What is Autoimmune Disease? A properly functioning immune system can detect the difference between self (what is supposed to be present in the body) and non-self (what is foreign).

However, when the immune system begins to malfunction, it produces autoantibodies that begin to attack perfectly healthy cells because it believes them to be a danger. This causes the condition we know as an autoimmune disease – auto, meaning “oneself” and immune – producing antibodies or immunity against oneself.

There are approximately 80 different forms of autoimmune disease including rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, lupus, certain types of thyroid disease and many more.

Some people experience more than one autoimmune disease at any given time and often the symptoms may come and go, varying from severe to mild. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) estimates that up to 50 million Americans are affected by autoimmune disease and 75 percent of those affected are women.

What Causes AutoImmune Conditions

Many factors can trigger the body to erroneously attack itself. For this reason, one of our specialists will complete a full functional evaluation to identify the specific factors that apply to your unique situation. There are however some common issues associated with autoimmune conditions and so we always check these as a priority:

Leaky Gut

A common contributory factor in autoimmune cases is a leaky gut. A leaky gut allows proteins and other substances to get into the bloodstream where they don’t belong. These foreign substances can trigger the immune system into an attack which can set the stage for ongoing damage in the body. Fixing a leaky gut prevents these foreign substances from entering the bloodstream and creating this immune reaction.

Toxins

Similarly pesticides, chemicals and heavy metals, which we are all being exposed to at unprecedented levels, alter the structure of the outside of cells, making them appear foreign to the body. This triggers the immune system to attack these cells, leading to autoimmune conditions. Thankfully these toxins can be tested for and we have an effective protocol to rid the body of these various toxins.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Furthermore, there are nutritional deficiencies that can play a part in autoimmune conditions and we routinely check for and address these as well.

Treating Autoimmune Conditions

In addition to testing for and treating leaky gut, chemicals, toxins and nutritional deficiencies, one of the very first steps we employ in treating autoimmune diseases is to immunize the patient to their own blood.

In this simple & effective procedure, a small amount of a patient’s blood is taken and mixed with a homeopathic remedy. This combination is then delivered back into the patient. This has the effect of re-programming the patient’s immune system and in many cases, begins the process of improving their symptoms toward recovery.

This can be a powerful first step in most autoimmune treatments but most patients often need additional treatments to address the other underlying health & body factors that have set the stage for an autoimmune condition to develop in the first place.

Florida’s Top Autoimmune Disease Clinic

LifeWorks Wellness Center is considered by many to be Florida’s top autoimmune disease clinic. We have patients who travel from all over the world to resolve their autoimmune conditions at our clinic because we offer effective, all-natural and cutting edge treatment protocols.

We encourage you to review all the informative articles, videos and patient testimonials on this page.

We also invite you to make an appointment for an initial consultation with one of our autoimmune specialists.

To become a patient, or for more information, feel free to call our New Patient Coordinator at (727) 466-6789 or simply submit an online web inquiry with your request.

Dr. Minkoff Discusses Treating Auto Immune Diseases