Autoimmune Treatment Asheville

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise, affecting millions of people and disrupting daily life with chronic symptoms. These conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and organ dysfunction. While conventional treatments often focus on suppressing symptoms with medications, functional medicine takes a root-cause approach, identifying and addressing the underlying triggers of autoimmunity.

What Are Autoimmune Diseases?

Autoimmune disorders can affect nearly every system in the body, causing a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, digestive issues, skin conditions, and neurological problems. Some of the most common autoimmune diseases include:

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – A leading cause of hypothyroidism, resulting in fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) – An inflammatory condition that leads to joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Lupus – A systemic disease that affects multiple organs, causing widespread inflammation and discomfort.
Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis – An overactive immune response leading to scaly skin plaques and joint pain.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – A neurological autoimmune disease that damages nerve cells, affecting mobility and cognitive function.

These conditions can progress over time if left untreated, making early intervention and lifestyle modifications essential for improving long-term health.

Why Asheville is a Hub for Holistic and Functional Autoimmune Care

Asheville, NC, is known for its thriving health and wellness community, with a growing number of individuals seeking integrative, natural approaches to autoimmune disease management. Functional medicine offers personalized, science-backed strategies to support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve quality of life—without solely relying on medications.

At Caring for the Body, PLLC, Dr. Cynthia Libert specializes in functional medicine for autoimmune diseases, helping patients uncover the root causes of immune dysfunction. Through advanced testing, personalized nutrition plans, gut health optimization, and lifestyle interventions, Dr. Libert empowers individuals to take control of their health and achieve long-term relief from autoimmune symptoms.

Root Causes of Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune diseases don’t develop overnight—they are the result of chronic imbalances in the immune system that often go unaddressed for years. While genetics can play a role, environmental factors and lifestyle choices are major drivers of immune dysfunction. Identifying and addressing these root causes is the key to reducing inflammation, calming the immune system, and achieving long-term relief.

The Gut-Immune Connection & Leaky Gut Syndrome

Over 70% of the immune system resides in the gut, making digestive health a crucial factor in autoimmune disease. Leaky gut syndrome, or intestinal permeability, occurs when the protective lining of the gut is damaged, allowing toxins, undigested food particles, and bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This triggers an immune response, leading to widespread inflammation and autoimmune reactivity.

Common contributors to leaky gut include:

Poor diet (processed foods, gluten, dairy, and refined sugar).
Chronic stress (elevated cortisol weakens the gut lining).
Environmental toxins (pesticides, heavy metals, mold exposure).
Imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis).

Healing the gut through targeted nutrition, probiotics, and lifestyle changes is a foundational step in reversing autoimmune disease.

Chronic Inflammation & Immune Dysregulation

Inflammation is the body’s natural defense mechanism, but in autoimmune conditions, it becomes overactive and self-destructive. Instead of protecting the body, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, leading to persistent inflammation that damages joints, skin, nerves, and organs.

Triggers of chronic inflammation include:

Food sensitivities (gluten, dairy, soy, processed foods).
Hidden infections (Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, Candida overgrowth).
Hormonal imbalances (thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance).
Nutrient deficiencies (vitamin D, omega-3s, antioxidants).

Reducing inflammation through dietary changes, stress management, and detoxification is essential for calming the immune response.

The Impact of Toxins, Infections, and Stress on Autoimmunity

The modern world exposes us to thousands of toxins daily—in food, air, water, and personal care products. Over time, these toxins can burden the immune system and trigger autoimmune flare-ups.

Key environmental and lifestyle factors contributing to autoimmunity include:

Heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic) – Can disrupt immune function.
Pesticides & mold exposure – Linked to inflammation and immune activation.
Chronic infections – Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes viruses, and gut pathogens can drive autoimmune disease.
Emotional and physical stress – Weakens the immune system, increasing susceptibility to autoimmune conditions.

A functional medicine approach includes detoxification, stress management, and immune-balancing strategies to support healing.

Why Conventional Medicine Falls Short in Treating Autoimmunity

Traditional medical treatments for autoimmune disease typically focus on suppressing symptoms with medications, such as:

Steroids (prednisone) – Reduces inflammation but comes with long-term side effects.
Immunosuppressants – Block the immune response but leave the body vulnerable to infections.
Pain relievers & anti-inflammatories – Provide symptom relief but do not address root causes.

While these treatments may provide short-term relief, they do not resolve the underlying triggers of autoimmunity. Functional medicine, on the other hand, seeks to identify and eliminate these root causes, allowing the immune system to rebalance naturally.

Functional Medicine Approach to Autoimmune Treatment in Asheville

Traditional medicine often focuses on suppressing symptoms of autoimmune disease with medications, but this approach does not address the underlying causes of immune dysfunction. Functional medicine takes a root-cause approach, seeking to identify and correct the imbalances that trigger autoimmunity. By using advanced diagnostic testing, targeted nutrition, and lifestyle interventions, functional medicine helps restore balance to the immune system and promotes long-term healing.

How Functional Medicine Differs from Conventional Autoimmune Treatment

Rather than simply managing symptoms with immunosuppressants, steroids, or anti-inflammatory drugs, functional medicine aims to:
✅ Identify the root causes of immune system dysfunction.
✅ Reduce chronic inflammation and support immune balance.
✅ Heal the gut to prevent immune system overactivation.
✅ Support detoxification to remove environmental triggers.
✅ Optimize hormones and metabolism to improve overall well-being.

By addressing these core issues, many patients experience significant relief from symptoms and, in some cases, can even put their autoimmune condition into remission.

Comprehensive Diagnostic Testing for Autoimmune Disease

A functional medicine evaluation includes comprehensive testing to uncover hidden imbalances that may be triggering or worsening autoimmunity. These tests may include:

🔬 Food Sensitivity Testing – Identifies foods that trigger inflammation and immune overactivation.
🔬 Gut Microbiome Analysis – Evaluates the presence of leaky gut, dysbiosis, or infections that may contribute to autoimmune disease.
🔬 Hormone & Thyroid Testing – Checks for imbalances in thyroid function, cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and insulin that affect immune regulation.
🔬 Immune & Inflammatory Markers – Measures cytokines, CRP, and other markers of chronic inflammation.
🔬 Heavy Metal & Toxin Screening – Detects exposure to pesticides, mold, mercury, and other toxins that can trigger autoimmunity.

Personalized Autoimmune Treatment Plans

Once the root causes of autoimmunity are identified, Dr. Cynthia Libert creates a customized treatment plan tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

🔹 Anti-Inflammatory & Autoimmune-Friendly Nutrition

Emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods that support immune balance.
Eliminates common triggers such as gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and processed foods.
Incorporates omega-3s, antioxidants, and gut-healing nutrients to reduce inflammation.

🔹 Gut Healing Protocols

Supports gut barrier repair to address leaky gut syndrome.
Uses probiotics, digestive enzymes, and herbal antimicrobials to balance the microbiome.
Restores proper nutrient absorption to reduce autoimmune flare-ups.

🔹 Hormone Balancing & Detox Support

Optimizes thyroid function, which is crucial for those with Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases.
Supports liver detoxification to remove harmful toxins that burden the immune system.
Uses bioidentical hormones or adaptogens to regulate stress and inflammation.

🔹 Lifestyle Modifications for Immune Balance

Stress Reduction: Chronic stress weakens immune function; mindfulness, meditation, and breathing techniques help regulate the immune system.
Sleep Optimization: Deep, restorative sleep is essential for immune repair and inflammation control.
Movement & Exercise: Low-impact activities like yoga and strength training reduce inflammation and improve metabolic health.

How to Get Started with Autoimmune Treatment in Asheville

If you're struggling with an autoimmune condition and looking for a personalized, root-cause approach to healing, Dr. Cynthia Libert and Caring for the Body, PLLC are here to help. Taking the first step toward better health is simple—schedule a consultation and begin your journey toward immune balance, reduced inflammation, and long-term wellness.

Step 1: Schedule a Free Strategy Session

Your healing journey begins with a complimentary strategy session. This initial conversation is designed to:
✅ Discuss your current symptoms and health concerns.
✅ Explore how functional medicine can address the root causes of your autoimmune condition.
✅ Learn about Dr. Libert’s approach and treatment options tailored to your specific needs.

This session helps determine if Caring for the Body, PLLC is the right fit for your autoimmune care.

Step 2: Comprehensive Initial Consultation & Advanced Diagnostic Testing

For those ready to move forward, the next step is a comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Libert, which includes:
🔹 In-depth health history review – Understanding past and present health patterns.
🔹 Functional lab testing – Assessing gut health, food sensitivities, hormone balance, immune markers, and toxin exposure.
🔹 Personalized Brain + Body Blueprint – A customized treatment roadmap to address immune imbalances and restore health.

This thorough, science-backed assessment ensures that your care plan is designed to reverse autoimmune symptoms and support long-term healing.

Step 3: Begin Your Personalized Autoimmune Healing Plan

Once your treatment plan is in place, you’ll begin working with Dr. Libert and her team to:
✅ Implement nutrition, gut healing, and detox strategies.
✅ Balance hormones and metabolism for optimal immune function.
✅ Develop lifestyle changes to support long-term wellness.
✅ Receive ongoing coaching and medical guidance tailored to your progress.

Take Control of Your Autoimmune Health Today

You don’t have to live with chronic inflammation, fatigue, and pain. With a functional medicine approach, it’s possible to restore immune balance, reduce symptoms, and reclaim your quality of life.

📅 Schedule your free strategy session with Dr. Libert today and start your journey toward lasting wellness and autoimmune recovery.