AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
(Rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue diseases, thyroid diseases, celiac disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, autoimmune hepatitis, etc. )

Currently, two million Canadians are living with autoimmune diseases. The defining feature in autoimmune disorders is that the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue. Many diseases previously felt to be idiopathic are now being viewed as autoimmune, including type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Autoimmune disorders are among the most common and disabling chronic diseases.

From Functional Medicine we learn that autoimmunity can arise from digestive system dysfunction. Inflammation arising in the intestinal tract can cause widespread bodily inflammation through the production of chemical mediators. These mediators can affect other tissues and organs, including the joints, nervous tissue, skin, brain, etc. By identifying and reducing the triggers of autoimmunity, disease progression can potentially be reduced.