Answer:

Lupus is one of several autoimmune diseases for which there is no cure, either conventional or alternative. Symptoms include arthritis, skin eruptions, kidney problems, and neurological problems. Mostly women suffer from lupus, and its cause is still unknown.

Conventional medical treatments for lupus tend to be toxic and suppress the immune system. There are no definitive studies to show which herbs are helpful in fighting the disease. But practitioners of Western herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, and Indian medicine can all prescribe herbal regimes that may help.

Practitioners of natural medicine do recommend eating a healthy diet of whole, unprocessed foods; avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and sugar; getting regular exercise; drinking plenty of water; discovering and eliminating food allergies; and avoiding animal products -- with the exception of cold-water fish. Supplements commonly recommended include vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oil.

There is some evidence that diet and supplementation can help. In one study, published in the July 1991 issue of Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, 27 people with lupus received capsules containing an omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplement, while a control group received identical capsules containing olive oil. Both groups ate a standardized low-fat diet. After 34 weeks, those receiving the fish oil had significantly milder symptoms than those in the control group.

In another study, published in the fall 1985 issue of International Clinical Nutrition Review, subjects underwent a regime that included a special diet to eliminate food allergies and sensitivities. At the end of the study, four patients experienced remission and reversal of their symptoms, and 70 had their symptoms reduced.

For local pain, capsaicin cream might be helpful. Capsaicin -- the pungent ingredient in red peppers and the active ingredient in cayenne pepper -- has been used for centuries in ointments and salves as a topical application for controlling pain. There have been no studies of capsaicin with lupus, but several studies have indicated that repeated use of capsaicin on a painful area can help desensitize the nerves in the area, and this desensitization can be maintained as long as the capsaicin is used regularly.

But be aware that topical use of capsaicin cream brings a temporary sensation of burning before relief of pain begins. The good news is that with regular use, the benefits are cumulative. Capsaicin is worth considering for the chronic pain of lupus.

Finally, stress exacerbates the symptoms of lupus, so an important part of a healing regimen is a regular relaxation program. There have been no studies of the effect of relaxation upon lupus, but its effect on rheumatoid arthritis, another autoimmune disease, has been studied.