Treating Autoimmune Disease: Healing from the Inside Out.

Autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system malfunctions, typically causing an overreaction in the immune response.  Getting an accurate diagnosis can be challenging and is sometimes overlooked simply because the symptoms are vague and the standard lab panels are insufficient.  Even when an accurate diagnosis is determined, mainstream medicine often falls short when it comes to effective treatment.  Traditional medical management of autoimmune disease involves suppressing the immune system, which can alleviate some of the symptoms but in many cases leads to other concerns and doesn’t really get to the root of the problem.  Let’s dig a little deeper and look outside of the box.  There are natural options that better manage and regulate immune function, while preventing further damage. 

Identifying triggers is essential to address the underlying cause of autoimmune disease.  One of the more obvious triggers is inflammation.  Since approximately 70% of our immune system starts in the gut, it seems sensible to start there first.  The gut is our first line of defense for any illness, but especially with autoimmune disease.  The digestive system serves as an immune barrier that protects your body from pathogens and other invaders.  If the lining of your digestive tract is porous - a condition known as leaky gut syndrome - the barrier is compromised, allowing intruders such as bacteria and undigested food to enter your bloodstream.  This, in turn, causes your immune system to launch an attack on the intruders, which may lead to autoimmune disease.  Nourishing your microbiome with prebiotics and probiotics can help promote the growth of “good bacteria" in your gut, while consuming collagen-rich foods and taking appropriate supplements, amino acids, or peptides can help strengthen the lining of your digestive tract and repair the damage.  The bottom line here is that a healthy gut equates to a healthy immune system, adequate absorption of essential nutrients and lowered levels of inflammation.

It is very possible to heal, and it starts from within.  An excellent first step is to get tested for food intolerances.  It may sound surprising, but even foods that are considered “healthy” could be triggering an inflammatory response in a person that has an autoimmune condition.  It is important to note, however, that food allergies are rarely connected to genetic results and are more often connected to alterations in the microbiome.  This is where genetic and DNA testing can play an even bigger role in healing. Your unique genetic makeup affects how you metabolize, transport, and absorb critical compounds and also how you detoxify various chemicals and carcinogens. DNA testing can give you an understanding of how deficiency or toxicity may play a role in affecting gene function and certain health disorders that run in your family, and what you can actively do to decrease the probability of disease.   After testing, there will be a customized action plan to change the ways that your genes express themselves through modifications to your diet, physical activity, lifestyle, and environment to bring your body into balance and thriving health. 

If you are having symptoms and unsure if you have an autoimmune disorder, give us a call and schedule a visit.  Let’s figure it out.  If you have a known diagnosed autoimmune disorder, and the traditional treatment plans are not working for you, please give our office a call.  We will take the time to determine the underlying cause so we can accurately formulate natural treatment plans that can help heal you from the inside out.