Systemic lupus erythmatosus & Chinese herbal medicine

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2004 by Bob Flaws

Additions & subtractions: If there is chest and rib-side distention and pain, add nine grams each of Radix Rubrus Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Chi Shao), Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Dan Shen), and Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae (Jiang Xiang). For poor appetite, add nine grams each of scorched Fructus Germinatus Hordei Vulgaris (Mai Ya), Massa Medica Fermentata (Shen Qu), and Fructus Crataegi (Shan Zha). For nausea and vomiting, add nine grams each of Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae (Ban Xia) and Caulis Bambusae In Taeniis (Zhu Ru). For abdominal pain and diarrhea, add nine grams each of Radix Auklandiae Lappae (Mu Xiang), Radix Puerariae (Ge Gen), and Fructus Terminaliae Chebulae (He Zi). For jaundice, add nine grams each of Herba Artemisiae Capillaris (Yin Chen Hao) and Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis (Zhi Zi) and three grams of Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei (Da Huang).

If there is chest and rib-side distention and pain and marked hepatosplenomegaly, replace Xiao Yao San Jia Jian with Chai Hu Shu Gan San (Bupleurum Course the Liver Powder) and Ping Wei San (Level the Stomach Powder) with additions and subtractions: Radix Bupleuri (Chai Hu), 12g, Radix Albus Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Bai Shao), Radix Ligustici Wallichii (Chuan Xiong), Rhizoma Cyperi Rotundi (Xiang Fu), Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis (Hou Po), Fructus Citri Aurantii (Zhi Ke), and Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (Chen Pi), 9g each, Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), 3g. If there is severe abdominal pain, add 15 grams of Rhizoma Corydalis Yanhusuo (Yan Hu Suo) and 12 grams of Fructus Meliae Toosendan (Chuan Lian Zi). If depression has transformed heat with a bitter taste in the mouth, add nine grams of Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis (Huang Qin) and three grams of Rhizoma Coptidis Chinensis (Huang Lian).

10. Liver wind internally stirring pattern

Main symptoms: During critical stages of this disease, there may be persistent high fever, vexation, agitation, and restlessness, deranged speech, crying and laughing without constancy, possible convulsions or seizures, possible spirit clouding, hemi- or paraplegia, urinary incontinence or retention, a red or dark tongue with no or scorched yellow fur, and a bowstring, rapid or bowstring and fine pulse.

Note: This stage of this disease should be treated with a combination of Chinese and Western medicines.

Rx: Ling Yang Gou Teng Tang Jia Jian (Saiga Antelope & Uncaria Decoction with Additions & Subtractions).

Ingredients: Uncooked Radix Rehmanniae (Sheng Di) and uncooked Concha Haliotidis (Shi Jue Ming), 30g each, Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae (Chuan Bei Mu), Caulis Bambusae In Taeniis (Zhu Ru), and Sclerotium Pararadicis Poriae Cocos (Fu Shen), 15g each, Flos Chrysanthemi Morifolii (Ju Hua), Radix Albus Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Bai Shao), and Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis (Gou Teng), 12g each, Folium Mori Albi (Sang Ye), 6g, and Cornu Caprae (Shan Yang Jiao), 3g.

Additions & subtractions: If there is persistent high fever with convulsions, add 15 grams each of uncooked Gypsum Fibrosum (Shi Gao) and Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis (Xuan Shen) and nine grams each of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Aspheloidis (Zhi Mu) and Tuber Ophiopogonis Japonici (Mai Men Dong). For heat harassing the spirit with deranged speech, add nine grams each of Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae (Lian Qiao) and Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae (Yuan Zhi) and six grams each of Plumula Nelumbinis Nuciferae (Lian Zi Xin) and Rhizoma Copitidis Chinensis (Huang Lian). For tremors and convulsions, add 12 grams each of Concha Margaritiferae (Zhen Zhu Mu), Haemititum (Dai Zhe Shi), Os Draconis (Long Gu), and/or Concha Ostreae (Mu Li).