Autoimmune Conditions
Understanding what’s driving immune dysfunction and how to heal it.
Autoimmune conditions develop when the immune system which is designed to protect the body, begins attacking the body’s own tissues. This ongoing inflammation can affect nearly every organ system and lead to chronic symptoms that seem to come and go, or never quite resolve.
At Lantern Clinic, we take time to understand why this happens. Our doctors combine Functional and Integrative Medicine with advanced testing to identify what’s driving the immune dysfunction, from gut imbalances and hidden infections to environmental or hormonal triggers and create a clear, personalised plan to help you feel well again.
Your Immune System Isn’t Broken
Understanding
Autoimmunity
The immune system is constantly working to distinguish between friend and foe. But when communication breaks down, it can mistakenly target healthy cells.
There are now more than 80 recognised autoimmune diseases including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto’s, Crohn’s Disease, Lupus, Psoriasis, and Multiple Sclerosis all rooted in chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation.
While conventional medicine can help manage symptoms, Functional Medicine looks deeper exploring how your gut, hormones, nutrition, environment, and stress responses contribute to immune imbalance.
Causes of Autoimmune Conditions
What Triggers the Immune System to Turn Inward
Autoimmune conditions develop when the immune system becomes confused and begins attacking healthy tissue.
This usually happens through a mix of genetic predisposition, gut microbiome imbalance often leading to leaky gut, and infections that overstimulate the body’s defence systems.
Common underlying causes include:
Genetic
Susceptibility
Some people inherit genes that make their immune system more reactive, but environment and lifestyle often determine whether those genes become "switched on".
Gut
Imbalance
Because most of the immune system sits in the gut, inflammation, microbiome disruption, or a “leaky gut” can drive immune confusion and flare-ups.
Hidden
Infections
Viruses such as Covid-19, Epstein-Barr or bacteria like H. pylori may act as triggers for autoimmune activity in conditions such as thyroid or joint disease.
Environmental
Stressors
Toxins, mould, and pollutants can strain detox pathways and fuel chronic inflammation.
At Lantern Clinic, our focus is on identifying and addressing these underlying factors.
By restoring gut health, balancing hormones, reducing toxic burden, and supporting the immune system, we help calm inflammation and rebuild resilience, creating the conditions for long-term healing.
Are you worried about ongoing symptoms that flare, fade, and never fully resolve?
Autoimmune activity can affect nearly every part of the body. Symptoms often develop gradually and may flare or subside over time.
Common Autoimmune Symptoms
- Fatigue (persistent, not relieved by rest)
- Joint pain & Inflamation
- Joint stiffness (worse in the morning)
- Muscle aches / muscle weakness
- Recurrent or chronic infections
- Unexplained weight changes
- Brain fog (difficulty concentrating)
- Diarrhoea / Constipation
- Skin rashes or skin inflammation
- Nerve symptoms (tingling, numbness)
- Depression
- Sleep Dysregulation (insomnia)
Understanding your symptoms is just the starting point, the real progress comes from uncovering what’s driving them and creating a plan to restore balance.
Treatment
A Doctor-Led Approach to Calming and Rebalancing the Immune System
While conventional care can help manage autoimmune symptoms, we focus on understanding why the immune system has become overactive in the first place. At Lantern Clinic, our doctors take time to explore your full health history, identify the underlying triggers, and create a plan tailored to your biology and lifestyle.
Treatment often includes restoring gut health, addressing nutrient or hormone imbalances, supporting detoxification, and reducing sources of inflammation or stress that may be fuelling immune reactivity.
Every recommendation, from nutrition and supplements to lifestyle and medical therapies, is evidence-based and designed to fit naturally into your daily life.
The goal is to calm inflammation, rebuild resilience, and help your body return to balance.
Take the Next Step Towards Healing
We work with patients who want to take an active role in their wellbeing to understand their bodies, make meaningful changes, and create lasting health.
If you’re ready to understand what’s driving your symptoms and start restoring balance, our team is here to guide you.