Autoimmune conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease, are increasingly recognized as complex, whole-body imbalances. These conditions develop and worsen due to interconnected factors involving the immune system, nervous system, stress levels, and everyday lifestyle habits. This is why many experts, including Dr. David Bilstrom, emphasise an integrative approach that focuses on natural healing and finding and addressing root causes rather than simply managing symptoms.
When we understand the powerful connection between the mind and the body and begin making intentional lifestyle changes, we can reduce inflammation, strengthen immune resilience, and support long-term healing from within. Let’s explore the steps you can take to start healing autoimmune disease naturally!
that help support long-term remission within a comprehensive, integrative framework.
Mind-Body Autoimmune Healing Overview
Autoimmune conditions involve multiple body systems and are influenced by immune function, nervous system regulation, and daily lifestyle habits. A whole-body approach focuses on lowering inflammation and supporting immune balance through emotional regulation, stress reduction, nutrient-dense food choices, gut health support, balanced blood sugar, quality sleep, hydration, and toxin reduction. Low-impact movement, strength training, and restorative exercises improve circulation and mobility. Consistent habits, supportive environments, and mind-body practices together help promote resilience and support long-term autoimmune healing.
What Is Autoimmune Disease?
Mind: Emotional & Mental Healing
Chronic stress, unresolved emotional trauma, and negative thought cycles can contribute to making autoimmune attacks worse by keeping them in “fight-or-flight.” The aim of mind-based healing is to regain emotional security and regulation.
Key Elements of Mind Healing
- Regulate your nervous system on a daily basis by means of deep breathing, meditation, grounding, or yoga to transition from “fight or flight” to “Repair Mode.”
- Release stored emotions through activities like journaling, therapy, somatic work, or tapping in order to release the burden that can contribute to inflammation.
- Practice healthy thought patterns through the use of affirmations and visualizing thoughts that are opposite to fear thoughts.
- Set clear boundaries with people and situations that tend to drain your energy or cause stress, and learn to say “no” without any guilt.
- Create a support team by reaching out to friends or family who understand your struggles and assist in maintaining your emotional stability.
Body: Nutrition & Biological Support
Nutrition for Healing
- Anti-inflammatory Foods: Leafy greens, berries, turmeric, ginger, and omega-3-rich foods.
- Gut-Healing Diet: Bone broth, fermented foods, probiotics, and prebiotics support the microbiome, where 70% of immunity lives.
- Autoimmune-Friendly Removal: Eliminating gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol, seed oils, and processed foods to reduce flare triggers.
- Blood Sugar Balance: Consistent meals with proteins, healthy fats, and fiber stabilize energy and reduce inflammatory spikes.
- Hydration & Minerals: Electrolytes, magnesium, and trace minerals help cellular repair and energy.
| Research from PubMed Central on diets like the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) suggests that elimination and personalization of food choices can reduce immune-activation triggers and improve symptoms in certain autoimmune conditions by reducing systemic inflammation and supporting gut integrity. |
Biological Support
- Supplements (as needed): Vitamin D3 Foundation Prime, Healthy Gut Probiotic, MegaSporeBiotic, Butyrate (Sodium or Cal-Mag), L-Glutamine, NAC Glutathione Sync, Zinc Rich, and Omega-3 Fish Oil are some of the key autoimmune-support supplements recommended by Dr. David Bilstrom.
- Sleep Optimization: Deep, quality sleep allows immune repair and hormone balance.
- Detox Pathway Support: Incorporating liver-supportive foods such as leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and turmeric, along with proper hydration, fiber intake, sweating, and gentle detox practices like dry brushing, sauna or steam therapy, intermittent fasting, helps lower the body’s toxic load.
Lifestyle: Habits, Environment & Movement
Daily Habits For Healing
- Routine Consistency: Predictable rhythms can stabilize patterns in hormones and immune function.
- Sunlight Exposure: Morning light resets circadian rhythms and improves vitamin D synthesis.
- Avoiding Alcohol & Harmful Substances: Alcohol, recreational drugs, and smoking can elevate inflammation, disrupt gut balance, weaken immunity, and interfere with healing cycles, reducing or eliminating them supports recovery.
- Hydration Patterns: Drinking water throughout the day supports lymph flow and cellular repair.
Movement For Recovery
- >Low-Impact Exercise: Walking, swimming, light yoga, light household activity, gardening, supports lymphatic drainage, and reduces stiffness.
- Strength Training: Helps in developing muscle, boosting metabolism, and maintaining joint stability.
- Restorative Movement: This helps to relieve pain and inflammation in the affected area.
- Movement Breaks: Frequent movement interrupts muscle stiffness that occurs when an individual sits for an extended period.
Environmental Adjustments
- Reduce Toxins: Replace chemical cleaners, fragrances, and plastic with natural substitutes.
- Air & Water Purity: Employ filters to minimize impurities that can cause inflammation.
- Nontoxic Home Setup: EMF awareness, clutter reduction, and nature exposure improve overall well-being.
- Fresh Air Circulation: Keep windows open when possible to improve air quality and reduce indoor stagnation.
If you want deeper guidance on healing autoimmune diseases, consider reading these highly recommended books by Dr. David Bilstrom:
- The Nurse Practitioners’ Guide to Autoimmune Medicine and Reversing and Preventing All Autoimmunity. This book is praised by Dr. Mark Hyman as “an essential roadmap for putting Functional Medicine into practice.”
Conclusion
While everyone’s healing journey is unique, the guiding principles remain the same: reduce what inflames you, increase what nourishes you, and stay consistent. With patience, awareness, and expert guidance from Dr. David Bilstrom, who focuses on root causes, immune balance, and long-term recovery, you can progress toward autoimmune healing and greater resilience. So contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients with autoimmune diseases should avoid inflammatory foods such as:
- Gluten (wheat, barley)
- Dairy products
- Refined Sugar
- Processed/pack
- Industrial Seed Oils (Soybean oil, Corn oil
- Alcohol
- Nightshades (Tomato, Potato)
- Legumes (For some people)
Poor gut health can trigger autoimmune disorders by increasing inflammation, weakening the gut lining, and disrupting the microbiome. This allows toxins and undigested particles to enter the bloodstream, overstimulating the immune system and causing it to attack healthy tissues.
Most people with autoimmune conditions require 7-9 hours of quality sleep, with the same sleeping and waking up routines. Deep sleep is a major reducer of inflammation, helps to balance hormones, repairs tissues, and fortifies immune regulation-all of which are important for the long-term healing of autoimmune disease.
The common mistakes include expecting quick results, neglect of gut health, dependence only on supplementation, not removing trigger foods, failure to get enough sleep, failure to manage stress, and trying too many protocols simultaneously. Inconsistency and lack of personalized tracking also slow progress significantly.
