7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
1/65
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
2/65
Ti ook otai th opiio ad ida o th autho. It i itdd to povid hlpul gal
iomatio o th ujt that it add. It i ot i ay way a utitut o th advi o
th ad ow phyiia() o oth mdial poioal ad o th ad ow idividual
oditio, ymptom, o o. I th ad d poal mdial, halth, ditay, xi,
o oth aita o advi, th ad hould oult a omptt phyiia ad/o oth qualid
halth a poioal. T autho ad pulih pially dilaim all poiility o ay
ijuy, damag, o lo that th ad may iu a a dit o idit oqu o ollowig ay
ditio o uggtio giv i th ook o patiipatig i ay pogam did i th ook.
scrIbner
A Diviio o simo & shut, I.
1230 Avu o th Amia
nw Yok, nY 10020
copyight 2013 y sua blum, M.D.
All ight vd, iludig th ight to podu thi ook o potio tho
i ay om whatov. Fo iomatio add si suidiay right Dpatmt,
1230 Avu o th Amia, nw Yok, nY 10020.
Fit si hadov ditio Apil 2013
scrIbnerad dig a gitd tadmak o T Gal Goup, I.,
ud ud li y simo & shut, I., th pulih o thi wok.
Fo iomatio aout pial diout o ulk puha,
pla otat simo & shut spial sal at
1-866-506-1949 o [email protected].
T simo & shut spak buau a ig autho to you liv vt.
Fo mo iomatio o to ook a vt otat th simo & shut spak
buau at 1-866-248-3049 o viit ou wit at www.imopak.om.
Mauatud i th Uitd stat o Amia
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Liay o cog catalogig cotol num: 2012031929
Isbn 978-1-4516-9497-0
Isbn 978-1-4516-9500-7 (ook)
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
3/65
cs
FOreWOrD y Mak Hyma, M.D. ix
InrODUcIOn 1
chapt 1: Autoimmu Dia bai 11
Pai
USING FOOD AS MEDICINE
chapt 2: Uig Food a Mdii 37chapt 3: Uig Food a Mdii Wokook 60
chapt 4: Uig Food a Mdii rip 91
Paii
UNDERSTANDING THE STRESS CONNECTION
chapt 5: Udtadig th st cotio 105chapt 6: Udtadig th st cotio Wokook 129
chapt 7: Udtadig th st cotio rip 158
Paiii
HEALING YOUR GUT
chapt 8: Halig You Gut 175chapt 9: Halig You Gut Wokook 191
chapt 10: Halig You Gut rip 215
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
4/65
v cs
PaiV
SUPPORTING YOUR LIVER
chapt 11: suppotig You Liv 229
chapt 12: suppotig You Liv Wokook 257
chapt 13: suppotig You Liv rip 280
PaV
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
chapt 14: Itio ad spi Autoimmu coditio 293
cOncLUsIOn 320
Akowldgmt 323
Appdix I: Hlpul book, cD, At-Hom Pogam,
ad Dtiatio Pogam 326
Appdix II: supplmt ad H Guid 329
not 334
Additioal r 339
rip Idx 348
Idx 350
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
5/65
FOREwORD
rlmaHddepdm
PaadSfg
What dia at mo wom tha hat dia ad at aomid?
What polm at 24 millio Amia ut iv oly 5.4 p-
t o th natioal Ititut o Halth (nIH) udgt o thi polm
to tudy it pottial au?
T aw i autoimmu dia.
Ad it i motly o th ada au it om i o may avo
ad typ. rhumatoid athiti, lupu, multipl loi, iamma-
toy owl dia o oliti, diat, hypothyoidim, ad poiaia all autoimmu dia. W thik o all th polm paatly,
wh thy a ally jut o dia with may dit olo, dpd-
ig o you ag, x, ad g. Autoimmu dia at ou od-
i at almot vy lvl. som at ou vou ytmlik autim
ad may v dpioad oth at ou joit ad mul,
ou ki, ou doi glad, ou hat, ad mo. Autoimmu
dia ou wh th ody immu ytm attak it ow tiu
ath tha a oig molul, uh a a atia. T a mo thao hudd dit autoimmu dia, ad a ayo livig with
a autoimmu oditio will tll you, it ha a hug impat o quality
o li.
T mgig iad it patial appliatio though utioal
mdiipoit to jut a w ai au o autoimmu dia, mot
o whih a igod y ovtioal doto, who ty to hut o th
immu ytm with powul mdiatio that hav dagou idt.
but th tuth i that th oot au o almot all autoimmu di-
a a th am: mio, viomtal toxi, allg, t, ad
poo dit. by movig th oot au ad uppotig th ody opti-
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
6/65
x Fwd
mal utioig though dit ad lityl, you a atually ov om
th oditio.
D. sua blum goudakig ook, Te Immune System Recov-
ery Plan, i a powul guid to l-halig. D. blum how how youa add th oot au o dia ad ala you immu y-
tm. sh lay out a la oad map to ovy o th millio o popl
dlly uig om autoimmu dia ad povid olutio o
hag i dit, upplmt, ad viomt that a hlp popl dal
with ad v v autoimmu oditio. D. blum di to d
th aw wa uld y h ow tuggl with autoimmu dia,
a oditio h ha uully tatd ad ovd om y uig th
pogam did i thi ook.Ou ovtioal appoah to autoimmu dia i to hut dow
th immu po with powul mdiatio iludig nsAID lik
Advil o Alv, toid lik pdio, atia dug lik mtho-
txat, ad th w dug lik el, Humia, ad rmiad that
lok th t o a powul iammatoy molul alld nF alpha.
but tho w dug low dow you immu ytm o powully that
thy ia you ik o a o li-thatig itio. Ad thy
hav qut ad iou id t ad o giv oly patial li.T dug may liavig o om i th hot tm, ut i th
log tm thy do nothingto add th au o dia.
D. blum ad I u th piipl o utioal mdii, whih tak
u to th oot o th polm. W hav tatd hudd o patit with
autoimmu dia uully y addig th udlyig au,
iludig toxi, itio, allg, poo dit, ad t.
I hav v td om th mthod myl. choi atigu y-
dom ha autoimmu atu ad my lood tt laly howd myody wa attakig itl. Gttig id o my muy poioig vd
my hoi atigu ad autoimmu polm.
Ad thi ha tu o o may patit. Fo ah o, doto
lik D. blum ad I d all th autoxi, allg, itio, poo
dit, ad tad dal with all o thm whil addig ak th thig
th ody d to utio optimallywhol, la ood, utit,
xi, t maagmt, la wat ad oxyg, ommuity, o-
tio, ad maig.H a om o th toi o ovy that a poil o you.
O t-ya-old gil am to m with mixd otiv tiu
diah ki, joit, liv, ad lood ll w all avagd y
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
7/65
Fwd x
iammatio. Doto attmptd ut aild to otol h ymptom
with ho do o itavou toid ad immu-uppig
hmo dug. no o akd why. Why wa h iamd? What
aud th ovativity o h immu ytm? Ty imply watd tohut it dow. A two moth o a glut- ad daiy- dit, la-
ig out all th yat i h gut ad toig h utitio with whol
ood ad upplmt, h wa damatially tt. A a ya, h had
o ymptom ad wa o all h mdiatio ad h autoatiodi
tud to omal. Ti typ o dia val i ot i ov-
tioal pati, ut it i poil ad availal to vyo ow though
D. blum ook, Te Immune System Recovery Plan.
O woma had ipplig poiai ad latd athiti. sh wa oty-two ad ouldt walk up ad dow tai o gt ito a athtu y h-
l, o ould h poply a o h hild. ni moth a w
tatd tatmt, iludig limiatig glut ad oth ood all-
g, movig h havy mtal, ad alaig h immu ytm,
h walkd ak ito my o ot oly thity poud light (ig
iamd mak you at) ut ompltly o pai ad poiai.
Aoth ma ud o ya with th loody diaha ad pai o
ulativ oliti. Ditay hag ad vaiou digtiv uppot hlpdut h v got tt util w lad out th ad atia om hi
gut ad got him o glut.
Ad a t patit with dilitatig atigu ad multipl loi ad
littl whit iammatoy a o h ai xpid aly om-
plt li o h ymptom a h had th muy dtal llig
movd ad wt o a omphiv dtoxiatio pogam. Ad
wh h patd h MrI, all o th whit a om th Ms w
go!
Futioal mdii pati aoud th outy a hlpig out-
l patit to ov om autoimmu dia. D. sua blum i th
viioay hid o uh pati, ad at blum ct o Halth, h
ha impovd th liv o thouad o popl. T appoah o dig
ad movig tigg o dia, uh a hidd mio, toxi, o
allg, ad uppotig th ody utio with utit, h, ad
po dug uh a poioti i a movmt that i ow ig patidy patitio at th uttig dg o mdii. It i a appoah alld
utioal mdii ad ha hlpd t o thouad o patit wold-
wid. T valual widom o utioal mdii i did laly
ad thooughly i Te Immune System Recovery Plan. by ollowig th
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
8/65
x Fwd
taightowad, volutioay pogam did i thi ook, you, too,
a tat th au o autoimmu dia, v you oditio, ad
giv youl th gi o halth ad wll-ig.
Futioal mdii giv u th kowldg ad th mthod. nowyou jut d to apply thm.
Mak Hyma, M.D.
Wt stokidg, MA
sptm 2012
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
9/65
INTRODUCTION
GtgSad
AnwPashp
T a gowig pidmi i ou outy. It dot ga wpaphadli o mak th vig w, ut it th ad it i dilitatig
ad pottially dadly. It i th pidmi o autoimmu dia. Auto-
immune diseases are among the most prevalent orms o chronic illness
in this country, now aecting an estimated 23.5 million Americans.
Mo popl u om thi goup o hoi ill tha om a
o hat dia, yt mot popl dot v kow what th oditio
a. Ti lak o awa i killig ulitally. It auig v pai,
diaility, ad v dath. Wo yt, may popl with autoimmuoditio u with thi ymptom au ovtioal doto
ith at gu out what wog o at gt to th oot o th polm.
T aw i utioal mdii, a mdial pialty that ha om
o ag i th pat t ya ad ou o vig th hoi odi-
tio. Hop i h. You holdig it i you had.
WHY A Book on AuToiMMune DiSeASe?
T a mo tha o hudd dit autoimmu oditio, ad
thy a all iou hoi dia aud y a udlyig polm i
th immu ytm. Ti ook i a all to alam: these diseases are revers-
ible and curable i caught early, beore they progress and cause severe
pain, disability, and even death. T t ymptom might vagu l-
ig o atigu, mul o joit pai, o a aggig lig that omthig
it ight. With impl lood tt, you a diagod at thi aly
tag, ad th, y ollowig th tp i thi ook, you immu ytma ought ak ito ala o ivil damag i do to
you ai, joit, thyoid, lood vl, ad oth vital oga. I you
hav uig om a autoimmu oditio o om tim ad
you hav alady xpid om tiu damag, thi ook will hlp
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
10/65
2 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
you l tt i gal, how how you a atually v th t
o th dia, ad hlp pvt you pi tiu damag om gt-
tig wo. A a doto, I hav log awa o autoimmu odi-
tio uh a Gav dia, humatoid athiti (rA), coh dia,ulativ oliti, lupu, multipl loi (Ms), Hahimoto thyoiditi,
poiai, alopia aata, vitiligo, sjg ydom, ad lodma,
amog oth. but wh I wa diagod with o o th ill, it
hagd oth my poal ad poioal liv ov.
MY STorY
bo I go ay uth, lt m itodu myl th way I would i youw o o th patit i my o. Im D. sua blum, a oad-
tid phyiia i pvtiv mdii ad a aitat liial po-
o i th Dpatmt o Pvtiv Mdii at th Mout siai
shool o Mdii i nw Yok city. I am alo th oud o blum
ct o Halth i ry book, nw Yok.
I mdial hool, I tatd dow th oad o taditioal mdii.
T duig my ital mdii idy, I quikly alizd that I
didt wat to ou jut o ill o dia; I watd to ou o pre-ventingtho oditio i th t pla. but ak th pvtiv md-
ii oitd motly o ig tt ad puli halth pogam. It
wat pat o a doto vyday pati. Phyiia jut wt giv
th tool i mdial hool to hlp thi patit hag thi havio,
uh a how to gt popl to at halthully o du t. I kw I
had to tak a dit out a a doto, o I ought taiig om iti-
tutio that w oidd outid th ox at th tim. I patiu-
la, I wa ittd i th latiohip tw t, utitio, adill.
I movd o th at path o taditioal mdii towad a mo
holiti appoah ad ito a mgig ld alld utioal mdi-
i. Fit I ompltd a pogam at th ct o Mid-body Mdii
i Wahigto, D.c., wh I lad tool o t maagmt ad
mthod to v th t o t o th ody. T, at th Iti-
tut o Futioal Mdii, I lad how ood at th po,
ith pomotig halth o auig dia. Wh I tatd applyigwhat I had lad aout t maagmt ad utitio i my ow
pati, I aw thad how th mthod hlpd popl to pvt
ad atuallyreverse hoi dia. T two idapvtio ad
val o hoi diaam my paio ad a at th o o
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
11/65
GtgSadAnwPashp 3
my mdial pati today. but th i o aa wh th thiqu
a tuly li-hagig: autoimmu dia.
I kow thi ot oly au I hav th t o my patit
who u om autoimmu dia ut alo au I aw th impato myl wh I wa diagod with a autoimmu dia.
I diovd it mo tha a dad ago wh a id akd m why
my had w o yllow. I atually hadt otid thi o, ut h
wa ight, o I immdiatly had lood wok do to d out why.
You hav hypothyoidim, my doto told m a th la ult
am ak.Me?A thyoid polm? I ouldt liv it. Hypothyoidim
i a oditio i whih th thyoid glad dot podu ough thy-
oid homo. Ti homo i ay to hlp th ody ovt ta-aot, a utit oud i yllow ad oag uit ad vgtal,
ito vitami A. bau thi ovio wat happig, all th ta-
aot om my halthul dit wat ig poply pod. Itad,
th utit w uildig up i my ody, ad o ymptom o thi
wa my yllow had. I topt, I alizd that thi wat th oly
o. Aoth wa th at that I had to wok ally had to kp om
gaiig wight, ad a thid wa that I wa o vy tid. but at th tim
I didt aliz th w ig o a polm. Ty had pat o myli o o log that I oidd thm omal.
Futh ttig vald v mo ad w. I had a autoimmu
dia alld Hahimoto thyoiditi. I oth wod, my immu y-
tm, whih i omally th ody d i th daily attl agait i-
tio ad ivad, wa o log pottig o ddig m. I at, my
immu ll had tud agait my thyoid, attakig it ad damagig
it to th poit wh it wa tugglig uuully to mak ough
thyoid homo. I wa hokd. I had om a vgtaia ya ali,I xid gulaly, I patid yoga ad mditatio, ad I had ulti-
vatd a tog, piitual aith. I had ad my dmo i pyhothapy
ad wa ally ott with my li. bau I wa doig what I thought
w all th ight thig alady, ig diagod with a autoimmu
dia wa hokig ad ightig. I wa alo a mdial doto, o I
jut ouldt liv that omthig wa goig o iid my ody that I
didt kow aout.
but my pimay a phyiia jut huggd o thi upttig w.It o ig dal, h aid. Youll jut tak thyoid homo plamt
mdiatio ad . no ig dal? May ot to him, ut my ituitio
told m omthig wat ight. My ody wa out o ala, ad I watd
aw. Why did Ihav thi dia? Ad whynow? o udtad my
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
12/65
4 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
ill, I didd to u it a a oppotuity to xplo all that taditioal
ad otaditioal mdii had to o m. I didnt want to take a pill
that would only mask the problem and just manage my symptoms. I
wanted to knowwhythose symptoms were there in the rst place.
HoW FuncTionAL MeDicine HeLPeD Me
T jouy that I ga a my diagoi o Hahimoto dia ld
m dp ito th uiqu ad, at th tim, lativly w ld o u-
tioal mdii, a appoah that oid th whol po, ot jut
hi o h ymptom. A ivig my diagoi, I ga uig th
piipl I lad at th Ititut o Futioal Mdii to tatmyl. A a ult, I diovd that au o a gti pdipoitio,
Im at high ik o autoimmu dia. I alo lad that my ody ha
toul movig muy om my ytm. (Muy i a toxi that
damagig to tiu i ou odi ad a pottial au o autoimmu
dia.) I wt o a glut- dit ad dud my muy xpou
y o log atig h high i thi havy mtal (uh a tua, wodh,
l, ad tipd a), ad ov th ou o two ya I had my may
dtal amalgam llig movd. I ga to dik poti hak thatdu iammatio ad ha th utio o th liv. (si th
liv i th ody mai dtoxiyig oga, thi hlp it la muy ad
oth toxi om th ody.) wo ya a I lad I had Hahimoto
ad tatd th jouy to tat my autoimmu dia uig utioal
mdii, my atiody lvl w omal ad my dia wa ud. I
wa takig a mall amout o thyoid homo (alld lvothyoxi),
ad I had gat gy ad my wight wa ay to maitai. I wa thilld
ad xitd to ha what I had lad with my patit.Tat wa th t tp. bau my thyoid wa alady damagd wh
I wa t diagod, my xt goal wa halig my thyoid, whih a
tak a vaial amout o tim o ah po, dpdig o how log
it ha ud attak y th autoimmu dia. si my thyoid
glad wa quit damagd om th Hahimoto, I till dd, ad o-
tiu to d, thyoid homo plamt. Tat aid, I ow tak hal
th do that I wa takig t ya ago. oday I l halthi ad mo
gti tha I v hav. My halth jouy ha taught m what myody d, how to ak, ad how to lit. Reversing a chronic disease
takes time and eort, but it can be done. My toy i poo o that. I did it
o myl ad mad th poioal diio to hlp oth popl livig
with autoimmu dia do it, too.
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
13/65
GtgSadAnwPashp 5
Ya ago I gav a ltu to a audi ull o halth a poio-
al at th ct o Mid-body Mdii poioal taiig po-
gam. Duig that ltu, I talkd aout th impota o uig ood
a mdii ad how impl thig uh a athig ad laxatio awok to hlp hal dia. I wa tud to d that th impotat, li-
hagig opt w w to mot o th two hudd popl i th
audi. Ad thy w halth a poioal! I ouldt liv it.
How ould th doto tah th thig to thi patit i thy didt
udtad thm ad wt patiig thm thmlv? It wa th
that I alizd it wa tim to gt th wod out mo oadly tha imply
to my patit ad th popl who attdd that ltu ad oth talk
I otiu to giv.
HoW FuncTionAL MeDicine cAn HeLP You
I 2010, a val ya o plaig (ad may mo pt dam-
ig aout uh a oppotuity), I opd blum ct o Halth i
ry book, nw Yok, wh th ou i o a omphiv itga-
tio o utioal mdii, mid-ody mdii, ad pvtiv mdi-
i. It ilud a ookig hool to tah patit ad lit how to ato thi halth ad a mid-ody-piit t that tah a aay o
laxatio thiqu ot oly to pvt hoi halth oditio ut
alo to v thm. Ti, omid with th utioal mdii tat-
mt I o a a mdial doto, ha atd xtaodiay, li-hagig
ult o my patit.
Im ot th oly po who ha told to imply pop a w pill
ad mov o. Ad Im taily ot th oly o who thought that th
hould a tt way. oday, i my utioal mdii pati at blumct o Halth, patit o ha with m what thi taditioal
mdial doto hav aid a diagoig thm with a autoimmu
dia: Gt ud to th paikill. Youll d thm o th t o you
li, W dot kow why popl gt th dia, ad You immu
ytm at tatd. T a jut a w xampl, ut th uig
thm i gally o o hopl. T ida i that you hould jut
apt you diagoi ad th ivital lilog attl with paikill,
dug that upp you immu ytm, ad th id t o oth(om o whih a dvatatig ad log-tm). I imply ud to
apt that th wa othig I ould do o myl o th oth 23.5 mil-
lio Amia utly livig with autoimmu dia. but with th
pval o autoimmu dia o th i, I kow that th a
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
14/65
6 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
may, may popl livig with th oditio who will v mak it
to my o. I wot thi ook o I ould o thi plaa tiv ad
halthy appoahto a oad audi.
May taditioal doto hav a attitud o jut giv i to you ill-, whih oly lad you to l uttly powl. It also makes your
disease worse because it undermines the bodys natural healing pro-
cess. Te mind-body connection is real and powerul. T a may
tudi that how that th mo otol a po l h o h ha ov a
ituatio, th high th at o halig. Popl do tt, l tt, ad
liv tt with vaiou halth oditio i thy hav a that th
i omthig thy a do o thmlv. Ad th i! Tat i o o th
o piipl o utioal mdii, ad a a xpt i th ld, Imh to how you how muh otolyou a hav ov you ow halth
ad wll-ig.
so what xatly i a utioal mdii xpt? Fit, lt m tll you
what it i ot. Mot taditioal doto tak ot o you ymptom ad
gu out what diagoi thy a udl tho ymptom ito. Ti
uually ditat you tatmt. To, i you ad a id hav th
am ymptom, you o gt th am diagoi ad th th am
tatmt. Ti wok o tauma ad o halth iu uh a appdi-iti o a ok lg, wh tai thig uh a ugy a mdy a
immdiat polm o ymptom. Uotuatly, thi appoah dot
wok wh you tyig to tat ad pvt omplx, hoi ill
uh a autoimmu dia.
A utioal mdii xpt i lik a mdial dttiv gathig all
th lu o you pat (wh you gw up, you amily ituatio, tau-
mati vt, halth hitoy, t.) ad you pt (pottial toxi i
you viomt, oial li, t lvl, latiohip, dit, wokoutgim, lp hait, ymptom, t.). Amd with thi iomatio, a
utioal mdii xpt ti to uov how ad why you ody i
ot utioig wll. Ti typ o dttiv wok i what I o all o my
patit at blum ct o Halth ad what I ud to u myl o th
iou autoimmu oditio that I had. It i xatly what I will o
you with th itativ lmt that u thoughout thi ook.
sidy bak, M.D., a wll-kow pvtiv mdii pialit who
i o alld th ath o utioal mdii, o aid, I you a it-tig o a tak, th aw i ot to tat th pai. T olutio i to d
th tak ad mov it. Te Immune System Recovery Plan will hlp you
d th tak that a auig you immu ytm to malutio ad
mov thm o y o. It will tak you though th ou itial tp
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
15/65
GtgSadAnwPashp 7
that will mov thig om th ody that a ad o th immu y-
tm ad th mak u th ody ha xatly what it d to utio
poply.
THe iMMune SYSTeM recoVerY PLAn
I wot Te Immune System Recovery Plan to ha a impotat m-
ag o hop ad halig. Shockingly, there is no other book on the
market that tells the average person how the immune system works
and shows how to x it. Ad that xatly what Ill dtail i th pag.
I will xplai how I hav hlpd hundreds o popl with autoimmu
dia uh a lupu, humatoid athiti, sjg ydom, Hahi-moto dia, ad Gav dia, amog oth, v thi ymp-
tom ad du thi atiodi.
Atiodi a molul omally mad y you immu ll to
attak ad dtoy oig ivad, ut i autoimmu dia, th
atiodi a miditd ad attak ad damag you ow tiu.
May o th oditio a hoi, dilitatig, ad pottially li-
thatig. I at, autoimmu dia a o o th top t ladig
au o dath i gil ad i wom up to ixty-ou ya o ag.Te Immune System Recovery Plan will hlp you gu out what
you lig, whyyou xpiig tai ymptom, ad how you
a tat th udlyig au o tho ymptom o you a v
you autoimmu dia. How a o ook add whatv autoim-
mu oditio you hav? bau mot o th oditio hav imila
udlyig imala. Tough th itativ apt i Te Immune
System Recovery Plan, whih ilud hklit, qutioai, ad l-
amt, you will al to do with thi ook what my patit dowith m i my o. natually, you wot doig you ow lood wok
o tool tt (i tho qui a halth a poioal), ut y uig
th ou tp i thi ook, you will la how to tat whatv autoim-
mu oditio you hav. T ou tp to halig ad pvtig auto-
immu dia a:
stp 1: Uig ood a mdii
stp 2: Udtadig th t otio
stp 3: Halig you gut
stp 4: suppotig you liv
I uggt you do th ou tp i od, whih will hlp you ap th mot
t om thi ook. Howv, ah o a alo tad alo, o you
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
16/65
8 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
a tagt o aa at a tim i you p. Te Immune System Recovery
Plan i dividd ito ou pat, opodig to th ou tp. eah pat
i dividd ito th hapt:
T t hapt i ah pat o a clear explanation about howthe
immune system is aected y th topi at hado xampl, how th
immu ytm pod to t o how digtiv halth iu
th immu ytm.
T od hapt i a workbook with sel-assessments. Uig th
ult o th amt, I will hlp you poaliz you ow tat-
mt pla. Ti hapt will povid all th iomatio you d to
implmt th pla, iludig pi itutio o how to itgatth tool ito daily li ad how to mak pmat lityl hag.
T thid hapt povid recipes that how you how to u ood a
pat o you poalizd tatmt pla. eah ip ilud ood
pially tagtd to ah o th ou tp.
A w mov though th ou tp, I will xplai why ah i impo-
tat ad how you how quikly you a gi to l tt. by ollowig
ah o th ou tp, ith alo o togth, you will gi to impov
you immu ytm immdiatly. T tp a th oudatio that Iu i th tatmt pla I at o vy o o my patit ad a th
implt ad mot tiv mdii.
Te Immune System Recovery Plan will aw th ollowig qutio
ad may mo:
How th v A (ataid, atiioti, Advil, alohol, ad aimal ood)
mak you ik
Why th mot ommo ood i th tadad Amia dit a om-moly mitak y you ody a ivad, auig you immu y-
tm to attak you ow ody
How xpou to muy ad oth toxi hag th ompoitio
o you tiu, auig you immu ytm to attak you ow ody
How ommo viuuh a th epti-ba viu, whih au
mooa povok a ogoig immu atio that au you to
l hoially woll, ti, puy, ad tid
How ovtioal tatmt, whih hut o th ody immupo, hav iou id t iludig iomia, wight gai,
mul pai, iad lood pu, ad dpio
How th utioal mdii appoah a ud i ojutio with
taditioal tatmt to o ig t ad vy littl ik
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
17/65
GtgSadAnwPashp 9
How vy viu youv v hadiludig old o, hik pox,
higl, hpatiti, epti-ba, ad molav idual patil i
you ody that a dvlop ito autoimmu dia, ad how to mak
u that tho oditio at atd i you ody How 70 pt o you immu ytm liv i you gut, ad why
alaig th good ad ad atia i you digtiv tat a lad to
optimal immu utio
How havig th ight amout o atia i you gut du th ii-
d o allgi ad autoimmu dia
HeLP For uS ALL
O thig Id lik to ot i that although thi ook highlight autoim-
mu oditio/dia, Te Immune System Recovery Plan will help
anyone wishing to have a healthier, more balanced immune system.
T tp outlid h hav hlpd my patit who u om athma
ad allgi, a wll a popl who l thy ath vy u o old ug
that thy out.
Mo popl today tha v o hav autoimmu dia, ad
thi pidmi i patially th ult o a viomt that omad uwith toxi ood, t, hmial, ad havy mtal. Ad whil w a-
ot liv i a ul, w can pott ou halth y omig mo awa
ad hagig what om ito ou hom, ito ou amili, ad ito ou
odi. evy igl o o u ha oth a hoi anda poiility to
a o oulv.
What mot impotat to kow i that w do hav otol ov what
happ to u. Y, being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease is
something to take seriously. But it is nota lie sentence and shouldnot be treated as one. You dot hav to liv i pai o tak dilitatig
mdiatio o th t o you li. You a hal you ow immu y-
tm. I kow thi ot oly au Iv xpid thi with may o my
patit ut alo au I hav livd it.
Te Immune System Recovery Plan giv you tool o tatig ad v
vig you autoimmu oditio a wll a th tool o pvtig
thm i th t pla. My goal o you whil adig thi ook i to
that autoimmu diod are tatal ad that pmat olutiodo xit yod a litim o takig pill. T is hop ad o muh that
youy, youa do to th ailitato o you ow halig. Ad
you a ot alo. I am h to guid you o thi jouy, o lt gt
tatd!
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
18/65
10 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
According to the National Institutes o Health (NIH), Research dis-
coveries o the last decade have made autoimmune research one othe most promising new areas o discovery.
BeFore You BeGin
I aliz that thi ook otai thial iomatio that a om-
tim l ovwhlmig ad tatmt pla that a akig you to makmay hag i you dit ad you li. but a you ad though it all,
tak a dp ath ad look pat th t. I wat you to th ot. I
wat you to kow that th a optio that dot ivolv mdiatio
optio that a atually hlp you hal you immu ytm. Whil you
do d to ou o th t, whih a th dtail o ah o th ou
tp i thi ook, kp you y o th ig pitu o what w a tyig
to aomplih: halig you ody o th dpt lvl.
My goal o thi ook a thold. Fit, I wat you to aliz that aomou ody o iti litatu uppot thi appoah to halig
ad alaig th immu ytm. You may om up agait phyiia
who a uamilia with utioal mdii ad uamilia with om
o th tudi I ha with you i thi ook. but jut au you doto
dot kow aout thi iomatio dot ma it i wog. My goal
i thi ook i to mpow you to tak hag o you ow halth. I alo
wat you to hav th od to ha thi iomatio with oth.
My od goal i to o you tatmt lik what you might gt at myo. T a millio o you ad oly o o m. Ti i why I atd
a wokook. It i ok up ito tio o that you a put it dow ad
pik it up lat, wokig though at you ow pa. It i a lot to do at o,
ad you dot hav to do it all i o wk o v o moth. Dot gt
ovwhlmd. You a do it. Ad mm, hlp i alway lo y: you
a gt hlp om ou wit, o you a d a utioal mdii do-
to to hlp you gu om o thi out i it i too muh o you. (s th
appdix o ou.)My thid goal o thi ook i to o a mag o hop. My hat ig at
th oppotuity to lt you kow that you dot d to giv up ad giv i to
a li o hoi uig ad mdiatio. I ily wih ah o you a hal-
ig jouy a you mak th hag that I kow will hlp you l tt.
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
19/65
CHAPTER 1
AmmDsasBass
A HeALTHY iMMune SYSTeM
You immu ytm ilud a goup o ll i you ody that po-tt you agait itio ad ill. Ti i why th immu ytm
i o d to a a amy o ll. evy day wh you xpod
to thig that ould au itio ad illuh a viu, at-
ia, mold, paait, ad oig poti i oodyou immu ytm
tak atio. o do o, it all upo may dit kid o oldi, ut
to udtad autoimmu dia, w will ou o o attalio i
patiula, alld lymphoyt. Lymphoyt a a typ o whit lood
ll that i poil o pottig you om hamul oig likitio. Howv, i thy at wokig ight, lymphoyt a th
ll that au autoimmu dia. T a two kid o oldi
that mak up th lymphoyt attalio. T t i kill ll, whih
ditly attak aythig thy dot ogiz ad whih thy piv a
a ivad. I thik o thi dit attak a ll-to-ll omat. T oth
kid o oldi i alld a b ll. T ll podu atiodi, whih
a molul that ga o to aythig that you immu ytm thik
i oig ad dagou. A th molul gt hold o th oig,you immu ytm iitiat a igg po that au a iam-
matoy atio. Wh thi happ, w ompoud a lad that
attak th oig i od to kill it ad la it out o you ody. You a
thik o atiodi a ullt lad om th b ll to kill th ivad.
both kid o oldi o th immu ytm, atiody-poduig b ll
ad kill ll, tat a po that ult i iammatio though-
out th ody. Tough th po may gi omwhat ditly, th
d ult you l i th am o th mot pat. T t ditio o aomptt ad halthy immu ytm i o i whih th kill ll
ad th atiody-poduig b ll a i ala o that th immu
po i alad, too.
Dpdig o th ivad, omtim you atually l omthig i
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
20/65
12 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
happig wh you immu ytm tak atio ad omtim you
dot. exampl o th oig ivad ilud atia ad viu.
I you gt a iu o a itio, whih i aud y atia, you may
xpi you immu ytm takig atio y havig a tud oad pai i you a o iu aa. I you gt th u, whih i om a
viu, you might hav a high v. T ymptom a th ult o you
immu ytm tyig to ght th atia o viu. You might hav a
tog atio ad th iammatio might lt i you mul o i
you joit, lik athiti. All o th a ig that th immu ytm i
wokig to d o th itio. I you immu ytm i tog, thi
wa withi you hould top a a wk o two at th mot. O it jo
i do, th immu ytm will lax ad go ak to it omal tat owathig ad waitig o th xt od, ad th iammatio go
away. I omo with a halthy immu ytm, thi i a good, omal
po, ad w d th kill ll ad atiodi to kp u halthy.
T i mo tha o typ o ll. T kill ad b ll a told
what to do y th hlp ad th gulato, whih ith tu o o
tu o th immu po. T dit typ o ll d to
i ala o th immu ytm to tu o poply a it i ativatd
ad th jo i do. Ti ala i th od ditio o a halthyimmu ytm.
Whil you immu ytm d to vigilat i od to guad
agait itio ad toxi, it alo ha to vy aul ot to hut
you ow tiu y mitakig you ow ll o th ivad. Duig
thi alit dvlopmt, you immu ll hav to la th di-
tw omthig that i a atual pat o you ody, o l, ad
Three things that dene a healthy immune system:
1. Balance between killer T cells and antibody-producing B cells
2. Balance between T helpers and T regulators to turn on and o
the immune system
3. The immune systems ability to dierentiate oreign invaders(such as viruses or bacteria) rom natural parts o your body
(such as cells and tissues)
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
21/65
AmmDsasBass 13
a oig uta, o ot l. big al to mak thi dititio i
alld tola. T thid ditio o a halthy immu ytm i o
that attak oly ivad ad ot itl.
An iMMune SYSTeM Gone AWrY
A autoimmu polm dvlop wh th immu ytm ail at all
th o th ditio o halth. T ody gi to mak too may
kill ll o too may atiodi (thi vai dpdig o th auto-
immu dia ad will diud i dpth lat) ad th ail to
tu o, o th immu atio dot top. (T t two polm
a alo i popl with athma ad allgi, au thy hava ovativ immu po to uta alld allg. symptom
uh a whzig ad ifig, ad v li-thatig togu wllig
ad thoat tight, a aud y th immu po, ot th allg
itl.) but mot impotat o tho o you with autoimmu dia,
th immu ll a attakig you ody ow tiu wh thy hould
only attakig outid ivad. Put all th polm togth ad th
ult i iammatio ad damag to you ll ad oga.
WHAT Are AuToiMMune DiSeASeS?
Autoimmu pt a categoryo at lat o hudd dia, ot
o pi ill. Ti a ouig ad i poaly why may
popl at amilia with autoimmu dia o a uu whih
ill all ito thi atgoy. Futhmo, th am o th o-
ditio, whih ilud Hahimoto thyoiditi, humatoid athiti,
ytmi lupu ythmatou, sjg ydom, lia dia, admultipl loi, amog oth, dot hav th wod autoimmu i
thm. Ti i ulik dia uh a th vaiou om o a, wh
thi am otai th wod a ad th aa wh th maligat
tumo() a oud. Fo xampl, at a i a tumo i th at,
olo a a tumo i th olo, ad ki a a tumo o th ki.
Without th wod autoimmu a pat o thi am, autoimmu
oditio oud lik thy a dititly dit dia. Howv, that
ouldt uth om th tuth.What a alo ouig i that th am o autoimmu odi-
tio dot tll you where th dia i loatd i th ody. som autoim-
mu oditio a systemic, maig that th attak pad thoughout
th ody to all tiu, a i lupu. Oth a oga pi, wh th
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
22/65
14 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
attak ou i a pi aa o oga, lik Hahimoto, whih ou i
th thyoid. I ith a, th am it a hlpul idiato o wh th
polm atually xit. Fo xampl, Hahimoto ad Gav dia a
i th thyoid, multipl loi i i th ai ad pial od, vitiligoi i th ki, ad piiou amia i i th lood ll. Although th
atd aa a dit, w ow kow that th udlyig polm i
all o th dia a vy imila. I at, th ou o t ah
ha withd om lookig at th pi oga atd y th dia to
dtmiig th udlyig mhaim o how th dia gi.
Ti idathat all o th oditio hav imila oigii itial to
ou appoah o tatig ad vig thm.
Mo tha o hudd dit autoimmu oditio hav imi-la haatiti. Ty a all iou hoi dia with a udly-
ig polm i th immu ytm. Aoth thig thy hav i ommo
i iammatio, whih i iitatio ad wllig inside you ody, i ay
pat iludig you ai. Iammatio a au a wid ag o ymp-
tom, iludig atigu, pu, mul o joit pai, adomial di-
omot iludig diaha, ad diulty otatig o ai og.
O you may jut hav a vagu, aggig lig that omthig it ight,
v i you doto at d aythig wog with you.by uig a utioal mdii appoah ad ouig o th pimay
au o th immu dyutio, ah ha uovd may pottial
tigg o th dia. (A tigg i aythig that tat a uhalthy
immu po.) It turns out that many autoimmune diseases are set
o by similar things, such as gluten, heavy metals, toxins, inections,
and stress. T mai di tw ah dia i that th immu
ll tagt ad attak tiu i dit pat o th ody. etially,
mot autoimmu oditio a mo alik tha thy a dit. Adit tu out that xig th oudatioal ytmwhih a you dit,
t homo, gut halth, ad ody toxi loadwill hal th immu
ytm ad hlp thm all. Ti i th volutioay appoah I dtail i
Te Immune System Recovery Plan ad why th tatmt pogam it
otai a t ad tagt allautoimmu dia.
WHAT cAuSeS AuToiMMune DiSeASe?
T natioal Ititut o Halth timat that up to 23.5 millio Am-
ia u om autoimmu dia ad that th pval i iig.
With th um iaig vy ya, may xpt hav qutiod
what au autoimmu dia ad hav tudyig thi to d out.
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
23/65
AmmDsasBass 15
A a ult, th a may thought ad ida aout how you gt a
autoimmu dia. H a th xplaatio with th mot vid
hid thm.
PalTggoMd-DayDs
Gluten
Mod-day agiultual pati ilud omthig alld gti
modiatio. Ti ma that th g i th d o op lik o,
oy, ad what a altd i a laoatoy o that th plat a gow
lag o it dia mo tivly. T ult o altig ou opthi way i that thy ow otai poti that a ot atual to th
plat. Aimal tudi hav oud that th poti a xtmly di-
ult o u to digt, whih au ymptom uh a:
Hatu
rux
Ga
bloatig a atig
W hav alo vid that th poti au immu a-
tio i th gut that a pomot th dvlopmt o autoimmuity.
Autoimmuity ma that th ll o you immu ytm a damagd
ad th mak a mitak ad attak you ow tiu. Glut i a poti
oud i what, aly, kamut, ad plt, ad gti modiatio ha
mad it tog ad mo otatd i th gai w at. Ti high
otatio o glut i ou ood ha likd to th ia i
ood allgi ov th lat w dad. Why? bau glut i a la-tivly w ompot o ou dit.
Oigially, ou ato w hut-gath, o thy at aimal,
ut, d, ad i, ath tha gai. T thy ttld dow to
amig (oly t gatio ago) ad at aoally, otatig thi ood
to at what wa availal duig that tim o ya. T t o thi i
that you a otatly vayig you dit, wha atig th am thig
all th tim ia you ik o dvlopig a allgi atio. Po-
d ood, whih a tho that hav altd y mauatu othy o log look lik you jut gw thm, o hav all th ad
may o th utit movd. Ti po wa atd to giv th
ood a log hl li ad mak mo ood availal to mo popl,
ut w ow kow that thi i ot a utitiou way to at. oday, popl
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
24/65
16 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
who at th tadad Amia dit at whit ou at mot mal, o
to th xluio o halthi, whol ood. Itad, you hould hoo
whol ood, whih look lik thy did wh you pikd thm.
T polm with glut i that it had to digt, ad wh a lot olag pi gt ito th loodtam, th immu ytm go o high
alt, ig th glut a a oig ad poduig atiodi to attak
it. Uotuatly, wh th atiodi attak th glut, thy mitak-
ly attak ou tiu a wll. Tis is called molecular mimicry and
is one way gluten is believed to cause autoimmune disease. Molula
mimiy i ot pi to glut. It a ou wh you immu ytm
mitak you ow tiu o ay oig.
T oth way ood a tigg iammatio ad autoimmu a-tio i alld immu-omplx dia. Uig glut a ou xam-
pl, th atiodi id to th glut ad om a omplx that tavl
aoud th ody. T a alld immu omplx ad a a ommo,
impotat way that you immu ytm dal with oig. You d
immu omplx o th omal utioig o you immu ytm.
nomally th immu ytm la th omplx out o th lood,
ut i th a too may o thm, thy ttl i dit oga, auig
loal iammatio, tiu damag, ad autoimmu atio. Ti aau woll, paiul joit ad i thought to o o th po o
dvlopig humatoid athiti.
Am I ayig that glut i th mai ao you hav a autoimmu
dia? Fo om popl, it i; o oth, it i a ig pi o th puz-
zl. I lik to u th puzzl aalogy o thi au th a o v-
al au o you autoimmu dia o immu dyutio, ad my
appoah i to add o pi at a tim. I hav ho th ou tio
o thi ook to dal with th iggt, mot ommo pi. O pat iood, ut you mut alo add you t ytm, mak u you gut
i halthy (dot ogt that i pat two o th glut toy, au th
glut might ot hav aud a polm i you ittial ai wa
doig it jo), ad mak u you at ovloadd with toxi. O
you add all th pi, you puzzl will omplt, ad wh you
look at it you will a pitu o halth.
Fiber, Fat, and Immune-System-Supporting Nutrients
Oth dil id glut alo impat you immu ytm. A dit
high i aimal-ad ood uh a daiy, gg, ad a pomot
iammatio ad thow o th ala o good atia that liv i you
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
25/65
AmmDsasBass 17
digtiv tat. Fi ad vgtal a alo itial o thi atial al-
a ad to ouih th liv o that it al to tivly mov toxi
om you ody. (A youll ad lat i chapt 11, suppotig You
Liv, toxi put you immu ytm at ik, too.) Uotuatly, maypopl dot at ough ad vgtal to ap th t.
T a may utit that you mut ilud i you dit i od
to hav a halthy immu ytmom xampl ilud vitami D,
vitami A, lium, zi, ad halthy atut th a o miig
i th tadad Amia dit. Fo xampl, pod ood ll u up
with ad at that au may polm id damag to th immu
ll. Wll talk aout thi i dtail i th xt hapt, Uig Food a
Mdii.
PalTggchSssadHmimbala
som popl dot l td motioally, ut thy a kippig mal,
ot lpig ough, o ovxiig. T havio tax you ody,
auig it to t th t homo otiol om you adal glad.
Oth popl may takig good a o thi odi, ut thy a ax-
iou, woid, upt, o dpd, o thy hav v, ogoig mo-tioal tauma. T havio au th am otiol po om
you adal glad. T adal glad a mall odul that it o top
o you kidy ad mak all o you t homo. I wat to la
that ot all t i ad. Fo xampl, i a mgy ituatio, you
adal glad la otiol ad adali, whih povid you with
th gy to mov quikly to gt hlp. O o a impotat talk, it
giv you th gy to ou ad thik.
but chronic t ma you lvl o otiol a otatly lvatd,omthig that a damag you immu ytm ad pvt it om
halig. choi t a alo lad to what i alld adal atigu,
whih i wh you adal glad gt xhautd ad dot podu
th homo quid to kp you ody uig poply, iludig
adali, DHeA, ad ttoto. Adal atigu ult i:
Uxplaid xhautio
Flig lik you at gt up i th moig v a a good ightlp
A ut o gy tw 4:00 ad 6:00 p.m.
Flig ovwhlmd
cavig o wt o alty ood
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
26/65
18 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
Low lood pu
Low lood uga
Iitaility
Adrenal atigue (also known as adrenal exhaustion and adrenal burn-
out) is associated with infammation and autoimmune disease, which
is why its so important to understand and better manage the stress in
your lie.
st a alo hav a gativ t o th lvl o good atia i
you digtiv tat, whih itl a au autoimmu dia. st
homo may alo th polm i you a atigud all th tim, gt
ik o, hav dvlopd athiti, xpi igula piod, agoig though a diult mopau, o hav toul loig wight. Ti
will diud i dtail i chapt 5, Udtadig th st co-
tio.
PalTggAimbalaGdBaaYG
You immu ll, pially th kill ll ad b ll, a th mot
tal to th autoimmu polm. It i wh th ll dot wokight that th ody tat attakig itl ad dot top. I od to hlp
th ll utio tt, it impotat to udtad how thy dvlop.
Wh you a a adult, immu ll a mad i you o maow
ad th migat to th thymu (a mall oga ud you ato),
you lymph od, ad a aa alld th gut-aoiatd lymphoid tiu
(GAL, jut ud th ua o th ittial liig). T thymu wa
vy ativ wh you w i you moth wom, ad wh you w
o, it wa th mai hom o you immu ll. A you ag, it till hlpth ll matu ad dvlop, ut it om l ad l ativ.
T liig o you itti hould otai good atia (alo alld
oa) that a itial o hlpig th immu ll matu poply
au thy itat with th ll i you GAL. Wh th good a-
tia at ouihig, th immu ytm i uptil to dyutio.
sval thig a impat you good atia. A I jut mtiod, o
i t. Aoth i that w a a oity livig o what I all th v A:
ataid, atiioti, alohol, Advil, ad aimal ood. T thig(alog with itio ad oth mdiatio) alt th ial at-
ia i you itti ad damag th ai o th ittial wall o that
ood lak ito th GAL aa low th ittial liig, ad th ito
you loodtam. Wh thi happ, th immu ytm ogiz
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
27/65
AmmDsasBass 19
th ood patil i you lood a oig ivad ad dvlop ati-
odi to attak that ood. A a ult, you may hav a atio to a ood
that youv atig all you li.
T oth impotat ol o th ial oa i that thy hlp thkill ll i th gut liig dvlop ad la th di tw a
oig uta (i.., a itio o atia) ad you ody ow ti-
u. Ti i why halig you gut y makig u th ial atia
ad ittial liig a th halthit thy a i o o th uda-
mtal way to kp you immu ytm halthy. Wll talk mo aout
thi i chapt 8, Halig You Gut, ut it impotat to kow that
a healthy gut is critical or a balanced and well-unctioning immune
system. It a hlp pvt autoimmu dia andha th pottial totat you ymptom ad hal you immu ytm.
PalTggTxs
A toxi i ay viomtal hmial, havy mtal, o oth ompoud
that i oig to th ody ad au a hamul atio o ay kid. Ti
a alo ilud mold au it ommoly giv o dagou toxi.
eviomtal xpou to toxi, whih a damag oth th immuytm ad oth ll i you ody ad lad to autoimmu dia, i
omthig w xpiig today at updtd lvl. I at, th
ct o Dia cotol (cDc) Fouth natioal rpot o Huma
expou to eviomtal chmial ttd 212 hmial ad oud
that allo thm w i th lood ad ui o mot Amia.1 Ti
i ot upiig, i w outily xpod to toxi though ood,
ptiid, goudwat, idutial wat, ad idutial hmial. With
pt to autoimmu dia, w a patiulaly od with aytoxi that hag th hmial tutu o ou DnA, it it gti
matial alld rnA, ad th poti i you ll au thi a
timulat a immu po i you ody. I oth wod, th toxi
hag you tiu tutu, ladig you ody to you ow tiu
a a oig uta ad th attak it.
T mot wll-tudid toxi i latio to autoimmu dia i
muy. (O th 212 toxi oud i th cDc pot, thi wa i th
top ix.) Muy xpou om om ilv-olod dtal amal-gam llig ud o aviti. It i alo lad ito th atmoph a
a y-podut o uig oal o wood o ul ad th iiatio o
muy-otaiig matial. bau thi ha goig o o may
dad, th muy om th ai ha ttld ito ou oil, iv, ad
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
28/65
20 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
oa. A a ult, it i may o th h w at, uh a wodh, tua,
tipd a, ad kig makl. (si muy otat up th ood
hai, lag h who at th littl h td to otai th hight lv-
l.) studi hav likd muy to Hahimoto thyoiditi, Gav di-a, lupu, ad Ms. It appa that muy i o o th toxi that
ditly damag you tiu, makig thm look oig to th immu
ytm. by ow you kow that th immu ytm attak aythig that
it dot ogiz. Tis is why a crucial part oTe Immune System
Recovery Plan is to assess your potential toxin exposure and then take
steps to remove as many toxins as possible rom your diet and environ-
ment. Ti i what w will do i Pat IV, suppotig You Liv.
Aoth uial iu with toxi xpou i that wh th ody o-tai too may toxi, th liv, ou mai dtoxiyig oga, gt tid
tyig to la thm out. Tik o it a liv atigu. T liv ha may
dtoxiatio pathway, zym ytm that a poil o mov-
ig toxi. eah o qui pi utit, ad i th a too may
toxi ad ot ough utit, th liv gt dpltd ad toxi au-
mulat. T liv i alo poil o hlpig po th homo
you ody at atually. Wh th liv gt xhautd du to high
lvl o toxi i th ody, it alo tuggl with it daily jo o po-ig ou ow homo ad th hmial atually atd y th ody.
etog i patiula i mtaolizd though th liv, whih otai
pi zym ytm that d to wokig wll i od o thi
homo to pod ad poply movd om th ody. How-
v, i th liv i td, th tog uild up ad th ody atually
podu more toxi tog, whih a au DnA damag ad po-
mot a immu atio. I at, toxi tog a thought to play a
impotat ol i oth lupu ad humatoid athiti. A you will lai Pat IV, suppotig You Liv, pi ood ad upplmt a
hlp homo, hmial, ad toxi ow though th liv mo -
itly ad tivly.
PalTggis
T i a lot o litatu likig viu to autoimmu dia, ad I
will diu th pottial likag lat. but th olutio i ot to lamth viu. All o u hav viu i ou odi; it ou immu ytm
jo to kp thm i miio. by thi I ma that th viu a up-
pod to diald o that thy dot mak u ik. Howv, i a viu
i ativ, th immu ytm mai o a hightd tat o alt ad
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
29/65
AmmDsasBass 21
thi ma ogoig iammatio i th ody. Ti i a polm. symp-
tom o thi td to vy gal, uh a lig puy, woll, ti,
ad tid ad/o havig diulty thikig ad mmig thig. Fo
xampl, thi i vy ommo with th viu that au moouloi(moo), whih ha impliatd i autoimmu dia. calld th
epti-ba viu, it tay i you ody ov, omtim udttd,
at oth tim auig polm. I hav may patit tll m that thy
v lt quit th am a havig moo ad wh I tt thi lood
o th epti-ba viu, I o d that it i till ativ.
T olutio to thi i to udtad whyyou immu ytm ha
aild to upp th viu. Ti i xatly what w will do i Te
Immune System Recovery Plan a w wok to tgth ad ala thudamtal oudatio o a halthy immu ytm (dit, t, gut
halth, ad duig you toxi load). A a ult, you immu ytm
a dial th viu ad pvt thm om pittly timulatig it.
HoW To uSe THiS Book: Your GooD HeALTH DreAM TeAM
A I mtiod ali, autoimmu dia hav om th motpvalt om o hoi ill i ou outy. Yt th till hat
ough atttio paid to thm. I thik thi i why popl viw th o-
ditio a dit ill. T doiologit th patit with
Hahimoto thyoiditi ad Gav dia; th humatologit th
patit with humatoid athiti ad lupu; th gatotologit
tho diagod with lia dia; ad th uologit th multipl
loi patit. A a ult, th i ot o uid appoah, whih I
liv ha lowd th advamt o a tt udtadig o auto-immu dia ad mo appopiat tatmt o thi oot au.
Aoth iu i that mot ovtioal tatmt o th odi-
tio ou o otollig ymptom with mdiatio that wok y
huttig o th ody immu po. Ti it alway tiv ad i
o aompaid y iou id t. Fo xampl, toid uh a
pdio a au iomia, wight gai, iad lood pu,
mul pai, ad dpio. Oth dug a ud to dial th immu
ytm ad a hav mo v t o th digtiv tat uh aaua ad vomitig, ut alo v, mul pai, amia, ad uig
itio. Ty alo a damag th liv, lug, ad kidy. bau
om o th dug a tay i you ody o up to two ya aeryouv
ihd uig thm, thy a vy dagou i you gt pgat withi
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
30/65
22 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
that tim am. Ti i a itial iu i autoimmu dia at
wom 75 pt o th tim. Ti tatiti ha ld may ah to
look at th ol o x homo i th dvlopmt o autoimmu di-
a. I will ha mo aout thi topi wh w talk aout t adt homo, dtox, ad tog mtaolim though th liv, ad
wh w talk aout lupu i th lat hapt.
but th mot impotat polm with th dug i that thy a tat-
ig oly th symptoms o you autoimmu oditio, ot th cause o it.
Ty dot xplai whyyou immu ytm i ot wokig poply i
th t pla, ad i you dot gu thi out, you a oly maag you
ymptom ath tha u you oditio ompltly.
I a taditioal doto upt that you hav a autoimmu dia,th t lood tt h o h will do i what alld a ati-ula ati-
ody (AnA) tt. Ti dot look o ay o pi autoimmu di-
a ut i a gal ig tt o ytmi autoimmu dia
uh a lupu. You doto might alo do om tt o dit oga-
pi dia, uh a Hahimoto o Gav dia. A I mtiod
ali, i a halthy immu ytm atiodi tagt ad attak oig-
that a au itio ad ill. Wh a autoimmu odi-
tio dvlop, th atiodi tagt you own tiu, ad o th tatiody to how up i laoatoy tt i th ati-ula atiody. I th
AnA tt i poitiv, th doto do pi tt o lupu, humatoid
athiti, sjg ydom, lodma, mixd otiv tiu di-
a, polymyoiti, o dmatomyoiti. I all th tt a gativ ad
you jut hav a poitiv AnA, you ot diagod with a autoimmu
dia. At lat ot yt. T ovtioal mdial appoah i to wath
ad wait to i you ymptom gt wo ad you tt poitiv vtu-
ally. Ti i all with th xptatio that omday you willdvlop o oth pi dia.
Ti wath, wait, ad do othig appoah i agait all o th pi-
ipl o pvtiv mdii ad utioal mdii au th i
o muh that w a do topreventth dvlopmt o ull-low auto-
immu dia. It tu out that you a hav a poitiv AnA tt o
may ya o you dvlop ay o th atual dia o o you
hav ay ymptom. Fo xampl, you a hav ati-thyoid atiodi
o may ya o you oti a polm with you thyoid utio.You a hav a immu atio to glut o may ya o you
how ay ig o lia dia uh a damag to th mall itti. My
goal, ad that o pvtiv mdii ad utioal mdii, i to ath
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
31/65
AmmDsasBass 23
th atiodi aly ad th x th immu ytm y diovig why
it i dyutioal. Ti way w a quit dow th kill ll ad th
atiodi, pvtig thm om doig tiu damag ad tuig ito
a ull-low dia.by ow you udtad that atiodi ad kill ll a good
wh thy a mad agait ad thig uh a hamul atia, viu,
o a ll. but w dot wat to hav atiodi o kill ll
attakig ou omal, halthy tiu au it will gi a aad o
damag, iammatio, ad vtually impaid utio. Fo xam-
pl, i popl with humatoid athiti, th atiodi that dpoit i
th joit au damag that dom th joit itl, auig pai ad
impaid utio. I lupu, atiodi a attak th ll liig thlood vl, auig damag to th lood upply to th oga wh
thi i happig. (Popl with lupu o gt kidy damag thi way.)
Ti i why it i itial to d th atiodi aly, beore th i dam-
ag i joit, lood vl, o aywh l i th ody. rah pov
that thi a do, ad I kow it o tai au it i what I do
daily with my patit i my o. It i how I ud myl, too. Ti
ook will howyou how.
HoPe iS Here
My goal i witig Te Immune System Recovery Plan i to ig a m-
ag o hop. You dot hav to it ad wait to gt a dia that i p-
vtal. Ad you dot hav to it ad wath you dia gt wo,
thikig that th i othig that a do to v it. I youv
alady diagod, it i ot too lat. You do hav optio id
takig piptio dug o th t o you li. Ad my goal i to hlpyou that. by ollowig th tp i thi ook, you a l halthy
agai (y, halthy!) ad v you dia.
but lt m t mak o thig vy la. I am ot ati-mdiatio.
I you a havig a a o you dia, maig you ymptom gt
wo ad you i til pai ad l vy ik, ovtioal mdi-
atio a vy hlpul ad ay. but o thi ii ha pad,
you ou hould hi to guig out th oot au o th immu dy-
utio ad xig that. Alo, utioal mdii i ot a altativappoah. I am a mdial doto ad I wok with my patit ad tadi-
tioal phyiia, v whil my patit a takig mdiatio. I wok
to x th oudatio o thi immu ytm o that all th ymptom
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
32/65
24 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
ad atiodi diappa. Wh thy a ady, thi doto ad I did
togth how to go aout tapig o th patit mdiatio.
I thi ook, I will pt my ou tatmt pogam o you to
do o you ow. I you takig mdiatio o you autoimmu di-a, you a till do th pogam. Howv, i you od, talk
to you doto aout th pla. Kp i mid that may o th ug-
gtio ad tatmt a lityl hag ad dot qui you to
do aythig that would mak you o you doto uomotal. but
alo kow that jut au you doto it amilia with om o th
thig Im uggtig, that dot ma thy dagou o ad o
you. It may imply ma that you doto hat ad th tudi ad/
o lad aout thi appoah. Dot diouagd y thi. Iv oudthat may o th doto i my ommuity who o w kptial o
utioal mdii a ow ag to d m patit ad wok with m
to hlp thm. Why? bau thy that thi appoah o ig -
t with vy littl ik. I am paioat aout thi au it i tuly a
logial appoah to tatig th au o th autoimmu polm. Ti
go yod imply tatig ymptom. It ma that th i al hop
au th i omthig w a do to hlp you tat, v, ad p-
vt dia.
THE MOST COMMON AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
The most common autoimmune diseases that I see in my medical
practice are Graves disease, Hashimotos disease (also known asHashimotos thyroiditis), lupus (more ormally known as systemic
lupus erythematosus), multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), Sjgrens syndrome, and celiac disease. I also see other auto-
immune diseases, including glomerulonephritis (a kidney condition),
type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia (destruction o red blood cells),
and vitiligo (a skin condition). For our purposes, I am going to ocus
on the seven diseases I see most. Here is inormation on these com-
mon autoimmune diseases, their symptoms and important tests toget i you suspect you have one. But remember, it doesnt really
matter i your condition is on my list or not. You still need to x your
oundational systems i you have an autoimmune disease.
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
33/65
AmmDsasBass 25
CELIAC DISEASE
This is a disease caused by an allergy to gluten and is marked by
destruction o the microscopic, nger-like protrusions called villi
that line the small intestine. It may take many years o gluten expo-
sure beore the villi are damaged and a laboratory conrms that you
have celiac disease, but in the meantime the gluten can cause other
digestive and autoimmune issues beore it is diagnosed. Celiac dis-
ease has become the most well-known autoimmune disease because
so many people have developed sensitivities to gluten.
SymptomsofCeliacDiseaseGluten can cause autoimmune diseases in other organs in addition
to the gut, so there are a wide range o symptoms, rom numbness
and tingling in the extremities to atigue rom low thyroid unction.
Some common symptoms include:
Arthritis
Generalized brain og
Generalized atigue Digestive issues such as diarrhea, gas and bloating aer eating,
and heartburn
Anemia
TeststoRequestfromYourDoctororHealthCareProfessional
There is a lot o conusion about how to diagnose celiac disease.
Gastroenterologists will give you this diagnosis only aer a biopsy
showing damage to the villi o the small intestine. This is very restric-tive, since you might have whats called silent celiac disease or
decades beore this test is positive. Instead, ask your doctor or
tests or anti-gliadin antibodies and anti-deamidated gliadin anti-
bodies. These tests are more sensitive in picking up gluten allergies
and can be positive or many years beore there is any damage to
your small intestine. I these are positive, its a sign that an autoim-
mune attack is taking place somewhere in your body. In that case,
you should assume you have very early celiac disease that hasntaected your intestines yet but is doing plenty o damage in your
body, perhaps showing up as Hashimotos thyroiditis, Graves dis-
ease, multiple sclerosis, or another autoimmune disease.
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
34/65
26 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
And just to add to the conusion, even i all the above tests are
negative, you might stillbe sensitive to gluten. Thats because these
tests were designed to pick up celiac disease only and gluten cancause other autoimmune diseases as well. Thereore, i you have any
autoimmune diseasenot necessarily celiac diseaseit is good to
do the tests above, but i they are negative, you should still remove
gluten rom your diet, based on research showing a connection
between gluten and many other autoimmune diseases.
GRAVES DISEASE
Graves disease happens when your body makes antibodies that
stimulate your thyroid gland, causing it to secrete high levels o
the hormone thyroxine (also known as T4). This condition is called
hyperthyroidism.
SymptomsofGravesDisease
Weight loss
Rapid pulse Protruding eyes
Insomnia
Feeling too warm
Restlessness
Diarrhea
Irritability
Heart palpitations
TeststoRequestfromYourDoctororHealthCareProfessional
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Free T4
Free T3
Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI)
TSH receptor antibody
Here is the pattern o test results you would expect i you have
Graves:
TSH is low, typically
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
35/65
AmmDsasBass 27
Free T3 might be normal but is usually over 4.0 pg/ml.
Either the TSI or the TSH receptor antibody will be positive. I
they are both normal, then you dont have Graves disease.
The above pattern is what the numbers would look like in a typi-
cal, classic case o Graves disease. However, sometimes only one o
the numbers looks out o range, such as a high ree T4 with a normal
TSH. This is a sign that you might have caught the problem early,
and it is the perect time to go through the steps in this book and
reverse the problem beore the disease starts.
HASHIMOTOS THYROIDITIS
Also called chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, this is the most common
autoimmune disease. Here, the immune cells invade the thyroid. In
early Hashimotos thyroiditis, the thyroid still unctions pretty well,
so i your doctor is checking only your TSH and hasnt measured the
antibodies, you might miss the early stages o this condition. This is
unortunate because early on is the perect opportunity to reverse
the antibodies and prevent thyroid damage. I the immune attack
goes on or too long, the thyroid might become permanently dam-
aged, requiring lielong hormone replacement.
SymptomsofHashimotosThyroiditis
Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
I your thyroid is actively inamed, some people experience a
sore throat.
Fatigue
Hair loss
Weight gain
TeststoRequestfromYourDoctororHealthCareProfessional
TSH
Free T4
Free T3
Anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies
Here is the pattern o test results you would expect i you have
Hashimotos:
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
36/65
28 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
One o your antibody levels will be elevated, either thyroid
peroxidase antibodies or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. I
these are normal, you dont have Hashimotos. TSH, ree T4, and ree T3: I these levels are normal, you are not
hypothyroid. In early Hashimotos, you can have the autoimmune
disease and the thyroid is still making adequate amounts o
hormones. This is the perect time to ollow the steps in this
book, because you have caught the problem early while it is
reversible and can prevent damage to your thyroid gland. Here
are my suggested normal values or the hormones or screening
purposes: TSH: 1.0 ng/dl
FT3: >2.6 pg/ml
I the TSH is over 3.0, or i the ree T4 is under 1.0 and the ree
T3 is under 2.6, your thyroid might be starting to show signs o
damage rom the autoimmune disease. You can discuss with
your doctor whether it is a good idea to take a prescription
thyroid hormone replacement. I will talk more about treatingHashimotos in Chapter 14, Inections and Specic Autoimmune
Conditions.
LUPUS
Lupus, which is more ormally known as systemic lupus erythemato-
sus, involves more tissues in the body than other autoimmune dis-
eases because it is a condition in which the body creates antibodiesagainst the DNA o the cells. As a result, you can end up with dis-
ease all over your body and can have ever, joint, and muscle pain.
Keep in mind that the symptoms come and go, because the dis-
ease can cycle through being in remission and being active. Unor-
tunately, many lupus patients get very sick, oen dying rom the
involvement o the small blood vessels, which gives them disease
in all their organs, including the kidneys and heart. Lupus aects
more women than men, especially those in their twenties and thir-ties, leading researchers to believe that estrogen plays a role in
causing or triggering the disease. I will explain more about this in
Chapter 11, Supporting Your Liver.
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
37/65
AmmDsasBass 29
SymptomsofLupus
Fatigue
Muscle pain and weakness Fever when the disease is active
Symptoms specic to the organ involved, such as joint pain,
muscle pain, and difculty breathing
Buttery rash over the cheeks and nose that appears aer sun
exposure
Hair loss (but not baldness)
Oral or nasal ulcers that are not painul
Cold- or emotion-induced color changes o the ngers or eet
TeststoRequestfromYourDoctororHealthCareProfessional
Anti-nuclear antibodies
Anti-phospholipid antibodies
Antibodies to double-stranded DNA
Anti-Smith (Sm) antibodies
The ANA test is the rst screening test or lupus. As I haveexplained, a positive test doesnt mean you have lupus unless one o
the other three tests is positive as well.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
Myelin is the protective coating on the outside o all the nerves in
your body. In those who have MS, the myelin in the brain and spi-
nal cord is damaged. This damage is called sclerosis. MS primarilyaects women who are o northern European descent and who are
o childbearing age. The most common rst symptom is an episode
o central nervous system dysunction, such as optic neuritis. This is
eye pain that gets worse when you move your eye in any direction.
Sometimes symptoms go away on their own. Each time they come
back, its called an episode or exacerbation o symptoms.
SymptomsofMS Eye pain
Numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensation anywhere in
the body that doesnt go away aer two weeks
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
38/65
30 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
Swelling o the limbs or trunk
Intense itching sensation, especially in the neck area
TeststoRequestfromYourDoctororHealthCareProfessional There are no antibody tests or MS. Instead, its diagnosed
when lesions in the brain or spinal cord are seen on an MRI. Its
important to note that the diagnosis is made only aer having
neurological symptoms twice or a second episode that shows
a second lesion in the brain or spinal cord. One episode that
resolves and never comes back is not considered MS.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)
I you have arthritis, its oen difcult to tell the dierence between
symptoms o RA and common osteoarthritis pain and swelling that
can occur with aging or aer injury. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs
when your immune cells attack your joints, causing tissue damage,
inammation, and pain. It is a very specic orm o arthritis, and
sometimes the only way to know which kind o arthritis you have is
to do the blood tests listed below.
SymptomsofRA
Muscle pain
Fatigue
Low-grade ever
Weight loss
Depression
Morning stiness that lasts at least one hour or at least six weeks
Swelling o three or more joints or at least six weeks
Swelling o wrist or ngers or at least six weeks
Symmetric joint swelling
Nodules or bumps under the skin and over an aected joint
TeststoRequestfromYourDoctororHealthCareProfessional
Hand X-ray
Blood tests or ANA, rheumatoid actor (RF), and anti-
citrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (anti-CCP) Blood tests or inammation: ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation
rate) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (sometimes called a
Cardio CRP)
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
39/65
AmmDsasBass 31
It is good to get all the above blood tests because they will deter-
mine i you have rheumatoid arthritis. It is possible to have a posi-
tive ANA with all the rest o the tests being negative. In that case,you dont have RA. The opposite can also be true: you can have RA
because you have a positive RF or anti-CCP but have a normal ANA.
The ESR and the Cardio CRP are indicators o how much inamma-
tion might be happening at the moment, helping to monitor ares in
the disease.
SjGRENS SYNDROME
Sjgrens syndrome, which can occur on its own or in conjunction
with RA, is an attack on the mucus-secreting glands that causes a
reduction in secretions. It is oen elt rst in the salivary glands,
which are in the mouth, and lacrimal glands, those that secrete tears.
Ninety percent o patients are emale.
SymptomsforSgrensSyndrome
Dry mouth and dry eyes Dryness in the vagina, skin, lungs, sinuses, and digestive tract
Fatigue
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Cognitive dysunction
TeststoRequestfromYourDoctororHealthCareProfessional
ANA, anti-SSA, and anti-SSB antibodies
Elevated levels o anti-SSA or anti-SSB are diagnostic or Sjgrens.
SYMPTOMS TO TAkE SERIOUSLY
Below is a checklist o symptoms or common autoimmune diseases. I
you have any o the boldaced ones, you should go to your doctor and
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
40/65
32 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
ask to be tested or the disease or diseases I have mentioned. The other
(not boldaced) symptoms in the ollowing lists are nonspecic, mean-
ing many other things besides autoimmune diseases can cause them.I you have our or more o the nonspecic symptoms and they are all
consistent with one condition, then you should have the test suggested
or an ANA screening. For example, i all your symptoms t with lupus
but you dont have any o the specifc lupus symptoms, you should still
get tested. This is very important because with many o these condi-
tions, the symptoms dont make a diagnosis; the lab tests do. I have also
included several additional autoimmune diseases in the checklist below
because these are airly easy to identiy and get tested or.
GeneralSymptoms
Fatigue: all autoimmune diseases
General discomort, uneasiness, or eeling ill: all autoimmune
diseases
Insomnia: Graves
Fever/BodyTemperature I you are having evers but you dont have a virus or inection,
or i you eel hot all the time: lupus, Graves, celiac disease,
Sjgrens
I you eel hot when others are cold: Graves thyroiditis with an
overunctioning thyroid gland
I you eel cold when others are hot: Hashimotos thyroiditis with
a low-unctioning thyroid gland
Hair
Hair loss, usually in patches or circles: alopecia areata (this is
conrmed by examination; there is no blood test)
Loss o all the hair on your body: alopecia universalis (this is
conrmed by examination; there is no blood test)
Thinning o your hair or general hair loss: celiac, lupus,
Hashimotos with low-unctioning thyroid gland
Sin
Dry skin: Hashimotos thyroiditis
Bruising easily: celiac
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
41/65
AmmDsasBass 33
Itchy skin: celiac
Rash over your cheeks and bridge o the nose (buttery rash),
usually red with some bumpy texture (but no pimples), that getsworse in sunlight: very specic or lupus
Skin sensitivity to the sun: lupus
General rash anywhere on the body: lupus
Fingers that change color when cold: Raynauds phenomenon,
lupus
Nodules or bumps under the skin, usually on your hands or eet:
rheumatoid arthritis
Skin thickening: scleroderma Loss o skin pigmentation in blotchy patterns anywhere on
the body: vitiligo (this is conrmed by examination; there is no
blood test)
Eyes
Vision changes: lupus, MS
Dry, itching eyes or eeling like there is something in the eyes:
Sjgrens, rheumatoid arthritis Double vision, eye discomort, uncontrollable eye movements: MS
Throat,Nec,Voice,andMouth
Swollen glands (lymph nodes): lupus, Sjgrens
Enlarged neck rom an enlarged thyroid: Hashimotos
Mouth sores or ulcers: lupus, celiac, Sjgrens
Difculty swallowing or speaking: Sjgrens, MS
Loss o sense o taste: Sjgrens Hoarseness: Sjgrens
Dry mouth: Sjgrens, RA
Excessive thirst: type 1 diabetes
Muscles,joints,andTendons
Joint pain or joint swelling: RA, Sjgrens
Morning joint stiness lasting more than one hour: RA
Pain and tenderness throughout the body: Sjgrens, lupus Muscle weakness: Hashimotos, Graves, MS
Muscle cramps and joint pain: celiac
Muscle spasms and twitching: MS
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
42/65
34 THeiMMuneSYSTeMrecoVerYPLAn
weightChanges
Unexplained weight loss: Graves, celiac, lupus, type 1 diabetes
Unexplained weight gain: Hashimotos, gluten sensitivity (notceliac), type 1 diabetes
Digestion/Gastrointestinal
Constipation: Hashimotos, celiac, MS
Abdominal pain: celiac, lupus
Bloating, gas, or indigestion: celiac
Diarrhea, either constant or on and of: celiac
Nausea and vomiting: celiac, lupus, Graves Stools that oat and are oul-smelling, bloody, or atty:
malabsorption rom celiac
MoodandThining
Difculty concentrating: Hashimotos, MS, Graves
Depression: celiac, MS
Irritability or anxiety: Graves, Hashimotos
BalanceandNeurologicalSymptoms
Numbness and/or tingling in the extremities: lupus, MS, celiac,
type 1 diabetes
Headaches: lupus
Seizures: lupus, celiac
Problems walking, loss o balance, coordination: MS
Tremor: MS, Graves
Dizziness, vertigo: MS
T puli itt i autoimmu dia i xtiv, ad po-
pl a lamoig o mo iomatio. Poo o thi i th at that
autoimmu dia ad diod a th mot popula halth topi
qutd y all to th Dpatmt o Halth ad Huma svinatioal Wom Halth Iomatio ct.
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
43/65
Recipe Index
Breakfast
Almond Blueberry Mufns 93Belly-licious Smoothie 217
Blueberry Spinach Smoothie 282
Green Detox Soup 282
Homemade Granola 217
Pesto Scrambled Eggs 160
Warm Quinoa Cereal with Fruit and Nuts 95
Weekend Frittata 160
Snacks
Almond Butter Granola Bars 94
Almond Blueberry Mufns 93
Belly-licious Smoothie 217
Green Detox Soup 282
Entrees
Black Bean Burgers 289Buddha Rice Bowl with Tahini Dressing 97
Chicken Stued with Red Peppers, Pine Nuts, and Spinach 222
Coconut Chicken with Almond Lime Sauce 169
Cod with Puttanesca Sauce 168
Maple Teriyaki Salmon 288
Mediterranean Chickpea Patties with Red Bell Pepper Sauce 166
Mediterranean Herb-Crusted Salmon 99
Mung Bean Kitchari 219Mushroom Tempeh Scaloppine 165
North Arican Red Lentil Soup 283
Quinoa Pasta with Peas, Arugula, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes 98
Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Onions 221
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
44/65
rpidx 349
Salad dishes
Aia soa noodl salad 96
chikpa salad 285
Kal salad with ahii Dig 286Lmoy Kal ad Avoado salad 163
Oag, Fl, ad Gold bt salad 221
spiy blak ba Quioa salad 162
spoutd Fh Ltil salad 218
Side dishes
Aia slaw 290
Havt Wild ri 287ciamo Mahd swt Potato 164
camd spiah 100
Galiky G i coout Oil 220
Gig bok choy 163
sautd Whit ba ad Galiky G 284
Whippd cauliow 223
Wild Muhoom Quioa 101
Dessert
bluy Paait with cahw cam 224
choolat Avoado Puddig 170
choolat chip Oatmal cooki 102
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
45/65
Index
Pages in italics refer to illustrations
abdomen, 146
cramping in, 180, 18586, 195fat and, 78, 11011gut and, 180, 18386, 195, 197, 213pains in, 14, 34, 48, 18384, 213Sjgrens syndrome and, 18384
acne, 154, 198, 263acupuncture, 136, 148, 151, 156adaptive immune system, 117, 176adaptogens, 155Addisons disease, 112, 183adrenal fatigue, 169
diagnoses of, 12122perimenopause and, 6061self-assessment and, 13233, 13742stress and, 1718, 11314, 11921,
13233, 13742treatment program for, 14243,
15657adrenal glands, 17, 108
DHEA and, 11213, 12223, 156, 312herbs for, 15556, 330lupus and, 3056perimenopause and, 6061recipes and, 158, 16061, 165, 169stress and, 10610, 11214, 11923,
12930, 13233, 13743, 14849,152, 158, 330
supplements for, 143, 15557, 330treatment program for, 143, 14849,
152, 15457adrenaline, 17, 107, 124, 155
recipes and, 158, 170
stress and, 1069, 11420, 129, 137,140aerobic exercise, 153agar, 207, 224agriculture, 15, 46, 67
toxins and, 229, 236, 238, 24445
alcohol, 8, 18, 149, 263
detox elimination diet and, 26971and eating for immune health, 7879gut and, 179, 183, 188, 193, 207stress and, 124, 133
aldosterone, 112allergens, ixxi, 13allergies, 9, 13, 181, 208, 318
see also food allergiesalmonds, 42, 55, 82, 154, 158, 207
detox elimination diet and, 27072food sensitivities and, 66, 6869
recipes and, 9395, 102, 16970aloe, 206alpha lipoic acid (ALA), 251, 25556, 277,
301, 330aluminum, 232, 240, 24243
removal from body of, 25556, 261amino acids, 182
detox and, 248, 250, 27678patterns of, 4344, 50recipes and, 215, 22122
androgens, 122, 31213anemia, 21, 48, 182, 197
celiac disease and, 25, 47pernicious, 14, 24, 183, 241
antacids, 8, 18, 44gut and, 179, 18283, 186, 196, 199,
2068antibiotics, 8, 18, 43, 169, 238
gut and, 17879, 186, 188, 192, 196,204, 211
MS and, 298300
antibodies, xi, 7, 13, 2231, 57, 86,11520, 117, 242celiac disease and, 25, 51, 72, 275, 307gluten and, 16, 62, 29495Graves disease and, 2627, 61, 120,
241, 31416
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
46/65
idx 351
gut ad, 19, 176, 179, 183, 18990,19495, 295
Hahimoto thyoiditi ad, 4, 2728,194, 241, 314, 317
halthy immu ytm ad, 1112, 22immuoglouli (Ig), 2627, 45, 61,124, 179, 300, 302, 305, 316, 332
lupu ad, 23, 2829, 193, 240, 3025,31213
Ms ad, 30, 297300rA ad, 23, 3031, 37, 193, 30813sjg ydom ad, 31, 18485,
193, 309, 31214t ad, 11819toxi ad, 24041, 24445, 318
see also b lymphoyt atiody ll;specifc cells
ati-itulliatd pptid/potiatiodi (ati-ccP), 3031, 193,3089
ati-damidatd gliadi atiodi(ADGA), 25, 51, 72, 275, 307
atig-atiody omplx, 45atig, 57, 124, 17576, 310
gut ad, 176, 18990ati-gliadi atiodi (AGA), 25, 51, 72,
275, 307ati-iammatoy dit, 5354, 59, 88,
268, 302ad atig o immu halth, 7282ood itiviti ad, 7273good at i, 72, 8182a low i uga, 7481aiow o vgtal i, 7374
ati-ula atiodi (AnA), 22, 194lupu ad, 29, 193, 240, 3023, 309rA ad, 3031, 193, 3089sjg ydom ad, 31, 193, 309,
312, 314toxi ad, 240, 24445
atioxidat, 5758, 268, 319dtox ad, 24849, 25153, 25556,
27577, 279ad atig o immu halth,
7174hit aout addig, 7374ip ad, 100, 161, 163, 280, 28284,
287, 290ou o, 7377, 85upplmt ad, 8487, 32930
axity, 34, 145, 150, 196, 257glut ad, 6162pimopau ad, 6062
t ad, 17, 110, 130, 132, 135, 145,14748
toxi ad, 235, 246, 266appl id viga, 90, 185, 207
appl, 39, 76, 79, 203dtox ad, 254, 27172aahidoi aid, 5354am, 48, 129, 297, 306aomata, 122, 313ai, 230, 236, 249, 255, 261atmiii, 204, 213athiti, xi, 12, 18, 25, 156, 183, 193, 196,
265, 306, 309, 312augula, 69, 9899, 160ahwagadha, 156
apgillu, 208athma, 9, 13, 265autim, ix, 242autoimmu dia:
ai o, 1134o blum, 34, 6, 320diago o, 15, 9, 2223, 25, 32,
4748, 51, 17778, 183, 19193, 196,200, 25758, 261, 297, 302, 3067,312, 31516
lak o uid appoah to, 21
loatio o, 1314mot ommo, 2434pval o, ixx, 1, 56, 9, 14, 21,
17779, 244pvtio o, 710, 19, 2224, 116, 193ao o ook o, 12, 67, 10val o, xxii, 15, 79, 14, 2324,
2728, 40, 61, 125, 154, 181, 190,212, 254, 320
ig ad ymptom o, xi, 1, 34, 67,2134, 37, 40, 45, 4749, 5156, 120,12223, 17778, 18384, 191, 194,241, 25659, 293, 297, 3013, 306,30813, 31517
tatiti o, 1, 5, 7, 14, 22, 47, 122, 183,244, 301, 309, 312
tigg ad au o, ixxii, 4, 11,1422, 2526, 28, 37, 39, 42, 4751,49, 56, 58, 73, 11920, 123, 12930,134, 17680, 18790, 229, 233,23947, 24950, 254, 293306,
30911, 31316wath, wait, ad do othig appoahto, 2223
autoimmu gatiti, 183autoimmu/iammatoy ydom
idud y adjuvat (AsIA), 242
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
47/65
352 idx
autoimmu thyoid dia, 48, 58, 61,120, 183, 24041, 293, 296, 314, 319
tatmt o, 315, 31819see also Gav dia; Hahimoto
thyoiditiautoomi vou ytm, 106, 107, 125,127, 129
avoado, 69, 271adal glad ad, 15455ad atig o immu halth, 8082at i, 53, 55, 154, 300301ip ad, 158, 16364, 17071
atia, ix, 23, 115, 302, 315amio aid ad, 4344
autoimmu dia tigg ad,1619, 29495
i gut, xi, 9, 1719, 124, 17589,19293, 19596, 2014, 21012,21415, 217, 230, 260, 26869,29394, 299, 306, 3089, 311, 315
halthy immu ytm ad, 1112Ms ad, 298300rA ad, 30910ip ad, 215, 21719t ad, 18, 118
aly, 79, 207, 254, 270glut ad, 15, 45, 65, 68, 180
ail, 80, 160, 276a, 4, 20, 319a, 76, 89, 15455, 196, 210
dtox ad, 254, 270, 276ood itiviti ad, 6869ip ad, 97, 101, 158, 162, 16667,
215, 21719, 28486, 289see also lgum
, 53, 67, 154, 193, 210, 258dtox ad, 251, 27071, 274, 277ad atig o immu halth, 77,
8182iammatio ad atial imala
du to, 1617toxi ad, 243, 264
t, 76, 210, 220i, 184, 204, 213i, 15, 46, 76, 90, 93, 203
dtox ad, 27172, 276
Ms ad, 300301ta-aot, ta-aotoid, 3, 76, 85,16364
dtox ad, 25556, 277tai hydohloid (HcL), 184, 2089,
214
vag, 41, 7879, 81, 149see also alohol; o; moothi;
oda; taidoatia, 124, 177, 2034, 211, 214
il, il aid, il alt:dtox ad, 248, 25051gut ad, 18182, 19799, 2058,
21314liv ad, 207, 230, 246l-tt o, 198, 205, 208toxi ad, 240, 246tatmt ad, 2058, 213
iomoitoig, 232, 235iopi, 25, 48, 118, 3067ith otol pill, 60, 241, 246, 304
iphol A (bPA), 230, 232, 237, 244,249
lak uat d oil, 55, 86ladd, 107loatig, 52, 130, 154
lia dia ad, 25, 34, 47, 306dtox ad, 274, 278ood ad, 45, 6364, 66, 70glut ad, 15, 45, 48gut ad, 180, 18586, 188, 19295,
19799, 204, 21314, 259
toxi ad, 243, 265lood, xxi, 11, 14, 16, 34, 195, 282, 298,
303, 311, 315, 318dtox ad, 248, 251, 253, 255d lood ll ad, 24, 89, 182, 255,
258toxi ad, 19, 23334, 23638, 241,
255, 25859lood pu, 18, 106, 107, 145
high, 8, 21, 38, 74, 112, 156mid-ody thiqu ad, 12526
loodtam, 230, 258glut ad, 46, 50gut ad, 124, 180, 189, 197
lood uga, 41, 52, 158adal glad ad, 18, 154DHeA ad, 11213, 122ad atig o immu halth, 7478t ad, 10910, 113
lood vl, 1, 23, 28, 38, 59, 86, 125,155, 177
lui, 69, 90, 203, 254ip ad, 93, 22324, 28283b lymphoyt atiody ll, 11, 18, 52,
57, 115, 117, 118gut ad, 176, 179, 18990lupu ad, 3045
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
48/65
idx 353
ody tmpatu, 62, 106, 125, 149, 241,314
see also vok hoy, 163, 260, 284
o, 18, 66, 118, 154, 236, 255DHeA ad, 11213, 122atu o, 6, 182, 185t ad, 110, 113
oag oil, 55, 86ai, 1, 21, 57, 6162, 66, 82, 86, 150
dtox ad, 251, 255gut ad, 177, 259itio ad, 29495Ms ad, xi, 14, 2930, 257, 294, 297301t ad, 1069, 145
toxi ad, 234, 253, 262ai og, 14, 34, 48
lia dia ad, 25, 306dtox ad, 27374, 276ood ad, 45, 52, 63, 7071gut ad, 195, 259toxi ad, 231, 235, 266
ad, 89, 154, 202, 270ad atig o immu halth, 7779ood ad, 41, 52, 65, 69
akat, 42, 50, 52, 69, 74, 92, 159, 210,
21516, 278, 28081gut ad, 21314t ad, 136, 152see also rip Idx
at:a o, ix, 13, 6768, 118toxi ad, 243, 24546
athig, 5, 45, 83, 106dp o lly, 126, 14446, 15051gut ad, 19293lupu ad, 29, 303lp ad, 15051t ad, 116, 123, 14446, 15051toxi ad, 230, 234, 236
ooli, 76, 155, 161dtox ad, 251, 254, 260, 276
ooli xtat, 301, 306omlai, 207ukwhat, 4546, 65, 68, 89, 96, 270
ad atig o immu halth, 77, 79ug, 16668, 22021, 289
utt, 53, 66, 68, 270see also ghutyat, 210
aag, 155, 210, 290dtox ad, 254, 260, 276
admium, 230, 249, 25253, 255, 261ai, 79, 149, 158, 193
dtox ad, 27071, 273ak, 52, 65, 7780, 202, 272
alium, 66, 85, 154, 163, 182aloi, 3842, 152, 202a, ixx, 1, 13, 23, 40, 52, 59, 73, 111,
118, 152, 276oy ad, 6768toxi ad, 229, 23637, 246
adida, 188, 199, 259, 300ady, 52, 78, 80, 202, 272api aid, 202aohydat, 43, 52
gut ad, 182, 19697
ip ad, 93, 164aiog, 233aotoid, 76, 277ai, 66, 68, 203, 270ahw, 22425auliow, 76, 155, 22324
dtox ad, 260, 276cD, 32627
lp ad, 15051t ad, 14547
lia dia, 13, 2426, 49, 58, 72, 293, 296
ovtioal mdii ad, 2122, 4748diago o, 4748, 51, 3067glut ad, 2526, 4749, 51, 61, 63,
186, 275, 3067, 318gut ad, 25, 4748, 51, 183, 186, 3068,
318ymptom o, 25, 3234, 4748, 306tt o, 2526, 48, 51, 61, 72, 258, 275,
3068tatmt o, 3078
tal vou ytm, 106, 235, 301Ms ad, 29, 29798, 300
al, 52, 65, 69, 202, 210, 270ip ad, 9596
opial uid (csF), 298hk, 29, 33, 303h, 66, 68, 82, 203, 27071hlatio, 240, 262
i movig havy mtal om ody,248, 25256, 26061
hmial, 9, 38, 62, 65, 73, 87, 121, 234,
256otio tw autoimmudia ad, 19, 24344
liv ad, 20, 230toxi ad, 1920, 22930, 23233,
23739, 24344
7/29/2019 A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY PLAN by Susan Blum
49/65
354 idx
hik, 43, 69, 90, 154, 210, 258dtox ad, 270, 27678ip ad, 9697, 101, 158, 165n,
16970, 215, 22223
toxi ad, 243, 264hikpa, 68, 270ip ad, 16668, 28586
hild, xxi, 47, 223, 308gut ad, 17879, 188t ad, 110, 116, 127, 131, 13335toxi ad, 229, 23334,
Top Related