The Doctor's Farmacy with Mark Hyman, M.D.

Getting to the Root Cause of Autoimmune Disease: A Functional Medicine Approach

Wed Apr 03 2024

Adverse Childhood ExperiencesFunctional MedicineAutoimmune DiseasesTraumaPsychedelic-Assisted TherapyHormonal ImbalancesHealing

Description

This episode explores the connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and chronic disease, the role of functional medicine in addressing autoimmune diseases, the impact of trauma on health, and the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy for trauma resolution. The importance of addressing hormonal imbalances and the use of psychedelics in healing are also discussed.

Insights

Adverse childhood experiences can be linked to a higher risk of chronic disease.

The impact of trauma on biology and health is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of addressing psycho-emotional-spiritual aspects in disease management.

A high ACE score is associated with a greater risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

Personal stories are shared about childhood trauma and its effects on adult behavior and health.

Functional medicine practitioners emphasize the importance of accurate data in addressing health concerns.

Dr. Sarah Gottfried discusses inflammation, autoimmunity, and hormonal balance in relation to autoimmune diseases.

There has been an increase in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders over the past century, posing a challenge for modern medicine.

Conventional medical practices often focus on symptom management rather than addressing the root cause of diseases, prompting a shift towards systems biology and functional medicine.

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise and affect more people than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.

Alessio Fasano, an expert on celiac disease, identifies a three-legged stool model for autoimmune disease involving genetic predisposition, leaky gut, and triggers.

Triggers for autoimmune diseases can include infections like COVID, hormonal changes, toxic stress, and trauma.

Functional medicine focuses on understanding the root causes of autoimmune diseases rather than just managing symptoms with drugs.

Early intervention and comprehensive testing are crucial in addressing autoimmune diseases effectively.

Therapy alone may not be effective in treating trauma, leading to a need for alternative approaches.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is being explored as a more effective treatment for trauma compared to traditional talk therapy.

The speaker underwent MDMA-assisted therapy multiple times and found it highly effective in processing trauma.

Ketamine and MDMA are among the compounds being researched and approved for treating trauma and mental health conditions.

Psychedelic therapies are showing promise in addressing trauma at a biological level, offering long-lasting effects with minimal dosing.

Psychedelics like ketamine and psilocybin have shown to have positive effects on physiology and mental health.

Psychedelic-assisted treatments can lead to improvements in blood sugar levels, heart rate variability, and overall well-being.

Chapters

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chronic Disease
Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Diseases
Addressing Trauma in Disease Management
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Trauma Resolution
Functional Medicine and Hormonal Imbalances
Psychedelic Medicine and Healing
Additional Insights

Summary

Transcript

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chronic Disease

00:00 - 13:41

Adverse childhood experiences can be linked to a higher risk of chronic disease.
The guest discusses the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire and its impact on health outcomes.
A high ACE score is associated with a greater risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.
Personal stories are shared about childhood trauma and its effects on adult behavior and health.
The importance of addressing childhood trauma to improve overall well-being and relationships is highlighted.

Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Diseases

13:22 - 32:18

Functional medicine practitioners emphasize the importance of accurate data in addressing health concerns.
Dr. Sarah Gottfried discusses inflammation, autoimmunity, and hormonal balance in relation to autoimmune diseases.
There has been an increase in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders over the past century, posing a challenge for modern medicine.
Conventional medical practices often focus on symptom management rather than addressing the root cause of diseases, prompting a shift towards systems biology and functional medicine.
Autoimmune diseases are on the rise and affect more people than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.
Alessio Fasano, an expert on celiac disease, identifies a three-legged stool model for autoimmune disease involving genetic predisposition, leaky gut, and triggers.
Triggers for autoimmune diseases can include infections like COVID, hormonal changes, toxic stress, and trauma.
Functional medicine focuses on understanding the root causes of autoimmune diseases rather than just managing symptoms with drugs.
Traditional medicine often fails to address underlying causes of autoimmune diseases and offers limited treatment options beyond pharmaceuticals.
Early intervention and comprehensive testing are crucial in addressing autoimmune diseases effectively.

Addressing Trauma in Disease Management

19:33 - 52:00

Trauma plays a significant role in dysregulation of the immune system and inflammation in the body.
The impact of trauma on biology and health is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of addressing psycho-emotional-spiritual aspects in disease management.
The speaker experienced a transformative moment when someone offered to make them a sandwich, leading to self-reflection and healing over the past 10 years.
Disease progression is gradual, with opportunities for early intervention along the continuum of dysregulation and inflammation.
A company called Function Health has collected data showing high rates of autoimmunity markers in their patient population, even among those considered health-conscious.
Functional medicine looks at chronic infections like Lyme as potential triggers for autoimmune diseases.
In functional medicine, a detailed history is taken to understand the progression of the disease and identify genetic issues and triggers.
Precision medicine involves extensive testing including genetic, biomarker, hormonal, and gut function tests for autoimmune conditions.
Autoimmune markers such as inflammation levels, anti-nuclear antibodies, Hashimoto's, rheumatoid factor are assessed in blood tests.
Stool testing is used to check for bacteria associated with autoimmunity and assess gut function.
History and ancestral background are considered important in medical evaluations to understand potential epigenetic influences on health.
There is a pattern observed where patients with autoimmune diseases have a history of slow breakdown and increasing inflammation over time.
The podcast discusses the importance of addressing trauma and psychomotional aspects in treating autoimmune diseases.

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Trauma Resolution

44:50 - 1:05:07

Therapy alone may not be effective in treating trauma, leading to a need for alternative approaches.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is being explored as a more effective treatment for trauma compared to traditional talk therapy.
The speaker underwent MDMA-assisted therapy multiple times and found it highly effective in processing trauma.
Ketamine and MDMA are among the compounds being researched and approved for treating trauma and mental health conditions.
Psychedelic therapies are showing promise in addressing trauma at a biological level, offering long-lasting effects with minimal dosing.
Psychedelics like ketamine and psilocybin have shown to have positive effects on physiology and mental health.
Psychedelic-assisted treatments can lead to improvements in blood sugar levels, heart rate variability, and overall well-being.
Psychedelics have the potential to change behavior patterns driven by trauma and attachment styles.
Using a holistic approach alongside psychedelic treatments is essential for optimal health outcomes.

Functional Medicine and Hormonal Imbalances

31:49 - 1:17:28

The speaker shares her personal health journey, starting with postpartum depression and weight loss resistance after having her first baby.
She felt young but old due to various health issues and lack of sleep, leading to a visit to the doctor who suggested birth control pills and antidepressants.
Feeling humiliated by the doctor's suggestions, she took charge of her health by running hormone tests on herself, revealing imbalances like high cortisol and prediabetes.
Her experience led her to focus on dysregulation in hormones and other systems in both herself and her patients, discovering that many people suffer from similar issues.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of looking beyond traditional hormone tests and exploring functional medicine for a more comprehensive understanding of health issues.
By addressing hormonal imbalances through integrative medicine approaches like herbal supplements and lifestyle changes, she was able to improve her health significantly.
The speaker, a gynecologist, addressed health issues like cortisol and insulin imbalance by modifying her diet and lifestyle.
She found that changes in cortisol and insulin levels were not durable and started to explore the role of trauma in health conditions.
Trauma can impact the body biologically through various systems like the immune system, vagus nerve, and insulin signaling.
The lingering effects of overwhelming experiences contribute to trauma's impact on the body, beyond just the events themselves.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of assessing one's body for dysregulation in immune, nervous, and endocrine systems due to thoughts' influence on bodily functions.

Psychedelic Medicine and Healing

57:57 - 1:20:03

Podcast features discussions on psychedelic therapy with various experts like Michael Pollan and Paul Stamets
A patient named Christina experienced profound trauma leading to physical symptoms like elbow pain
Christina's functional medicine interventions and psychedelic assisted therapies helped her heal from potential autoimmune disease
Psychedelics have been used across cultures for healing, spiritual awakenings, and cultural rituals
Psychedelic medicines have been traditionally used in cultural rituals and by indigenous tribes for healing and spiritual awakenings.
There is a shift towards medicalization of psychedelic medicine, including group therapy sessions for trauma resolution.
Functional medicine takes a multidimensional approach to health, focusing on eliminating triggers like gluten and dairy, optimizing lifestyle factors like sleep, and incorporating mind-body practices.
Immune modulators like vitamin D and curcumin are utilized in functional medicine for conditions such as autoimmune diseases.

Additional Insights

1:11:08 - 1:17:28

Thyroid dysfunction can lead to various symptoms like fatigue, depression, and hair loss.
Microbiome plays a crucial role in gut health and can be rehabilitated with phytochemicals.
Developing a relationship with patients is important before considering psychedelic therapies.
Assessing adverse childhood events is essential for creating a healing state of consciousness.
Understanding secure attachment earlier in life could have been transformative.
Adaptive childhood strategies may no longer serve us and can be shed for a new way of being
Self-care plays a significant role in improving chronic diseases and auto-immunity
The podcast host appreciates the evolution of the guest's work over the years
The guest, Sarah Gottfried MD, has books on hormone regulation like 'The Hormone Cure' and 'The Autoimmune Cure'
Listeners are encouraged to follow the guest on social media for more content
The podcast emphasizes the importance of seeking professional medical help for health journeys