NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (
http://nccam.nih.gov
) has created a link to the National Library of Medicine’s databases to allow

patients to search for articles that specifically relate to lupus nephritis and complementary medicine. To search the database, go to the following Web

site:
www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html
. Select “CAM on

PubMed.” Enter “lupus nephritis” (or synonyms) into the search box. Click

“Go.” The following references provide information on particular aspects of

complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that are related to lupus

nephritis:

·
A novel treatment for lupus nephritis: lignan precursor derived from

flax.

Author(s): Clark WF, Muir AD, Westcott ND, Parbtani A.

Researching Alternative Medicine 131

Source: Lupus. 2000; 9(6): 429-36.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=10981647&dopt=Abstract

·
Anti-DNA antibodies in the urine of lupus nephritis patients.

Author(s): Macanovic M, Hogarth MB, Lachmann PJ.

Source: Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation : Official Publication of the

European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal

Association. 1999 June; 14(6): 1418-24.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=10383001&dopt=Abstract

·
Characterization of circulating immune complexes detected by

monoclonal rheumatoid factor and conglutinin radioimmunoassays in

SLE nephritis.

Author(s): Nishida SK, Alves MA, Ramos OL, Pereira AB.

Source: J Clin Lab Immunol. 1988 December; 27(4): 163-9.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=3251047&dopt=Abstract

·
Clinical trials in lupus nephritis.

Author(s): Ginzler EM.

Source: Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2001 June; 3(3): 199-204. Review.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=11352788&dopt=Abstract

·
Decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased antioxidant

enzyme gene expression by omega-3 lipids in murine lupus nephritis.

Author(s): Chandrasekar B, Fernandes G.

Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1994

April 29; 200(2): 893-8.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=8179624&dopt=Abstract

·
Efficacy of a pure compound H1-A extracted from Cordyceps sinensis

on autoimmune disease of MRL lpr/lpr mice.

Author(s): Yang LY, Chen A, Kuo YC, Lin CY.

Source: The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine. 1999

November; 134(5): 492-500.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=10560943&dopt=Abstract

132 Lupus Nephritis

·
Flaxseed in lupus nephritis: a two-year nonplacebo-controlled

crossover study.

Author(s): Clark WF, Kortas C, Heidenheim AP, Garland J, Spanner E,

Parbtani A.

Source: J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 April; 20(2 Suppl): 143-8.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=11349937&dopt=Abstract

·
Immunomodulating effect of a traditional Japanese medicine, hachimi-

jio-gan (ba-wei-di-huang-wan), on Th1 predominance in autoimmune

MRL/MP-lpr/lpr mice.

Author(s): Furuya Y, Kawakita T, Nomoto K.

Source: International Immunopharmacology. 2001 March; 1(3): 551-9.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=11367538&dopt=Abstract

·
Modulation of antioxidant enzymes and programmed cell death by n-3

fatty acids.

Author(s): Fernandes G, Chandrasekar B, Luan X, Troyer DA.

Source: Lipids. 1996 March; 31 Suppl: S91-6.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=8729101&dopt=Abstract

·
Nephrological research.

Author(s): Lin S.

Source: Chin Med J (Engl). 1996 January; 109(1): 37-9. Review. No

Abstract Available.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=8758360&dopt=Abstract

·
Omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation in systemic lupus

erythematosus.

Author(s): Clark WF, Parbtani A, Huff MW, Reid B, Holub BJ, Falardeau

P.

Source: Kidney International. 1989 October; 36(4): 653-60.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=2811063&dopt=Abstract

·
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in clinical and experimental lupus

nephritis.

Author(s): Clark WF, Parbtani A.

Researching Alternative Medicine 133

Source: American Journal of Kidney Diseases : the Official Journal of the

National Kidney Foundation. 1994 May; 23(5): 644-7.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=8172205&dopt=Abstract

·
Resolution of severe lupus nephritis associated with Tripterygium

wilfordii hook F ingestion.

Author(s): Kao NL, Richmond GW, Moy JN.

Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism. 1993 December; 36(12): 1751-2. No

Abstract Available.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=8250996&dopt=Abstract

·
Severe arthralgia and myalgia due to high-dose methylprednisolone

pulse therapy cured by potassium infusion in a patient with diffuse

proliferative lupus nephritis.

Author(s): Odabas AR, Cetinkaya R, Selcuk Y, Kaya H.

Source: Nephron. 2001 January; 87(1): 95. No Abstract Available.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=11174035&dopt=Abstract

·
The prognosis of biopsy-proven lupus nephritis in chinese patients:

long term follow-up of 86 cases.

Author(s): Shen K, Yu Y, Tang Z, Liu Z, Li L.

Source: Chin Med J (Engl). 1997 July; 110(7): 502-7.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=9594205&dopt=Abstract

·
Unique therapeutic effects of the Japanese-Chinese herbal medicine,

Sairei-to, on Th1/Th2 cytokines balance of the autoimmunity of

MRL/lpr mice.

Author(s): Ito T, Seo N, Yagi H, Ohtani T, Tokura Y, Takigawa M,

Furukawa F.

Source: Journal of Dermatological Science. 2002 April; 28(3): 198-210.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=

PubMed&list_uids=11912007&dopt=Abstract

134 Lupus Nephritis

Additional Web Resources

A number of additional Web sites offer encyclopedic information covering

CAM and related topics. The following is a representative sample:

· Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc.:
http://www.herbmed.org/

· AOL:
http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=169&layer=&from=subcats