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"Reconciling Tablets was produced as the result of study of traditional Chinese approaches to treating autoimmune disorders, especially systemic disorders, such as lupus (SLE). Although there are several strategies that have been applied, the main trends are to nourish the kidney and liver in order to stabilize the immune system, vitalize blood to reduce accumulation of immune cells, and clear heat to reduce inflammation and avert tissue damage. This formula contains the kidney/liver tonics cistanche, rehmannia, ligustrum, epimedium, and achyranthes; the blood vitalizing component is salvia and red peony, with achyranthes contributing to that function; and the heat clearing component is chin-chiu, ching-hao, lonicera stem, moutan, and anemarrhena. Several of the herbs, particularly chin-chiu and ching-hao, have been shown to regulate immune functions in autoimmune diseases; they enhance the suppressor T-cell functions and inhibit antibody excess. Rehmannia, anemarrhena, and licorice allow steroids (whether produced by the body or added as drug therapy) to persist longer in the bloodstream, and, thereby, have a more sustained effect. Reconciling Tablets can usually serve as a base formula for various autoimmune diseases, with an adjunct therapy added to treat the specific manifestation of the disease. For autoimmune disorders that have a quiescent (remission) phase interrupted by inflammatory phase, Reconciling Tablets can be used during the flare-ups, with other formulas, such as Remission Pills (for regulating internal disharmony) or Restorative Tablets (for tonifying liver/kidney deficiency), used the rest of the time. Dan Shen Pian (Pine Mountain), the extract of salvia, may be added to the treatment to help limit fibrosis." |
