Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a diffuse connective tissue disease mediated by autoimmunity, with immune-mediated inflammation as a prominent feature. Its clinical manifestations are diverse, and the disease often alternates between remission and exacerbation. The presence in serum of various autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and involvement of multiple organ systems are key clinical features of SLE.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Red, swollen, hot, painful joints; a red tongue body; a yellow, greasy coating; and a slippery or slippery, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Joints may be red, swollen, warm, and painful, and feel hot to the touch.
- The tongue may look red when extended.
- The tongue coating may be yellow, thick, and greasy, making the tongue surface look coated.
- The pulse may feel smooth and flowing, or smooth, flowing, and somewhat rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Dispel wind, transform dampness, clear heat, and unblock the meridians.
In plain language:
- Dispel wind → In TCM terms, disperse external wind, with the aim of easing pain that moves from place to place, soreness, and discomfort related to sensitivity to wind.
- Transform dampness → In TCM terms, address excess dampness in the body and ease sensations of heaviness and stickiness, swelling, and heaviness in the joints.
- Clear heat → In TCM terms, reduce internal heat and ease redness, swelling, burning sensations, bitter taste, thirst, and restlessness.
- Unblock the meridians → In TCM terms, promote the flow of qi and blood through the meridians, with the aim of improving numbness, stiffness, and restricted movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
High fever, bright-red skin rashes, flushed face, restlessness, dark yellow urine, constipation, a red tongue body, a yellow, dry coating, and a slippery, rapid or surging, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- The body temperature is very high, with a marked fever.
- Bright-red spots or rashes may appear on the body.
- The face may look flushed and feel hot.
- You may feel restless and agitated, with difficulty calming down.
- Urine may be yellow or reddish, with a noticeably deeper color.
- Stools may be dry and hard to pass.
- The tongue may look red when extended.
- The tongue coating may be yellow and dry, and the tongue surface may appear dry.
- The pulse may feel smooth and rapid, or full and forceful as well as rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and toxins, cool the blood, and reduce skin rashes.
In plain language:
- Clear heat → In TCM terms, reduce internal heat and ease redness, swelling, burning sensations, sore throat, and thirst.
- Resolve toxins → In TCM terms, address inflammatory “toxins” and ease sores, swelling, pain, pus, and odor, while supporting healing.
- Cool the blood → In TCM terms, reduce heat in the “blood level” and ease a tendency to bleed, restlessness, thirst, and a red tongue.
- Reduce rashes → In TCM terms, help red patches and rashes on the skin or mucous membranes gradually subside, easing redness, itching, and swelling.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Chest oppression, cough, shortness of breath, thick sputum, a dark-red tongue body, a yellow, greasy coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- The chest may feel tight or congested, with uncomfortable or restricted breathing.
- You may cough and become short of breath, especially when speaking or being active.
- The sputum may be thick and difficult to cough up.
- The tongue may look dark red when extended.
- The tongue coating may be yellow, thick, and greasy.
- The pulse may feel smooth and relatively rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Diffuse lung qi, transform phlegm, dispel stasis, and relieve wheezing.
In plain language:
- Diffuse lung qi → In TCM terms, promote the free flow of lung qi and ease chest tightness, coughing, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.
- Transform phlegm → In TCM terms, address thick phlegm and help with its clearance, easing excess sputum, difficulty coughing it up, and a sticky sensation.
- Dispel stasis → In TCM terms, address blood stasis and impaired qi and blood flow, with the aim of easing stabbing or fixed pain and swelling.
- Relieve wheezing → In TCM terms, ease wheezing and asthma symptoms, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Intermittent low-grade fever, thirst without desire to drink, bitter and dry mouth, purplish lips and nails, fatigue, poor appetite, cloudy urine, constipation, a dark-red tongue body, a yellow, greasy or white, greasy coating, and a choppy or wiry, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Your temperature may remain slightly elevated and fluctuate, with recurring episodes of low-grade fever.
- You may feel thirsty but not want to drink, often stopping after just a few sips.
- Your mouth may feel bitter and dry, causing more discomfort when speaking or swallowing.
- Your lips and nails may look purplish or bluish and darker than usual.
- You may feel drowsy and tired and have a poor appetite.
- Your urine may look cloudy rather than clear.
- Stools may be dry and hard to pass.
- The tongue may look dark red when extended, with a somewhat dull color.
- The tongue coating may be thick, greasy, and yellow, or thick and greasy but white.
- The pulse may feel rough or uneven, or taut like a stretched string and somewhat rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat, invigorate blood, dispel stasis, and unblock the meridians.
In plain language:
- Clear heat → In TCM terms, reduce internal heat and ease redness, swelling, burning sensations, thirst, sore throat, and restlessness.
- Invigorate blood → In TCM terms, promote local blood circulation to ease pain, stiffness, and numbness.
- Dispel stasis → In TCM terms, address retained blood stasis and ease stabbing or fixed pain and swelling.
- Unblock the meridians → In TCM terms, promote the flow of qi and blood through the meridians, with the aim of improving joint flexibility and easing numbness and soreness.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Chest tightness and shortness of breath, palpitations, a dull complexion and purple lips, labored breathing and restlessness, pitting edema of the lower limbs, a dark-red tongue body, a gray, greasy coating, and a thin, rapid or thin, choppy, knotted, or intermittent pulse.
In plain language:
- Your chest may feel tight, and your breathing may be shallow, short, or uncomfortable.
- Your heart may suddenly pound, and you may feel easily startled or uneasy.
- Your complexion may look dull, and your lips may appear purple or bluish.
- Your breathing may be rapid and uneven, and you may feel restless and unable to settle.
- Your lower legs and ankles may swell, leaving an indentation that does not spring back immediately when pressed.
- The tongue may look dark red when extended.
- The tongue coating may look gray, thick, and greasy.
- The pulse may feel thin and somewhat rapid, or thin and uneven, with a rough quality and occasional pauses.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Promote urination, calm the mind, tonify qi, and move blood.
In plain language:
- Promote urination → In TCM terms, encourage the elimination of excess fluid, including through urination and sweating, to ease swelling, difficulty urinating, and a feeling of heaviness.
- Calm the mind → In TCM terms, settle the mind and ease palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and unease.
- Tonify qi → In TCM terms, support vitality and organ function to ease shortness of breath, weakness, reluctance to speak, and fatigue.
- Move blood → In TCM terms, promote the flow of blood to ease stabbing or fixed pain, numbness, and swelling associated with stasis.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Persistent low-grade fever, night sweats, flushed cheeks, dry mouth and throat, dry or blurred vision, a red tongue body, scant coating, and a thin or thin, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Your temperature may remain slightly elevated, making you feel warm and uncomfortable for an extended period.
- You may sweat after falling asleep at night, with the sweating gradually stopping when you wake or become more alert.
- Your cheeks may become noticeably flushed and feel warm.
- Your mouth and throat may feel dry, causing discomfort when speaking or swallowing.
- Your eyes may feel dry, or your vision may become somewhat blurred.
- The tongue may look red when extended.
- The tongue may have little coating, which may be very thin or barely visible.
- The pulse may feel thin, or thin and somewhat rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish yin, clear heat, resolve toxins, and dispel stasis.
In plain language:
- Nourish yin → In TCM terms, replenish yin fluids and body fluids to ease dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, and night sweats.
- Clear heat → In TCM terms, reduce signs of internal heat and ease redness, swelling, warmth, sore throat, thirst, and restlessness.
- Resolve toxins → In TCM terms, address inflammatory “toxins” and help sores, swelling, pain, pus, and rashes gradually settle.
- Dispel stasis → In TCM terms, address blood stasis and promote flow in areas of stagnation, with the aim of easing stabbing or fixed pain, swelling, and numbness.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Mental and physical fatigue, spontaneous sweating, dizziness, blurred vision, a pale-red tongue body, a thin white coating, and a thin, weak pulse.
In plain language:
- You may feel mentally tired and generally lacking in energy.
- You may sweat spontaneously, whether active or at rest.
- You may feel dizzy or see spots, with your vision seeming unsteady.
- The tongue may look pale with a slight red tint when extended.
- The tongue coating may be thin and white.
- The pulse may feel thin and weak, with a less forceful beat.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi and nourish blood.
In plain language:
- Tonify qi → In TCM terms, support vitality and organ function to ease shortness of breath, weakness, reluctance to speak, and fatigue.
- Nourish blood → In TCM terms, nourish the blood to support qi and blood, with the aim of improving a poor complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and numbness in the limbs.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Swelling of the limbs, aversion to cold and cold extremities, abdominal fullness, poor appetite, soreness of the lower back, reduced urination, a pale-red tongue with teeth marks on the edges or a tender, enlarged tongue body, a thin white coating, and a deep, thin pulse.
In plain language:
- You may have swelling, with the limbs appearing puffy.
- You may feel cold easily, with frequently cold hands and feet.
- Your abdomen may feel full and distended, causing discomfort.
- You may have a poor appetite.
- Your lower back may feel sore or uncomfortable.
- You may urinate less than usual.
- The tongue may look pale with a slight red tint; tooth marks may be visible along its edges, or the tongue may look tender and enlarged.
- The tongue coating may be thin and white, neither thick nor greasy.
- The pulse may be easier to feel with deeper pressure and may feel thin.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm the kidneys, strengthen the spleen, transform qi, and promote water metabolism.
In plain language:
- Warm the kidneys → In TCM terms, warm and support kidney yang to address sensitivity to cold, cold hands and feet, soreness and coldness in the lower back and knees, and frequent nighttime urination.
- Strengthen the spleen → In TCM terms, support spleen and stomach function and the processing of dampness, with the aim of easing poor appetite, abdominal bloating, loose stools, and a feeling of heaviness.
- Transform qi → In TCM terms, promote the movement of qi and its transformation functions to support fluid movement and ease fullness and difficulty urinating.
- Promote water metabolism → In TCM terms, support fluid metabolism and elimination, promoting urination and helping ease swelling and a feeling of dampness and heaviness.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Chinese Medical Association, Tang Fulin. Clinical Practice Guidelines: Rheumatology [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2006.
- Harley J B，Alarcón-Riquelme M E，Criswell L A，et al. Genome-wide association scan in women with systemic lupus erythematosus identifies susceptibility variants in ITGAM，PXK，KIAA1542 and other loci[J]. Nat Genet，2008，40(2)：204-210.
- Chan K L，Mok C C. Development of systemic lupus erythematosus in a male-to-female transsexual：the role of sex hormones revisited[J]. Lupus，2013，22(13)：1399-1402.
- Mellors R C，Mellors J W. Type C RNA virus-specific antibody in human systemic lupus erythematosus demonstrated by enzymoimmunoassay[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences，1978，75(5)：2463-2467.
- Wu Donghai, Wang Guochun. Clinical Rheumatology [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2008.
- Rheumatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [J]. Chinese Journal of Rheumatology，2010，14(5)：342-346.
- Li Xiayu. A Study of Professor Fan Yongsheng’s Academic Thought and Clinical Experience in the Differentiation and Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [D]. Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2011.