677. MDMA, Trauma Therapy + Breathwork: Answers to Autoimmune Disease with Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried

Autoimmunity Rise

Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried sheds light on the growing prevalence of autoimmune diseases, emphasizing the need to broaden our understanding of these conditions. She explains that autoimmunity involves the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own tissues, with factors like stress, hormonal changes, and environmental toxins contributing to its rise 1. Dr. Gottfried notes that many conditions, such as endometriosis and fibromyalgia, may also be autoimmune in nature, urging a reevaluation of how we perceive these disorders 1.

There's a state of health where your immune system is working just perfectly, and then there's autoimmune disease, which is where you're making antibodies, they're these proteins that your immune cells make as a weapon against your own tissues.

--- Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried

Her research highlights trauma as a common trigger, suggesting that addressing underlying trauma can be key to healing 2.

   

Holistic Healing

In exploring holistic approaches to managing autoimmune disorders, Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried shares her personal journey of reversing her autoimmune condition. She emphasizes the importance of addressing gut health and dietary changes, such as adopting an elimination diet to identify and remove triggers 3. Dr. Gottfried also discusses the role of somatic therapies, like Hakomi, and psychedelic-assisted therapies in modulating the immune system 4.

I started working with my food. I shifted to an elimination provocation diet. I gave up gluten, dairy, nightshades, nuts and seeds, some of the things that tend to trigger the immune system.

--- Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried

These methods, she argues, can activate the body's innate healing capacity, offering a comprehensive path to recovery 4.

   

Trauma Link

The connection between trauma and autoimmune diseases is a critical aspect of Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried's work. She explains how both major and minor traumas can leave a lasting imprint on the body, potentially triggering autoimmune responses 5. The stress response, originally designed for survival, can become maladaptive, leading to chronic health issues when activated too frequently 5.

The big t and the little t traumas, in some ways, it doesn't matter what the event was. So big t trauma is something that everyone agrees was traumatic.

--- Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried

Dr. Gottfried encourages understanding one's ACE score to assess trauma impact, highlighting its relevance to conditions like PTSD and autoimmune diseases 6.