Needless to say, neither the drug companies nor our doctors ever know all the side effects that may transpire from long term use of a drug treatment. Life with a chronic illness is  unpredictable enough, but when you add the drug side  effects along with your everyday symptoms, life can be less then bearable.

With this in mind you may ask - are there any other alternatives, besides toxic treatments? If you're curious to know the answer to this question, please indulge your intellectual appetite by reading "Lupus: Alternatives Therapies That Work". 

The author, Sharon Moore goes into detail about her prolonged diagnosis and how she struggled for someone to listen to her. Sharon had several classic symptoms of Lupus, from severe fatigue to the ever-so popular "Malar-Rash", which all went un-noticed for five years. Sharon was active in the Peace Corps when the  mystery illness began to reveal itself. She was told  several times that she was just having panic-attacks. After a long hospital stay, she was finally diagnosed with Lupus and like most SLE patients; she was displeased with medication's side-effects. She wanted to cure her illness, not suppress it.

Follow Sharon on her safari to natural recovery (In  which she compares her journey with Lupus to an  African Safari). She discusses how everyday  natural plants can enhance our health, for example  Rose Petals to steam, as you would a Lipton tea bag.

Sharon even mentions how environmental toxins in food play a role in Lupus flares. For example, how research studies indicate that food chemicals may affect the cellular structure of the immune system. 

I don't know how many of us still have silver-fillings in our mouth, Sharon also mentions the theory on the effects of mercury (used to  make silver-fillings), the most toxic non-radioactive element on Earth. Who would have thought that my old silver fillings could interfere with brain waves, and cause neurological problems, or that chewing gum releases vapors from  the mercury amalgams.

Sharon also touches on relaxing methods, traditional Chinese medicine and a host of other natural methods to help heal your immune system. 

This is truly an educational find. I have to admit there are some points in this book that persuaded me to at least want to try one natural method. Although the author is an advocate of natural methods, she's not condoning dismissal of doctor prescribed pharmaceuticals. Research some of the possibilities  mentioned in this book during your leisure.