Information » Diseases » Autoimmune disease
Although genetics definitely makes some people more likely to get autoimmune diseases, they also require a trigger. Identifying potential triggers can be critically important to the long-term success of a treatment plan. The most commonly cited trigger for autoimmune disease is infection; many viruses, bacteria and parasites have been linked to autoimmune diseases.
There is a long list of health problems in which a disordered immune system may be the cause:
This long list of diseases have two very important things in common. The first is that they are disorders of the immune system. The second is that they are a mystery to conventional medicine. It is important to understand these two things, because they have two very important implications. The first is that the treatment for all of these disorders should include treating the immune system. The second is that conventional medicine is not very good at treating the immune system which often leads patients with autoimmune disorders to seek alternative forms of treatment.
Each one of these diseases has very specific criteria for diagnosis. Usually, this includes symptoms, abnormal immune blood tests, diagnostic imaging (X-ray, CT or MRI) and in some cases, examining the tissues involved.
Until recently, there has been very little treatment to improve any of these conditions. Drugs to control the immune system are traditionally prescribed, but they often only slow the progression of disease, usually at the expense of considerable side effects. In most cases, this has based on corticosteroid drugs like prednisone and other anti-inflammatories, which affect the entire immune system while trying to control one specific part of it.
A recent major advance is the new generation of treatments targeting specific parts of the immune system. Examples include interferon for multiple sclerosis and remicade or humera for rheumatoid arthritis or ulcerative colitis/crohn's. They have had limited benefits, however, and are extremely expensive.
A rational approach to treating autoimmune diseases requires a focus on three areas. Treatment should include therapies that:
We use number of therapies are used to normalize immune function. Although there are no large, randomized clinical trial proving that they work, clinical experience and preliminary studies in humans suggest that they are effective. They include:
These and other treatments are tailored to the individual patient's history, current symptoms and disease.
Although genetics definitely makes some people more likely to get autoimmune diseases, they also require a trigger. Identifying potential triggers can be critically important to the long-term success of a treatment plan. The most commonly cited trigger for autoimmune disease is infection; many viruses, bacteria and parasites have been linked to autoimmune diseases.
The incidence of autoimmune disorders has risen alarmingly in recent decades, and one likely culprit is xenobiotics. These are chemicals from pesticides, preservatives, additives and plastics that have found their way into our bodies and have been shown to disrupt normal immune function.
Chronic inflammation can trigger immune disorders, and this can result from psychological stress, trauma or major illness and hormonal imbalances. Our society is literally stressed-out and this has increased the burden of these illnesses. Treatments focused on healing the mind and body are an essential part of the treatment plan.
An additional, little-researched area of concern is electromagnetic radiation. Patients with depression have been healed by the magnetic field of a single MRI, and many researchers have shown that weak electric currents help heal fractures. Every cell in the body has an electrochemical gradient that is vital to its function and the fields we are exposed to, from fluorescent lights, cellular phones, computer screens and dozens of electronic devices, have been implicated in many immune system problems.
Although the evidence proving this approach is still lacking, many patients have benefited dramatically. An detailed consultation makes it possible to develop a treatment plan tailored to treat the root causes of your illness, return the immune system to normal function and help the body heal itself.