What are Thyroid Conditions?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in your throat that makes specific hormones. When this gland isn’t working correctly, you can experience a variety of symptoms. Over 90% of thyroid conditions are autoimmune, meaning that the body attacks it’s own thyroid tissue. Thyroiditis is the swelling of the thyroid gland. If you’re one of the 14 million people in America who are suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or 10 million people who have Graves’ disease,  you’re probably wondering what you can do to help improve symptoms and get some relief. 

Thyroid Condition Symptoms

Do you suspect or know that you have a thyroid condition? You may experience symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Brain fog 
• Constipation or “tummy troubles”
• Muscle weakness or joint pain
• Sleep problems
• Sensitivity to heat or cold
• Hair loss
• Dry or pale skin
• Anxiety/Depression
• Heart palpitations
• Hoarse/deepened voice

Triggers for Thyroid Conditions

What can trigger or fuel an imbalance in your thyroid gland?

• Gluten sensitivity or other food triggers
• Viral infection such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
• Plastics like BPA, phthalates, parabens
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Mold toxicity
• Low glutathione status
• Hormonal imbalances
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Leaky gut
• Blood sugar dysfunction
• Low vitamin D

How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?

Typically in treatment for hypothyroid conditions, an oral hormone medication is prescribed and can be helpful for the symptoms. However, since this drug may cause long-term damage to bones and the cardiovascular system, many people choose to find more natural ways to treat their thyroiditis. 

It can be frustrating trying to find help with chronic and complex conditions, which is why we have chosen to dedicate our practice to exactly that. Instead of treating the symptoms, our functional medicine approach focuses on finding the causes.

All autoimmune diseases start in the gut.  We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system rather than focusing on the thyroid.  In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.

Finding the Root Cause

We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
3. An environmental trigger

It All Starts in the Gut!

Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court! 

Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through.  This triggers inflammation and as antibodies are formed they begin to target the thyroid.  This is why medication may help symptoms but it can never resolve your thyroid condition. 

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body is attacking the thyroid gland. If you’re one of the 14 million people in America who are suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, you’re probably wondering what you can do to help improve symptoms and get some relief.

90% of the time, the cause of hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The body makes antibodies (little warriors) that attack the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in your throat. This can cause an underproduction of thyroid hormones and harm the hormone system that is needed to keep the body functioning properly.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Symptoms

Do you suspect or know that you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis? You may experience symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Brain fog 
• Constipation or “tummy troubles”
• Muscle weakness or joint pain
• Sleep problems
• Sensitivity to heat or cold
• Hair loss
• Dry or pale skin
• Anxiety/Depression
• Heart palpitations
• Hoarse/deepened voice

Triggers for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

What can trigger or fuel an imbalance in your thyroid gland?

• Gluten sensitivity and other food trigger
• Viral infection such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
• Plastics like BPA, phthalates, parabens
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Mold toxicity
• Low glutathione status
• Hormonal imbalances
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Leaky gut
• Blood sugar dysfunction

How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?

Typically in treatment for Hashimoto’s, an oral hormone medication is prescribed and can be helpful for the symptoms. However, since this drug may cause long-term damage to bones and the cardiovascular system, many people choose to find more natural ways to treat thyroiditis. 

It can be frustrating trying to find help with chronic and complex conditions, which is why we have chosen to dedicate our practice to exactly that. Instead of treating the symptoms, our functional medicine approach focuses on finding the causes.

All autoimmune diseases start in the gut.  We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system rather than focusing on the thyroid.  In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.

Finding the Root Cause

We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
3. An environmental trigger

It All Starts in the Gut!

Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court!

Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through.  This triggers inflammation and as antibodies are formed they begin to target the thyroid.  This is why medication may help symptoms but it can never resolve your thyroid condition.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the immune system attacks its own body (specifically the joints, but can also damage your eyes and other organs). Life with rheumatoid arthritis can be miserable — the aches, the burn, the feeling of stiffness that lasts throughout the day — but there is hope!

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Do you suspect or know that you have rheumatoid arthritis? Symptoms may include:

• Tender, warm, swollen joints
• Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Brain fog or loss of mental clarity
• Depression

Triggers for Rheumatoid Arthritis

What can trigger or fuel rheumatoid arthritis?

• Gluten intolerance or food sensitivities
• Viral infections like Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
• Chemical toxins, especially cigarette smoke
• Stress/cortisol 
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Poor dental health
• Hormone fluctuations

How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?

Many of our clients have been told they will “have to live with it”, or “to just deal with the side effects” of pharmaceuticals.  But if you are fed up with your current situation and medical management, there is another way!

Functional medicine is an approach that looks at the entire body (structural, metabolic and neurologic health).  We can understand a patient’s complete health situation and discover underlying triggers that may be the actual culprit behind your rheumatoid arthritis.

All autoimmune diseases start in the gut.  We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system.  In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.

Finding the Root Cause

We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
3. An environmental trigger

It All Starts in the Gut!

Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court! 

Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through.  This triggers inflammation and as antibodies are formed against your own tissue.

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of conditions, including autoimmune Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD affects 3 million people in the US, yet conventional medicine still hasn’t identified the cause or cure. The good news is- there is hope!

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms

Do you suspect or know that you have inflammatory bowel disease? You may experience symptoms such as these:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Blood in your stool
• Reduced appetite
• Unintended weight loss
• Depression/Anxiety

Triggers for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

What can trigger or fuel inflammatory bowel disease? 

• Gluten sensitivity or other food triggers
• Viral infection such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
• Plastics like BPA, phthalates, parabens
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Mold toxicity
• Low glutathione status
• Hormonal imbalances
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Leaky gut
• Blood sugar dysfunction
• Low vitamin D

How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?

We understand that living with inflammatory bowel disease is painful, frustrating, and exhausting. The conventional treatment is to prescribe medications that help manage the symptoms, but this approach does not recognize the interconnectedness of our bodies. Instead of focusing on band-aid treatments for IBD, functional medicine aims to heal leaky gut and identify the personal environmental triggers that differ from person to person. 

All autoimmune diseases start in the gut. We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system. In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.

Finding the Root Cause

We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
3. An environmental trigger

It All Starts in the Gut!

Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court! 

Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through.  This triggers inflammation and as antibodies are formed against your own tissue.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own tissue. Shockingly, the majority of symptoms tend to be neurologic (in the brain), not gastrointestinal (in the gut). In fact, for every single celiac suffering from gut symptoms, 7 others may have only brain-based symptoms (headaches, fatigue, numbness/tingling, depression, etc).

The majority of Americans actually have a genetic predisposition for gluten intolerance, which can trigger and/or exacerbate many other conditions, especially related to autoimmunity. Let us help you find out if your health conditions are related to gluten intolerance.

Celiac Disease Symptoms

Do you suspect or know that you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant? Symptoms may include :

• Abdominal cramping, pain and bloating
• Depression/Anxiety
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Fatigue (can present as chronic iron deficiency)
• Bone/joint pain
• Itchy skin/rashes (dermatitis herpetiformis)
• Struggles with weight gain or inability to lose weight
• Balance troubles (ataxia)
• Mouth ulcers
• “Failure to thrive”
• Miscarriage
• Osteoporosis

Triggers for Celiac Disease

What can trigger celiac disease?

• Lack of breastfeeding
• Chronic stress
• Fungal/Candida overgrowth
• Timing of gluten introduction
• Hormones
• Chronic low vitamin D levels

How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?

“Why don’t I feel better now that I’m off gluten?” Sadly, 60% of patients studied one year post gluten removal still had no significant gut healing.  Meaning, you can remove the main trigger (gluten), but you can still suffer from symptoms. This is most likely from continued autoimmune inflammation, infections, hormonal changes and nutrient deficiencies.  You heard that right: The majority of those diagnosed with celiac disease do not recover after gluten withdrawal!

It can be frustrating trying to find help with chronic and complex conditions, which is why we have chosen to dedicate our practice to exactly that. Instead of treating the symptoms, our functional medicine approach focuses on finding the causes.

All autoimmune diseases start in the gut.  We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system.  In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.

Finding the Root Cause

We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
3. An environmental trigger

It All Starts in the Gut!

Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court! 

Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through.  This triggers inflammation and antibodies are formed against your own tissue.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. There is no known cure, and this condition is potentially debilitating.

Those of us with loved ones suffering from multiple sclerosis know personally how frustrating, painful, and heart-wrenching this disease can be. Affecting 2.8 million people worldwide, MS is a demon that many people are familiar with. While there is no known cure, there is still hope.

MS Symptoms

Do you suspect or know that you have multiple sclerosis (MS)? You may experience symptoms such as these:

• Pains and spasms
• Weakness or fatigue
• Tingling and numbness
• Vision problems
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Bladder issues
• Sexual dysfunction
• Cognitive problems
• Depression/Anxiety

Triggers for Multiple Sclerosis

What can trigger or fuel multiple sclerosis?

• Gluten sensitivity or other food triggers
• Viral infection such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
• Plastics like BPA, phthalates, parabens
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Mold toxicity
• Low glutathione status
• Hormonal imbalances
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Leaky gut
• Blood sugar dysfunction

How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?

Treatments that are available for MS are expensive, experimental, and provide temporary relief at best. Most MS patients focus their treatment plans around physical therapy. Though keeping the muscles in use and attempting to reconnect neurons through this method is helpful, it does not address the root cause of the problem.

It can be frustrating trying to find help with chronic and complex conditions, which is why we have chosen to dedicate our practice to exactly that. Instead of treating the symptoms, the functional medicine approach focuses on finding the causes.

All autoimmune diseases start in the gut. We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.

Finding the Root Cause

We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
3. An environmental trigger

It All Starts in the Gut!

Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court! 

Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through.  This triggers inflammation and antibodies are formed against your own tissue.

Over 100 Autoimmune Diseases

Our specialty is autoimmunity. Whether you know or suspect that you have an autoimmune condition, we can help you achieve your wellness goals. All autoimmune diseases develop through very similar patterns and we are very familiar with these processes.

Immunology, rheumatology or endocrinology specialists may have training in specific disorders, but they lack any tools except pharmaceutical or surgical and typically down-play natural medicine as a viable alternative.  Here is a list of autoimmune conditions we have worked with in our 12 years of autoimmune specialization:

• Stiff person syndrome (SPS)
• Primary biliary cholangitis
• Dermatomyositis
• Polymyositis
• Cardiolipin induced cardiomyopathy
• Mixed connective tissue disorders
• Scleroderma
• Optic neuritis
• Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome / Myalgic encephalitis
• Giant cell arteritis
• Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
• Inclusion body myositis 
• Lichen planus
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
• Pernicious anemia
• Meniere’s
• Restless leg syndrome
• Uveitis
• Vasculitis
• Vitiligo
• PANDAS

Common Autoimmune Triggers

Your DNA loads the gun, but your environment pulls the trigger. What are some of the most common triggers for autoimmune disease?

• Gluten sensitivity or other food triggers
• Viral infection such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
• Plastics like BPA, phthalates, parabens
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Mold toxicity
• Low glutathione status
• Hormonal imbalances
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Leaky gut
• Blood sugar dysfunction
• Low vitamin D

How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?

It can be frustrating trying to find help with chronic and complex conditions, which is why we have chosen to dedicate our practice to exactly that. Instead of treating the symptoms, our functional medicine approach focuses on finding the causes.

All autoimmune diseases start in the gut. We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system. In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.

Finding the Root Cause

We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
3. An environmental trigger

It All Starts in the Gut!

Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court! 

Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through.  This triggers inflammation and as antibodies are formed they begin to target organs.  This is why medication may help symptoms but it can never resolve your condition.