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 Living Strong & Healthy: With Autoimmune Disorders
By Kumiko Yamamoto, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M.
Approximately 22 million Americans are affected by autoimmune diseases, according to the Center for
Disease Control, making them the third most common category of diseases in the US after cancer and heart
disease. Autoimmune disorders are conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body
tissue. Autoimmune diseases are often chronic, progressive, and debilitating.
The most common autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroditis, multiple
sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, and type 1diabetes. Causes of autoimmune
disorders are not yet known; however, there is a possible link to genetics, viral and bacterial
infections, and environmental toxins.
In conventional medicine, autoimmune disorders are treated with immunosuppressive medications, which
reduce the immune system’s response. These medications may be necessary to manage the disease; however,
the symptoms may not resolve completely, and they may cause various side effects, including increased
risks for infection and cancer, fatigue, and digestive disorders.
Better Quality of Life and Alleviating Symptoms
Chinese medicine can benefit people who suffer from autoimmune diseases in the following ways:
- Alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life by reducing pain, improving mobility, treating
fatigue, insomnia, digestive symptoms, reducing stress, depression, and
Anxiety.
- Reduce the side effects of medications.
- Support the immune system.
Prevention and Management of Autoimmune Diseases:
NUTRITION
Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods is important. These foods include wheat-grass, barley-grass,
omegas-3 and 6-rich foods such as flax oil and wild salmon, ginger, garlic, onions, and leafy green
vegetables. Choose organic foods and avoid trans-fats, refined and processed foods, and food additives.
EXERCISE
Proper exercise is crucial for health and healing. Meditation, tai chi, and chi gong are also
beneficial for self-healing and stress management.
ENVIRONMENT
Reducing possible toxins in your life is also important. Tao of Wellness Detox Retreats provide our
patients with a great opportunity to learn about the toxins they are exposed to in everyday life as well
as receive comprehensive treatments to diminish their effects.
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