Healing Herbs for Autoimmune Disorders

As you probably know by now, autoimmune disorders are disorders where the body's 
own immune system attacks it. There are quite a few different types of autoimmune 
disorders, with Celiac, Hashimoto’s, and Crohn’s being the most recognizable. Though 
there are over a dozen diseases you could have.

Most autoimmune diseases attack specific systems in the body. For example, 
Hashimoto's disease attacks the thyroid, while type 1 diabetes attacks and destroys the 
cells in the pancreas that create insulin. 

There are not cures for autoimmune diseases, but you can manage your symptoms and 
try to keep the flare-ups to a minimum. This is done with lifestyle changes like diet and 
exercise, proper pain management, and even natural remedies like herbs.

Here are some of the healing herbs that people have reported positive results with after 
using them along with other treatments for autoimmune diseases. 
 
 
1. Chang Shan 
 
This is a root herb collected from a type of hydrangea tree. It has been used in China for 
hundreds of years mostly to combat malaria and other febrile conditions. Scientists have 
only recently found out how the herb works. It targets an anti-immune cell called Th17, 
which controls autoimmune responses. 

These types of responses play a role in autoimmune disorders such as multiple 
sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and eczema. The drug that has been derived from chang 
shan is interesting to researchers because it does not suppress the entire immune 
system the way other autoimmune drugs do. It can also be taken orally and does not 
need to be injected like other drugs. 

Since it is not a widely-known herb, you might have to see an herbalist to get this one, 
or purchase it online. However, it has had really positive results.
 
 
2. Turmeric 
 
Now for a much more common herb, we have turmeric. You have probably seen this 
used not just by autoimmune disease sufferers, but everyone, as it has an exorbitant 
amount of health benefits.

This bright, orange-yellow spice is used in cooking and in making curries. Native to 
southern Asia, the rhizome of the plant is used. Rich in an anti-inflammatory compound 
called curcumin, turmeric helps with auto-immune diseases by inhibiting the action of 
interleukins, which are chemicals made by the white blood cells that control the body's 
immune response. 

Turmeric also inhibits NFkB, or nuclear factor kappa beta. NFkB is a group of proteins 
that control cytokines, which are chemicals released by the cells in the immune system. 
Interleukin is a type of cytokine.  


How to Use Turmeric

The great thing about turmeric is that it is really easy to use. You can make a tea called 
“golden milk” with your turmeric and some cream, or you can add it to anything from 
food or hot beverages. There are a lot of options available.
 
 
3. Ginger 
 
One of the oldest and most popular of the spices, the rhizome of this plant is also used. 
It's a circulatory stimulant that contain enzymes that inhibit inflammation and pain 
caused by chemical such as prostaglandins. 

Like turmeric, you probably already know all the ways to use ginger in your diet to help 
with your autoimmune diseases. This can be added to a tea or other beverage, cooked 
with, or you can even get ginger capsules if you want to go that route.
 
 
4. Green Tea 
 
Now for something that is much easier to use – green tea. With green tea, you can just 
buy the tea leaves or packets, brew a cup, and enjoy the benefits. 


Why Green Tea?

This tea is made of the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. Unlike black teas, the 
leaves of green tea are not allowed to ferment but are lightly steamed before they're 
allowed to dry. Green tea is famous for its healing properties and inhibits interleukin-1. It 
also has anti-allergy properties and helps alleviate eczema symptoms. 
 
 






5. White Tea 
 
If you aren’t a fan of green tea, you can also get similar benefits with a cup of white tea. 

White tea is made from the buds and leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. They are 
simply allowed to wither in the sunlight then lightly processed to prevent oxidation. 
Some nutritionists claim that drinking a cup of white tea every day reduces the risk 
of rheumatoid arthritis. 
 
 
6. Hops 
 
Famous for giving flavor to beer, hops comes from a twining, perennial vine that can 
grow up to 30 feet long. Hops contain a chemical called bitter lupulin, or hop meal which 
comes as a yellow powder. Hops has been shown to inhibit Cox-1 and Cox-2 which are 
prostaglandins. 

They do this as well as ibuprofen, a popular NSAID that can have side effects if taken 
over a long period of time. When hops are taken with rosmarinic acid, the combination 
has been shown to ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. 
 
 
7. Artemisia 
 
Artemisia has been used for centuries to treat systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It 
eases other inflammatory conditions and gets one of its names, wormwood, for its ability 
to expel parasites. It is called qinghao in China. 

This is another herb that might be easier to find from a local herbalist or natural health 
food store, as opposed to the more traditional herbs like ginger and turmeric, which are 
everywhere.
 
 
8. Reishi Mushroom 
 
The reishi mushroom is one of several mushrooms used to treat auto-immune 
disorders. It is a woody mushroom that is found growing in bracts on dying trees. The 
interesting thing about reishi mushrooms is that they can both stimulate and inhibit 
aspects of the patient's immune system. 

This is shown in their ability to stimulate the creation of white blood cells and to 
suppress antibodies that can cause autoimmune diseases. They also regulate 
inflammatory cytokine if taken over a period of months. This has been shown to ease 
the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. 
 
 
9. Stinging Nettle 
 
Though it is true that handling the raw plant should be done with gloves on, the stings 
go away when the plant is cooked. However, people who complained of arthritis used to 
rub the raw plant over their painful joints and experience pain relief. 

Nettle can also be taken as a tea, tincture or capsules. It seems to modulate NFkB and 
the inflammatory substances released by certain white blood cells, which are part of the 
immune system. This action by stinging nettle has been seen to ease the pain of 
rheumatoid arthritis. 
 
 
10. Chinese Thunder God
  
The botanical name of this herb is Tripterygium wilfordii, and it has been used in China 
for two millennia to ease the pain of such autoimmune disease as rheumatoid arthritis 
and ankylosing spondylitis. It is also used to ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis. 

It has immunosuppressant chemicals such as glycosides and blocks the action of COX-
2, cytokines and NFkB. However, the herb does bring side effects such as reproductive 
problems, rashes, loss of appetite and dry mouth, so it needs to be prescribed with 
care. 
 
 
11. Sarsaparilla 
 
The root and the root bark of this plant are used in healing. The root is used as 
capsules, extra, tea and root beer. Both bark and root bark can be applied on the skin 
as essential oils. Sarsaparilla root is a natural steroid and precursor of progesterone 
and both have anti-inflammatory properties that ease the symptom of arthritis. 

They also contain chemicals called saponins, which take up toxins in the gut, and 
remove them from the body. These toxins have been seen to be related to such 
autoimmune diseases as the psoriasis of rheumatoid arthritis. 








 
 
12. Rehmannia 
 
This is another plant whose root is used in healing. It is a Chinese herb whose 
traditional name is Shu Di Huang or Shen. Like reishi mushroom, it both stimulates and 
suppresses aspects of the immune system. However, unlike drugs used to treat 
autoimmune diseases, rehmannia doesn't suppress the immune system to the point 
where the patient is at risk for other diseases. 

It is always best used in a formula that rebalances levels of Th1 and Th2. These are 
types of white blood cells called T cells that produce interleukin and other chemicals 
associated with the immune system. Autoimmune conditions often have an imbalance 
of these substances.

