So the doctor says you have an autoimmune disease. Not surprising since the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association (AARDA), states one in five Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease [1]. The doctor gives you a pamphlet about your condition and a prescription for an immunosuppressant drug, also known as anti-inflammatory drug, and pain medication like vicodin. This will lower your immune system’s ability to fight off infection and disease, and therefore it will hopefully stop attacking itself. Or will it?

To date, there is no medical cure for an autoimmune disease because no one knows exactly what causes an autoimmune disease to occur. Currently, autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease (a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract), multiple sclerosis, and alopecia areata (patchy hair loss) are commonly treated with immunosuppressant drugs [2]. 

Given that so many people have been diagnosed with autoimmune, it’s no wonder that 27 major pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop the next prescription drug to be administered to people suffering with symptoms [3]. While we are not privy to the research and development, one can assume these well-meaning scientists will develop a drug to address only symptoms-- they do not eliminate the root cause of your disease, nor cure you, and the side effects may worsen your condition.

 

These immune suppressing drugs decrease the production of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets [4]. And they are pretty dang good at their job. However, as they work to suppress the immune system from attacking its own healthy tissue, these drugs also weaken the immune system from attacking and fighting any other foreign invaders, such as viruses, parasites, and bacteria [5]. Thus, your immune system is less effective in protecting you from serious illnesses and diseases, such as viral infections and some cancers. These drugs also increase the chance of uncontrolled bleeding and liver damage [5]. The contribution of these adverse byproducts, without a cure, contributes to the potential for more disease states.

 

Remedies must work synergistically with each body function. No one should ever prescribe a medication or treatment that will harm other unintended aspects of the body’s function and integrity.

 

Your body has wisdom that needs to be respected and it can heal, if given the opportunity. I will partner with you to discover where your system is imbalanced. We will put together an actual autoimmune disease treatment: a unique, personalized roadmap to focus on your better health.

 

See my page on Autoimmune Diseases or Services for more information regarding the steps that are taken to help you recapture your health.

1. https://www.aarda.org/knowledge-base/many-americans-autoimmune-disease/

2. Immunosuppressive medications. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-treatment/lupus-medications/immunosuppressive-medications/

3. Aarda facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aarda.org/about-aarda/aarda-facts/

4. Halloran, P. (2004). Immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplantation. In (351 ed., pp. 2715-29). New York, NY: New England Journal of Medicine. 

5. Stucker , F., & Ackermann , D. (2011). Immunosuppressive drugs - how they work, their side effects and interactions. Ther Umsch, (68), 679-86. doi: 10.1024/0040-5930/a000230