There were about 15 of us raving about the freshwater pool at WorldSprings, a mineral hot springs spa in Dallas, Texas. We were there, obviously, to bathe in the floating sounds, but our eyes kept going to Dr. Sarah Gottfried in all meditation knowledge. Even in a bathing suit and sunglasses, you could feel four times the gravity New York Times best-selling author. The board-certified physician, who graduated from Harvard and MIT, was visiting the Dallas area (where he works as a Health Consultant for WorldSprings) to participate in a sound bath, guiding us through anti-inflammatory saunas, cold plunges, and mineral, and sign his latest book, “The Autoimmune Disease Cure: Healing the Trauma and Other Causes of Your Body’s Response to You.” Most of we they were there for him.
Photo by Riley Blanks Reed.
Autoimmune Disease and Trauma: A Discussion of This Surprising Connection
Fangirling started as soon as the sound bath ended. “Your work changed my life” was a powerful sentiment. The books of Dr. Gottfried talked about everything from hormone replacement to slowing down the aging process, an important way to take control of your health—especially as a woman. “Don’t give your power to your doctor or nurse,” Dr. Gottfried joins me. “No one will know your body like you do.”
“Don’t give your power to your doctor or nurse. No one will know your body like you do.” – Dr. Sara Gottfried
The latest book by Dr. Gottfried focused the researcher’s attention on autoimmune diseases, which have increased dramatically in recent years, especially in women. You suggest a wonderful reason.
“I found a significant increase in autoimmunity in my work during the pandemic, and it seemed that the increase in trauma was at the root of it,” said Dr. Gottfried. “I listen to what my patients tell me, and this was the narration of my habits from hundreds of patients: more trauma and more immunity.”
After a round of saunas, cold showers, and global immersion, I spoke with Dr. Gottfried to delve a little deeper into his recent work. A renowned doctor shares her thoughts on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), phychadelic therapy, and a supplement that most women may need to use.
Dr. Sarah Gottfried
Dr. Sara Gottfried is a four-time, New York Times bestselling author on integrative health topics. He is a Harvard- and MIT-educated physician, speaker, yoga teacher, and author. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutrition Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University, where he is the Director of Precision Medicine at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Medicine.
What first led you to investigate trauma as a cause of autoimmune disease?
The three requirements for developing an autoimmune disease are genetics, leaky gut, and a trigger. The trigger can be a major hormonal change such as postpartum or perimenopause or menstruation. It can also be an infection, like Covid, or a traumatic experience. It can be loneliness or isolation. I found a great increase in autoimmunity in my work​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.
Is there a particular type of trauma that often triggers an autoimmune disease?
The most investigated type of trauma is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), or incidents of abuse, neglect, or other adversity in childhood. You can read your ACE score here.
Autoimmune disease affects women equally. Why do you think that is?
Women experience about 10% more trauma than men according to ACE studies. We also experience significant hormonal changes during pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Hormones change the immune system. That’s a gender difference. There are also socially constructed gender differences that can deprive women of health and increase the risk of autoimmunity, such as more caregiver needs and less pay for equal work. All of these factors can contribute to women’s greater risk of autoimmune disease, as four out of five people with autoimmune disease are women.
I liked your interview with Dr. Mark Hyman about different types of psychotherapy. How do you feel they differ from traditional talk therapy when it comes to treating trauma?
Psychedelic-assisted therapy differs from traditional talk therapy in that it appears to be more effective in resolving post-traumatic stress disorder. Talk therapy is about 30% effective in resolving PTSD. Another type of psychedelic therapy, MDMA-assisted therapy, is effective from 67% to 71%, so it is doubly effective. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has been shown to be useful in early studies in many conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life care, and disordered eating.
What would you tell someone who has never tried psychedelic therapy? How have they benefited your healing journey?
We are in the early stages of understanding the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, although many traditional psychedelics have been used for thousands of years. As for whether you should consider psychotherapy, it’s important to know that despite the “just say it” anti-drug campaign, psychedelics are safer than alcohol. There are other ways to find healing states of consciousness, such as holotropic breathwork, as I explain in “The Autoimmune Cure.”
In my experience, psychedelic-assisted therapy is a way to speed up the healing process from trauma.
Can you describe the Pine System and the relationship of trauma to it?
Trauma can affect the body, specifically, the psycho-immune-neuro-endocrine—or PINE—system. The PIN system defines how you respond to your environment. This concept is sometimes described as psycho-neuro-endocrine-immunology. I prefer PINE because it is easy to remember. PINE is a scientific research center that investigates the two-way connection between the mind and its functions, the immune system, the nervous system, the endocrine system, and how it is all connected to physical, mental, and spiritual health. You can consider PINE as your stress response system. Some of us have a very sensitive PIN system; others, less.
What are some of your favorite wearables to track things like heart rate variability?
The wearables I have found most helpful for HRV are the Oura Ring and Sleep Eight, which is a system that fits your mattress, tracks and improves sleep, and has helped me increase HRV more than any other.
Is there a supplement you would recommend to all women?
I don’t recommend a supplement for everyone, but one that women tend to need the most is magnesium, especially if you have chronic stress. About 75% to 80% of us are deficient. I generally recommend starting with 150 to 300 mg at night.
Your new book empowers those who want to take control of their lives. What messages or advice do you hope people will take away from your book?
Don’t give your doctor or nurse your power. No one will know your body like you do, so empowerment includes getting tested for autoimmunity to see if you’re one of the 30% of Americans who have it.