Autoimmune Disease and Functional Medicine

Autoimmune Disease and the
Functional Medicine Approach

Over the past decade, there’s been a noticeable rise in chronic immune conditions like Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and others that disrupt daily life with fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and more. While emergency care still plays a role in acute situations, many are now turning to a different kind of support for long-term wellness: functional medicine coaching.

Why Autoimmune Conditions Are On the Rise

Today, roughly 1 in 12 people live with an autoimmune disease, and nearly 20% of Americans have immune markers that suggest their body may be turning against itself. These conditions are complex, often affecting multiple systems—making everyday life more difficult than it needs to be.

That’s where functional medicine coaching, like what’s offered at Intentional Wellness with Shannon Goins-Blair, comes in. This kind of care doesn’t just manage symptoms—it works to uncover what’s really driving them. In a world full of inflammatory triggers, this personalized, root-cause approach has never been more important.

Getting to the Root of Autoimmune Issues

Autoimmune diseases don’t just happen overnight. They’re usually the result of several intertwined factors like stress, toxins, infections, poor sleep, and imbalanced nutrition. Functional medicine coaching helps people make targeted lifestyle changes that strengthen the immune system and calm inflammation at its source.

The immune system has two major parts: the innate (your first line of defense) and the adaptive (which learns and remembers threats). When either one gets off track, it can lead to chronic issues:

• Autoinflammatory disorders result from an overactive innate immune system.

• Autoimmune conditions stem from the adaptive system attacking healthy cells—leading to diseases like Hashimoto’s, MS, and rheumatoid arthritis.

When this inflammation becomes constant, it can wear the body down and create lasting problems.

Hidden Triggers That Drive Autoimmunity

Here are some of the most common contributors to autoimmune dysfunction—and how functional medicine coaching can help:

1. Chronic Infections
   Many people live with undiagnosed infections—like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Lyme, or gut viruses—that quietly trigger immune chaos. Finding and addressing these is a key step toward healing.

2. Leaky Gut
   Your gut lining is meant to be a barrier. When it’s compromised, toxins and bacteria sneak into the bloodstream, sparking widespread inflammation. Healing the gut through strategic food and supplement plans is a core part of the functional medicine roadmap – ensuring gut health.

3. Environmental Toxins & Mold
   Exposure to mold and everyday toxins can send the immune system into overdrive. Mold, in particular, is a hidden issue in many homes, contributing to chronic fatigue, brain fog, hormonal imbalances, and flare-ups. Coaching helps clients identify and eliminate these triggers.,

A Practical, Personalized Approach to Healing

Functional medicine coaching focuses on creating sustainable health shifts rather than quick fixes. By supporting the body at every level, clients begin to feel more energized, balanced, and in control of their well-being.

Here’s how it works:

1. Food as Medicine
   Anti-inflammatory, whole-food nutrition is a powerful tool. Avoiding processed ingredients (like refined sugars) and focusing on real, nutrient-rich meals helps soothe the gut and stabilize the immune system.

2. Managing Stress
   Chronic stress doesn’t just impact your mood—it physically affects the immune system. Breathwork, nature time, and daily calming practices go a long way in reducing flare-ups.

3. Prioritizing Sleep
   Rest is essential. Functional coaching emphasizes quality sleep habits that help reduce inflammation and recharge the body’s defenses.

4. Targeted Immune Support
   With the right support—like probiotics, herbs, immunoglobulins, and mold detox strategies—the immune system can return to balance. Coaching also helps you navigate the nuances, like spotting hidden issues such as sleep apnea or gut dysbiosis.

Moving Forward with Functional Support

Traditional medicine often stops at managing symptoms. Functional medicine digs deeper. Shannon Goins-Blair and the Intentional Wellness team guide clients through a personalized journey that aims not just to manage disease—but to thrive beyond it.

Through gut healing, smarter nutrition, better sleep, and stress resilience, clients regain the energy and clarity they thought they’d lost. With the right guidance, living vibrantly with (or even beyond) autoimmune disease becomes possible.

Book your consultation today!