Complementary Therapies and Inflammation

Alex Taylor, ND - 17 March 2003

Introduction

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder presenting with a diversity of symptoms. Most Lupus patients will at some time be confronted with inflammation. It may be inflammation related to a skin rash, gut dysfunction or joint pain. All are responses to certain triggers. These triggers range, and can include: foods, to emotions and stress.

The following are some helpful tips to avoid these triggers and support the body in its own healing. All information presented is as a guide only. Each individual person will be affected by, and have, different triggers.
Consult your medical and health professional for any further advice, concern with regard to adverse affects, or other contraindications.

Environmental triggers

Stress

Work, homelife, relationships can all be stressful Stress hormones are produced at this time and lead to a flare-up by shifting the immune balance

Gut immunity

Food sensitivities create an immune response Avoid known sensitivities - the most common are wheat and dairy

Hormone balance

Excess oestrogen and low DHEA can cause inflammation Stimulate the liver to break down oestrogen by squeezing fresh lemon into a glass of water and drinking each morning

Avoid

Excessive exercise, straining joints, smoking, alcohol, late nights, sun worshipping

Include in your day

Meditation, relaxation, stretching, yoga Emotional healing with hypnotherapy and Bach Flowers Pain relief with acupuncture

Diet

Avoid where possible :

red meat alfalfa wheat and dairy sugar stimulants such as coffee, tea, chocolate and cola acid forming foods and salicylates

Include :

bioflavonoids ( found in fruit, vegetables and grains ) vitamins A, B, C and E ( avoid vitamin E supplements if taking anticoagulants or beta-blockers ) zinc and selenium fresh pineapple helps to reduce inflammation

Herbs and supplements

Fish Oils

omega 3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation, among other benefits

Calcium Ascorbate

reduces inflammation

Ginger

warming herb with antioxidant properties, reduces inflammation and aids in circulation

Ginseng

increases energy avoid if taking corticosteroids

Willow bark

anti-inflammatory pain relief avoid if taking anticoagulants

Acid-forming and alkaline forming food charts

Acid-forming foods may be acid or alkaline in nature before digested. However, after the food in question has been digested and absorbed it causes the pH of the blood and other body fluids to become more acid.
Similarly, alkaline-forming foods can either be acid or alkaline in nature, but after absorption makes the pH of body fluids more alkaline.

For example, tomatoes and citrus fruits ( oranges, lemons ) are considered to be acid, but instead they form alkaline urine, blood and extracellular fluid. They are acidic in nature but alkaline in body fluids after they have been digested. However, these foods do contain salicylic acid which causes irritation to some people causing inflammatory pain and allergic reactions.
Thus patients with inflammatory conditions, such as lupus, function best on a low salicylate, alkaline-forming diet.

Salicylate food content chart

Salicylates occur naturally in most plants, and are also produced synthetically. Aspirin, artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives are all salicylate based.
All salicylates, whether natural or synthetic, may cause problems for those who are intolerant towards them, especially children. They can worsen the pain of inflammation.

An avoidance of high and very high salicylate containing foods for a period of time may allow an individual to regain tolerance.

The following chart lists salicylate content of foods. Overall, most fruits, especially berries and dried fruits, contain high levels of salicylates. As a general guide, fruits with a less sharp flavour such as pears, pawpaw and mango are often lower in salicylates compared to those with a sharp flavour such as oranges, berries and pineapples.
Salicylate content is often contained in the peel of fruit and vegetables. Herbs and spices contain extremely high levels of salicylates, as do many brands of coffee.

NEGLIGIBLE SALICYLATE CONTENT ( In principle can eat freely ) Fruit : Golden Delicious apple, Letona apricot nectar, banana, Packham pears ( no skin ), Kelsey Green plums, Letona Bartlett pears ( canned ), Letona peach nectar, pomegranate, tamarillo, pawpaw. Vegetables : Bamboo shoote ( Sunshine canned ), blackeye beans ( dried ), borlotti beans, brown beans, lima beans, mung beans, soya beans, soya grits, bean sprouts, brussel sprouts, cabbage ( green and red ), celery, chives, choki, horseradish ( canned ), leek, lettuce, lentils ( brown and red ), peas, chickpeas ( dried ), greensplit peas ( dried ), yellowsplit peas ( dried ), potato (peeled), shallots, swede, tomato juice ( Goulburn Valley ). Condiments : garlic bulbs, parsley, saffron powder, soy sauce, tandoori powder, malt vinegar Drinks : Aktavite, Coffee ( dandelion, Andronicus instant, Harris instant I and II, Moccona decaffeinated, Nescafe decaffeinated ), Chamomile tea, Ecco, Milo, Ovaltine Cereals : arrowroot, barley ( unpearled ), buckwheat, millet, oats, rice, rye Nuts & seeds : cashew nuts, poppy seeds Sugars : carob powder, cocoa powder, golden syrup ( CSR ), maple syrup ( Camp ) Dairy products : cheese ( blue vein, camembert, cheddar, cottage, mozzarella, tasty cheddar ) milk ( fresh, full cream ), yoghurt (full cream). Meat, fish, eggs : beef, chicken, egg white, egg yolk, kidney, lamb, liver, oyster, pork, salmon, scallop, tripe, tuna. LOW SALICYLATE CONTENT ( In principle can eat in moderation ) Fruit : Red Delicious Apple, apple juice ( Mountain Maid ), cherry ( Morella sour, canned ), custard apple, figs, grape juice ( Sanitarium light ), grapefruit juice ( Berri ), kiwi fruit, lemon, loquat, lychee ( canned ), mango, nectarine, orange juice ( Berri ), passionfruit, persimmon, pineapple juice ( Golden Circle ), plum ( blood, red ), rhubarb, watermelon. Vegetables : asparagus, french beans, beetroot ( Golden Circle canned ), carrot, cauliflower, eggplant ( peeled ), marrow, mushrooms, olives ( black ), onion, parsnip, pumpkin, spinach ( frozen ), sweetcorn ( fresh and canned ), sweet potato ( white ), tomato, tomato juice ( Heinz, Letona ), tomato paste ( Tom Piper ), tomato soup ( PMU ), turnip. Condiments : Bonox ( liquid extract ), coriander ( fresh leaves ), Tabasco sauce ( McIllhenny ). Drinks : cereal coffee ( Bambu, Reform ), Coffee ( Bushells Instant, Bushells Turkish style, Gibsons Instant, Harris Mocha Kenya, Robert Timms instant ), Herbal tea ( fruit, rose hip, Golden Days decaffeninated ). Cereals : maize ( meal ) Nuts & seeds : brazil nuts, coconut ( desiccated ), hazelnuts, macadamia, peanut butter ( Sanitarium ), pecan nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts. Sugars : molasses ( CSR ) MEDIUM SALICYLATE CONTENT ( In principle avoid where possible ) Fruit : Granny Smith apples, Ardmona apples, avocado, figs ( Calamata string, dried ), cherry, grapes ( red malaita ), grape juice ( Berri dark ), grapefruit, mandarin, mulberry, peach, tangelo. Vegetables : alfalfa, broad beans, broccoli, eggplant, okra, peppers ( green chilli and yellow-green chilli ), spinach, baby squash, tomato paste ( Campbells ), Tomato soup ( Heinz, Kia-Ora ), Tomato sauce ( Fountain, PMU ), watercress. Condiments : fennel ( powder ), Marmite ( Sanitarium ), Vegemite ( Kraft ). Drinks : Coffee ( International Roast, Maxwell House instant, Moccona Instant, Nescafe instant ). Nuts & seeds : pine nuts, pistachio HIGH SALICYLATE CONTENT ( In principle should be avoided ) Fruit : apricot, blackcurrant, blueberry, boysenberry, cranberry, currants ( dried ), date, guava, loganberry, orange, pineapple, plum ( SPC, dark red ), prunes, raspberries, redcurrant, rockmelon, strawberry, sultana, youngberry. Vegetables : chicory, cucumber ( gherkins ), endive, champignon mushroom, green olives, red chilli peppers, green capsicum, radish, tomato paste ( Leggo ), tomato sauce ( Heinz, IXL, Rosella ), zuchinni. Condiments ( all powder form unless stated otherwise ) : allspice, aniseed, bay leaves, basil, canella, cardamon, caraway, cayenne, celery, chilli, cinnamon, cloves ( whole ), cumin, curry, dell, fenugreek, five spice, garam masala, ginger root ( fresh ), fresh mint, mixed herbs ( leaves, dry ), mustard, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, black pepper, pimento, rosemary, sage leaves, tarragon, tumeric, thyme, vanilla essence, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce. Drinks : tea - all varieties, herbal tea - Peppermint, Cereal Coffee ( Nature's Cuppa ) Nuts & seeds : almonds, peanuts, water chestnuts ( canned ) Sugars : honey - all varieties

Medications

Medications that contain salicylate are Oil of Wintergreen, aspirin, any medication containing aspirin or salicylic acid, artificially coloured vitamins.
Non-salicylate medications include Codeine, Panadeine and Panadol.

Alcoholic products

The following alcoholic products have a

	negligible salicylate content	:	gin ( Gilbeys ), vodka ( Smirnoff ), whisky ( Johnnie Walker )
	low salicylate content	:	beer, brandy, apple cider, claret, sherry, dry vermouth, rose
	medium salicylate content	:	liqueurs, riesling
	high salicylate content	:	Benedictine, Drambuie, port, rum

Alcoholic products and their salicylate content is provided as a guide only and all such products should be taken in consultation with your medical professionals advice.
 

The above information is intended only as a general guide and has been provided in consultation with the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies Student Clinic. For specific ailments speak to your medical and health practitioner.
 

Disclaimer :
The Lupus Group of W.A. (Inc.) does not recommend or endorse any products, drugs, treatments, procedures, medical or health professional in this article. We suggest you discuss this information with your doctor or specialist.