Could You Have Auto-Immune Challenges?

by Glen Depke

First of all, what is auto-immune disease? This includes but is not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile RA, lupus, scleroderma, endometriosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, type I diabetes, Hashimoto’s, MS, and Addison’s disease.

For most that are diagnosed with these challenges there are often many challenging years ahead, so it is best to address this from a preventive matter.

Let’s get wrapped around some important information first. Before you are diagnosed with an auto-immune disease there must first be tissue damage or destruction. Before this happens there will first be an auto-immune reaction, somewhere within your body. This would be comparable to knowing that the tires on your care are bald and your breaks are out and not understanding the problem until you get into a car accident. Instead of waiting for the accident, how about fixing the underlying challenges that lead to the accident itself?

Looking at the function of the immune system, we can understand that there are two sides that work in synergy with each other. These are called TH-1 and TH-2. When either TH-1 or TH-2 is low the other is high and likewise. If the body is not able to maintain this balance, we have a TH-3 which is able to assist in the balancing act. Auto-immune disorders are actually either TH-1 or TH-2 dominant due to an overall poorly functioning immune system. This happens when the TH-1 and TH-2 are not able to self regulate and the TH-3 is unable to perform its job as needed. Often the mechanism for this poor regulation is mental/emotional stress, adrenal imbalances, chronic poor fundamentals and such. This leads to a weakened immune system function and the dysfunction of the TH-1, TH-2 and TH-3 as mentioned above.

Once the dysfunction above is initiated this will lead to the activation of TH-17. This is where we really begin to see some challenges. Once TH-17 is activated this “turns on” free radical activity and tissue destruction begins.

There are two areas to address once this begins. One is addressing the role of glutathione and also the role of nitric oxide in the body. While these two areas are not a cure for auto-immune disease, they can allow for a much more sustainable life and the needed hope for recovery long term. For those that would like to learn more about these protocols to assist in balancing proper immune function, feel free to post your question at the end of this article.

The main goal is to continue to support your immune system function so you do not even begin the auto-immune reaction. To do this you will want to keep your gastro-intestinal tract healthy. Remember from previous posts that about 80% of your immune system actually originates in your GI. Do this by taking a high quality probiotic daily and your Prime Digestive Support with every meal. Be sure to focus on all of your fundamentals of health and to look into these deeper, please visit the series of post on this blog from January of this year that addresses the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, your sleep, movement, exposure to the sun and the underlying energetic component to your health. I will also share that your immune system function is substantially affected by your adrenal function and for anyone that follows me regularly; you know how important and often challenged adrenal function is.

Two areas that can often be significant triggers for this auto-immune reaction is, extreme mental/emotional stress and abusing the use of alcohol. This creates a very poor recycling of the glutathione that we spoke of earlier.

I will also add that I have seen many clients in my career with auto-immune challenges and I must say that there are typically multiple imbalances that are needed to be addressed to allow the body to utilize its natural healing abilities.

If you have any questions or comments in regard to the post please do not hesitate to leave them below for me to answer personally.