CONTRIBUTED CONTENT - Supporting autoimmune health: Looking beyond symptoms
Autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own healthy cells and tissues. Autoimmune diseases are common, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and type 1 diabetes, but despite their prevalence, autoimmune diseases are still very misunderstood. Currently, doctors still do not fully understand what causes autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune diseases are classified as “idiopathic” and medical schools teach that with autoimmune diseases “the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues” but the specific underlying cause remains unknown despite thorough diagnostic evaluation. Let that sink in… they don’t know.
The standard medical approach for autoimmune disease treatment is to suppress the unwanted symptoms associated with an autoimmune disease. Doctors reach for strong pharmaceutical interventions and prescribe powerful drugs like corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics to suppress the pain, inflammation and other symptoms. The problem is that long-term use of some of these medications can carry significant risks and side effects. The potential long-term risks and side effects of immunosuppressive medications are well documented and should be carefully considered as part of treatment.
On the natural side, acupuncture offers a holistic, integrative approach to supporting people with autoimmune disease by focusing on the whole person and working with the body to restore balance. The goal isn't to suppress the immune system. Instead, we use acupuncture to help regulate the nervous system, reduce pain and inflammation-related symptoms, improve sleep and stress regulation, and support the body's ability to maintain balance. It can be an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan designed to support overall function.
Functional medicine principles emphasize identifying and treating the underlying contributors to illness instead of merely stopping symptoms, so this approach can be especially valuable when working with autoimmune disease. If you only suppress symptoms, then the underlying disease process may continue, potentially leading to further physiological dysfunction over time.
No matter what health issue you’re dealing with, a healthy digestive system is the cornerstone of good health. Functional medicine views the gut as the cornerstone of well-being, operating on the premise that dysbiosis and intestinal permeability ("leaky gut") play a role in chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic conditions.
Here are two tips: consume mostly warm food and drink so your body won’t have to spend as much energy warming it up. Create a relaxed setting when you eat to support healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.
Autoimmune disease is complex and usually involves more than one factor. Instead of focusing only on suppressing symptoms, it makes sense to look at the bigger picture and support areas like digestion, stress, sleep, inflammation and overall body function. The goal is to help the body work better and support better health over time.
Want to explore this topic further? Listen to Ep 129, “The Power of Holistic Health: Addressing Autoimmune Diseases Naturally,” on the VitalHealth4You podcast. Find VitalHealth4You on your favorite podcast app or visit vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/
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Greg Anderton holds a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is a Licensed Acupuncturist. He is additionally trained in Clinical Nutrition and Herbal Medicine. He has over 20 years of experience in natural medicine. Anderton is a “Health Detective,” he looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place.
Greg is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene. Visit our website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Greg, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Greg can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.