The Hidden Truth About Autoimmune Disease: Why Suppressing Symptoms Makes Things Worse
How to Address the Root Cause and Reduce Symptoms Naturally
If you’ve been told your only options for an autoimmune condition are toxic drugs [suppressing symptoms by blocking natural functions of the body and circumventing the body’s super-intelligence] or a lifetime of pain, you’ve been given a false choice.
Millions of people are stuck in this trap—and the number is growing every year.
Autoimmune diseases have become one of the fastest-rising health challenges in the U.S. There are now over 100 recognized autoimmune conditions, affecting more than 50 million Americans—or around 8% of the population—and studies estimate at least 15 million Americans (4.6%) have been officially diagnosed with one or more autoimmune diseases. Sjögren’s Foundation. Mayo Clinic News Network.
Women bear the greatest burden, accounting for roughly 75–80% of all cases The Healthy.
Disturbingly, the rise in autoimmunity is particularly pronounced among younger people—one study found adolescent autoantibody levels nearly tripled between 1988 and 2012, while global data shows autoimmune conditions now span up to 9% of individuals aged 15–39. Global RxPH
Despite these staggering statistics, the standard approach hasn’t changed: suppress the immune system with pharmaceuticals, ignore the root cause, and hope for the best.
Why the Conventional Approach to Autoimmune Disease Falls Short
In conventional medicine, autoimmune disease is usually described as a mysterious “malfunction” where the immune system randomly attacks healthy tissue. The standard response? Prescribe corticosteroids, methotrexate, biologics, or other immune-suppressing drugs.
While these medications can reduce inflammation and symptoms in the short term, they:
Weaken immune defenses
Increase risk of infection
Strain the liver and kidneys
Disrupt hormones
Do nothing to address what’s driving the disease
The result is that many people end up on a lifetime of drugs—without ever being told that autoimmune disorders often have identifiable, reversible root causes.
Common Signs of Autoimmune Disease
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?
Persistent fatigue
Joint pain or stiffness
Digestive issues (bloating, diarrhea, constipation)
Rashes, hives, or unexplained skin changes
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Food sensitivities
These symptoms are not random. They’re your body’s warning signals that something deeper is out of balance.
The Root Cause of Autoimmune Disease
Research and decades of clinical observation point to a clear truth: autoimmune disease is rarely random. The body doesn’t ever attack itself “just because.” It’s provoked to and there is ALWAYS an underlying cause. Those that know me have heard me say a thousand times, “Within the cause, lies the cure.”
Autoimmune disease are not the mystery we’re told they are. They are a response to chronic stressors and imbalances inside the body, including:
Stealth bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
Chemical or heavy metal toxicity
Poor gut health and microbiome imbalance
Food allergies or sensitivities
Chronic stress or trauma
When these triggers aren’t addressed, the immune system remains on high alert—leading to inflammation, tissue damage, and worsening symptoms.
5 Lifestyle Changes That Can Reduce Autoimmune Symptoms Naturally
1. Restore Healthy Sleep
Deep, restorative sleep supports immune regulation and reduces inflammation. Avoid blue light before bed, keep a consistent bedtime, and get morning sunlight to reset your circadian rhythm. For a robust resource on optimizing your sleep, I strongly encourage reading, THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD NIGHT’S REST.
2. Get More Sunlight
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to increased autoimmune risk, especially for multiple sclerosis. Direct morning sunlight on the skin and eyes (without glass or sunglasses) also supports immune balance. I’ve written extensively about this. See, SUN SAFETY OR HEALTH HAZARD.
3. Move Daily to Reduce Lymphatic Stagnation
Autoimmune patients often have sluggish lymphatic flow. Gentle exercise, stretching, and walking improve circulation, support detoxification, and reduce inflammation.
4. Identify and Eliminate Food Triggers
Common culprits include gluten, dairy, and nightshades. Food sensitivity testing or an elimination diet can help you pinpoint triggers. Supporting stomach acid and digestion is also key to preventing undigested proteins from triggering immune attacks.
Again, I have expounded on this subject in multiple articles. A good start to really learn about how to prevent and/or reverse chronic disease and autoimmune symptoms I invite you to read, HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY HUMAN, PART 1 AND PART 2.
5. Lower Stress Levels
Up to 80% of autoimmune patients report a major stressor before disease onset. Breathwork, meditation, and nervous system retraining can reduce flares and improve resilience. To discover very practical and easy ways to manage stress, and therefore your health, I really encourage you to read, FROM PANIC TO PEACE: MASTERING STRESS IN TODAY’S FACE PACED LIFE.
Why Modern Life is Fueling Autoimmune Disease
Doctors with decades of experience often say today’s patients are sicker, more fatigued, and harder to heal than in the past. Contributing factors include:
Overuse of vaccines and pharmaceuticals
Continuous chemical exposure in food, water, and air
EMF pollution and circadian disruption
Sedentary lifestyles read, SITTING YOUR WAY TO SICKNESS & CHRONIC DISEASE.
Nutrient-depleted, ultra-processed diets
These factors erode away at what older practitioners call human vitality—making the body less able to recover and respond to treatment.
The Danger of Suppressing Symptoms
In natural medicine, symptoms are not the disease—they’re signals from the body. Suppressing them without solving the underlying problem can drive illness deeper.
For example:
Antibiotics can push bacteria into dormant, cell wall–deficient forms that reemerge later.
Steroids can suppress inflammation but shut down natural hormone production.
Over-vaccination or immune-modifying drugs can, in some cases, tip the immune system into chronic overactivation.
A Better Way to Reverse Autoimmune Disease Naturally
To move beyond symptom management and into true healing:
Identify the root cause — Look for chronic infections, toxins, allergens - including food allergies, and stress patterns.
Make foundational lifestyle changes — Nutrition, movement, sleep, stress reduction. These are the 4 Pillars of Health. Address these and you’ll be healthy.
Use safer therapies first — Many effective natural treatments exist, such as DMSO [read, DMSO: Nature’s Cure For Just About Everything, You Were Never Meant To Discover], ultraviolet blood irradiation, and targeted herbal (non-pharmaceutical) antimicrobials.
Work with your doctor and healthcare practitioner to reduce drug dependence — If your medications aren’t helping, it’s time to change the approach. True medicine HEALS, pharmaceuticals manage and masks symptoms and never address the root cause.
Support the body’s terrain — Create an internal environment that promotes a robust immune system, normal responses to pathophysiological triggers, and healing, not disease.
What to Ask Your Doctor
Take this list to your next visit:
Could my symptoms be linked to chronic infection or gut health?
Are there safer alternatives to long-term steroids?
How might diet and lifestyle changes reduce my need for medication?
Final Thoughts
Autoimmune disease doesn’t have to be a life sentence. The body is capable of remarkable recovery when the underlying causes are addressed and the right support is in place.
The real choice is not between living with symptoms or suppressing them—it’s between managing disease and reclaiming your vitality.
If you’re ready to stop chasing symptoms and start healing from the root, the Wellness Pathways Process can guide you step-by-step. You’ll uncover triggers, restore balance, and give your body the tools it needs to heal naturally—without a lifetime of toxic drugs.
An Invitation to Holistic Transformation
True wellness thrives at the intersection of MIND, BODY, and our PLANET / ENVIRONMENT. The SHIFT ETHOS WELLNESS PATHWAYS PROCESS is a comprehensive, structured journey that guides you through every dimension of health:
Mind: Cultivate mindfulness, discover emotional / stress resilience techniques, and enhance mental fitness with meditation, breathwork, and brain-rewiring techniques.
Body: Optimize physical health - and prevent chronic disease with dietary & nutritional meal plans, build strength with a scalable fitness regimen, unlock consistent deep restorative sleep, and learn how to effectively manage stress.
Planet: Acknowledge that your outer environment shapes your inner health—detox your home of toxic cleaners, petroleum-based detergents, cosmetics, and other biotoxins to create a chemical-free sanctuary that supports both body and mind.
Imagine waking each day with a clear mind, energized body, and the confidence that your environment supports—not sabotages—your health.
I’d love to invite you to explore the SHIFT ETHOS WELLNESS PATHWAYS PROCESS. Discover a truly integrated approach to vibrant living.
When you’re ready to see how this all-in-one program can support your unique goals, schedule a free consult by pressing the blue button at the bottom of the WELLNESS PATHWAYS page.
Let’s embark on this journey together.
Love & Light to You in your continued Journey of Self-Discovery!
Sources:
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association – Statistics (2022)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – Autoimmune Diseases (2023)
Munger KL, et al. “Vitamin D status and risk of multiple sclerosis.” JAMA (2006)
Stojanovich L, et al. “Stress as a trigger of autoimmune disease.” Autoimmunity Reviews (2008)
