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Autoimmune disease is a major health concern across the globe. Autoimmune diseases affect an estimated 24 million Americans, or five to eight percent of the population. And there are likely many more people living with an undiagnosed autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune diseases are notoriously complicated to diagnose as the symptoms - such as inflammation, pain, and swelling - are difficult to classify. There are currently over 100 known autoimmune diseases and the list is growing.
Let's start with a quick outline of the immune system.
Comprised of organs and cells designed to protect the body from harmful bacteria, viruses, and cancer, the immune system is the body's first line of defense.
An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the body rather than protects it. Imagine your body is a castle and your immune system is the army of guards protecting it from invasions. Autoimmune conditions are a result of the army of guards attacking the castle rather than the invader.
Experts don't know why the immune system attacks the body. It seems to happen when the immune system can no longer tell the difference between dangerous cells and healthy ones. However, many attribute gut health as a major factor.
The cause may remain unknown, but that doesn't make autoimmune disease any less serious. The impact on a person's health can be dramatic, affecting almost every organ and tissue type in the body.
Autoimmune disorders can cause a wide range of symptoms with varying severity. General symptoms include chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and rashes. However, the symptoms a person experiences depend on the type of autoimmune disorder.
For a more specific overview of autoimmunity symptoms, we've divided them into categories:
Autoimmune disorders in the digestive tract, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis:
Autoimmune disorders in the muscles and joints, such as lupus, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA):
Autoimmune disorders in the skin, such as dermatomyositis and psoriasis:
Autoimmune disorders in the nervous system such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis (MS):
Other autoimmune disorders (such as glandular disorders like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) may cause one or more of the symptoms listed below:
Experts still don't know the exact cause of autoimmune disease, but there are several known risk factors that may raise your chances of developing one. These include:
Because there is no cure for autoimmune disease, medical doctors will often just treat the symptoms with painkillers, anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, rash creams, and immuno-suppressing drugs.
However, many patients will seek natural alternative treatments alongside functional medicine to deal with autoimmune issues.
Popular alternative treatments include:
When the immune system is put under a prolonged period of inflammatory stress, the immune system starts to turn again the body and attack.
Herbs have been proven to aid in reducing inflammation, regulating autoimmune responses. In some cases, herbs may even work more effectively than functional medicine.
The following herbs are particularly effective in decreasing overeager autoimmune responses in the human body:
The first step on your journey to healing autoimmunity is discovering the root cause. These 12 strategies can help you to discover causes and triggers and naturally reduce inflammation.
Make some dietary changes to reduce inflammatory immune response in the body. Avoid inflammatory triggers and add in foods rich in omega 3 (fatty fish), leafy greens, and turmeric. Try to eat the rainbow every day. Colorful, non-starchy berries and vegetables are packed with phytonutrients, reducing the symptoms associated with autoimmunity.
Speak to a functional medicine doctor to look for hidden infections like yeast infections, Lyme disease, viruses, and bacteria that could be the underlying causes of autoimmune issues.
Functional medicine practitioners can use blood tests to look for food allergies such as celiac disease which can cause an unwanted immune response and inflammation in the body. They will test for hidden food allergies (dairy, soy, wheat, etc,) and may recommend eliminating certain food allergens from your diet for a period of time.
Exposure to heavy metals such as mercury can be a high-risk factor in autoimmunity. If you think you have high levels of toxins in your body, there are natural/homeopathic remedies to detox your body. Incorporate foods and herbs such as cilantro, garlic, wild blueberries, lemon water, and spirulina into your diet to remove heavy metal toxins. Also, reduce exposure to common toxins such as household cleaners, pesticides, cigarettes, caffeine, and alcohol. Replacing household cleaners with natural, homemade cleaners dramatically reduces your exposure to toxins.
Since roughly 70% of the immune system is found in the lining of the gut, supporting intestinal health is key when dealing with autoimmunity. It all begins in the gut. The best way to heal the gut is to eat a diet made up of whole foods, rich in anti-inflammatory foods, and free from food allergens such as gluten.
Give your body a boost with some supplements. If you suffer from autoimmunity, adding supplementary nutrients like fish oil, magnesium, vitamins C & D, zinc, and probiotics to your diet can reduce immune responses. Other anti-inflammatory supplements like quercetin, curcumin, and grapeseed extract can regulate autoimmune responses.
Omega-3 fats reduce inflammation. Make sure you eat a diet rich in cold-water fish, seeds (chia, flax, hemp, etc,), and nuts (walnuts).
Moving the body consistently is one of the best anti-inflammatory remedies. Make an effort to move your body every day for optimal health.
Stress exacerbates immune responses. Stress management tools such as deep breathing, yoga, or massage can help to promote relaxation and calm a stressed immune system.
Getting a good night's sleep is vital for good health and reducing inflammation. When we don't get enough sleep, this can impact our metabolism and make us crave sugary foods. Consistent lack of sleep can drive us to eat more and increase the risk of developing autoimmune disorders. Aim for 8 hours of sleep every night. Good sleep hygiene can improve the quality of your sleep, reducing sugar cravings.
Studies show that active vitamin D is effective in modulating immune function. In order for the immune system to function properly (preventing autoimmune responses), the body needs optimal levels of Vitamin D. To heal your body from autoimmunity, up your intake of Vitamin D by spending more time in the sun, eating vitamin D-rich foods like fatty fish, cheese, egg yolks, and beef liver, and taking a vitamin supplement to ensure you get your recommended daily allowance.
To naturally treat autoimmunity and heal your body, you will need to reduce inflammation. One of the major sources of inflammation is food. By clearing inflammatory foods out of your diet for 10 days, you give your immune system a chance to reset.
Cut the following culprits out of your diet and monitor the results:
When treating autoimmune disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, it's best to avoid nightshade vegetables. Nightshades like eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes aggravate inflammation.
Cutting out food that triggers autoimmune responses and inflammation will give your body a chance to heal and reset. Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into your diet can speed up the healing process. Increase your intake of the following:
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