{"id":143940,"date":"2025-05-16T09:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=143940"},"modified":"2025-05-16T10:49:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T14:49:05","slug":"functional-medicine-for-autoimmune-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/functional-medicine-for-autoimmune-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"The Functional Medicine Approach to Autoimmune Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What’s the difference between functional medicine and traditional medicine? What can functional medicine do for autoimmune disease<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her book The Autoimmune Solution, <\/em>functional medicine physician Amy Myers asserts that a functional medicine approach is required to treat autoimmune disease. She insists that modern lifestyles are more to blame than genetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn what’s causing the autoimmune epidemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Functional Medicine vs Traditional Medicine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amy Myers believes traditional medicine is ill-equipped to prevent or reverse autoimmune conditions. Instead, she argues that autoimmune sufferers need a functional<\/strong> medicine approach that holistically addresses the causes and treatments of autoimmune disease<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll begin this section by explaining what functional medicine is, and then we\u2019ll explore how it explains the causes of autoimmune diseases. We\u2019ll also discuss why Myers believes these causes are behind an autoimmune epidemic in the US. Finally, we\u2019ll explore how to use functional medicine for autoimmune disease prevention and healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Functional Medicine?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Myers describes functional medicine as a whole-body approach to health that considers how all bodily systems interact<\/strong>, rather than treating different parts in isolation. Instead of addressing individual symptoms, it seeks to restore overall health by dealing with root causes. Functional medicine treatments include special diets and lifestyle changes while using medications only when necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking Beyond Traditional Medicine<\/strong>

Other experts agree with Myers\u2019 critique of traditional medicine. Gabor Mat\u00e9, author of The Myth of Normal<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>criticizes what he calls the dominant biomedical model <\/em>of health for its limited perspective. He argues that this model fails to understand health holistically<\/a>, <\/strong>instead viewing health and illness almost exclusively as the result of the physical processes of biochemistry, pathology, and physiology. As such, it doesn\u2019t consider the broader social, psychological, and environmental influencers of health. He writes that this reduces complex human conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, to mere symptoms that need to be treated or managed, often through intrusive and unnecessary pharmaceuticals or surgical procedures. 

While Myers favors functional medicine, Mat\u00e9 instead <\/strong>advocates for the biopsychosocial model<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, an approach to medicine that recognizes that our thoughts, feelings, social interactions, and environment profoundly impact our health. Both functional medicine and the biopsychosocial model<\/a> emphasize the impact of the environment and lifestyle on health, and they address the root causes <\/em>of illness rather than merely treating symptoms<\/em>. However, the biopsychosocial model<\/a> highlights\u2014as the name suggests\u2014psychological and social factors, including emotional balance, social connection, and a harmonious relationship with your environment.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Multi-Dimensional Cause: Much More Than Genetics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While traditional doctors often point to your genes as the cause of your autoimmune condition, Myers explains that autoimmunity has multiple causes beyond just genetics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myers believes that the genes predisposing you to develop an autoimmune condition activate when your immune system becomes chronically stressed and dysregulated<\/strong>. This means that while genetics play a role in causing autoimmunity, they\u2019re not the sole cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we\u2019ll explore five immune system stressors that can lead to autoimmunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stressor 1: An Unhealthy Digestive System<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Myers argues that digestive health is crucial for immune function<\/strong>. She emphasizes that about 80% of your immune system overlaps with your digestive system. For example, the saliva in your mouth and the good bacteria in your stomach neutralize many of the germs that enter your body through food or water. However, many factors can disrupt gut health, including the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n