Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTreatment for SymptomsOmega-3 Fatty AcidsHerbal MedicineDHEAMind-Body TherapiesUsing Natural Remedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Treatment for Symptoms
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Herbal Medicine
DHEA
Mind-Body Therapies
Using Natural Remedies
Natural treatments forlupusare often used alongside conventional medical treatment. They may be used to help reduce symptoms, which can include fatigue, joint pain, and hair loss.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can damage the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, joints, skin, kidneys, and other parts of the body.
Natural lupus treatments include:
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This article lists natural remedies for lupus and how they might help manage symptoms. It also covers what research has found and when to check with a healthcare provider.
Natural Treatment for Lupus Symptoms
Some naturallupus treatmentshave been researched, but evidence should be considered preliminary at best. However, some people find complementary therapies beneficial for controlling symptoms, which may include:
Be sure you talk to your healthcare provider about any natural remedies you’d like to try. Some may not be safe for you or may interfere with the medications you take. Remember that even natural treatments can cause side effects.
Signs and Symptoms of Lupus
Omega-3 fatty acidscan curb inflammation. In addition, several studies have also found that they improve lupus symptoms.
Omega-3 fatty acids have the added benefit of improving heart health.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Arthritis Symptoms
Small but growing lines of research have found that some medicinal herbs may help curb inflammation and the lupus symptoms that come with it.
Anti-inflammatoryherbsinclude:
You can add these herbs to food or tea/herbal infusions, or you can take them in supplement form.
Steroids and Vitamin DCorticosteroidsare powerful anti-inflammatories often used to treat lupus. They can thin your bones and raise yourosteoporosisrisk. Daily vitamin D andcalciumsupplements may help prevent this.Ask your healthcare provider whether these supplements are right for you.
Steroids and Vitamin D
Corticosteroidsare powerful anti-inflammatories often used to treat lupus. They can thin your bones and raise yourosteoporosisrisk. Daily vitamin D andcalciumsupplements may help prevent this.Ask your healthcare provider whether these supplements are right for you.
Research suggests thatdehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) supplements may enhance quality-of-life for people with lupus.DHEA is a steroid hormone your body needs for making estrogen and testosterone.
While DHEA shows promise as acomplementary treatment for lupus, regular use of DHEA supplements could raise your risk of heart attack and some types of cancer. It’s critical to only use DHEA under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
What Is DHEA Used For and Should You Take It?
According to early research, certain mind-body therapies may help you deal with the stress of lupus and lessen some symptoms.These therapies include:
To further alleviate stress, make sure to get plenty of sleep and exercise regularly. Ask a healthcare provider about the amount and types of exercise that are right for you.
Due to a lack of supporting research, it’s too soon to recommend alternative medicine to treat lupus. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not test or regulate supplements.Therefore, the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label.
Also, keep in mind that the safety of supplements has not been established in higher-risk populations, including:
If you’re considering alternative medicine, talk with a healthcare provider first. Self-treating a condition in lieu of standard care may have serious consequences.
Summary
Lupus is an autoimmune condition with many possible symptoms. In addition to standard medical care, some people use natural remedies, including supplements, herbs, and mind-body therapies.
It’s essential to work with a healthcare provider before incorporating alternative or complementary remedies into your treatment plan.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of lupus.Greco CM, Nakajima C, Manzi S.Updated review of complementary and alternative medicine treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(11):378. doi:10.1007/s11926-013-0378-3National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats - good for your heart.Ballester P, Cerdá B, Arcusa R, Marhuenda J, Yamedjeu K, Zafrilla P.Effect of ginger on inflammatory diseases.Molecules. 2022;27(21). doi:10.3390/molecules27217223Constantin MM, Nita IE, Olteanu R, et al.Significance and impact of dietary factors on systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis.Exp Ther Med. 2019;17(2):1085-1090. doi:10.3892/etm.2018.6986Shamekhi Z, Amani R, Habibagahi Z, Namjoyan F, Ghadiri A, Saki Malehi A.A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial examining the effects of green tea extract on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity and quality of life.Phytother Res. 2017;31(7):1063-1071. doi:10.1002/ptr.5827Yuen HK, Cunningham MA.Optimal management of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:775-86. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S56063Fangtham M, Kasturi S, Bannuru RR, Nash JL, Wang C.Non-pharmacologic therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.Lupus. 2019;28(6):703-712. doi:10.1177/0961203319841435Schwartz N, Chalasani ML, Li TM, Feng Z, Shipman WD, Lu TT.Lymphatic function in autoimmune diseases.Frontiers in Immunology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00519Middleton KR, Haaz Moonaz S, Hasni SA, et al.Yoga for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Clinician experiences and qualitative perspectives from students and yoga instructors living with SLE.Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.001U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA 101: Dietary supplements.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of lupus.Greco CM, Nakajima C, Manzi S.Updated review of complementary and alternative medicine treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(11):378. doi:10.1007/s11926-013-0378-3National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats - good for your heart.Ballester P, Cerdá B, Arcusa R, Marhuenda J, Yamedjeu K, Zafrilla P.Effect of ginger on inflammatory diseases.Molecules. 2022;27(21). doi:10.3390/molecules27217223Constantin MM, Nita IE, Olteanu R, et al.Significance and impact of dietary factors on systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis.Exp Ther Med. 2019;17(2):1085-1090. doi:10.3892/etm.2018.6986Shamekhi Z, Amani R, Habibagahi Z, Namjoyan F, Ghadiri A, Saki Malehi A.A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial examining the effects of green tea extract on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity and quality of life.Phytother Res. 2017;31(7):1063-1071. doi:10.1002/ptr.5827Yuen HK, Cunningham MA.Optimal management of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:775-86. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S56063Fangtham M, Kasturi S, Bannuru RR, Nash JL, Wang C.Non-pharmacologic therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.Lupus. 2019;28(6):703-712. doi:10.1177/0961203319841435Schwartz N, Chalasani ML, Li TM, Feng Z, Shipman WD, Lu TT.Lymphatic function in autoimmune diseases.Frontiers in Immunology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00519Middleton KR, Haaz Moonaz S, Hasni SA, et al.Yoga for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Clinician experiences and qualitative perspectives from students and yoga instructors living with SLE.Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.001U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA 101: Dietary supplements.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of lupus.Greco CM, Nakajima C, Manzi S.Updated review of complementary and alternative medicine treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(11):378. doi:10.1007/s11926-013-0378-3National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats - good for your heart.Ballester P, Cerdá B, Arcusa R, Marhuenda J, Yamedjeu K, Zafrilla P.Effect of ginger on inflammatory diseases.Molecules. 2022;27(21). doi:10.3390/molecules27217223Constantin MM, Nita IE, Olteanu R, et al.Significance and impact of dietary factors on systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis.Exp Ther Med. 2019;17(2):1085-1090. doi:10.3892/etm.2018.6986Shamekhi Z, Amani R, Habibagahi Z, Namjoyan F, Ghadiri A, Saki Malehi A.A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial examining the effects of green tea extract on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity and quality of life.Phytother Res. 2017;31(7):1063-1071. doi:10.1002/ptr.5827Yuen HK, Cunningham MA.Optimal management of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:775-86. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S56063Fangtham M, Kasturi S, Bannuru RR, Nash JL, Wang C.Non-pharmacologic therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.Lupus. 2019;28(6):703-712. doi:10.1177/0961203319841435Schwartz N, Chalasani ML, Li TM, Feng Z, Shipman WD, Lu TT.Lymphatic function in autoimmune diseases.Frontiers in Immunology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00519Middleton KR, Haaz Moonaz S, Hasni SA, et al.Yoga for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Clinician experiences and qualitative perspectives from students and yoga instructors living with SLE.Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.001U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA 101: Dietary supplements.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of lupus.
Greco CM, Nakajima C, Manzi S.Updated review of complementary and alternative medicine treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(11):378. doi:10.1007/s11926-013-0378-3
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats - good for your heart.
Ballester P, Cerdá B, Arcusa R, Marhuenda J, Yamedjeu K, Zafrilla P.Effect of ginger on inflammatory diseases.Molecules. 2022;27(21). doi:10.3390/molecules27217223
Constantin MM, Nita IE, Olteanu R, et al.Significance and impact of dietary factors on systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis.Exp Ther Med. 2019;17(2):1085-1090. doi:10.3892/etm.2018.6986
Shamekhi Z, Amani R, Habibagahi Z, Namjoyan F, Ghadiri A, Saki Malehi A.A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial examining the effects of green tea extract on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity and quality of life.Phytother Res. 2017;31(7):1063-1071. doi:10.1002/ptr.5827
Yuen HK, Cunningham MA.Optimal management of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:775-86. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S56063
Fangtham M, Kasturi S, Bannuru RR, Nash JL, Wang C.Non-pharmacologic therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.Lupus. 2019;28(6):703-712. doi:10.1177/0961203319841435
Schwartz N, Chalasani ML, Li TM, Feng Z, Shipman WD, Lu TT.Lymphatic function in autoimmune diseases.Frontiers in Immunology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00519
Middleton KR, Haaz Moonaz S, Hasni SA, et al.Yoga for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Clinician experiences and qualitative perspectives from students and yoga instructors living with SLE.Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.001
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA 101: Dietary supplements.
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