One day you feel fine. The next, you’re battling fatigue, joint pain, brain fog—or all three. Your lab work looks “normal,” but something clearly isn’t right. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. For millions of people, these confusing, frustrating symptoms are the first signs of something deeper: autoimmune diseases.
At the Institute for Functional Health, we approach autoimmune conditions differently. Instead of masking symptoms, we focus on the root causes—because healing is possible when you treat the body as a whole.
Autoimmune Diseases, Explained
In the simplest terms, autoimmune diseases happen when your immune system—your body’s built-in defense mechanism—starts attacking healthy cells by mistake. Instead of going after viruses or bacteria, your immune system turns on your own tissues. That attack creates chronic inflammation, pain, and dysfunction that can affect just about every part of your body.
There are over 80 known autoimmune conditions, including:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Celiac disease
- Psoriasis
- Type 1 diabetes
And the list keeps growing. While each condition targets different systems, they all have something in common: a confused immune system and chronic inflammation.
Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases
One of the biggest challenges with autoimmune diseases is how vague or shifting the symptoms can be. They often come and go, and they may mimic other conditions, which is why many people go years without a proper diagnosis.
Here are some signs to watch for:
- Ongoing fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Joint pain or muscle aches
- Skin issues like rashes or discoloration
- Digestive discomfort (bloating, constipation, diarrhea)
- Brain fog or memory issues
- Cold hands and feet, or sensitivity to temperature changes
- Frequent infections or feeling like you’re always “fighting something”
If you’re experiencing multiple symptoms across different systems, functional medicine may be the best way to start connecting the dots.
What Causes Autoimmune Diseases?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but research continues to show that autoimmune diseases are triggered by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors.
Some of the most common triggers include:
- Chronic stress
- Poor gut health (leaky gut, dysbiosis, food sensitivities)
- Environmental toxins
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Hormonal imbalances
And here’s the kicker: conventional medicine often focuses solely on symptom control—while functional medicine asks why the immune system is misfiring in the first place.
How Functional Medicine Approaches Autoimmune Disease
At the Institute for Functional Health, we believe the key to managing (and even reversing) autoimmune disease is understanding what’s underneath it. That’s what functional medicine is all about—looking at your lifestyle, environment, stress levels, nutrition, and unique biology to uncover root causes and support true healing.
Our approach includes:
- Comprehensive testing – Beyond basic labs, we look at inflammation markers, hormone levels, gut health, and more.
- Personalized nutrition plans – Often including elimination diets to reduce inflammation and identify food triggers.
- Gut repair protocols – Because healing the gut can help regulate the immune system.
- Targeted supplementation – To restore balance and reduce inflammatory triggers.
We don’t just want you to manage your condition—we want to help you understand it, and regain control of your health.
Living Well with Autoimmune Disease
Here’s the hopeful truth: with the right support and a root-cause approach, people living with autoimmune diseases can feel better. Much better.
You may not be able to “cure” an autoimmune condition overnight, but you can slow or stop progression, reduce flare-ups, and get back to living life on your terms.
It starts with listening to your body—and finding a team that listens, too.
Let’s Get to the Root of It—Together
If you’ve been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told “it’s all in your head,” we hear you. We believe your symptoms are real, and we’re here to help. Our team at the Institute for Functional Health combines cutting-edge science with compassionate care to guide you toward healing.
