Naturopathic Autoimmune Disease Specialist in Palo Alto, CA

Autoimmunity is reaching epidemic levels. Some estimates suggest over 50 million Americans have one or more autoimmune diseases – and that up to 80 percent are women. Even more distressing, the numbers are on the increase. There is no known cause, no known cure and it can be difficult to diagnose. Even worse, having one Autoimmune Disease puts you at increased risk for developing other autoimmune conditions.

Patients can often suffer for years before getting an accurate diagnosis. Even if finally diagnosed, conventional medicine offers few effective treatments – offering little more than steroids, pain pills or immune-suppressing medication, approaches that often create additional health issues. Estimates range from 1 in 10 to 1 in 5, and for many, it is a life sentence.

Naturopathic medicine offers a different approach that can be life changing. A naturopathic Autoimmune Disease specialist looks at the individual as a whole, assessing factors ranging from diet to hormones to digestive health, with the goal of enabling you to overcome autoimmune dysfunction. Naturopathic treatment of Autoimmune Diseases employs targeted testing for accurate diagnoses that will help develop a personalized treatment plan to maximize real healing. Unlike conventional medicine, which attempts, at best, to treat symptoms.

It’s not necessary for you to allow Autoimmune Disease to diminish your quality of life. Compile your list of symptoms and contact Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, to discuss options for achieving a more balanced immune system and a healthier you = full of life and vibrancy! Schedule a consultation today with us by contacting us online or calling us at (650) 240-4868!

What is Autoimmune Disease?

When your immune system attacks your healthy organs, tissues and cells, it is considered an autoimmune malfunction caused by a specific Autoimmune Disease. Autoimmune responses like this are often chronic and can attack anywhere in your body. An Autoimmune Disease can profoundly impact, damage and weaken your bodily function, becoming debilitating or even be life-threatening. There are many different types of disease that fall into the category of Autoimmune Disease. Water's Edge Natural Medicine specializes in a naturopathic approach to the treatment of Autoimmune Disease.

What are the Different Types of Autoimmune Disease?

While over 100 forms of Autoimmune Disease have been identified, some are more commonly recognized - like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Lupus, Hashimoto’s or Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Others are more rare and not well known. There are many diseases which fall under the category of Autoimmune Disease, including:

• Lupus
• Primary Immunodeficiency
• Relapsing Polychondritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sjogren's Syndrome
• Hashimoto's Disease
• Graves' Disease

If you have symptoms that cannot be successfully diagnosed or treated and you suspect an Autoimmune Disease, let Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto CA help you restore healthy immune function.

Risk Factors for Autoimmune Disease

The most common risk factors for Autoimmune Disease include:

Gender – Even though females tend to be healthier and live longer than men – and are less susceptible to infectious disease in general – they comprise 80% of patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Disease. Autoimmune Disease is now one of the top 10 causes of death for women in the U.S.

Age - Many Autoimmune Diseases occur in the second half of adulthood when immune function has begun to decline.

Genetic Background – A family history of Autoimmune Disease can be predictive for future generations, and you may also see them cluster in families.

Causes of Autoimmune Disease

The cause of Autoimmune Disease is not clearly understood. There can be multiple causes or risk factors – even in the same person. Autoimmune diseases can not only cluster in families, impacting generations. They can also cluster in individuals – if you have one Autoimmune Disease, you may be prone to have multiple Autoimmune Diseases.

Some of the suspected causes or triggers of Autoimmune Disease include:

• Certain foods or ingredients in foods
• Exposure to toxins (e.g., mercury, mold, or agricultural chemicals)
• Specific medical conditions (e.g., disorders of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland) or sometimes even simple infections or illness
• Congenital disease (present at birth)
• Thyroid issues that trigger an autoimmune response in the thyroid or in other areas of the body
• Stress response to chronic stressors or a severe chronic event
• Digestive issues or issues related to the gut microbiome
• Certain medications and treatments (like radiation therapy)

Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease

There are a wide range of symptoms that could signal the onset of Autoimmune Disease, and every individual has his or her own unique experience. Autoimmune Disease may manifest with symptoms ranging from joint pain, fatigue or chronic pain to brain fog, digestive symptoms, skin issue, depression and anxiety. All of these are common symptoms connected to countless diseases – making it hard to tease out the root cause. Not only that, but these symptoms will manifest differently depending on the individual and the specific type of Autoimmune Disease involved. Two people with Lupus, for instance, will not always have the same symptoms. That’s why Autoimmune Disease can be so challenging to diagnose. It not only requires considerable knowledge and expertise – but a tremendous level of experience diagnosing and treating Autoimmune Disease.

Diagnosing Autoimmune Disease

At your first consultation, we conduct a full assessment of your symptoms and take a complete medical history to accurately diagnose whether or not what you have is an Autoimmune Disease and rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. We recommend you compile a complete list of your symptoms, medical conditions and medications before your first consultation. We will not only review your medical history you provide but also discuss lifestyle factors, current medications and supplements you take, and other health concerns

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine, the course of treating Autoimmune Disease and its symptoms will vary with each individual patient. We will create a treatment plan designed specifically for you. We use blood tests to rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms. We will also test your hormone levels – especially thyroid hormones, which have increasingly been linked to Autoimmune Disease. At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we understand that your diagnosis of Autoimmune Disease is the first step in rebalancing your immune system and your overall mental and physical health.

Treating Autoimmune Disease

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we are well versed in the most comprehensive and leading edge testing and treatment of Autoimmune Disease – getting to the root causes. Our goal is to utilize healing regimens free of the side effects that come with conventional treatment options. Since your immune system resides in your gut, healing any issues with your digestive system will be an important step, but there are many other approaches, including:

• Medical nutrition plan to avoid foods that trigger Autoimmune Disease (e.g., gluten-containing foods when you have an autoimmune condition like Celiac Disease)
• Targeted vitamins, supplements or IV vitamin therapy
• Identifying and addressing food allergies and sensitivities, as well as environmental allergies that may be contributing factors
• Herbal remedies
• Identifying and removing environmental toxins in your life
• Stress management and restoring adrenal function
• Medical weight loss plan, together with a customized movement regimen that is appropriate for your physical condition, to help counter the weight gain that is commonly experienced with certain autoimmune conditions
• Other recommended lifestyle modifications

If you are struggling with Autoimmune Disease, working with a doctor who understands the complexity of your condition – as well as the complex array of treatment options that can maximize a healthy immune response – is a crucial factor. A very specialized type of expertise and care is required to address all of the issues that arise from Autoimmune Disease. The specific course of treatment will vary with each individual patient, especially since Autoimmune Disease symptoms may manifest differently in each person. We will create a treatment plan designed just for you.

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, we take not only your physical symptoms, but your emotional symptoms into consideration as we develop a treatment plan designed for you.

Request Your Appointment Today!

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your Autoimmune Disease symptoms and our array of healing, rejuvenating and balancing approaches to help you recover from Autoimmune Disease and restore balanced, healthy immune function. Compile your list of symptoms and reach out to Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA to schedule a consultation today! Contact us online or call us at (206) 966-4522!

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