The ROOT CAUSE Of Autoimmune Disease & How To REDUCE Its Effects | Mark Hyman & Sunjya Schweig

The array of frustrating symptoms that come along with autoimmune diseases leave those who are suffering constantly looking for answers. Simply put, autoimmune diseases—like rheumatoid arthritis, celiac sprue, inflammatory bowel, type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s, Graves’, lupus, fibromyalgia, and so many more—are conditions where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues rather than a foreign molecule like bacteria. This happens when something confuses the immune system.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Sunjya Schweig to discuss why autoimmune issues are on the rise and how we can treat them using a Functional Medicine approach.

Sunjya K. Schweig, MD, is deeply committed to building a cutting-edge, data-driven ecosystem for the prevention and reversal of chronic illness. As the founder and president of the California Center for Functional Medicine, Dr. Schweig and his team provide personalized, precision medicine care to help people with chronic illness recover their health. In 2021, Dr. Schweig founded the Functional Medicine Research and Technology Center, which aims to prevent and reverse chronic illness through research, education, and innovation. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Schweig completed his MD at the University of California, Irvine, and his family medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco, Family Practice Residency Program in Santa Rosa, CA. He is board certified in family practice (ABFM) integrative and holistic medicine (ABIHM).

This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens and InsideTracker.

[virginiaconway]

The main problem is the poor quality of our food. Pesticides, preservatives, GMOs, poor soil quality being deficient of nutrients, not to mention picking produce before it is ripe enough to have formed proper nutrient content. I could go on but won't.

[naps]

My mom was experiencing debilitating diarrhea for over a year, she went to family doc, then a urologist. The urologist diagnosed her with inflamed bowel syndrome and prescribed some expensive meds. She didn't know what to do, she is very much against taking pharmaceuticals long term. I asked her what meds, vitamins, and supplements she was taking. She said she quit everything except her turmeric (she is a big advocate of turmeric, taking it 3 times a day.) I told her stop taking it and see what happens...lo and behold her chronic diarrhea cleared up within days. She was SO THANKFUL. I'm just a mechanic but I know how to troubleshoot problems by process of elimination.

[specialmelody]

My mom always stated that all problems start in the gut (except some) and I've finally reached her conclusion. Thank you for putting the information out there! Thank you for educating us. Nutrition and health should be taught in schools, not just biology and anatomy etc. The food that we're buying from shops is like poison, medication that they give us is slowly killing us.

[mjblue]

I have Celiac Disease and DH. Sadly, the doctors I have been to just say "stay away from gluten" and you'll be fine. NO, not really. Gluten is one type of lectin. I decided to go on a lectin free diet and no nightshade vegetables (the skins have lectins and they are highly inflammatory), no grains, no dairy, no rice, no corn, no legumes. My blisters, rash, migraines, inflammation, intestinal issues and swelling gone! It is a very strict diet and by no means easy. But if you happen to have celiac disease and think just eliminating gluten is the answer, you are mistaken. If you eat beef or chicken, make sure it's grass fed...make sure the animal doesn't eat grains.
I was so swollen (155 lbs.) and now, I am down to 118 lbs. Watch what you eat! Eat organic please if you can. Your body will thank you for it. I am a former nurse and LMT.

[raewise]

Excellent conversation. This is why I love functional medicine and turn more and more often to these videos. Looking at the ENTIRE person, not just their symptoms is the key! Thank you. Many of us are thriving, because of your dedication. ♥️

[paolooo]

We know exactly why auto-immune diseases are on the rise. We "played" with our immune system over the last couple of years. In many countries, people were threatened with losing their jobs and livelihood if they would not agree to "play" with their immune system. Having destroyed thousands of life with long term effects and exacerbated and totally out of control existing auto-immune conditions which had previously been mild (like in my case), they have now declared there is no longer the need to "play" with your immune system. Thank you!

[alwaysclassicgirl]

Thank you so much for this video! As Dr. Schweig was discussing Sarah’s health history, I noticed it’s so similar to mine and gave me a lot of insight. So appreciate this channel Dr. Hyman as it helps those of us who can’t afford to see a functional medicine doctor or don’t have one close by.

[rosamoreno]

Can you do a post on nose inflammation from sinuses. Thank you in advance.

[LuciaAronica]

Great episode! So glad to see Sunjya here. He was an all-star student in my Stanford Continuing Studies course on the biology of longevity!

[staceya]

My life has been upside down for over 20 years and I think it might be partially Lyme. I had a consultation with Cleveland Clinic Neurology and the Lyme panel showed the antibodies were present. The doctor dismissed it saying “oh Michigan doesn’t have a tick problem”. Ass! He wouldn’t even let me explain I lived is Massachusetts for 2 years, surrounded by wetlands and it was tick city!! Wake up and tick on the ceiling, have to pull one off the dog (even with preventative) or the classic riding the train into Boston and removing one from a child’s eyebrow!!

[luigginapaola]

I had a perfect diet for years, no gluten, no sugar, fasting, organic food, worked out 5 times a week, sauna 3 times a week. Good suplements, I still developed an autoimmune disease that was triggered by Malaria

[Theanomgroup]

I am so thankful I have no health issues. I never drink soda, or even juice unless it’s fresh, i never eat sugar. And try to eat herbs fruits veggies supplements

[kellielaine]

Cheese is my trigger. Inflames me - shows on my face first. Eliminate cheese - smooth skin. Butter and cream - no problem with me. Go as close to a Keto diet as possible, folks. Your body will heal itself if given CLEAN ORGANIC food in a balance of mainly high protein with some well-chosen vegetables. Sugar and alcohol are killers (even in fruit juices.)

[kaceeboxers]

Thank you for this wonderful interview! I was fortunate enough to somehow know I needed a functional doctor, roughly 11 years ago, when I was diagnosed with hashimotos and T1D, at age 57. We have a fabulous functional clinic in our town and utilize their health coach and nutritionist, their supplement store and all the extras they offer that would not be accessible at most conventional clinics. BTW, both my auto immune conditions are well controlled currently. We are always tweaking treatments as everyday environmental toxins and stressors, as well as our food sourcing, appear to find another pathway to create inflammation. Always the biggest battle, IMO.

[tamichildofGod]

Blood panel. My husband just went to the rheumatologist for pseudogout and they were also going to check for other autoimmune issues. That is exactly what the rheumatologist said to us, there is no connection between diet and lifestyle and autoimmune disease. Oh really? Yet he agreed with us that we see a direct correlation between food, my husband eats and a flare-up

[psycheread]

I was diagnosed with autoimmune primary biliary cholangitis in 2017. Last March I had a liver transplant, and the tacrolimus medication has caused peripheral neuropathy. I know I feel better on an autoimmune diet, but I live in a food desert and I think there is only one functional medicine practitioner in my state. As soon as I can pay off my bills for the transplant, I'm going to seek these guys out. In the meantime, I'm going to follow the aip diet as closely as I can again. Dust myself off and pick myself up. This video gave me hope again.

[johnstewartvet]

Important information relevant to everyone who eats wheat, rye, Barley ie gluten

[foladada]

I was just searching for this topic when notification came in. Hopefully I will learn from it

[mandilovelady]

I really just wish I knew why there was such push back against this work in the insurance companies. I am between a rock and I hard place affording functional medicine to help get my extraordinarily high TPOS down, and having none of the doctors I’ve seen (covered by insurance) know what else to really do to help.

[ehinspections]

Thank you for sharing this great videos!! Is there a list for functional medicine Dr's that work with autoimmune condition?