Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Root-Cause Approach to Whole-Body Healing
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often described as a disease of the joints, but if you or someone close to you has lived with it, you’ll know it’s much more complex than joint pain and stiffness. It can affect energy, mood, digestion, sleep, and overall quality of life. From a root-cause and whole-body health perspective, RA isn’t just a diagnosis to manage—it’s a signal that the body is out of balance.
This Holistic Approach of Health focuses on why an illness occurs by identifying deeper imbalances in the body’s systems. Rather than simply treating symptoms, it aims to understand how areas like the immune system, joint pain and gut health, hormones and stress are interconnected and how they might be contributing to chronic inflammation.
Let’s explore rheumatoid arthritis through this holistic lens.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and, over time, joint damage and deformity. However, RA is not just limited to joints—it can also affect other systems in the body, including the skin, eyes, blood vessels and lungs. People with RA often experience fatigue, low-grade fever, prolonged morning stiffness and difficulty doing everyday tasks.
Conventional treatment typically involves anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and disease-modifying medications (DMARDS). While these are often necessary to control symptoms and protect the joints, they don’t always address the underlying reasons why the immune system is misfiring in the first place (Cutolo and Straub, 2009).
That’s where a whole-body, root-cause approach comes in.
What’s Driving RA Beneath the Surface?
This perspective views RA as the tip of the iceberg—what is visible on the surface—while hidden drivers beneath the surface continue to fuel the fire of inflammation.
1. Gut Health and the Microbiome
A healthy gut is vital to a balanced immune system. Approximately 70–80% of immune cells reside in the gut, where they interact with the gut lining and the trillions of microbes that inhabit it. When this balance is disrupted, due to factors such as a poor diet, antibiotics, stress, or infection, it can lead to intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut) and an overactive immune response (Li et al., 2022).
Certain bacterial strains have been linked to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). For example, Prevotella copri is found in greater abundance in the gut microbiome of individuals newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Pianta et al., 2017), suggesting that gut dysbiosis may be a trigger.
2. Lingering Infections
Chronic infections, especially viruses such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), have been associated with the onset of RA. EBV DNA and proteins have been detected in the synovial tissue of individuals with RA (Balandraud et al., 2023; Pender, 2006), suggesting that the immune system may be responding to joint tissue and persistent viral elements.
3. Food Sensitivities and Dietary Triggers
Many people with autoimmune conditions find symptom relief by changing their diet. Gluten, dairy, and ultra-processed foods can aggravate inflammation and immune dysregulation. Clinical studies have demonstrated that elimination diets, such as plant-based gluten-free diets, can reduce RA symptoms and inflammatory markers (Hafström et al., 2001; Kjeldsen-Kragh et al., 1991).
4. Nutrient Deficiencies
Inflammation, poor digestion, and certain medications can deplete nutrients vital for maintaining immune balance and tissue repair. For example, vitamin D levels are often low in individuals with RA and are associated with higher disease activity (Zittermann and Gummert, 2010). Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to reduce joint inflammation and improve symptoms (Lee, Bae, and Song, 2016).
5. Hormonal and Stress Imbalances
RA is more common in women, particularly during hormonal transitions, such as perimenopause. Hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone are known to influence immune function. Studies suggest that fluctuations or deficiencies in these hormones can contribute to increased autoimmune activity (Tengstrand, Carlström and Hafström, 2002; Cutolo and Straub, 2009).
Stress plays a similar role—chronic activation of the stress response affects cortisol levels, gut integrity, sleep, and immune regulation.
6. Environmental Toxins
Long-term exposure to environmental toxins, such as air pollution, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals, has been linked to an increased risk of RA (Ma et al., 2022). These exposures may overstimulate or confuse the immune system, especially when detoxification pathways are sluggish.
Supporting the body’s natural detoxification systems, particularly the liver and gut, is an essential component of a comprehensive whole-body health plan (Barouki et al., 2012).
A Personalised Approach to Healing
This model of care is not about offering a one-size-fits-all protocol. Instead, it’s about understanding your history, biochemistry and environment. A personalised plan might include:
🥦 Anti-inflammatory nutrition
🧪 Functional testing (gut, hormones, infections, nutrients)
🌱 Gut and immune repair protocols
🧘♀️ Stress and sleep support
👐 Gentle osteopathy to calm the nervous system
🤸♀️ Pilates and Rheumatoid arthritis -based movement to support joint function and posture
A Realistic, Hopeful Perspective
Rheumatoid arthritis is serious and often requires conventional medications. However, many people benefit from combining medical treatment with a deeper exploration of what is fueling their condition.
Root-cause medicine doesn't promise a quick fix, but it can help people feel more in control of their health, naturally reduce pain, and improve long-term outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes rheumatoid arthritis from a root-cause perspective? RA develops when the immune system becomes dysregulated, often triggered by factors like gut imbalances, chronic infections, nutrient deficiencies, or environmental toxins. Rather than a single cause, it's usually a combination of stressors that overload the body’s self-regulating ability.
Can diet impact rheumatoid arthritis symptoms? Yes, many people with RA report improvements when they reduce inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy, sugar, and processed ingredients. An anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense diet can help lower immune activation and support joint health.
How does gut health affect autoimmune conditions like RA? The gut is home to most of the immune system, and imbalances in gut bacteria or increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) can drive systemic inflammation. Supporting gut health is often a key step in calming autoimmune responses.
Is it safe to combine this approach with my RA medication? Absolutely. A root-cause, whole-body approach complements medical treatment and is often used in conjunction with medication to support overall health, minimise side effects, and enhance outcomes.
What role does stress play in rheumatoid arthritis? Chronic stress affects hormone levels, weakens gut function, and keeps the immune system in a state of constant reactivity. Managing stress through sleep, movement, and nervous system support can make a real difference in RA symptoms.
Can osteopathy or Pilates help alleviate the symptoms of RA? Gentle osteopathic treatment can relieve muscle tension, support the nervous system, and improve circulation. Pilates helps strengthen the body safely, maintain joint mobility, and improve posture without triggering flare-ups.
How long does it take to see improvements with a root-cause approach? Everyone is different, but some people notice changes within a few weeks, while deeper healing may take several months to occur. This approach focuses on long-term improvement, rather than just providing quick symptom relief.
References
Balandraud, N., Meynard, J.B., Auger, I., Sovran, H., Roudier, J. and Roudier, C., (2023). Epstein–Barr virus and rheumatoid arthritis. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, p.10525384.
Barouki, R., Gluckman, P.D., Grandjean, P., Hanson, M. and Heindel, J.J., (2012). Developmental origins of non-communicable disease: Implications for research and public health. Environmental Health, 11(1), p.42.
Cutolo, M. and Straub, R.H., (2009). Insights into endocrine–immune interactions in RA. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 5(11), pp.591–598.
Hafström, I., Ringertz, B., Spångberg, A., von Zweigbergk, L., Brannemark, S., Nylander, I., Rönnelid, J., Laasonen, L. and Palmertz, B., (2001). A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology, 40(10), pp.1175–1179.
Kjeldsen-Kragh, J., Haugen, M., Borchgrevink, C.F., Laerum, E., Eek, M., Mowinkel, P. and Hovi, K., (1991). Controlled trial of fasting and one-year vegetarian diet in rheumatoid arthritis. The Lancet, 338(8772), pp.899–902.
Lee, Y.H., Bae, S.C. and Song, G.G., (2016). Omega-3 fatty acids and rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, 22(1), pp.25–29.
Li, M., Zhai, L., Wei, W., Zhang, Y. and Chen, H., (2022). Gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A review. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, p.9499173.
Ma, Y., Liu, H., Wu, T. et al., (2022). Exposure to air pollutants and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), p.14051.
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Pender, M.P., (2006). Infection of autoreactive B lymphocytes with EBV, causing chronic autoimmune diseases. Trends in Immunology, 27(5), pp.245–251.
Pianta, A., Arvikar, S.L., Strle, K., Drouin, E.E., Wang, Q., Costello, C.E. and Steere, A.C., (2017). Evidence of the immune relevance of Prevotella copri in patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 69(5), pp.964–975.
Tengstrand, B., Carlström, K. and Hafström, I., (2002). Gonadal hormones in men with rheumatoid arthritis – from onset through 2 years. The Journal of Rheumatology, 29(3), pp.572–578.
Zittermann, A. and Gummert, J.F., (2010). Nonclassical vitamin D actions. Nutrients, 2(4), pp.408–425.
She is a registered nutritional therapist and osteopath specialising in autoimmune and musculoskeletal health. She combines clinical expertise with a root-cause, whole-body approach to help clients heal naturally and sustainably.