We understand that living with lupus presents unique challenges. The constant battle against fatigue, pain, and unpredictable flares can be discouraging. We spoke with Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton, a board-certified Family Medicine physician practicing Integrative and Functional Medicine in Atlanta. Dr. Ford-Norton shared valuable insights on holistic approaches to managing lupus. If you are seeking support in your journey to holistically managing lupus, we hope this interview serves as a helpful guide.
BHM: How can mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or relaxation techniques benefit lupus patients? How can they implement these things into their lives?
Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: Mind-body techniques such as practicing mindfulness, yoga, and meditation can help with symptom management and overall well-being. Many patients with lupus may have been told that stress can exacerbate lupus symptoms. However, their doctors may not have discussed steps to reduce stress or the stress response. Regular meditation, yoga, and mindfulness help to improve mood, fatigue, and mental clarity, as well as lower cortisol and other stress hormones that lead to an inflammatory cascade in the body. It may also help reduce pain by reducing inflammation and how patients perceive pain, lowering the need for pain medication.
I like to have my patients start with small goals and lower expectations when beginning, considering that mind-body techniques are a practice. Starting with just 5-10 minutes daily will yield many positive benefits. With regular daily practice, you may be able to increase the time spent…or not. Either way is ok. The key is to be consistent with what can fit into your lifestyle and not feel like it is a burden or another task on your list of things to do.
BHM: What lifestyle modifications can lupus patients adopt to support their overall well-being? Regarding stress reduction techniques, exercise, and getting adequate rest.
Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: Everyone, including patients with lupus, would benefit from lifestyle modifications that intentionally prevent or reduce inflammation and stress. This includes getting adequate sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene, removing toxins as much as possible, such as smoking, alcohol, illicit drugs, processed foods, and harmful chemicals, regular exercise, and eating a plant-predominant, whole foods diet.
BHM: What complementary therapies may be helpful for lupus patients?
Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: Biofeedback, aquatic therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture may be helpful adjuvant therapies for pain control and relaxation.
BHM: What should lupus patients know when looking for herbs or supplements to support their immune health?
Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: When it comes to herbs and supplements, patients with lupus should always talk to their primary care doctor, their rheumatologist, or an Integrative Medicine doctor before starting any new regimens given possible interactions with medications or the potential to exacerbate the disease process. Many people believe that just because something is “natural” means it is safe for everyone to take, and unfortunately, this is not the case. It is always best to consult someone familiar with your medications, specific diseases, and the risks and benefits of specific herbs and supplements.
BHM: Are there specific dietary or lifestyle recommendations or restrictions to help manage inflammation and support immune health in lupus patients?
Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: YES! An anti-inflammatory diet is essential in managing inflammation, the immune system, and overall health. We now have a lot of data on foods that are pro-inflammatory, foods that damage the gut and weaken the immune system and foods that are nourishing and help repair the body. We generally want a plant-predominant diet, mainly from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. These are the foods that provide most of our nutrients and antioxidants. We also want to avoid or limit pro-inflammatory foods such as processed sugars, convenience foods (packed or fast foods), and animal products. There are many resources online and cookbooks to learn how to eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
It must be said, however, that when beginning the healing journey, some patients may find benefit in working with an Integrative Medicine provider and explore more restrictive diets such as Paleo, Autoimmune Paleo Protocol (AIP), or other elimination diets that may be more helpful and tailored to the specific person and their gut health and nutrition needs.
BHM: Do you know of any resources or classes available for patients to learn stress-reduction techniques?
Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: There is an 8-week group training program called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) that is helpful for people living with stress and chronic diseases. It has been validated by studies and shown to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress and improve sleep and chronic pain levels. Classes may be found in person and online and are put on by organizations throughout the USA.
So, there you have it! Taking steps to manage your lupus at home is not only possible, but it can be empowering as well. If our interview with Dr. Ford-Norton piqued your interest, we encourage you to delve deeper into this approach. Take a moment to explore the topics that resonate with you, discuss your thoughts with your healthcare providers, and most importantly, don’t give up on finding a health management strategy that aligns with your unique needs.
