It is estimated that millions of people in the UK alone suffer from autoimmune diseases and over 100 different diseases have been classified as autoimmune in nature.

However while these conditions tend to be viewed as separate entities, a broader perspective may reveal that shared mechanisms are the underlying cause of these maladies.

Here we address issues such as habitual consumption of pro-inflammatory diet (high sugar, fats, processed foods, meat, dairy), food allergies and intolerances, microbial infections, hormonal imbalances, nutritional insufficiencies, toxic and xenobiotic exposure.

 • Pharmacological drugs focuses on the downstream consequences of inflammation (e.g. antihistamines block histamine)

• Functional Medicine works upstream by addressing the underlying conditions that initiate or perpetuate inflammation.

• Avoiding exposure to triggers (trauma, infections, toxins and food) and modulating inflammatory mediators with lifestyle and diet can dampen inflammation.