The Benefits of Naturopathic Care for Autoimmune Conditions
As a naturopath and trauma-informed emotional healing practitioner, I’ve seen how deeply autoimmune conditions can affect every aspect of a person’s life — physically, mentally, and emotionally. When the body begins to attack its own tissues, it’s not simply a mechanical malfunction; it’s a sign that something deeper within the system has gone out of balance.
From my perspective, autoimmune disease isn’t just about the immune system turning on itself — it’s about the body losing a sense of safety. And true healing begins when we help it remember that safety again.
This is where naturopathic care offers a profoundly supportive path: one that recognises the body’s innate intelligence, seeks root causes rather than symptom suppression, and integrates nutrition, herbal medicine, and mind-body healing to restore harmony.
What Are Autoimmune Conditions?
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system — designed to defend against pathogens — mistakenly targets the body’s own tissues. There are now over 80 recognised autoimmune conditions, including:
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – thyroid inflammation leading to fatigue, weight changes, and mood swings
Rheumatoid arthritis – chronic joint pain and stiffness
Lupus (SLE) – systemic inflammation affecting multiple organs
Multiple sclerosis (MS) – immune attack on the nervous system
Psoriasis and eczema – skin inflammation driven by immune imbalance
Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis) – chronic gut inflammation
Globally, autoimmune diseases affect an estimated 5–10% of the population, and rates are steadily rising — particularly among women, who make up nearly 80% of those diagnosed.
While genetics play a role, the rapid increase suggests environmental and lifestyle factors are major contributors. These include chronic stress, infections, toxins, poor diet, gut dysbiosis, and unresolved trauma — all areas that naturopathic medicine is uniquely equipped to address.
Why Naturopathic Care Is So Effective for Autoimmune Healing
Naturopathic medicine views the body as a self-regulating ecosystem. When one part is out of balance — whether through inflammation, nutrient deficiency, emotional stress, or toxicity — it affects the whole.
Here’s how naturopathic care can make a difference:
1. Treating the Root Cause, Not Just the Symptoms
Conventional medicine often manages autoimmune conditions with immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatories, or steroids. These can be essential for acute symptom control, but they don’t address why the immune system became dysregulated in the first place.
Naturopathic care looks deeper — exploring triggers like:
Chronic infections (e.g. Epstein–Barr virus)
Intestinal permeability ("leaky gut")
Food sensitivities
Nutrient deficiencies (vitamin D, zinc, selenium)
Environmental toxins
Emotional trauma and long-term stress
When we identify and address these underlying causes, the immune system no longer needs to stay in a constant state of alarm.
2. Supporting the Gut–Immune Axis
Around 70–80% of immune activity originates in the gut. When the intestinal lining becomes compromised through poor diet, stress, or dysbiosis, undigested food particles and toxins can enter the bloodstream — triggering systemic inflammation and autoimmune responses.
In naturopathic practice, I use a combination of anti-inflammatory nutrition, targeted probiotics, and gut-healing herbs (such as slippery elm, licorice, and aloe) to restore digestive integrity.
When the gut barrier heals, inflammation reduces, nutrient absorption improves, and immune regulation naturally begins to rebalance.
3. Calming the Nervous System and Reducing Stress
Chronic stress is one of the most overlooked factors in autoimmune disease. Elevated cortisol and adrenaline can suppress digestion, alter immune function, and drive inflammatory signalling.
Naturopathic care incorporates nervous system repair — using tools such as magnesium, B vitamins, adaptogenic herbs (ashwagandha, holy basil), breathwork, yoga, and meditation.
For deeper work, I integrate Family Constellations and Rapid Core Healing, trauma-informed modalities that address subconscious stress patterns. When the body feels emotionally safe, inflammation decreases — because the immune system no longer needs to fight the “enemy within.”
4. Using Plant Medicine to Balance the Immune Response
Herbal medicine offers gentle yet powerful ways to modulate immunity without suppressing it. Depending on the condition, I may use:
Turmeric and ginger for systemic inflammation
Reishi, cordyceps, and astragalus for immune resilience
Licorice and ashwagandha for adrenal support
Saffron and holy basil for stress regulation
These herbs work synergistically to bring the body back into balance — calming overactivity while strengthening the foundations of health.
5. Restoring Cellular Health with Nutrient Therapy
Autoimmune conditions often deplete essential nutrients through chronic inflammation. Using functional pathology testing, I assess key markers and replenish what’s missing through diet and supplementation.
Nutrients commonly used include:
Omega-3s (from Ahiflower®) – anti-inflammatory lipid balance
Magnesium – reduces pain and supports nerve function
Vitamin D and zinc – immune regulation and tissue repair
Selenium – antioxidant defence, especially for thyroid health
Iron and B12 – energy and oxygen transport
Balanced nutrient repletion helps the immune system reorient itself toward healing rather than attack.
6. Integrating Mind–Body Healing
In my practice, I often see that autoimmune flare-ups correspond with emotional triggers — periods of loss, stress, or relational conflict. The immune system doesn’t exist in isolation; it reflects the body’s dialogue with life.
Through Rapid Core Healing, clients can access subconscious memories where feelings of powerlessness, grief, or anger became stored. By resolving these imprints, the body’s stress load decreases, and healing accelerates.
This integrative approach — combining naturopathic medicine with emotional reprogramming — allows the body to remember that it is safe to repair.
A Holistic Path Forward
Autoimmune disease is not a sign that the body is broken — it’s a sign that it’s trying to protect itself in the only way it knows how.
Naturopathic care honours this wisdom. It doesn’t suppress symptoms; it listens to them. It recognises that true healing requires addressing both the biological terrain and the emotional narrative that underlies it.
When the immune system feels safe again — nourished, grounded, and seen — it can return to its natural role: protecting, repairing, and maintaining harmony.
Through a combination of personalised nutrition, herbal medicine, trauma-informed care, and subconscious healing, naturopathic medicine offers a way to move beyond managing illness — toward genuine, sustainable wellbeing.
About the Author
Camilla Brinkworth is the founder of Camilla Clare Holistic Health. She is a naturopath, nutritionist, and trauma-informed emotional healing practitioner based in Bali, but supporting clients globally. Drawing on her extensive background in Family Constellations, Rapid Core Healing, and naturopathic medicine and nutrition, Camilla supports clients in addressing both the physical and emotional roots of illness.
Her integrative approach combines science, emotional healing, and plant-based medicine to help people restore balance to their hormones, immune system, and nervous system. Through her one-to-one sessions, retreats, and educational programmes, Camilla guides others to move beyond survival, reconnect with their innate vitality, and create lasting wellbeing from the inside out.