ABSTRACT
This chapter examines chronic illness and alternative medicine at the intersection of women’s health, with particular attention to the online communities that exist to serve them. The study documents patient-to-patient knowledge transfer for managing Lupus pain through the context of two online Lupus patient forums, providing a unique perspective of managing a chronic illness as a community rather than individual endeavor. The chapter includes an analysis of the rhetorical barriers created by medical websites, the communal aspects of online health forums, and the empowered response of patients who engage with non-traditional medicine.
