We Do Know What Causes Autoimmunity
November 17th, 2005by Heidi Whitaker
I am constantly reading and hearing that we don’t know the cause of autoimmune disorders such as lupus, ALS, Fibromyalgia, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Epstein-Barr, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is not the case at all.
I would agree that pharmaceutical companies have not found a cause of autoimmunity that they can do much about. In mainstream medicine, that translates to not knowing much about the disease. However, outside mainstream medicine, we do know A LOT about the cause behind autoimmunity.
From my book, “Autoimmunity: It’s Time for Truth; It’s Time to Heal”:
“The immune system, like most of the body, requires balance to function properly. T-helper 1 (Th1) cells and T-helper 2 cells (Th2) help regulate the body’s response to foreign invaders. Th1 uses white blood cells to go after viruses and cancer cells. Th2 immune cells use antibodies to go after bacteria. Normally, the body strikes a balance by switching back and forth between Th1 and Th2. In a person with an autoimmune disorder, one dominates and suppresses the other. Trans fats, mercury and other heavy metals, sugar and processed foods, alcohol, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, and stress are part of a modern lifestyle that can disrupt the Th1/Th2 balance.