Autoimmune diseases are the third most common group of diseases after tumors and cardiovascular diseases and have been on the rise in recent years. Reason enough for us to take a closer look!
What is an autoimmune disease?
Our immune system is there to recognize and fight invadersand maintain our health. In the case of an autoimmune disease, this system unfortunately works almost too well: the body's own structures are suddenly no longer classified as harmless and are attacked as a result. In this context, autoimmune means " self-attack". Unfortunately, it is not yet fully understood why this happens. However, various factors appear to contribute to it.
Causes of autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are not so common in other countries around the world. So the Western diet (I suspect, for example, the increased consumption of sugar, industrially processed foods and the use of additives, gluten and the like) but also other "typical" Western lifestyle habits (lack of exercise and, accordingly, lack of sunlight) probably have a bad influence.
Unfortunately, the female sex also seems to have a particular tendency towards autoimmune diseases. This is presumably due to the female hormonal situation or low testosterone levels, which can of course also occur in men.
Other influencing factors are heavy metal exposure in the body, medication, other environmental pollutants, our genetics and stress.
Last but not least, an autoimmune disease may also be a " boredom reaction" of the body, similar to allergies. In the past, our immune system simply had more to do due to our living conditions. It had to fight more against parasites and other invaders. Nowadays, when hygiene has become incredibly important, our immune system has hardly anything to do. So it has more time to do nonsense.
Types of autoimmune diseases
Organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases
There are various autoimmune diseases, which are divided into organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases.
In organ-specific autoimmune diseases, the immune system targets a single specific organ (e.g. the thyroid gland). In systemic autoimmune diseases, the entire body or at least various structures in different places are attacked.
However, all autoimmune diseases have one thing in common: they are always chronic inflammatory processes. And that is precisely the problem, because if the autoimmune disease is not recognized or treated, the affected organ or structures can be completely destroyedand in certain cases with very severe courses can even lead to death.
Known autoimmune diseases
Known autoimmune diseases include, for example:
- Graves' disease or Hashimoto's disease -> attack against structures of the thyroid gland
- Rheumatism -> attack on the joints
- Type I diabetes mellitus -> attack against the islet cells of the pancreas
- Ulcerative colitis and Chron-> attack against the intestinal mucosa
- Multiple sclerosis -> attack against the myelin sheath of the nerve fibers
- Lupus erythematosus -> attack against numerous organs
- Neurodermatitis / psoriasis -> attack against the skin, among other things
- Autoimmune hepatitis -> attack against the liver
Diagnosis
Unfortunately, the diagnosis is sometimes not quite so simple, with the physical examination, clinical picture and medical history often pointing the way. In most cases, certain autoimmune antibodies can also be detected in the blood. Depending on the disease, further tests may be carried out. For example, a scintigraphy in the case of thyroid autoimmune disease, a colonoscopy in the case of intestinal autoimmune disease or an MRI of the brain in the case of MS.
Treatment
In conventional medicine
Treatment in conventional medicine is often very similar. Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs are used. Depending on the symptoms, painkillers are also used, for example. Sometimes particularly radical measures are taken and, for example, the thyroid gland is completely removed in the case of Graves' disease or parts of the intestine are removed in the case of bowel disease.
In naturopathy
In naturopathy, on the other hand, we have various other causal approaches. One main approach, how could it be otherwise (those who have followed my articles in the past can already guess :-)), is the gut. Since a major part of our immune system is located here, it's more or less obvious! Even researchers have now recognized this and have published studies showing that an unfavourable microbiome promotes type I diabetes, for example. The autoimmune disease often appears to be leaky gut disease.
It goes without saying that any trigger factors should also be eliminated. So, for example, you should urgently consult a naturopathic dentist to have an appropriate interference field search carried out. Further exposure to heavy metals and environmental pollutants should also be kept to a minimum and, in turn, the liver should be supported in its detoxification function.
In my opinion, the vitamin D balance should definitely be checked and substituted if necessary. Of course, other immune-stabilizing Vitamins and minerals during this time.
Relaxation techniques are important. Cortisol as well as adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin have a strong (negative) influence on our immune system. The more stress, the more the inflammatory process flares up. Ergo: the more relaxed we are, the more relaxed our immune system is.
Change in diet
A very relevant factor is the change in diet. It has been shown that the Paleo diet has a very positive influence on many autoimmune diseases. The main features here are the elimination of sugar, all types of grain, milk and dairy products and other industrially processed foods. Meat should mainly come from organic production. The main diet should consist of vegetables. Because of the fructose, fruit should only make up a small proportion, with red fruit being preferred. Good oils and nuts should also be consumed.
Autoimmune diseases can also be positively influenced by fermenting vegetables.
