How to Treat Lupus Nephritis with Chinese Medicine

Lupus Nephritis is a common kidney damage among Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, which is caused by the deposition of immune complex in the kidney. The pathological lesion is mainly in renal glomerular disease, which is also often seen in renal tubules and renal mesenchyme. In renal biopsy, 80% to 90% of patients have damage in kidney. What surprised us most is that 100% percent of them have kidney damage, which shows as Nephritis or Nephrotic Syndrome. Patients with Nephritis have red blood cells, white blood cells and protein in urine. With the disease developing, patients may develop into uremia at the end stage. In renal biopsy, the pathological damage can be divided into Focal hyperplastic glomerulonephritis and Diffuse hyperplastic glomerulonephritis. The former is relatively slight and the latter is relatively severer, and what’s more, it develops progressively and has bad prognosis.
Nephrotic Syndrome caused by Lupus Nephritis shows as membrane renal glomerular nephritis or diffuse hyperplastic glomerulonephritis. As for diffuse hyperplastic glomerulonephritis, besides a large amount of proteinuria, there also exist many other damages such as red blood cells in urine, urinary cylinder and high blood pressure. In some particular cases, slight protein in urine and no kidney disease is found in the latter one.
How about the treatment of Lupus Nephritis?
Conventional treatment and western medicine treatment go as follows:
The common western medicine which is used to treat Lupus Nephritis is such as hormone, immunosuppressant, and so on. Generally, hormone and immunosuppressant are used together to treat symptoms such as controlling the leak out of protein from urine, which leads to hypoproteinemia consequently. Diuretic is used to relieve edema rapidly in Lupus Nephritis patients’ body.
However, just as we point out above, western medicine just focuses on symptoms, which does not emphasize fundamental factors which leads to Lupus Nephritis.
In contrast, Chinese Medicine can achieve better treatment. Chinese Medicine is abstracted from traditional Chinese medicine and has a micro-process compared with traditional Chinese medicine, which means that the use ratio is increased. Secondly, Chinese Medicine is not taken in orally but through osmosis in renal area, which also means that it will not stimulate the stomach and guts, which may lead to poor appetite. Thirdly, Chinese Medicine can promote the blood circulation and dissolve the stasis in the blood, creating a clearer inner environment. Last but not least, Chinese Medicine contains many active and nutritious substances, which can repair the damaged intrinsic cells and prevent proteins and red blood cells, etc from leaking out fundamentally.
Apart from these, patients with Lupus Nephritis should also prevent from sunlight. In summer, remember to wear a hat when you prepare to go out. When you have fever, pain in the joint, protein in urine, lie down and have a good rest. If edema and high blood pressure appear, patients with Lupus Nephritis should keep low salt diet.