Natural Approaches to Treat Autoimmune Diseases

As we write this, some 50 million Americans are suffering from some sort of autoimmune disorder. In fact, at least several million of them are located within driving distance of our Greater Houston facility in the suburb of Spring, Texas. Unfortunately, when it comes to autoimmune issues, many conventional physicians only end up treating the symptoms of the problem. And even when the true ailment is uncovered, mainstream treatments can often fall short of providing a solution.

Rather than relying on drugs that further suppress the immune system, the team at Internal Healing and Wellness MD prefers to take a holistic, Functional Medicine approach to autoimmune problems. Here, we do our best to take a more comprehensive and personal approach when developing treatment plans for our patients. Some of the options with which we’ve seen great success include:

Switching to an Anti-Inflammation Diet

Inflammation is one of the main triggers and one of the primary results of autoimmune disorders. Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid this problem by eating anti-inflammatory foods, including organic greens, cruciferous veggies, grass-fed meat, organic berries, and good fats (olive oil, avocado, coconut oil), etc. We also recommend you avoid foods that are overly processed as well as trans fats, artificial sweeteners, processed foods, GMOs, gluten, and dairy, all of which are tied to inflation.

Letting Your Gut Heal and Improve

If your gut and microbiome are unhealthy, changing your diet isn’t going to have much of an effect. Remember, your digestive tract is actually one of the biggest immune barriers you have, and it needs to be properly maintained in order to function. For instance, “leaky gut,” as it’s known, results in your digestive tract becoming permeable and allowing bacteria and even undigested food into your blood. Over time, this can lead to an autoimmune disorder. Fortunately, you can encourage your stomach and intestines to heal themselves by taking prebiotics and probiotics to fill your gut with healthy bacteria. You can also eat collagen-rich foods like bone broth to give your body the ingredients needed to repair your intestinal lining.

Check for Food-Related Allergies

One of the primary reasons to see a doctor with a Functional Medicine background is because they will often approach autoimmune disorders by immediately testing for food allergies like celiac and other inflammation triggering sensitives. They are often more willing to check or mold toxicity, heavy metal abnormalities, and other ailments that mainstream practitioners just don’t consider.

Introduce Exercise, Rest, and Stress Management

Regular physical activity is extremely effective at reducing inflammation, which is why exercise is often one of the first things we recommend. After all, even mild workouts can have huge benefits for both your physical and mental health, especially when it comes to stress relief. Speaking of which: chronic stress can not only wreak havoc on your body in innumerable ways, but it has also been directly tied to inflammatory and autoimmune illnesses. That’s why we teach you ways to start managing your stress levels and alleviate any anxiety or depression stemming from them. Lastly, we place a huge focus on rest and relaxation. After all, you’d be surprised what your body can overcome when you give it adequate time to repair itself.

Immune System Boosting Supplements

Aside from prebiotics and probiotics, there is a wide range of supplements that can help repair your guy or strengthen your overall immune system. Some of our favorites include:

If you suspect you might be suffering from an autoimmune issue, you can start adding these supplements to your daily routine right now. You might be surprised at just how quickly you’ll notice a difference in your symptoms.

Natural Autoimmune Support at Internal Healing and Wellness MD

At Internal Healing and Wellness MD, we help people from all over the Greater Houston area address their autoimmune concerns in a comprehensive, holistic manner. If you’ve repeatedly sold medications and other “band-aid” treatments by GPs and specialists, reach out to Dr. Khan and his staff. Together, we can get to the root of what’s causing your illness and decide on a more natural, more beneficial treatment strategy.