First of all, what is an autoimmune disease? An autoimmune disease is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. The immune systems job is to guard against germs like bacteria and viruses. However, because people are highly stressed, exposed to pollutants in our environment and a typical western diet they develop gut issues. When the immune system senses foreign invaders allowed in because of the state of ones gut health, it sends out an army of fighters cells to attack them. Normally, the immune system can tell the difference between your cells and foreign cells, but with autoimmunity the system mistakes part of your body as foreign and attacks it. Common autoimmune conditions include: Hashimotos, Graves Disease, Lupus, Rhematoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes.
They used to think autoimmune diseases were irreversible and treated with immune suppressing drugs, but researchers have found that they can be reversed. Three conditions must exist for them to develop which include: 1) A genetic predisposition; 2) An exposure to an environmental trigger; 3) A leaky gut. It can be a case of environmental triggers interacting with specific genes that triggers the condition.
What I’ve found though when treating those with autoimmune conditions is you have to look at the entire picture. What are they exposed to in their environment? Where do they work? How old is their house? Are there moulds, etc.? What sort of cleaning products do they use? What sort of personal care products? Is there family history? There are so many questions that need answering, and if you’re not working with a practitioner who asks you a lot of questions then you may wish to reconsider moving forward with them. I like to say our investigative work as clinicians never ends. It’s not always a simple answer so gathering information to get the bigger picture is what helps get to the root issue so that can be addressed and therefore resolved.
In saying all this, I do believe we always have to look back to the gut. “Leaky gut” is when junctions in the gut that should be very tightly packed together become loose and allow substances to pass through the gut lining that shouldn’t be there. When your gut starts leaking like that environmental triggers can start interacting with your immune system and your genetics. The “foreign” particles travel throughout the body and trigger a reaction from your immune system, which promotes inflammation and begins the process of an autoimmune disease.
So, if the gut is the gateway that allows the food particles, wastes and chemicals to get through and triggers the immune system, then healing the gut should address the condition. So, the goal is to remove the environmental triggers that turns on the gene expression, (and don’t forget that food intolerances can play a part in all this too). I do believe the attack can be stopped, but in some cases if it’s been going on too long then there can be damage that can’t be undone. For instance, thyroid tissue may be beyond repair or joint damage from RA could be irreversible.
It’s not all doom and gloom. My passion is to help those who are suffering before it gets to the point of no return. There is a way to turn off the autoimmune response. We can calm down the immune system which will repair damage if it’s early onset. So, look out for these symptoms and if you suspect you may have an autoimmune condition, then don’t wait to seek help. I can order bloods and any other further testing necessary. Information can be gathered and your body can be supported and healed.
Here are some symptoms to look out for: chronic gut pain, constipation, fatigue, hair loss, feeling the cold, outer third of eyebrows thinning, cold extremities, dry skin, achy muscles, swelling and redness, brain fog, skin rashes and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. I’d love to help you so you don’t have to suffer or be put on medication the rest of your life. Get in touch if that’s you.
