Autoimmune Conditions and Root-Cause Medicine: What the Research Shows

By Dr. John C. Hargrove, DC Doctor of Chiropractic · Life University | B.S. Human Biology · Winthrop University | Published Endocrinology Researcher · 27 Years Clinical Practice

Autoimmune conditions — in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues — affect tens of millions of Americans. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis are among the most common. Conventional medicine typically manages these conditions with immunosuppressant medications. Functional medicine asks a different question: why is the immune system misfiring in the first place?

The Trigger Question

Autoimmune conditions don't develop in a vacuum. Research consistently identifies several categories of triggers that can initiate or worsen autoimmune activity: intestinal permeability (sometimes called "leaky gut" ), chronic infections, environmental toxin exposure, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and chronic psychological stress. These triggers don't cause autoimmune disease in everyone — but in genetically susceptible individuals, they can tip the immune system into a state of dysregulation.

Identifying and addressing these triggers is the core of the functional medicine approach to autoimmune conditions.

What a Functional Medicine Evaluation Looks Like

When I evaluate a patient with an autoimmune condition, I'm looking at the full picture: their health history, their diet, their stress load, their environmental exposures, and a comprehensive lab panel that includes inflammatory markers, gut permeability indicators, nutritional status, and hormone levels. The goal is to find the specific biological factors driving their immune dysregulation — because they're different for every patient.

This approach doesn't replace conventional medical care. It works alongside it — addressing the underlying biology while conventional treatment manages the immediate symptoms.

Book a functional medicine consultation here — bring any previous lab work and a list of your current medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can functional medicine help with autoimmune conditions?

  • Functional medicine can help identify and address the underlying triggers that contribute to autoimmune activity — including gut permeability, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and chronic inflammation. This approach works alongside conventional medical care.

• What is the connection between gut health and autoimmune disease?

  • Research suggests that intestinal permeability — a condition in which the gut lining becomes more permeable than normal — may allow bacterial fragments and food proteins to enter the bloodstream, triggering immune responses that can contribute to autoimmune activity in susceptible individuals.

• What tests are used in a functional medicine autoimmune evaluation?

  • A comprehensive evaluation may include inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR, homocysteine), gut permeability markers, nutritional status (vitamin D, B12, zinc, magnesium), thyroid antibodies, sex hormones, and cortisol patterns.

• Is Dr. John Hargrove accepting new patients in Savannah, GA?

  • Yes. Call 912-355-3185 or book online at hhcofsavannah.com.

• Where is Holistic Health Center of Savannah located?

  • 100 Commercial Court, Suite B, Savannah, GA 31406. Telehealth available nationwide at PeptidesYourWay.com.