Functional Medicine for Top Autoimmune Doctors

Your body is designed to fight off invading bacteria and pathogens to protect you from developing an illness, disease, or infection. Your white blood cells are like generals in an army: leading the charge against invasive substances. Other tissues and cells, chiefly found in your gut, are responsible for protecting you from illness. 

This system of defenses is collectively known as your immune system. But sometimes this immune response gets imbalanced and off-kilter, resulting in autoimmune diseases. 

What is an Autoimmune Disease?

Autoimmune diseases often attack specific areas like the joints, skin, and thyroid, leading to a variety of symptoms:

• Joint pain
• Stiffness
• Rashes
• Blisters
• Discolored skin
• Weight gain or loss
• Low energy
• Achy muscles

Causes of Autoimmune Diseases

There isn’t a single, clear-cut cause for autoimmune diseases. Often, it’s a combination of factors, including:

• Genetics: Some people have a genetic predisposition to developing autoimmune conditions.
• Environmental Triggers: Exposure to certain environmental factors, like toxins or infections, can trigger autoimmune reactions in susceptible individuals.
• Bodily Imbalances: Disruptions in the body’s natural balance, such as gut microbiome imbalances or hormonal fluctuations, can contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases.

Treatment from Traditional Autoimmune Doctors

After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, most people seek out a top autoimmune doctor to try to reverse the symptoms of autoimmunity. 

Unfortunately, the conventional approach from most autoimmune doctors ends up looking like a lot of medication to manage symptoms for the rest of your life. That doesn’t sound like any fun!

Many folks walk away from their autoimmune doctor with no hope of full recovery and a big bottle of medication. We think there’s a better way of doing things.

The Functional Medicine Approach

Just as a bullet wound requires more than a Band-Aid, autoimmune diseases demand a deeper understanding and a comprehensive approach to healing. Conventional medicine often focuses on managing symptoms with medication, acting like a temporary fix that doesn’t address the underlying issues. Functional medicine, however, seeks to unravel the root causes of your autoimmune condition, going beyond the surface-level symptoms.

The Functional Medicine Difference: Asking “Why?”

Functional medicine doctors, including those specializing in autoimmune disorders, don’t simply ask, “What will fix these symptoms?” Instead, we delve into the “why” behind your health struggles. We investigate potential triggers, such as gut imbalances, environmental toxins, chronic stress, or nutritional deficiencies, that may be contributing to your autoimmune response.

The Body as a Connected Ecosystem: Understanding Chronic Disease

Functional medicine recognizes the interconnectedness of your body’s systems. A problem in one area can often ripple through others, leading to a cascade of symptoms. By taking a whole-person approach, we consider how various factors like diet, lifestyle, genetics, and environmental exposures may be impacting your health.

Functional vs. Integrative Medicine: A Collaborative Approach

Functional medicine and integrative medicine often work hand in hand, with functional medicine focusing on identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic diseases, while integrative medicine incorporates a wider range of therapies, including nutritional counseling, mind-body practices, and lifestyle modifications. At Five Journeys, our functional medicine practitioners often collaborate with nutritionists and other specialists to create a truly comprehensive treatment plan that addresses your unique needs.

Your Journey to Long-Term Healing

While functional medicine may not offer a quick fix, it provides a more sustainable and successful approach to managing autoimmune diseases in the long run. We’re committed to helping you feel better quickly, but our ultimate goal is to guide you towards complete healing and lasting wellness.

How Functional Medicine Doctors Treat Autoimmunity

We have a clear process for finding and treating the root cause of illnesses like autoimmunity:

1. Getting Connected. We start by getting to know you inside and out: your current symptoms, health goals, health history, lifestyle habits, family history, and more. Nothing is off limits—we want to know all about ya!
2. Getting Data. Next, we utilize our cutting-edge technology and lab testing to get an accurate reading of what’s happening in your body. We may test for food sensitivities, stress levels, toxic exposure, hormones, and nutrients. These tests are designed to uncover the root causes behind your autoimmune disease.
3. Getting Your Plan. With the information we know about your lifestyle and from our test results, we’ll come up with a plan to attack that root cause behind your symptoms. This might look like nutrition coaching, supplements and mineral prescriptions, and additional therapy support. Our goal is to help your body recover from current symptoms and be better equipped to prevent illness in the future.
4. Getting Results. As we work together, we’ll monitor your progress with “health markers” that indicate if your symptoms are improving. This isn’t a “quick fix,” and we’re prepared to guide you every step of the way. That means making tweaks in your plan if needed, continual monitoring of your progress, and shifting our health strategy if needed.

Our top autoimmune doctors at Five Journeys are here to tell you that there’s hope for recovering from autoimmunity—not more prescriptions that result in a dead end.

Work with a Functional Autoimmune Doctor Today

Ready to experience the transformative power of functional medicine for your autoimmune condition?

Connect with our team of expert autoimmune specialists in Boston, Newton, and throughout Massachusetts. Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive approach to healing and schedule a consultation. Together, we’ll uncover the root cause of your autoimmunity, create a personalized autoimmune disease treatment plan, and empower you to reclaim your health and well-being.

Sources

What Are Autoimmune Diseases? Who Gets Them & Causes | NIAMS (nih.gov)