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Lupus - African potato supplement
Some time ago you wrote about some kind of ‘potato’ that might be useful in the treatment of Lupus and a number of other conditions. Could you please give us an update on this supplement?
Lupus is the Latin word for wolf, and was first used in the 10th century to describe the erosive skin lesions that are the symptom of this condition and that were thought to look as if a wolf had been eating away at the flesh. There are two types of lupus; systemic lupus - which can affect many different parts of the body, and discoid - which primarily affects the skin.
In the early 1980s, the American Rheumatism Association reclassified the disease so that a diagnosis depended on having at least four of eleven symptoms, which included a skin rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, arthritis, kidney problems, and a malfunction of the immune system. The conventional drug treatment for both types is usually both steroids and non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents.
The ‘potato’ you remember reading about is not a potato at all, but is an African plant called Hypoxis rooperi. Its common name is the African potato because it has a bulbous, potato-shaped root and the reason it has been reported to be effective against lupus is because it has been shown to modulate the immune system; which, with this skin condition, is malfunctioning.
The active agents in this plant are the sterols and sterolins, which are, in effect, plant fats. These have now been studied by immunologists at the University of Stellenbosch, whose theory that they can be used to help alleviate a range of auto-immune diseases, including AIDS and Lupus, was published in a report in the International Journal of Immunopharmacology.
Another nutrient that may be helpful is vitamin E. In one small study involving just 12 patients who were given high doses of 100-150mg, three times a day orally and 150mg by injection twice a week, eight reported excellent results. However, with this and any other auto-immune condition, you should not try and self-treat.
Good dietary sources of vitamin E include nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, spinach, avocadoes, cereals, and wholegrain breads - but vitamin E is easily destroyed by cooking and food processing techniques, making supplementation a safer bet. Make sure you buy and use a natural, not a synthetic form, since the former has now been shown to have better bioavailabilty in the body. Check the label and make sure you are buying vitamin E in the form of d-alpha tocopherol. Vitamin E is also fat soluble so take it with food.
*The African Potato supplement costs £12.99 for 60 capsules. For general immune support, mail order from the Nutricentre on 0800-587 2290. If you have Lupus or any other auto-immune problem, seek advice from a qualified health practitioner and do not self- treat.