Stop attacking yourself, part one
We are in a strange era. In no other time of humanity, have we been so technologically advanced. We can do some truly amazing things! But with all of our knowledge or theories, all that we have, all that we stake claims to excelling in, we fail to get a hold of runaway health deterioration. Let’s examine one of the most runaway of all health conditions: autoimmune disorders.
Our immune system has a prodigious, complex array of mechanisms that help it to determine which tissues or microbes are friend or foe. It is an internal army ready at any time to defend us, but sometimes it runs amok. If our body is trying to deal with something like an infection (bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic), an allergen (food, chemical or from nature), a toxic substance, or even from our own metabolic wastes, inflammation results. Inflammation is an integral part of the healing process, but sometimes these “invaders” or loads on the body are so tenacious, that as the body struggles to contain it, the inflammation gets out of control and becomes a problem in of itself. Worse, it appears that the immune system in its desperate attempt to maintain the upper hand, begins to attack its own tissues! We call this an autoimmune disorder.
According to the Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), 20 percent of the US population suffers from an autoimmune disorder. If you include allergic and asthmatic stats (some believe these too are autoimmune disorders), 114 million
people suffer. It is estimated that $120 billion/year is spent in this category of diseases alone. What a hefty weight on our economy!
More and more, people are turning to more conservative approaches to “battling” auto immune diseases.
They are desperate for something that goes beyond just managing the inflammation. A more functional medicine approach is desired – looking for underlying causative factors, rather than masking the condition with drugs.
The way it is treated today, medically, is akin to stepping on a nail. The pain is excruciating. Someone gives you NSAIDs to control the pain, but no one is taking the nail out of your foot!
If the body is trying to resolve an underlying, or lingering pathogenic factor, it will work at it and work at it until successful in containing it. If inflammation happens, oh well! Inflammation is a valuable contributor to resolving internal “conflict."
So much of the time, this “nail in the foot” is damage that has been going on for many years, lingering just below the surface. Then, other factors get involved – maybe poor nutrition, stress, an accident or infectious insult that adds to an already overloaded system – the next thing you know, runaway inflammation has made you miserable!
Most grab for whatever anti-inflammatories they can to bring some semblance of symptom control, but unfortunately, they have their own damaging components, often accentuating an already threatened system.
Learn more about triggers and solutions in part two, and in an upcoming health class, “Battling Auto-Immune Disease Naturally,” Wednesday, February 10th 7 p.m. at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene. Fee: $10. RSVP: (208)765-1994.
Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over three decades of experience. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’Alene clinic.
Visit www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about her, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles.
Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.