What Is Autoimmune Disease
When our immune system is working properly, it detects and eradicates harmful particles, including viruses and bad bacteria in our body. But sometimes our immune system malfunctions, and it becomes overactive, attacking our body instead of protecting it.
There are over 100 autoimmune diseases, affecting over 25 million people in the US. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 people will develop a chronic autoimmune disease during their lifetime.
Some common autoimmune diseases include lupus, psoriasis, chrohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, to name a few. Autoimmune disease can affect every organ and tissue in your body. Statistically, women are affected by it much more often than men, and it is one of the top ten causes of death.
Autoimmune Disease Causes
Science doesn’t yet know exactly why some people’s immune systems go haywire and start attacking the body, though most agree that environmental factors and genetics play at least some part.
There are also studies that are gaining attention which show a link between the gut biome and autoimmune disease. The majority of our immune system resides in the gut, so the makeup of the various strains of good and bad bacteria and other microorganisms in the gut seem to be a determining factor in developing an autoimmune disease.
Other potential causes include
- Chronic stress
- Insomnia
- Trauma
- Diet
- Leaky gut
- Inflammation
- Anxiety
- History of PTSD
- Nervous system disturbances
- SSRI drugs
- Medication side effects
- Genetics
- Air and water pollution
- Smoking
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Obesity
- Infection
Autoimmune Disease Symptoms
There are a broad range of symptoms of autoimmune disease, depending on what your immune system is targeting for attack in your body. Your symptoms may come and go, or may change over time.
Some of the most common symptoms are
- Skin rash, itch, or other skin issues
- Fatigue
- Aches, pain
- Headaches, migraines
- Generally feeling unwell
- Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
- Digestive or intestinal disturbances
- Confusion, memory issues
- Food sensitivities
- Sleep disturbances
There are many other possible symptoms, depending on the organs or tissues in your body being affected.
Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be a complex process, as there are many symptoms that overlap from one condition to the next. Your doctor will ask for a comprehensive health background, including any family members that may have had similar symptoms or have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Blood work, physical exam and other tests will be ordered based upon your symptoms and health history.
You may be referred to other specialists, such as a neurologist, rheumatologist, dermatologist, endocrinologist, etc., to accurately determine the proper diagnosis.
Autoimmune Disease Treatment
While there is currently not a cure, treatment will be dependent upon the diagnosis and severity of your symptoms.
Treatment options can include
- Pain killers
- Anti inflammatory drugs
- Sleep medications
- Skin creams and medications
- Immunosuppressant drugs
- Steroids
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- Anti-rheumatic drugs
- Experimental treatments, clinical trials
CranioSacral Therapy For Autoimmune Disease
While there is no cure, CranioSacral Therapy can help you by providing relief from many symptoms. CranioSacral Therapy can help your nervous system down-regulate and come into parasympathetic mode, which is also known as “rest, digest, repair, and maintain” mode. During flare-ups, the immune system becomes ramped up, which affects the central nervous system as well as other parts of the body.
By relaxing the nervous system, the immune system tends to calm down as well, lessening the frequency and severity of symptoms. The self-healing mechanisms in the body kick in when the body is relaxed.
In many cases, CranioSacral Therapy can diminish pain levels, reduce headaches or migraines, and release tension patterns in the body – helping you feel better, and more at ease.
Benefits of CranioSacral Therapy For Autoimmune Disease
- Decreased pain
- Better sleep
- Better focus
- Better energy levels and stamina
- Feeling more at ease
- Decreased frequency and severity of flare-ups
- Having a more enjoyable and fulfilling daily life
As with all therapies and protocols, each person responds differently with the use of CranioSacral Therapy. Health status, chronic disease, medications, previous illnesses, and previous injuries are all factors in outcomes. Please call for a complimentary consultation to discuss your particulars and goals.
Hi, I’m Sandy Schell, a Certified CranioSacral Therapist with 20+ years experience. As an Advanced Level Therapist, I’ve helped people with a wide variety of health conditions. My primary focus is CranioSacral Therapy, although I will also combine other modalities as necessary into a session, such as Myofascial Release, Reiki, Grid Balancing, Vagus Nerve Balancing.
CranioSacral Therapy St Petersburg FL has a long, proven track record of being able to restore health and vitality by focusing on the core elements that “run” the body – the nervous system, it’s fluids, rhythms, and fascia (connective tissue).
CranioSacral Therapy is based in Osteopathic Medicine, and dates back to the early 1900’s. It’s safe, effective, and results-oriented.
The proper functioning of your nervous system is vitally important to your health and well-being. Your nervous system is based in communication, which happens through the cells, the energetic impulses, the fluids, and the connective tissues of the body. Having clear, strong, healthy communication, energy, and fluid movement is what underlies a health body. By focusing on the nervous system, a properly trained, experienced CranioSacral Therapist can release stress patterns at the causative level, resulting in symptoms disappearing once balance and communication throughout the body are restored.
Musculoskeletal tightness, neurological imbalances, autoimmune disease, many types of pain, and organ dysfunction are some of the many categories of health conditions that typically respond well with CranioSacral Therapy.
Please call for a complimentary consultation to discuss your particulars and goals.
Last Updated on 08/09/2024 by Sandy Schell
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