I already have a rheumatologist. Should I have an Integrative Rheumatology evaluation?
Here are 5 ways an integrative rheumatology evaluation benefits a person with an autoimmune disease.
Integrative medicine is all about getting to the root cause, or unearthing the triggers that jump-started the disease process. When the triggers are eliminated and the end-organ damage is treated, patients with autoimmune diseases get much better.
Integrative medicine helps you connect with your body. This includes learning to be aware of what your body needs, when it needs it, and connecting your mind with your body to enact your body’s innate healing systems.
Integrative medicine includes botanical medicine. Botanicals are plant-based substances which can be used medicinally either on their own or in combination with pharmaceutical medication. Plant based medications are generally much less toxic than pharmaceuticals, but they still need to be monitored by a doctor for interactions and side effects. In my experience, the combination of pharmaceutical medication and plant-based medicine offers much more symptomatic relief than pharmaceutical medication alone.
Integrative medicine views food as a therapeutic intervention. Unfortunately, the practice of traditional rheumatology often bypasses diet as either an initial or ongoing trigger for your autoimmune disease. However, taking a close look at your diet, and figuring out what to add and what to remove, can be a very powerful tool for regaining health. This is a very individualized process, and best undertaken with evidence-based recommendations in combination with a whole body systems of medicine such as Ayurveda or traditional Chinese medicine.
If you have an autoimmune disease, you have to address your microbiome. Your microbiome is the collection of organisms-bacteria, fungi, viruses-that live inside your intestinal tract. They play a huge role in maintaining your metabolism and immune function. Optimizing biodiversity, the different types of organisms, may have an important role in treating inflammation.
Reach out to learn how to access your body’s own innate healing pathways.
