Treating Autoimmune Disease

Most medical doctors treat autoimmune disease by monitoring your symptoms, sometimes giving prescriptions to mask your symptoms, and then if your symptoms become so unbearable that it becomes difficult to perform daily tasks because of them - they will prescribe medication to suppress your immune system. The most common drug prescribed is prednisone which can cause weight gain, indigestion, insomnia, mood swings, easy bruising, diabetes, osteoporosis, glaucoma, cataracts...... well let's just say all doctors know this and that's part of the reason steroid drugs are not used sooner. There are many new immunosuppresant drugs out, maybe fewer side effects but according to my patients not usually as effective at relieving symptoms. And with some autoimmune disorders like Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis, or Grave's steroid drugs are not used at all regardless of your symptoms.
The best treatment is prevention: if you have an autoimmune disease and you have a child start before they develop a disease because once symptoms start it is much more difficult to manage. How does the saying go.... an ounce of prevention...
If you have any type of autoimmune disease, the best treatment is strengthening your immune system.
1) 80% of your immune system is in your gut, so if your gut is not functioning properly your autoimmune disease will be MUCH worse. It amazes me what people think is normal, so let me tell you that if you ever have to take an antacid, have any stomach pain, gas, bloating, and have more than two or less than one bowel movement a day.....this is not "normal".
ESSENTIAL: Rule out celiac disease - the two best ways to do this are with an elimination diet, and/or with a complete stool and genotype analysis that can be ordered through http://www.enterolab.com/ (Surgical biopsy is standard protocol if you want to go through that) Personally I would recommend every autoimmune person to go gluten free, but due to reluctance from patients I recommend this test for anyone who refuses to go gluten free.
I can also order tests to determine fungal/bacterial balance and rule out parasites.
Avoiding food sensitivities is essential. The best way to determine your sensitivities is through an elimination diet as the blood tests are often inaccurate if you have autoimmune disease because they are dependent on a properly functioning immune system.
2) Avoid all processed sugar as it will always weaken your immune system.
3) Exercise in your aerobic range at least 30 minutes/5 times a week. It is very important to monitor your heart rate because too intense of a work out can also put stress on your immune system. Some autoimmune diseases are associated with increased heart rates already and it does not take much to get to an aerobic heart rate level.
4) Get plenty of fluids and rest.
5) Avoid stress, avoid known stressors to your body - most people know what their own stressors are like cold, work, etc.
Anything you do to help strengthen your immune system, will help: Herbal and nutritional support, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, and much more. It is important to note that most people I see with autoimmune disease will discover a "miraculous cure" only to have their symptoms recur a week, a month, or days later. This is most likely due to your immune system shifting back and forth between a TH1 and TH2 immune pattern. Don't give up, because you will shift back and that "cure" may work again.
When it comes to specific nutritional recommendations I prefer to talk to a patient directly, but hope this starts you on your journey.