Symptoms:
It usually begins suddenly with fever, fatigue, arthritis and/or joint pain. Those with it are frequently misdiagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis. Ninety percent of lupus occurs in women in their 30s. Other symptoms include a characteristic facial "butterfly" rash, severe hair loss, and papular skin lesions. This rash forms over the nose and cheeks in something of a butterfly shape (which tends to intensify because of sunlight).

The skin lesions are small, yellowish lumps. They leave scars when they disappear. ("Lupus" means "wolf" in Latin; indicating the rough-skinned appearance it gives to the skin.)

Also generally present are kidney disease (in 50% of those with lupus) and low white blood cell count.

All this, in turn, produces inflammation of the joints and/or blood vessels, affecting many parts of the body.

Sometimes the first appearance of the problem is an arthritic-like condition, with swelling and pain in the joints and fingers. Severe cases can affect the brain and heart.

Sometimes the central nervous system is affected, and deep depression, amnesia, seizures, or psychosis can result.

Cause:
Lupus is an inflammatory disease of the connective tissue. It has been classified as an autoimmune disease, since the body is attacking itself.

Ultraviolet rays in the sun can trigger the first attack. Stress, childbirth, fatigue, infection, chemicals, and certain drugs can also bring it on.

Treatment:
Dr. Max Gerson used a careful, very nourishing diet, including vegetable and fruit juices and vitamin-mineral supplementation to eliminate lupus in his patients, but the dietary change had to be total or no progress was made. All meat, gravy, fats, junk food, fried food, soft drinks, caffeine, alcohol, etc. had to be eliminated from the diet. The diet had to be low in fat and salt (thus helping the weakened kidneys).

• It is best to eliminate all unsaturated fats. Fats quickly become rancid and, in that form, harm the connective tissue, and wear away the myelin sheath which covers the nerves.

• Avoid eating alfalfa sprouts, for they contain canavain which, in your body, replaces its arginine.

• A vegetable juice fast would be very helpful.

• Do not take birth control pills; they can intensify the lupus.

• Up to 10% of the lupus cases originate by taking medicinal drugs (New England Journal of Medicine). Pollutants, additives, chemicals, and certain foods can also bring it on. When the cause is drugs, the kidneys or nervous system are generally not affected, the lupus is a milder case, and it tends to stop when the drug is no longer taken.

• Parasites are associated with lupus. The parasites excrete droppings which interfere with body functions. Until the blood stream is cleansed and the parasites removed, healing cannot commence.

• Allergies can be another causative factor. Search them out and eliminate them. Here are several to consider: beef, cow's milk, wheat, corn, ammonia, hair spray, formaldehyde, perfume ethanol, pesticides.

• Those with Raynoud's disease should live carefully, for they are also prone to contracting lupus. Those with lupus are often misdiagnosed as having syphilis. Lupus is not AIDS. HIV destroys the body's immune system, but lupus is one's immune system destroying his body.

• Obtain enough rest and exercise. Avoid all stress.

• Echinacea, yucca, red clover, pau d'arco, and goldenseal are helpful herbs.