Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Disease

In our last post, we took a glance at what functional medicine is, and learned in its most distilled form, it is viewing the patient as dynamic and seeks to treat the root cause of the symptoms. For example, if a patient is suffering from type 2 diabetes, you would first address their eating habits and lifestyle choices. In today’s post, we’ll continue navigating functional medicine and how it relates to autoimmune disease.

At Lee Acupuncture, you’ll find compassionate care through a handful of treatment modalities including functional medicine, to receive the best, most personalized medical care. Functional medicine is one of the least understood medical practices, but one that has a crucial place in modern medicine. Stay with us, and learn more about functional medicine and autoimmune disease.

Functional medicine methodically treats autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune Disease – What Is It?

An autoimmune disease is where your own body, or immune system, mistakenly attacks itself. Because the immune system is expertly equipped to disrupt viruses and bacteria, it combats illness like a pro — but sometimes, it can’t distinguish between the nasty invaders and its own cells. In an autoimmune disorder, the body will often determine cells such as joint and skin as foreign, and release autoantibodies to attack the otherwise healthy, vibrant cells. Different autoimmune diseases can affect specific organs, as in type 1 diabetes and how it targets the pancreas, or in rheumatoid arthritis where affects the whole body.

Why Does The Body Attack Itself?

Some people, more than others, are more susceptible to autoimmune disorders, but doctors aren’t sure why.

Women are more likely to get one compared to men.
Autoimmune disease has a genetic component but may surface differently.
Certain groups are more likely to get a specific autoimmune disease.

Some research points to the western diet as a factor in autoimmune illness and consuming a highly processed diet of unhealthy fats, carbs, and sugars. These foods lead to high inflammation in the body and may trigger an immune response.

Another theory is centered around the hygiene hypothesis. Because of the inception, and widely used, antibiotics and vaccinations, children aren’t exposed to germs like they were in the past. The lack of exposure could then cause their immune system to overprotect to harmless bacteria.

When it comes down to it, medicine doesn’t know the exact cause of an autoimmune disease but attribute diet and bacteria to it.

Some common autoimmune diseases include:

Type 1 diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Psoriasis
Multiple Sclerosis
Lupus
Inflammatory bowel disease
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Celiac disease

Autoimmune disease now affects over 24 million Americans, and the issue with conventional medicine, is it only attempts to mask symptoms and not determine what the root of the cause is — it’s not in search of what is creating the problem. Pharmaceuticals can be helpful short-term and are amazing in getting the person back to health, but there is often another way approach autoimmune disease.

We’ve just begun our journey into autoimmune disease and we have much more to cover, so please, stay tuned for part two where we dive in to why the conventional approach just isn’t serving autoimmune disease anymore.

Autoimmune illness attacks its own body cells and science isn’t clear on the distinct cause of it. Functional medicine takes a different approach to autoimmune disease than conventional, which will be discussed in our next post!