Book SummaryThe Autoimmune Solution, by Amy Myers

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Autoimmune Solution

Millions of people suffer from autoimmune diseases like Crohn's disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. According to Amy Myers, millions more are on an unhealthy trajectory to an autoimmune diagnosis. While genetics influence who develops autoimmunity and there’s no known cure, Myers believes that those suffering are far from powerless.

(Shortform note: Other researchers share Myers’s concern about the number of people already diagnosed or at risk of being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. A 2024 study found that almost 5% of the US population received an autoimmune diagnosis between 2011 and 2022. Of those, more than half were women, which might shed light on who is more likely to be on an unhealthy trajectory. However, some scientists believe we need more data to understand how factors like gender and genetics impact the risk of developing autoimmunity. These data will give patients the power to understand their risk factors and work toward preventing disease.)

In The Autoimmune Solution (2017), Myers argues that you can prevent or even reverse autoimmune conditions by making lifestyle changes that reduce inflammation and improve immune function. She recommends taking control of the environmental factors that trigger autoimmune symptoms: diet, stress, toxins, and infections.

(Shortform note: It’s possible that Myers is overly confident about the possibility of preventing or reversing autoimmunity. Lifestyle changes may help manage symptoms...

The Autoimmune Solution Summary The Basics of Autoimmunity

Before learning how to prevent or reverse autoimmune diseases, it helps to first understand what they are and how they originate. Myers explains that autoimmune diseases are conditions where your immune system attacks your body as if it were a threat.

In this section, we’ll share Myers’ explanations of how your immune system works, how it can become dysregulated, and how that dysregulation can lead to autoimmunity. Finally, we’ll discuss how visualizing autoimmunity on a continuum can help you understand your autoimmune experience.

How a Healthy Immune System Works: Acute Inflammation

Your immune system protects your body from harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Myers explains that your immune system uses physical barriers like the skin and mucus, as well as specialized cells and antibodies that identify and neutralize threats.

(Shorform note: Your immune system's multilayered defense ensures that if one mechanism fails, others can compensate. This helps your system provide robust protection against a wide range of pathogens. It also allows your immune system to evolve and improve its...

The Autoimmune Solution Summary Traditional Medicine’s Narrow Approach to Autoimmune Disease

If you’re one of the millions of people suffering from an autoimmune condition, you’ve probably been to several doctors, hoping to find help. However, according to Myers, traditional medicine can’t help you reverse or prevent autoimmune conditions. It focuses too narrowly on genetics as the cause and medication as the treatment. In this section, we’ll outline traditional medicine’s narrow approach to autoimmune diseases.

(Shortform note: Traditional medicine’s narrow focus on genetics and medication may not be the only problem. In The Myth of Normal, Gabor Maté critiques conventional medicine for its tendency to place doctors in an elevated position above patients. This significantly reduces the patients’ agency in managing their own health and healing process. He warns that this can lead patients to feel disempowered or even invisible—hesitant to voice concerns, question treatment options, or share helpful insights about their bodies and conditions.)

The One-Dimensional Cause: Genetics

Myers explains that **conventional...

The Autoimmune Solution Summary The Functional Medicine Approach to Autoimmune Disease

As we’ve seen, Myers believes traditional medicine is ill-equipped to prevent or reverse autoimmune conditions. Instead, she argues that autoimmune sufferers need a functional medicine approach that holistically addresses the causes and treatments of autoimmune disease.

We’ll begin this section by explaining what functional medicine is, and then we’ll explore how it explains the causes of autoimmune diseases. We’ll also discuss why Myers believes these causes are behind an autoimmune epidemic in the US. Finally, we’ll explore functional medicine’s approach to preventing and healing autoimmunity.

What Is Functional Medicine?

Myers describes functional medicine as a whole-body approach to health that considers how all bodily systems interact, 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.

Looking Beyond Traditional Medicine

Other experts agree with Myers’ critique of traditional medicine. Gabor Maté, author of *[The Myth of...

The Autoimmune Solution Summary Myers’ Method to Prevent or Reverse Autoimmune Disease

Now that we’ve discussed why a holistic approach is an effective way to prevent or reverse an autoimmune disease, we’ll explore what that approach involves. Myers offers a method to prevent or reverse autoimmunity, which she refers to as The Myers Way. Her method has four prongs: improving gut health, eliminating inflammatory foods, reducing your exposure to toxins, and addressing hidden infections while managing stress. In addition, she advocates for several health-promoting strategies with a 30-day meal plan as the central element. Since these themes and strategies often overlap, we’ve reorganized Myers’ insights into one overarching goal, two guiding strategies, and lifestyle changes to support them.

(Shortform note: While research supports many of Myers’ claims about the stressors that can lead to autoimmunity, her method for addressing them is still unproven. Part of the difficulty is that it involves many factors, such as implementing a restrictive diet, managing your stress, and managing your toxin exposure. This makes it hard to identify which factors—if any—are impacting your health. In addition, some readers are apprehensive about the restrictiveness of the...

Shortform Exercise: Reflect on Myers’ Approach to Autoimmunity {#exercise-reflect-on-myers’-approach-to-autoimmunity}

Myers argues that you can prevent or reverse autoimmune conditions by making significant lifestyle changes. In this exercise, you’ll reflect on what you’ve learned, to what extent you agree with Myers’ ideas, and how you might alter your lifestyle.

What was your experience with or knowledge of autoimmunity before reading this guide? How familiar were you with the possible causes and treatments of autoimmune conditions?