We are far from knowing everything about the over 80 serious chronic illnesses of the hundreds that makeup the autoimmune disease family. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that many chronic diseases like cardio vascular, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cancer, even Alzheimer’s, have their roots in an autoimmune mechanism.^1,2 If we are to prevent and reverse chronic disease including autoimmune, we have to understand the root causes.

The good news about autoimmune disease (and this is the key!) is that the latest research shows that not only is it reversible, but it can be tracked and prevented for up to 10-15 years before any symptoms actually appear. It’s all about doing good detective from the get-go, asking the right functional questions and getting to root causes, and finally recommending bio-individual protocols.

Making Sense of Immune Chaos

When I observe autoimmune disease in my clients, they tell me stories of having symptoms that are infrequent and mild and then suddenly an internal switch flips on in their body and a cascade of “seemingly” unrelated health issues ensues. I refer to this tipping point in a person’s health as the final straw that breaks the camels back. What I mean by this is that one day possibly after years of little aches and pains, the body’s ability to maintain organization and balance turns on its head and a kind of internal chaos starts to take root.

These disease-causing triggers are most often not genetic in nature, but tend to be things in our environment that we are routinely exposed to. These seem to have a pattern across people of all walks of life: problematic foods, infections, traumas, bacteria overgrowth (like Candida), medications, toxins (from heavy metals and molds), unusually high levels of stress, over exercise, poor sleep, blood sugar imbalances and hormonal changes.

The 5 Functional Root Causes

I look at immune health and ensuing conditions on the autoimmune spectrum from the perspective of Five Functional Root Causes. Each of these key factors on their own is enough to negatively impact our health, but what often occurs is that more than one of these factors are in play (and usually for extended periods of time!). When this occurs, the body enters into and remains in an overly excited and stressful state, often leading to destruction of tissue and function.

Demystifying Autoimmune Disease

Part of solving the riddle of and eventually reversing autoimmune conditions and symptoms is to address the whole-body and apply proven solutions to each of the 5 functional causes. This is accomplished not by seeing patients for twenty minutes, taking their blood pressure and sending them away with a prescription, but by cultivating a trusting relationship and achieving a thorough understanding of a person’s physiology, their unique stressors and weak links, what they are putting into their body, how home and work affect them, their relationship to making healthy behavior changes and their confidence and ability to create and maintain a well-balanced life.

I refer to my autoimmune checklist and functional matrix whenever I engage in health discussions with clients. I have been trained to ask the right kinds of questions AND to also draw out valuable context surrounding the answers. A good health detective gets to the root of autoimmune disease through understanding root causes and the effect on body systems and overall health.

Just to Recap the 5 Root Causes of Autoimmune Disease

• Today’s leading chronic diseases are now thought to have their roots in some kind of autoimmune mechanism
• With autoimmune disease symptoms often come and go for years until something triggers the immune system into a over-excited state that if allowed to continue unabated, will lead to tissue and function loss
• Diet and lifestyle more than genetics play a critical part in preventing autoimmune disease
• In order to prevent and reverse chronic disease including autoimmune, we have to understand the root causes in addition to applying scientific structures and critical thinking
• Autoimmune disease is a process not a state-of-being.

Do YOU have an autoimmune disease or possibly on the early-end of the spectrum of an immune condition where symptoms are not quite so bad? Don’t let these warning signs go unchecked… because down the road, they can become more severe health conditions.

Because the gut is a key factor in healing autoimmune disease, get my Gut Health Secrets 8-Week Boot Camp. Better yet, if you are serious about getting out of the pain and suffering caused by autoimmune conditions, I offer a 90-Day Autoimmune Remedy Program 4 times a year.

References:

¹Elkahwaji, E. (Dec 31, 2012). The role of inflammatory mediators in the development of prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Res Rep Urol, 5, 1–10.
²Fujinami, R., von Herrath, M., et al. (Jan 2006). Molecular Mimicry, Bystander Activation, or Viral Persistence: Infections and Autoimmune Disease. Clin Microbiol Rev, 19(1): 80–94.

Disclaimer: the views and nutritional advice expressed in this publication are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical advice. No information provided should be interpreted as a diagnosis of any disease, nor an attempt to treat or prevent or cure any disease or condition. All information in this publication is for educational purposes only and Aine-Marie and Advesta Health encourages its clients and members to continue to work in a partnership with qualified medical professional. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider or seek medical assistance. Reading, sharing, or downloading this publication does not establish a doctor patient relationship with Aine-Marie or any Advesta Health employee or consultant including any of our licensed health practitioners, coaches, dieticians or nutritionists.