Hi alison
I was reading back through your posts and there wasn't any mention of you starting any other meds besides the Prednisone, is that still the case?
If so then it's worth seeing a Rheumatologist (rather than your Dermy) to ask about trying Plaquenil. By the sounds of your rash you had a Sub-Acute Cutaneous one and whilst the rash is a prominent feature, no doubt by now you've realised the fatigue and joint pain are pretty much a feature too. This type of Lupus has the potential to wreak some havoc if untreated and most docs would start you on Plaquenil. That would go a long way to sorting out the fatigue and joint pain and giving you less flares and certainly less severity when you do flare. It's also an insurance policy against worsening disease.
It can in some patients cause a problem if they have psoriasis (which you mentioned you had) but not in all. I'm wondering if your Dermy has totally dismissed the idea because of that. You will never know until you try, you might be fine with it. If not there are other things you could try.
It's important to be on some disease modifying medication and certainly more preferable to long term Pred which most patients don't take these days unless they really have no choice.
I'd be very wary of the Chinese herbalist, for several reasons:
a) if they aren't familiar with Lupus they may think that 'boosting your immune system' is a good idea and it's the very last thing we want...........we are pretty well boosted and you don't want to make things worse.
b) some not so reputable ones have been known to use all manner of things in their concoctions..........there was a court case here some years ago where one was putting Pred with his medications...........no wonder his patients improved! It was the Pred helping them, nothing to do with any of his wonderful chinese herbs

He's been barred from practising for obvious reasons
Good luck and I really think if you speak to your GP about a Rheumy referral you will benefit from that if you haven't already seen one.
Don't worry about your 'well meaning' 'friends' they have no idea what this is like and what they can't see they have trouble understanding. There's probably not one of us here who hasn't had some kind of bizarre cure-all spouted by friends and relatives. As time goes by they realise that Lupus is here to stay and the best treatment for it is adjustments to lifestyle, the right meds and a knowledgeable and caring doc. A big dose of loving and supportive friends and family helps a lot too!
love
Lily