A new approach to autoimmunity SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) case study

Introduction

Traditional Naturopathy is a healing art of assisting a person in recovering from ill health and maintaining well-being through enhancement and support of the body's inherent healing capacity using natural means. It emphasizes that the body can heal itself if it is appropriately encouraged to do so. To facilitate complete recovery, the underlying cause must be addressed. Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, a whole involving physical, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors. The Traditional Naturopath must treat the whole person. The Traditional Naturopath must be a catalyst for healthful change and motivate the patient to assume responsibility for his or her own health. Disease is the result of abuse in the form of lifestyle habits, faulty nutritional patterns, and environmental factors. The key postulates of Traditional Naturopathic medicine are: do no harm, build health rather than fight disease, practice prevention and change when necessary.

A Case Study

Mrs. L. is a 40 year-old female diagnosed with Lupus by a medical doctor in 1999 after having symptoms since 1997. Mrs. L. came to me for an initial consultation on May 6, 2003. Her chief complaints were anxiety, panic attacks and depression since 1996, which coincided with the year of her mother's death after a lingering illness. During the initial consultation, the following full list of complaints became available: headaches since 1996, lower back pains since 1996, hip pain since 2001 including impaired motion in that area, Sjoegren's Syndrome (diagnosed by an MD in 1996) with predominant symptoms of dry eyes and nose, Reynoud's phenomenon since 2000 (diagnosed by MD) with her major symptoms being cold hands and feet with ulcerated fingertips that frequently opened up and became infected. Other complaints included generalized restriction of motion in the whole body, poor sex drive, diarrhea, pain in virtually all joints, heartburn that she had for approximately eight months, bloating, gas, problems falling asleep, problems maintaining sleep, low energy, hot flashes, nightsweats, dry mouth, lightheaded and dizzy spells, cramps...