Scleroderma and Alternative Therapies
Scleroderma: Natural Improvements
There are many healthy, natural things you can do for systemic scleroderma.
1. The single most natural and healthy thing you can do is to avoid attacks of Raynaud's as much as possible.
Action Item Learn many ways to prevent Raynaud's and to restore circulation. Then respond to every attack of Raynaud's as if it were a medical emergency, because even one prolonged attack can lead to gangrene, and possibly even amputation.
2. The second most natural and healthy thing you can do, which will give you the greatest odds of living longer with systemic scleroderma, is to monitor your blood pressure at home every day or two .
One of the life-threatening yet treatable complications of systemic scleroderma (including CREST) is sudden kidney failure. If your blood pressure is elevated over a certain point (to be determined by your doctor)you should call your doctor immediately. You should also ask your doctor to take your blood pressure on every office visit.
Action Item Print this page, and make a doctor's appointment to discuss blood pressure monitoring. Then follow through by making blood pressure monitoring a part of your daily routine. Odds are, your kidneys may never fail—but if they do, this simple measure may save your life and get you on the road to recovery quickly.
3. Learn the difference between good science and bad advice on our Internet Health Fraud page. Don't be a guinea pig for an unproven remedy that may jeopardize your health and finances. If you want to "experiment", ask your doctor about enrolling in scleroderma clinical trials.
Reduce Stress
Stress can play havoc with your immune system, as well as trigger and worsen attacks of Raynaud's. Alternative therapies that help you deal more effectively with stress, such as biofeedback and yoga, may improve your symptoms.
Strive for moderation in everything—just enough but not too much exercise, good sleep every night with sufficient rest breaks during the day, and well-balanced, regular meals.
What is Stress? Stress is the body’s reaction to a challenge and when stress and anxiety exist for an extended period of time, they can become a burden or even a health risk. Learn Psychology.
Stress Relievers. 25 Ways to Reduce Stress. VeryWell.
Diet and Systemic Scleroderma
Diet and Systemic Scleroderma. Systemic scleroderma patients should always consult their doctor(s), especially their rheumatologist, before using any vitamin or herbal remedies or making any significant changes in their diet. ISN.
Supplement Guide for Scleroderma
Supplement Guide for Scleroderma. Many herbs and over-the-counter medications can interact with prescription medications, and many of them make scleroderma symptoms worse. Even simple over-the-counter cold remedies often have ingredients that can trigger Raynaud's or heartburn in systemic scleroderma patients. ISN.
Know Your Symptoms
Look up each of your symptoms on the main Scleroderma Symptoms page to find many other ideas for natural and conventional treatments.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Chinese Treatments for Scleroderma Treatments include preparations of dried earthworms, beetles, scorpions and centipedes. TCM Hospital for Chronic and Difficult Diseases - Hunan Province, China.
Also see: ISN: Simplified Chinese Version by Jie Jackson
Links: Alternative Medicine
A Positive Approach to Scleroderma by Dr. Andrew Weil. This is a respected source for information on alternative therapies. Dr. Weil.
How Acupuncture Can Relieve Pain and Improve Sleep, Digestion and Emotional Well-being. In 1997, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) documented and publicized acupuncture’s safety and efficacy for treating a wide range of conditions. Acupuncture is now covered by many insurance policiesand is used most broadly to relieve pain. UCSD.
Acupuncture is not without risks. There have been some reports of lung and bladder punctures, some broken needles, and some allergic reactions to needles containing substances other than surgical steel. Acupuncture may be harmful to the fetus in early pregnancy since it may stimulate the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and oxytocin, which affect labor. There is always the possibility of infection from unsterilized needles. And some patients will suffer simply because they avoided a known effective treatment of modern medicine. The Skeptics Dictionary.
Scleroderma Symptoms and Treatments Look up each of your scleroderma symptoms here to find other ideas for conventional and natural ways to deal with them. ISN.
Twenty-Five Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers How can food quacks and other vitamin pushers be recognized? Here are 25 signs that should arouse suspicion. QuackWatch.
SCLERO.ORG was the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses from 1998 to 2021. It was a grassroots movement from the original Scleroderma from A to Z web site, which was founded by Shelley Ensz. We were a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation. We closed this web site and our nonprofit agency in April 2021.