On December 12, Red Star News reported that actress Kathy Chau Hoi Mei’s studio announced her passing due to illness. Chau Hoi Mei had previously been receiving treatment at a hospital in Beijing and had long been troubled by lupus erythematosus.
Chau Hoi Mei can be said to be the most beautiful “Zhou Zhiruo” in the hearts of a generation. She has also starred in many classic films and television dramas, such as “Looking Back in Anger”, “The Feud of Two Brothers”, “The Breaking Point”, “State of Divinity”, and “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”. It is reported that Chau Hoi Mei’s health has always been poor, suffering from lupus erythematosus. Therefore, she has not given birth, fearing that the disease would be passed on to the next generation.
Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease, not a skin disease.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with unknown causes. It was once known as one of the three most difficult diseases in the world. It can affect multiple organs, such as the lungs and kidneys, and in severe cases, it may even cause damage to the central nervous system.
What is an autoimmune disease: It is related to the disorder of the body’s own immune function, which means that a large number of self-antibodies that should not appear in the body have emerged. These self-antibodies will attack healthy tissues and organs, causing an autoimmune response.
The most characteristic symptom of lupus erythematosus is the appearance of a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks, which looks like it has been bitten by a wolf. In addition to skin damage, it can also cause multiple systems and organs throughout the body to be affected.
Lupus erythematosus is more prevalent in women.
What kind of people are more likely to get lupus erythematosus?
Dr. Chen Sheng, the Deputy Director and Chief Physician of the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at Renji Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, explained: Lupus erythematosus is not a common disease, with a domestic incidence rate of about 70 in 100,000. If calculated based on the population of 20 million in Shanghai, there may be more than 10,000 patients with lupus erythematosus.
According to epidemiological data, systemic lupus erythematosus predominantly occurs in women of childbearing age, with the ratio of female to male patients reaching as high as 8-9:1.
In addition, excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays, sunbathing, certain specific drugs or foods, as well as recurrent viral and bacterial infections, can all trigger the onset of autoimmune diseases in individuals with a genetic predisposition.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is currently incurable, but it can be managed over the long term.
At present, there is still no definitive cure for systemic lupus erythematosus. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms, control the disease, ensure long-term survival, prevent organ damage, reduce the activity of the disease as much as possible, and minimize adverse drug reactions. The aim is to improve the patient’s quality of life and guide them in managing the disease. Typically, systemic lupus erythematosus is primarily treated with the application of glucocorticoids in combination with immunosuppressants.
Director Chen Sheng explained that, due to the availability of more effective medications, most patients can control their conditions well, leading normal lives and maintaining regular work. Patients with stable conditions can also have healthy children.
Ganoderma lucidum is said to help alleviate symptoms associated with inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
There are numerous types of autoimmune diseases. In addition to lupus erythematosus, which has recently come into public view, there are also diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, myasthenia gravis, and vitiligo, among others.
In the case of any autoimmune disease, even the most effective medications cannot be used without limitations. However, Ganoderma lucidum can mitigate the side effects of medications, and in some cases, enhance therapeutic outcomes. When integrated with contemporary treatments, it contributes significantly to the overall health of patients.
Dr. Ning-Sheng Lai, the director of Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, is a leading authority in Taiwan on the treatment of autoimmune diseases. He conducted the following experiment more than a decade ago:
Lupus mice were divided into four groups. One group was not given any treatment, one group was given steroids, and the other two groups were given low and high doses of Ganoderma lucidum extract, which contains triterpenes and polysaccharides, in their feed. The mice were kept on this diet until their death.
The study found that in the group of mice given a high dose of Ganoderma lucidum, the concentration of the specific autoantibody Anti-dsDNA in their serum significantly decreased. Although it was still slightly inferior to the steroid group, the onset of proteinuria in the mice was delayed by 7 weeks compared to the steroid group. The number of lymphocytes invading important organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and liver was also significantly reduced. The average lifespan was 7 weeks longer than the steroid group. One mouse even happily lived for more than 80 weeks.
High doses of Ganoderma lucidum can evidently reduce the aggressiveness of the immune system, protect the functioning of important organs such as the kidneys, and thereby enhance the health level of the mice, meaningfully prolonging their lives.
—-Excerpted from “Healing with Ganoderma” by Tingyao Wu, pages 200-201.
Battling with autoimmune diseases is a lifelong matter. Instead of letting the immune system “go haywire” again, it’s better to constantly regulate it with Ganoderma Lucidum, allowing the immune system to coexist peacefully with us at all times.
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Article sources:
1. “Does Lupus ‘Prefer’ Beautiful Women?” Xinmin Weekly. 2023-12-12
2. “Women Showing These Symptoms Should Be Alert to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. 2023-06-15
