Autoimmune Case Studies
Functional medicine takes a personalized, science-based approach to get to the root of autoimmune conditions. At Root, our doctor-and-dietitian duo spends more time with you, uses advanced testing, and applies specialized functional medicine training to dive deeper into what’s really going on.
Instead of just chasing symptoms or quieting the immune system, we focus on calming inflammation, healing the gut, and supporting your body as a whole. This approach allows us to go beyond simply managing symptoms—we work to address and reverse them at the root cause. By addressing the root cause, we can improve quality of life both physically and emotionally, while also leading to significant healthcare savings.
Instead of just chasing symptoms or quieting the immune system, we focus on calming inflammation, healing the gut, and supporting your body as a whole. This approach allows us to go beyond simply managing symptoms—we work to address and reverse them at the root cause. By addressing the root cause, we can improve quality of life both physically and emotionally, while also leading to significant healthcare savings.
In this article, we’ll explore three case studies that highlight how this approach makes a difference.
Case #1:
Woman with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis*
Presentation
This member came to Root seeking relief after years of frustration with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Despite trying multiple costly biologic medications, including Otezla (avg cost ~$5,000 per month), her symptoms persisted. She struggled with joint pain, bowel issues that had been labeled as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn, bloating after eating, weight gain, skin rashes, and insomnia. She shared that it had been 10–12 years since she last felt well.
She had sought help from five different doctors, including two primary care physicians, a dermatologist, a gastroenterologist, and a vascular surgeon, but had yet to find lasting solutions.
Root Interventions
We focused on uncovering and addressing the root causes of her symptoms. Our interventions included:
- Gut healing and microbiome rebalancing
- Tailored nutrition changes to balance blood sugar and remove inflammatory foods
- Blood Lab testing to identify nutrient deficiencies and insulin resistance.
- One-on-one support: She received ongoing support via telehealth visits from both our doctor and dietitian to implement these changes through nutrition and lifestyle adjustments.
Results
After six months of working with Root, she successfully discontinued Otezla, and her skin remained clear even two months later.
Her joint pain had resolved, bowel symptoms disappeared due to gut healing and stopping certain medications, which eliminated bowel side effects. Sleep improved, energy levels increased, and she lost five pounds by addressing insulin resistance with targeted nutrition and supplements.
Most notably, her quality of life (QOL) improved significantly, with an 82% reduction in her Root symptom score—from 60 to just 11 in eight months.
This case highlights the impact of addressing the root causes of autoimmune conditions to achieve lasting physical and emotional well-being while reducing dependence on costly medications.
Case #2:
Man with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Presentation
This member came to Root with a history of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), for which he had been prescribed Enbrel ($8,000 per month) and Methotrexate. Despite seeing multiple doctors—including a PCP, GI, Neurology, and Dermatology specialists—his symptoms persisted. He was referred to Root by his “holistic PCP” after seeking help from another functional medicine provider annually with no noticeable benefit.
Main Concerns
His primary concerns included constipation, bloating, water retention, waking up at 3 AM, joint pain, neuropathy, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue, and a negative relationship with food that led to binge eating.
Root Interventions
We focused on addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of his health. Our approach included:
- Removing inflammatory foods, with careful coaching due to his self-reported negative relationship with food
- Supporting gut health with personalized microbiome testing and a gut healing protocol
- Introducing Low Dose Naltrexone to assist in autoimmune remission
- Optimizing thyroid hormone replacement medications for better function
Results
Within six months of working with Root, he was able to stop both Enbrel and Methotrexate, and his RA went into remission. He also avoided the GLP-1 medication that his rheumatologist had recommended adding for autoimmune symptoms.
His Root symptom score dropped dramatically from 61 to just 2 in three months—an impressive 97% improvement. He lost five pounds sustainably and continued without the need for medication.
His thyroid function was optimized, and nutrient levels significantly improved. This shows how a root-cause approach to autoimmune conditions can lead to lasting improvements and better overall health.
Case #3
Woman with a Mystery Skin Condition
Presentation
This member came to Root after struggling with a recurrent, whole-body rash for the last 10 years. Despite seeing multiple doctors and specialists—including her internist, allergist, and dermatologist—no one could figure out what was triggering the rash. The rash would spread "head to toe." Over the years, she had been treated for fungal infections, bacterial infections, and eczema. She also underwent four rounds of prednisone, but none of these treatments provided lasting relief.
At the time, her next step was to start either methotrexate or Dupixent ($60,000/year), but she decided to try Root first. In addition to her skin condition, she had also gained 10 pounds during menopause and wanted to lose weight.
Root Interventions
Our approach included:
- Specialized diet plan targeting histamine, followed by food sensitivity testing and the Root MRT protocol
- Personalized microbiome testing and gut healing protocol
- Supplementation to help break down histamine with meals
- Replacing nutrient deficiencies, teaching how to increase protein intake, and using natural supplements to boost GLP-1 instead of medication
Results
Within six months of working with Root, her skin cleared up, and she avoided medications. She also lost 20 pounds without the use of medication, bringing her BMI into the normal range.
Her Root symptom score improved by 92%, from 40 to just 3 in 8 months, and her skin remained clear over the next year.
This case demonstrates the power of a comprehensive, root-cause approach to treating chronic conditions. By addressing the underlying triggers and making personalized adjustments to diet, lifestyle, and supplementation, we were able to help this member achieve lasting improvements without relying on costly medications. The results not only cleared her skin but also supported her overall well-being, empowering her to regain control of her health.
Key Takeaways
These case studies highlight how functional medicine addresses the root causes of autoimmune conditions. By taking a unique approach and considering inflammation, gut health, hormones, and nutrition, our members can experience meaningful relief and better overall health—without relying on medications. At Root, we help both individuals and corporations address autoimmune concerns at the root, offering personalized solutions that lead to lasting results.
Root has hundreds of similar cases that illustrate what is possible in functional medicine, yet these results are still unheard of in conventional medicine due to many conventional model limiting factors.
*Cases posted with member permission.
Root has hundreds of similar cases that illustrate what is possible in functional medicine, yet these results are still unheard of in conventional medicine due to many conventional model limiting factors.
*Cases posted with member permission.
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