July 3, 2023

Episode 88 Treating Autoimmunity Integratively with Dr. Akil

Episode 88 Treating Autoimmunity Integratively with Dr. Akil

Autoimmune diseases often have multifactorial causes, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and immune system dysregulation. Integrative treatments aim to identify and address these underlying causes instead of merely managing symptom. While conventional therapies are often necessary to stabilize autoimmune disease processes; integrative approaches are often needed to drive the disease into remission.

In this episode, we were joined by Dr. Akil Palanisamy, a Harvard-trained physician who practices integrative medicine . The author of the book The T.I.G.ER. Protocol; An integrative 5-step program to treat and heal your autoimmunity.

Episode Highlights:

  • How has Dr. Akil’s personal practice changed

  • Change in the landscape of autoimmunity

  • Dr. Akil’s framework of thinking about autoimmune disease

  • How the gut is so involved with autoimmunity

  • How was his book “Tiger protocol" born and its origin

  • Breakdown of what the acronym “TIGER” means

  • The effect of toxins in the immune system and how would dysfunction in the lymphatic drainage affect the immune system

  • The genetic component and how certain people are set up to be more environmentally sensitive or affected by toxicant loads 

  • How to make the body less hospitable to infections

  • How we can improve our health

  • Importance of Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut

  • Why should we care about postbiotics

  • Concepts to think about that actually impact the immune system 

  • Cell danger response

About Dr. Akil Palanisamy:

Akil Palanisamy, MD, blends conventional medical expertise with holistic approaches including functional medicine and Ayurveda. “Dr. Akil” attended Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in biochemical sciences. He earned an MD from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and completed family medicine residency training at Stanford University. He then graduated from a fellowship in integrative medicine with Dr. Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona, and received certification in mind-body medicine from the Georgetown University Center.

Dr. Akil is the Department Chair for Integrative Medicine at the Sutter Health Institute for Health and Healing (IHH). He also serves as IHH Physician Director for Community Education and leads their educational initiatives and programs. Dr. Akil has been a consultant with the Medical Board of California for many years. 

A widely known speaker and educator, he is the author of “The Tiger Protocol” (his latest book) and “The Paleovedic Diet: A Complete Program to Burn Fat, Increase Energy, and Reverse Disease”.  As he has done for two-plus decades, Dr. Akil sees patients and conducts clinical research studies in the San Francisco Bay Area. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Connect with Dr. Akil :

You can grab Dr. Akil’s book here!




Akil Palanisamy, MD, is a Harvard-trained physician, author, and holistic medicine expert in integrative and functional medicine. His new book, “The Tiger Protocol”, integrates the best of conventional and holistic medicine. Dr. Akil presents a comprehensive protocol to help you treat and heal your autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and more. We talk about the role of Toxins, Infections, Gut Health, Environment, and Stress have on Autoimmunity and how he outlines a roadmap to address these components.


Enjoy!!!


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