This article is for informational purposes only. None of the information here should be taken as medical advice. If you suspect you may have an autoimmune disorder, seek medical help. You may try the complementary approaches listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate for you. Discuss the strategies listed here with your doctor.
Lifestyle
Exercise
A meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 469 people with lupus concluded that 12-week aerobic exercise programs may help improve fatigue, depression, and physical fitness without worsening disease activity. People with mild lupus should begin with moderate intensity exercise for at least 20 minutes 3 days/week [R, R].
Giving Up Smoking
Several meta-analyses found that the risk of lupus increases by approximately 50% in current but not in former smokers. Moreover, smoking may reduce the effectiveness of antimalarials such as hydroxychloroquine (used for skin injuries) by 50% and immunosuppressants such as belimumab (used for systemic symptoms) by 90% [R, R, R].
Using Sun Protection
Although a moderate exposure to sunlight is the best way to increase blood vitamin D levels, which are often low in people with lupus, the skin of many people with this condition is hypersensitive to UV radiation and develops injuries in response to sunlight [R].
Using highly protective, broad-spectrum sunscreens prevented injuries caused by UV radiation in 3 controlled clinical trials (one of them placebo-controlled) on 56 people with lupus. People with lupus are advised to use sun protection every time they go out [R, R, R].
Stress Management
A study of 21 people with lupus found that daily stress worsened performance in cognitive aspects such as visual memory, visual fluency, and attention [R].
Several non-placebo-controlled studies found that stress-management psychological interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or counseling may reduce anxiety and lupus severity while improving quality of life. However, a meta-analysis concluded that the evidence is based on a few, small trials that would require support from further studies [R, R, R, R].
Acupuncture (Insufficient Evidence)
Acupuncture may help relieve the muscle pain associated with lupus. In a small non-placebo-controlled trial on 24 lupus patients, standard care failed to reduce pain while a 10-session course of acupuncture reduced it by at least 30% in 40% of the patients who received it [R].
Diet
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