Beyond My Autoimmune Diagnosis: How I Healed My Body Holistically (Not Just Symptoms)
After my autoimmune diagnosis, I discovered healing isn’t just about suppressing symptoms—it’s about addressing root causes. Here’s the holistic approach that restored my health.
To give you a snapshot of what my symptoms were - think constantly feeling jittery; every day I felt closer to my body shutting down; I was agitated; not sleeping well; not feeling nourished when I ate, and I was eating a lot...too much.
On top of these symptoms, I had joint pains down my right side from my shoulder to my toes, and a burning sensation as well.
My Autoimmune Breaking Point: Symptoms No One Explained
In the last 18 months leading up to this point, I spent long hours working on my computer during quarantine. I swore that I was getting ahead of the curve regarding work because when you're creative, you can get lost in time. After all, it's fun and manageable, but sometimes you don’t realize how many hours you spend staring at a blue screen.
Many people had lost their jobs during the pandemic, and I was just grateful to have more work than I could handle. It’s a great problem to have, except that I was just sitting and lying down for most of the day, and not moving much - no good for my body in hindsight - but there was also the fear of getting ill from COVID and not wanting to even brush past someone during a walk outside. So I really didn't move much at all, or get much natural air.
Anyway, my trip to my primary care doctor led to blood tests, and those tests revealed some imbalances that I did not understand, but at the end of the day, they amounted to fibromyalgia.
Now, before I talk about what treatments I started for this dreadful dis-ease, let me segue into what it is and how the healing approaches differ between Eastern and Western medicine practices.
My Autoimmune Breaking Point: Symptoms No One Explained
Generally in Western medicine, having an autoimmune disease is a condition in which the body's immune system mistakes its own healthy tissues as foreign and attacks them. Most autoimmune diseases cause inflammation that can affect many parts of the body.
When my Western primary care doctor diagnosed me, he wanted to put me on depression medication because one of the common symptoms of fibromyalgia is something called fibro-fog (fibromyalgia fog and brain fog). It causes a sort of depression that can last hours to days, sleeping problems, fatigue, and chronic pain.
Depression meds were a huge NO for me!!
As much as I respect Western medicine, it is very focused on treating the dis-ease but it isn’t preventative, and I wanted to get to the root cause of this diagnosis, and find out how to rid myself of it.
So, in search of a more natural approach or alternative, a friend recommended acupuncture, and a fabulous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner I now see. This is basically the start to my fibromyalgia recovery story. Keep reading…
Why Western Medicine Failed Me (And What Worked Instead)
In January 2022, just six months after my fibromyalgia diagnosis, I began treatment with Dr. India Barkley—a tenured Doctor of Acupuncture, skilled clinician, educator, and Reiki master/teacher. Her approach was refreshingly holistic, addressing not just symptoms but the root of my body’s needs through acupuncture and cupping, both of which were surprisingly gentle.
What stood out immediately was her consultation style. Unlike my primary care physician, who rushed to prescribe medication for isolated symptoms, Dr. India took the time to understand me—my daily routine, work, diet, sleep habits, and even my past. Her assessment was thorough, compassionate, and focused on the why behind my condition rather than just suppressing its effects.
Her explanation of my diagnosis resonated deeply. She framed it as my body rebelling against a drastic lifestyle shift: after years of constant movement, human connection, laughter, and time in nature, I’d suddenly transitioned to a near-sedentary existence—long hours sitting, lying down, and glued to screens. The shock of that 180-degree change, she explained, was my body’s way of protesting the unfamiliar stillness. It wasn’t just pain; it was an adjustment crisis.
Why Holistic Healing Worked When Medicine Failed
Within the first month of working with Dr. India, my body began responding powerfully to her treatments—acupuncture and cupping therapy. I visited her weekly, and like clockwork, my body would tell me when it was time for another session. The difference wasn’t subtle; it was a profound shift.
She also introduced me to Zyflamend, a natural joint-support supplement with anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and green tea. (I jokingly call it the "joint pain wonder drug"—because it works.)
Six months in, my symptoms were nearly gone. (Though, full transparency: Writing this post-COVID, I’m navigating a temporary setback. Healing isn’t linear, after all.)
The Real Game-Changer? Lifestyle Shifts
Dr. India didn’t just treat my body—she reshaped my daily habits. She challenged me to:
Bookend my days with movement (no more 12-hour screen marathons).
Prioritize play—whether hiking, painting, or just unplugging.
Reconnect with nature (turns out, fresh air is better than doomscrolling, who knew).
These changes supercharged my progress. Healing wasn’t just about her treatments; it was about how I showed up for myself between sessions.
Aside form all these lessons and new habit adoptions, I am now more aware that your well-being is built daily….not a sprint but a marathon!
True healing demands consistent, intentional choices—from what you eat to how you rest. Dr. India’s reading recommendations (shared below) deepened my understanding of what this truly means.
The first book she recommended was The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk, MD. - Put simply, this book explores how exposure to trauma - abuse and violence, gets your body stuck in a mold that responds with fight/flight and freeze. The author offers a range of therapeutic interventions (because one size never fits all), including various forms of trauma processing, neurofeedback, theater, meditation, play, and yoga, to reverse the effects of trauma.
I loved it because I was forced to think of my own trauma from childhood and relate it to what my body was dealing with in this current moment.
The second one was Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christiane Northrup, M.D.
This book is an excellent read and has since become my fave because it offers a woman's perspective on healing from someone who considers patriarchy and the many awry messages we receive socially as part of the existing health problem for us.
Best of all, it includes updated information on pregnancy, labor, and birth, sexuality, nutrition, hormone replacement therapy, treating fibroids, avoiding hysterectomy, and maintaining breast and menstrual health.
The third is Heal Your Body by Louise Hay (another of my faves), which is a fresh and easy step-by-step guide. Hay believes that our thoughts create our ailments, so in this book, you can search for your specific health challenge and you will find the probable cause for this health issue and the information you need to overcome it by creating a new thought pattern.
My Autoimmune Healing Journey with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
What embracing TCM has taught me is that true healing isn’t just about addressing symptoms—it’s about prevention and root-cause resolution. This means we must commit to the work, not only to heal our bodies but to nurture our emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Physical ailments often mirror deeper imbalances, and lasting healing demands that we tend to every layer of ourselves. Only when we honor this holistic approach can we achieve complete, transformative wellness.
The conventional approach—focusing solely on physical symptoms once the body is already in crisis—often leaves us trapped in a cycle of recurring illness. Western medicine excels in acute care, but without addressing the root causes of our suffering—emotional, energetic, or lifestyle-related—we risk perpetuating the same health struggles indefinitely.
Our bodies are ecosystems. Every muscle, nerve, and cell communicates in a delicate, interconnected balance. True healing requires honoring that wholeness—which is exactly what TCM offers.
So here’s my invitation to you: Explore TCM not just as treatment, but as prevention. Ask yourself:
What emotional or mental patterns might have contributed to my diagnosis?
What foods or habits have I ignored, despite my body’s signals?
Why does this pain persist—what is it trying to tell me?
TCM isn’t a quick fix; it’s a lifelong partnership with your well-being. By committing to its principles—mind, body, and spirit—you’re not just resolving symptoms; you’re building a foundation for lasting vitality.
Don’t you want to thrive well into old age? Then the choice is clear: Shift your perspective, listen deeply to your body, and take consistent action. Your future self will thank you.
I hope to see you on the other side of wellness!
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