Hiya Smarties!
Check out this fabulous guest article by Mark Hyman, MD, to provide clarity on inflammation and autoimmune diseases from my blog archives.
This information is always timely. Hope it helps! Take it away, Mark…
Inflammation is a “hot” topic in medicine.
It appears connected to almost every known chronic disease: from heart disease to cancer, diabetes to obesity, autism to dementia and even depression. Other inflammatory diseases, such as allergies, asthma, arthritis and autoimmune disease, are increasing at dramatic rates. As physicians, we are trained to shut off inflammation with aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication, such as Advil or Motrin, steroids and increasingly more powerful immune-suppressing medication with serious side effects. But we are not trained to find and treat the underlying causes of inflammation in chronic disease. Hidden allergens, infections, environmental toxins, an inflammatory diet and stress are the real causes of these inflammatory conditions.
Autoimmune diseases now affect 24 million people and include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease and more. These are often addressed by powerful immune suppressing medication and not by addressing the cause. That’s like taking a lot of aspirin while you are standing on a tack. The treatment is not more aspirin or a strong immune suppressant but removing the tack.
If you want to cool off inflammation in the body, you must find the source. Treat the fire, not the smoke. In medicine, we are mostly taught to diagnose disease by symptoms, not by their underlying cause. Functional medicine is the emerging 21st century paradigm of systems medicine that teaches us to treat the cause, not only the symptoms, and to ask why you are sick, not only what disease you have.
Functional medicine is a different way of thinking about disease that helps us understand and treat the real causes of inflammation instead of finding clever ways to shut it down. Medicine as it is practiced today is like taking the battery out of a smoke detector while a fire burns down your house!
Autoimmune conditions are connected by one central biochemical process: a runaway immune response also known as systemic inflammation that results in your body attacking its own tissues.
Autoimmunity: What is an Autoimmune Disease and How It Occurs
We are facing an epidemic of allergies (60 million people), asthma (30 million people) and autoimmune disorders (24 million people). Autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, celiac disease, thyroid disease and the many other hard-to-classify syndromes in the 21st century. These are all autoimmune conditions, and at their root, they are connected by one central biochemical process: a runaway immune response also known as systemic inflammation that results in your body attacking its own tissues.
Your immune system is your defense against invaders. It is your internal army and has to clearly distinguish friend from foe — to know you from other. Autoimmunity occurs when your immune system gets confused and your own tissues get caught in friendly cross-fire. Your body is fighting something — an infection, a toxin, an allergen, a food or the stress response — and somehow it redirects its hostile attack on your joints, your brain, your thyroid, your gut, your skin or sometimes your whole body.
This immune confusion results from what is referred to as molecular mimicry. Conventional approaches don’t have a method for finding the insult causing the problem. Functional medicine provides a map to find out which molecule the cells are mimicking.
Interestingly, autoimmune disorders occur almost exclusively in developed countries. People in poor nations without modern amenities like running water, flushing toilets, washing machines and sterile backyards don’t get these diseases. If you grew up on a farm with lots of animals, you are also less likely to have any of these inflammatory disorders. Playing in the dirt, being dirty and being exposed to bugs and infections trains your immune system to recognize what is foreign and what is “you”.
In this country, autoimmune diseases are a huge health burden. They are the eighth leading cause of death among women, shortening the average patient’s lifespan by eight years. The annual health care cost for autoimmune diseases is $120 billion, representing nearly twice the economic health care burden of cancer (about $70 billion a year).1
Unfortunately, many of the conventional treatments available can make you feel worse. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, steroids, immune suppressants like methotrexate, and the new TNF-alpha blockers like Enbrel or Remicade can lead to intestinal bleeding, kidney failure, depression, psychosis, osteoporosis, muscle loss, diabetes, infection and cancer.2
When used selectively, these drugs can help people get their lives back, but they are not a long-term solution. They shouldn’t be the end of treatment but a bridge to cool off inflammation while we treat the root cause of the disease.
If you have an autoimmune disease, here is what you need to think about and do.
Nine Steps for Treatment of Autoimmune Disease
1. Check for hidden infections — yeast, viruses, bacteria, Lyme, etc. — with the help of a doctor and treat them.
2. Check for hidden food allergens with IgG food testing or just try The UltraSimple Diet, which is designed to eliminate most food allergens.
3. Get tested for celiac disease with a blood test that any doctor can do.
4. Get checked for heavy metal toxicity. Mercury and other metals can cause autoimmunity.
5. Fix your gut.
6. Use nutrients, such as fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D and probiotics, to help calm your immune response naturally.
7. Exercise regularly. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory.
8. Practice deep relaxation, like yoga, deep breathing, biofeedback or massage, because stress worsens the immune response.
9. Tell your doctor about Functional medicine and encourage him or her to get trained. Go to http://www.functionalmedicine.org/ for more information and to get a copy of the “Textbook for Functional Medicine”.
Give these steps a try and see if you don’t start feeling less inflamed. The answers are right in front of you. Treat the underlying causes of your illness and you will begin to experience vibrant health once more.
For more information on how to optimize your health, see Dr. Hyman’s website.
Now I’d like to hear from you. Have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease? How is your doctor treating you? Have you been frustrated by the medical advice that you’ve been given? What steps have you taken to get to the root of the problem, and what have your results been? Please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below.
Love and health,
References
1. Nakazawa, D. (2008). The Autoimmune Epidemic. Simon & Schuster. New York.
2. Siegel, C.A., Marden, S.M., Persing, S.M., et al. (2009). Risk of lymphoma associated with combination anti-tumor necrosis factor and immunomodulator therapy for the treatment of Crohn’s disease: a meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 7(8): 874-81.
Good article but I’m still skeptical that the suggestions will help my Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder. Worth trying anyway. Well written but seems like you are trying to sell the product so you don’t address when these don’t work or what else folks can try.
Since childhood, I have migrated from one autoimmune problem to another with a ridiculous Hx of prescription drug and surgical treatment – Excema 15 yrs., pilonidal cyst x 3, endometriosis, hydrodenitis suppurativa, and now (I believe) mild psoriasis of the nail bed (UGH!). I have just realized recently that they are all connected to one another, and it seems that as soon as I arrest one ailment another takes it place. In the last 2 yrs I have made my diet 99% organic and now, based on experience, I am resuming the Blood Type Diet (type A) protocol (because I believe this works for me), and a stricter supplementation schedule. I absolutely refuse to take any conventional drugs ever again. I will continue to work on healing the gut and eating organic and using chemical-free products on my body and in my home.
I have Vitiligo and recently diagnosed Alopecia. I’m not being treated for the vitiligo because I’ve had it for 26 years, but I am getting steroid injections in my head and putting steroid ointment on twice a day for the Alopecia. I don’t want to lose my hair. I am not happy with the treatment because I feel like they don’t have answers and they don’t know if it’s going to even work. I also am curious as of to what other autoimmune diseases lie within me that are going to just surface one day like the Alopecia did. Concerned and scared.
I was diagnosed with Sweets Syndrome 6 years ago. It forms horrible ulcerative skin lesions. I was misdiagnosed with MRSA and put on serious antibiotics that in the end made the lesions worse. Then steroids which I hated and various other medications. The lesions started 6 months prior to my ex husband and I splitting up. After we seperated the lesions gradually subsided over the next year. I believe it was completely stress induced. Eating well, resting, and yoga seemed to reset my system far better then modern medicine.
I have Grave’s Disease (a type of hyper thyroid problem) , been taking medication for 16 years and my doctors have never told me anything about functional medicine, detox , nutritional deficiency or allergens. I’m completely angry and disappointed. Now I am starting to be aware about all these alternative methods to look at the body with a holistic approach.
Alligators had arthritis centuries ago – there’s more to the picture than your discribing!
What can functional medicine do for POTS?
My sister and I have had conversations about this very idea of finding what is causing our inflammation. We want someone to look at both of us to see how similar we are. We both have diagnosed Celiac disease(both adhere to a very strict GF diet), Psoriatic spots in the EXACT same places, random hives, chronic Urticaria, seasonal allergies etc., Hashimoto’s disease etc. I have had Igg and Ige testing with nothing that really red flagged. There has got to be an answer. We are tired of treating the symptoms with histamine blockers, steroids etc. Will try to talk to our Internal Med Dr. about this article. Not always receptive…. Fingers crossed. We want an answer!!!
Thank you for your information, make sense to me. I have had an ANA of at least 3600 for 15 years and doctors are just stupid when it comes to finding the root problem. They just want to give you another pill. I’m done with them. I had heart failure last year and know it had something to do with my thyroid disease. The synthyroid they prescribe does nothing I feel horrible on it and my thyroid numbers are in range they tell me, but I don’t feel well and tired beyond belief. I drag myself everyday and my heart jumps around in my chest like it’s being chased. I have other autoimmune diseaes and my sisters have been diagnosed with a few as well. I will take your 9 steps and apply them to my life thank you. Bonnie
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis four years ago. I spent the first year of treatment on methotrexate and quarterly shots of cortisone. The methotrexate was minimally effective and the cortisone was the most helpful and kept me able to work. Side effects from methotrexate were terrible and I went from pills to injections to stop severe nausea. Eventually, migraines became unbearable and I went of methotrexate for good. I deteriated so quickly after that, and was unable to work and pretty much stopped living a normal life for almost a year. I was given leflunimide which improved my condition to some extent but not enough that I could work so plaquenol and prednisone (7.5mg) were added. In my opinion it is only the prednisone that enables me to live my life at this point. I have moderate pain that I have learned to live with and work around. The doctor wants me off prednisone however, so we are trying sulfasalazine, with the idea that if that doesn’t help I can move on to Humira with govt. approval to help with the expense of that drug.
With many hours of research I have learned that its probably leaky gut and food allergens that have gotten me into this mess. I’ve cut out all wheat products and dairy. I am trying to cut out all sugar but I struggle with that one. My dilemma is, how will I know if its the drugs or the new way of eating that’s making me feel better and how do I go against my doctors care plan and cut down or go completely off the drugs when I do start feeling better.
Hi Cheryl!
Have you tried looking for a functional medicine doctor to help you navigate the upcoming changes?
Also, I have (or used to have) a big sweet tooth. I found that giving up all sugar was easy once I found that eating dates is all I really need to satisfy me. I still allow myself to have as many as I want which is usually about 4 max. I can still make cookies with them, brownies, chocolate pie, milkshakes (almond milk) etc. Everyone that tries them is amazed at how yummy they are. I find that any kind of liquid sweetener or sugar in general bothers me, but fruits (including dates) are okay.
thank you for the info. so awesome, i find it hard to find Doc who donsent want to medicate constantly and send you back out to heal while u find what is wrong, work and hope it isent getting worse.
Been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2015, and I was a woman of 50. They put me on Rebif which I took until 2017 and was switched to Copaxone. I had two relapses on Rebif, none so far on Copaxone. I do notice my balance was getting worse, and my memory, as well as erectile dysfunction and spasms’ had no choice to sick for other solution and I was introduce to totalcureherbsfoundation om which I purchase the MS herbal formula from the foundation, the herbal supplement has effectively get rid of my multiple sclerosis and reversed all symptoms.
I have been ill since september 1988 6 weeks after my son was born i got what i thought was flu and not been right since have times in between when i feel a bit better but then it flares up again,i now have hyperthyroidism and raised antibodies i feel inflamed from head to toe my sinuses are really bad my joints and flesh all swollen even my inner organs feel swollen and i cannot lose weight my doctor is treating me with 25mg of thyroxin that are not even doin nothing an in alot of pain and have many numerous other symptons and am never free of infections and always bacterial ive now started taking lots of different vitamins and placed myself on the paleo diet i also have alot of allergies
I have been diagnosed for Rheumatoid arthritis since 2006, my treatment is having a HUMIRA (40mg) every 14 days, it is ment to surpress my immune system, and I use Steroids (prednisolne , up to 40 mg /single dose every 2,3 days to reduce my severe pain in my joints and muscles, i am very unhappy , I am 57 years old now, and I take care of my diet, as well, and because of steriods, I have been diagnosed (Diabetics) since september 2012, please advise me the best possible solution to get rid of my painful health condition, thanks and regards , No I haven’t said that before, this is firat time I am writing tonyou
I have been diagnosed for Rheumatoid arthritis since 2006, my treatment is having a HUMIRA (40mg) every 14 days, it is ment to surpress my immune system, and I use Steroids (prednisolne , up to 40 mg /single dose every 2,3 days to reduce my severe pain in my joints and muscles, i am very unhappy , I am 57 years old now, and I take care of my diet, as well, and because of steriods, I have been diagnosed (Diabetics) since september 2012, please advise me the best possible solution to get rid of my painful health condition, thanks and regards
Hello. Thank you for this site and all of the amazingly helpful information here. I have not been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, however, I want to be tested to (hopefully), rule them out. In both 2009 and 2012, both during October/November, I’ve had the sudden onset of inflammatory symptoms and muscle weekness that was crippling. In 2009 it lasted a month, then vanished (my doctor wrote it off as stress). This year, my symptoms are taking longer to fade out, and there are more of them, such as shortness of breath and air hunger, and acid reflux. My doctor is again saying it’s all stress and anxiety, but I want the peace of mind in case there is an autoimmune response at work. My list of allergies to both foods and medications has increased rapidly over the past 10 years, and this year, I suddenly developed Vertigo (what is going on?) I have been under extreme stress (during both instances), but I just want to be sure I’m okay. I’m 45, in otherwise excellent health, and keep very fit. I now have a new family doctor. Will you please tell me what tests to ask for to accurately detect an autoimmune disease or problem; particularly MS and Myasthenia Gravis. (Additionally, I have had several falls and concussions since my 20’s and have never been sent to an ENT). I am a Forensic Psychologist and in the past 5years have also sustained many back and neck injuries at work due to a form of physical self-protection training the hospital uses and that I used to train staff in. Where do I start? I have had anxiety since I was 5, but learned to control and live with it. Help please…thanks so much, Lynne
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This is an amazing helpfull articule. I have Lupus my husband has Ankolosing Spandilitys he takes Enbrel which makes his life I want to say decent cause without his bones would lack together but the sides effects are so frighten I wish he wouldn’t have to inject this Meds. I don’t tae any of this Meds to treat my condition rather follow the principal of functional Medicine and truly I’m doing pretty good. iI will forward this interesting articule to many people I know will benefit from it
Thank you for making this information available.
I was diagnosed with juvenile rhuematoid arthritis at 14. I have been on many meds over the years (I’m 41 now), but most recently Remicade, methotrexate, and I can’t remember what else! After maybe a year on Remicade, I decided it wasn’t doing enough and was too toxic, and I quit. I went vegan at the same time, with the help of Elisa Rodriguez of Eat UR Vegies.com, and have been medication free for 9 months. I feel really pretty good, but I have loss of cartilage in several areas and limited range of motion that I’m told cannot be helped. I would LOVE to find out that I can actually be cured, rather than just be “in remission’. I would also love to find out that with some sort of therapy I could gain back range of motion, especially in my right wrist.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 12 years ago. I also have osteo-arthritis, and my newest diagnosis a year ago was an auto immune disease called Sjogrens Syndrome.My CRP levels are very high and my Dr is concerned about that. I had a tumor on my thyroid (have been on thyroid meds for years) ending in a right thyroidectomy. I hurt all over and I am allergic to ALL non steroidals. I get hives and cannot breathe. So there is nothing I can take for the pain except Tylenol. I can’t even take Lyrica. I’m a mess, I know. Please tell me what to do. My hands and feet and legs are the most affected and hurt and burn severely. I am only 58 years old. I have changed my diet to a more raw diet and have lost 40 pounds. I do need to lose about 75 more. A friend told me about you. Thank you so much for this post.
Hello,
I was diagnosed with MS in September 2010 with a single lesion on my brain pawns. I had a significant event that caused me to lose my eyesight and balance for almost 48 hours. I caught “Crazy Sexy Cancer” on TLC one night about a week after my first attack, and was so inspired that I spent the following weekend researching an alkaline diet. I began juicing green juice everyday (still do!) and eating a raw, organic, vegan, gluten free, sugar free, and caffeine free diet. I began practicing yoga and meditation as well. When I had my next scan 6 months later- my lesion was gone. I am due for another scan in September (the year anniversary) and my fingers are crossed that my scan is still clear.
It took me a long time to find a doctor that would acknowledge a treatment plan that I believed in. All of the neurologists and specialists I visited wanted me on drugs-even before they were sure it wasn’t a low grade brain glioma. They were all very aggressive, wanting to begin treatment ASAP. They didn’t understand when I said “…but we’re not even sure what we’re treating yet…”
I finally found a specialist that took notice when my scan returned clear. I am now working with him on the philosophy presented by Kris about healing with nutrition and a total body, spirit, and mind approach. I also take a variety of supplements (Blue green algae, wheatgrass, flax, B, D vitamins, etc.
I’m so happy that I am carving out my own path of treatment that I believe in and found a doctor who respects that. I feel very fortunate!