Autoimmune Disease Specialist
Vivian Varese, MD
Functional Medicine Doctor & Integrative Medicine Doctor located in Acton, MA
Patients from in and around Acton, Massachusetts find effective treatment and care for autoimmune disease with Dr. Vivian Varese.
Autoimmune Disease Q&A
What Is Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system malfunctions, attacking healthy tissue instead of foreign cells or viruses. Autoimmune disorders typically affect a system or organ in the body. As a result, traditional medicine views the disorder as a disease of a particular organ or system and treats the organ instead of healing the immune system. Conventional medicine also often calls for harsh treatments that suppress the immune system. However, from a functional medical approach, instead of focusing on the body part being attacked, Dr. Varese works to support and heal the immune system itself. By healing the immune system, the body returns to a state of balance and health and the immune system ceases its attack on the body.
What Causes Immunologic Dysfunction?
Immunologic dysfunction is caused by any number of a variety of factors. In some cases, high levels of toxicity in the body may stimulate an immunologic response. Or, infections or viruses present in the body can trigger an inappropriate immunological response. Some people may have a sensitivity or allergy to gluten, which is highly inflammatory and can cause the immune system to flare. Gluten proteins also closely resemble the chemical composition of other tissue in the body, which can lead to the immune system mistaking healthy cells for gluten and attacking them. Stress is another variable that has a serious effect on the immune system. When the body is stressed it releases chemicals that stimulate inflammation and the immune response. In our modern lives, many of us suffer from chronic stress, meaning that our bodies constantly produce stress hormones triggering the body to attack itself.
How Does Dr. Varese Heal the Immune System?
Dr. Varese treats the immune system beginning with an evaluation of the intestinal tract. She also tests liver function with blood tests. Once she has the ability to diagnose the autoimmune disease, she designs a treatment plan to establish optimal function in the gut, restoring liver function, and supporting immune balance with the prescription of customized nutrient and herbal formulas which will naturally heal the digestive system and provide balance to the body.
For more information, Dr. Varese recommends checking out Genova Diagnostics