Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues and cells, a malfunction that can lead to a wide range of health issues. These diseases are complex and can be challenging to manage, often requiring a combination of medical approaches to treat effectively. Understanding the symptoms, causes, and various treatment options, including those offered by both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is crucial for effective management.
Common early symptoms of autoimmune diseases include:
These symptoms can vary greatly depending on the specific autoimmune disease, which might affect specific organs or the entire body. Some of the most well-known autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes.
Diagnosis typically involves reviewing symptoms and conducting tests, such as the antinuclear antibody test (ANA), which can indicate an autoimmune process but not specify the exact disease.
Western medicine often treats autoimmune diseases with immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory medications to manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups. Additionally, lifestyle adjustments and dietary changes are recommended to help reduce inflammation and manage disease activity.
The exact causes of autoimmune diseases are not fully understood, but they are believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. These can include:
TCM offers a holistic approach to treating autoimmune diseases, focusing on restoring balance to the body’s systems and enhancing overall health. TCM classifies autoimmune symptoms into broader categories based on the affected “souls” or “spirits” related to specific organs, such as the liver (Hun) or the heart (Shen).
Acupuncture is used in TCM to regulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain associated with autoimmune diseases. It aims to restore balance and flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body, which can help reduce symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Chinese herbs are prescribed based on individual needs to help modulate the immune system and prevent flare-ups. Herbs like astragalus, turmeric, American ginseng, and reishi mushrooms are often recommended due to their immune-modulating properties. However, stimulating herbs like echinacea are generally avoided in autoimmune conditions to prevent exacerbating the immune response.
TCM also emphasizes the importance of diet and lifestyle in managing autoimmune diseases. An elimination diet may be used to identify and avoid food triggers that exacerbate symptoms. The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet is another strategy that focuses on reducing inflammation and healing the gut, which is crucial since gut health is often linked to immune function.
Many patients find that a combination of Western and TCM treatments offers the most comprehensive approach to managing autoimmune diseases. While Western medicine provides immediate relief from symptoms and slows disease progression, TCM offers long-term strategies to balance the body’s systems and address the root causes of the disease.
For anyone dealing with an autoimmune condition, consulting healthcare providers from both Western and TCM backgrounds can provide a more rounded approach to treatment and potentially better management of the condition.
Can’t say enough. My husband and I have seen instant improvement in our health. The staff are nothing shy of INCREDIBLE. You don’t feel like just another number – they are warm and caring. Highly recommend to make this place a part of your self care regimen!!!!! Thank you healers!!!!
Dr. Logman is quite incredible! I’m an individual who is very active and likes to push physical boundaries in training … Coming from Long Island, I was certainly pretty jacked up physically, but within one session, I felt significantly better… She’s 1000% worth seeing regardless of your location. Thank you for actually being the healers we need!
I was in such great hands with BK. As a lifelong sufferer of mental illness, acupuncture made me feel like a million bucks. Just so you know, you need more than 1 visit to recover from whatever ailments. Now that I’ve had 5, I feel like a whole new person. So glad this place exists! Your health is your wealth, after all. I’ll be back for more!
Dr. Logman and her entire staff are all super nice and knowledgeable. I have been experiencing on and off back spasms for a really long time and feel like I may finally be in inching towards healing my lower back! Every session so far has left me feeling better and more relaxed.
The whole staff are friendly and helpful and have created a calm environment with great healing energy. BK, my acupuncturist, is a great listener and in addition to always making me feel great with his work offers helpful suggestions and exercises to work on between sessions.
Dr. Orna was absolutely fabulous! The whole team was welcoming and professional. They walked me through my problem areas and catered an amazing personalized experience based on my needs. I will definitely be back!
My favorite acupuncture practitioners work here. Definitely book Orna, BK and Rimma. (And Irinia, of course, when she’s in NYC) They’re excellent at treating chronic joint pain, mental/ addiction issues and neuropathy. But also go if you need an immune system boost, detox after drinking or have low energy levels. This is also the place to go, if like me, you’re jumpy with needles. They’re very skilled at making it a painless experience
The Adv. Holistic Center is incredible and really changed my life here in the city. Highly recommend for anyone experiencing physical pain, emotional regulation needs, overall wellness and wellbeing or anything in between including pilates and physical therapy needs. Yhenni who works at the desk, is so kind and helpful and always welcoming. She is quick to help you with any scheduling needs or questions. She is very knowledgeable about all things advanced holistic center! I am lucky to have received treatment from Dr Irina, who travels back and forth to her offices here in the city and in Miami, while she was here. I have received treatment here for my chronic migraines, TMJ pain, and emotional regulation, and Pilates work. I’m so grateful to have worked with Dr. Irina who is an incredible practitioner and Pilates instructor. Every experience with her was incredibly healing and treated with the utmost care. I always leave feeling better than when I arrived. The power of acupuncture and eastern medicine to help your body heal itself, is quite magical. The reformer pilates work is equally amazing- I left feeling 6 inches taller and stronger. In 3 days, my TMJ pain was fixed, and migraines decreased. I even received a comprehensive list of foods that will help and hinder my migraines so I am able to implement change in my daily life to see improvements from the root of the problem! My chronic migraines have decreased for the first time in 10+ years with NO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION! I can without a doubt say this practice has contributed for the betterment of my overall quality of life and care for myself. All thanks to the amazing work of Dr Irina and her staff at the Advanced Holistic Centers. I’m so grateful to have found such a wonderful, healing space! I recommend this space to my family and friends both in Florida, and the city.
Love this practice! I’ve been receiving treatments since June at the NYC locations and have worked with Rimma, Gary, and even Irina herself. Thanks so much for such gentle and loving care. I really have been trying to give my belly, uterus, ovaries, and overall body some love throughout the day, minding my breathing and really focusing on the tools each practitioner has given me. I loved our session on monday so much, thank you for that time. One of the very best acupuncture snoozes I’ve ever had!
I’ve been coming here for quite some time now and I must say, from the admin to the doctors, everyone is amazing. Either Anna or Yhenni will greet you with a smile and take care of all your admin needs. I have never received a treatment that I didn’t like. This is why I continue to go back. Today, Orna treated me and she was absolutely amazing. She goes above and beyond and is always spot on with treatments.
Beautiful clinic and amazing providers. Im a physical therapist and used my body a lot for work, often resulting in low back pain and shoulder/neck pain. I always come to see Orna for great trigger point acupuncture. She’s also helped me with gastro and sleep issues. Highly recommend
Honestly she has the golden touch. My lower back was killing me could barely stand straight. Even sneezing would hurt. But Just after 1 session I felt alive again. Would highly recommend anyone who has lower back pain or any pain.
Outstanding and proffessional clinic. From the service and approach of the customer coordinatour through the Most . proffessional and sensitive doctor I went in with stressed muscles hardly able to move my leg and came out walking almost as usual after only 2 visits Highly reccomend
Suffering from back and neck pain, I finally decided to see Dr. Irina Logman. I can’t believe the immediate pain relief after only 1 session of acupuncture and manual therapy. Not only did the pain go away, I felt revitalized. I will definitely continue treatments with Dr. Logman. I highly recommend the Advanced Holistic Center for all your holistic care needs. I highly recommend seeing Orna! She will make your body melt.
This place miraculous!! I am so grateful and happy that have found this clinic. I’ve been in so much pain and illness with my digestive issues since moving to the United States in 2019. I’ve gone through three gastroenterologists who while experts, only treated symptoms of what has become a chronic problem with over medication and poor diet (there’s something about American food and ingredients that mess up my digestion). Rimma has been treating me since I’ve signed up for acupuncture. She’s a professional but also very caring and warm. She’s done amazing work with my digestive system, muscle pain, and migraine complimenting acupuncture with cupping and gua sha. She’s also treated me when I had colds and also my occasional muscle pain from exercising. Dr. Irina treated me in one session where she used electrolysis which resulted to the best releasing cleanse I’ve had in a very long time. I look forward to my biweekly sessions especially on Sundays as it’s my self-care day. I feel healed but I’m still in my journey towards become holistically healthy. I can’t thank this place enough.
The moment I walked in, I Knew I made the right decision. The staff is so kind and caring. Dr. Vlas is the best, he’s taught me so much and works to understand my pain and symptoms, and educates me on how I can support my treatment at home. I’ve never had anyone as through as him, and it feels so reassurig that he’s got my best interest in mind. I really feel so fortunate to have come across this practice. My pain is significantly reduced and my stress management has improved, even through my first few sessions, I was surprised to see such an immediate change. My experience is above and beyond any expectations I had as a newbie to acupuncture. Don’t look any further, this si the place to go!
