08/15/2025
Autoimmune Disease
1. What is an Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmune Disease is your immune system, which is supposed to spot and attack germs, viruses, and anything harmful, getting confused and mistakenly attacking your own healthy cells and tissues.
Examples include:
Rheumatoid arthritis (joints)
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (thyroid)
Type 1 diabetes (pancreas)
Psoriasis (skin)
Lupus (multiple organs)
2. Why Do I Have It?
Doctors don’t have one single answer — it’s usually a mix of factors including things like:
Genetics
Environmental triggers
Hormonal influences
Diet and gut health
STRESS – long-term stress can dysregulate the immune system and is the underlying cause of many illnesses.
3. What Can You Do About It?
There’s no universal cure, but symptoms and progression can often be managed well. Medications and medical consultations are usually required.
Complementary and natural measures include:
Balanced, anti-inflammatory diet
Regular, gentle exercise (yoga, swimming, walking)
Stress management (breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness)
Adequate sleep
Tracking triggers (certain foods, environmental exposures, stress events)
4. Who Can Help?
Rheumatologist – for joint/connective tissue autoimmune conditions
Endocrinologist – for hormonal/thyroid/diabetes autoimmune issues
Gastroenterologist – for Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease
Dermatologist – for skin-related autoimmune conditions
Primary care doctor – coordinates care and helps monitor overall health
Functional medicine or integrative medicine doctor – for root cause exploration and lifestyle approaches
Mental health professionals – for coping with chronic illness stress
Complementary practitioners – reflexologists, acupuncturists, nutritionists
5. Reflexology and Autoimmune Disease
Reflexology is a complementary therapy where pressure is applied to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears that correspond to different parts of the body.
How it can help:
Stress reduction – reduces the “fight or flight” response, which can calm immune overactivity.
Improved circulation supports better lymph flow, nutrient and hormone delivery and waste removal .
Pain relief – through nervous system relaxation and endorphin release.
Better sleep – which supports immune balance.
Important: Reflexology won’t cure an autoimmune disease, but it can be part of a supportive care plan alongside medical treatment.
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