Healing Suggestions for Autoimmune Disease
by Elaine Moore
July 28, 2000

Currently, more than 80 different diseases are known to have an autoimmune component. The list includes commonly occurring diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)and autoimmune thyroid diseases, to the infrequently seen Inclusion Body Myositis.

In many instances, the autoimmune nature of certain diseases, such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDMM) or type 1 diabetes, are recognized as a recent finding. In fact, many patients, particularly those with hypothyroidism, are unaware that they have an autoimmune disease.

Why is the nature of disease important? The importance of acknowledging the autoimmune etiology of these diseases is that the symptoms in autoimmune disease typically wax and wane. No two patients will follow the same disease course. Although in the past, this waxing and waning was thought to be a sporadic event, scientists now know that the immune system doesn't work independently. In fact, the mind and nervous system play a profound role in immune system function.

The science of psychoneuroimmunology or PNI studies changes directly caused by stress and diet and emotions. Supported by thousands of studies, PNI effectively explains the mind body connection and its role in health. A decade ago, the mind body connection was primarily associated with causative contributions to disease.

We now know that the mind body connection plays a major role in healing as well. Although Hippocrates had long ago written that health was defined by a harmonious integration of environmental influences, social factors, lifestyle, and the variable components of human nature, little thought was traditionally given to environmentally induced healing agents.

Dr. Norman Cousins paved the way by treating his own autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis with stress reduction techniques. Dr. David Simon, Director of the Chopra Center for Well Being, writes that allergies and autoimmune diseases develop when the immune system over-reacts to emotions, particularly to internal threats or feelings of alienation.

In autoimmune disease, stressors, both physical and emotional, are associated with an increase in symptoms and in their severity. Likewise, the various methods of stress reduction, including yoga, meditation, tai chi, and spiritual healing, have all been shown to ameliorate symptoms. Many Graves' disease patients, especially those with mild symptoms, have entered remission through a combination of stress reduction techniques and dietary changes.

Physical stressors suspected or known to trigger autoimmune disease include hundreds of different environmental chemicals and dietary contributions such as saturated fats and sugar. These substances have been shown to cause changes in the immune system components. In particular, saturated fats and sugar are responsible for a decline in the number of white blood cells, suppressor T lymphocytes, which would ordinarily
stop the autoreactive immune (autoimmune) response before autoantibodies were produced. Hormonal disruptors mimic and displace the body's natural estrogens, triggering the development of several different autoimmune diseases.

The role of self-care in autoimmune disease cannot be emphasized. The most important factors are 1) stress reduction, 2)improved diet with an emphasis on high nutrient foods such as vegetables and fruits, and an avoidance of foods which tax the immune system such as meats, dairy, saturated fats and sugar and 3)an avoidance of hormonal disruptors such as certain plastics and chemicals, particularly artificial sweeteners, pesticides and fertilizers.

The tenets of Holistic Medicine emphasize not acting contrary to nature. In terms of treatment, certain agents such as radioiodine used for hyperthyroidism, merely perpetuate immune system dysfunction. While aggressive measures are used to destroy the thyroid, which is the victim not the cause in autoimmune hyperthyroidism, these agents may lead to the development of other autoimmune conditions. Before any aggressive measures for autoimmune disease are considered, holistic health options should be employed.