What Are Autoimmune Disorders?
Autoimmune disorders are conditions in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells, tissues, or organs. Normally, the immune system defends against bacteria and viruses — but in autoimmunity, it cannot distinguish foreign invaders from the body's own cells, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage.
Around 1 in 5 people is affected by an autoimmune condition. Approximately 20% of all chronic diseases may have an autoimmune pathogenesis — and many are misdiagnosed or discovered too late.
"Due to the very complex symptomatology of these diseases, which are often confused with other clinical entities, the patient cannot know if they suffer from an autoimmune disease."
— Prof. Dr. John Ionescu, Ziarul de Sănătate, 2016
Conditions We Treat
Clinical Results
Documented outcomes from patients treated with the German Integrative Therapy Concept.
Conventional Treatments
Classical medicine offers several established therapies for autoimmune diseases — each addressing symptoms, not root causes.
Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Reduce pain and inflammation — NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen.
Corticosteroids
Strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect — e.g. Prednisone.
Immunosuppressants
Suppress overactive immune response — Methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine.
Biologic Therapies
Target specific immune pathways — TNF inhibitors: adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel).
DMARDs
Slow disease progression — Methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine.
Symptom Relief
Manage fatigue, pain and secondary symptoms — painkillers, antidepressants.
The Critical Limitation
All conventional treatments address only the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. When therapy is interrupted, patients experience fast and dramatic recurrence. GIMC undergoes an extensive investigation of the provoking factors — followed by an appropriate personalised therapy.
Why Does the Immune System Attack Its Own Cells?
Prof. Dr. Ionescu identifies a multifactorial causation — understanding these factors is the prerequisite for any effective personalised treatment.
Genetic Markers
HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) and MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) markers on chromosome 6 create predispositions. Genetic polymorphisms prevent effective elimination of toxic substances.
Hormonal Influences
Autoimmune diseases affect women disproportionately due to estrogenic predominance. Testosterone association with dental amalgam can produce a significantly greater autoimmune effect.
Chronic Infections
"Molecular mimicry" — the immune system confuses bacterial surface antigens with similar antigens in human organs, triggering autoantibody production months or years after an acute infection.
Heavy Metals & Xenobiotics
Heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, nickel) bind to membrane proteins, modifying MHC-I/II molecules and forming neo-antigens that trigger systemic autoimmune reactions.
Gut Dysbiosis & Leaky Gut
Disrupted microbiome drives TH2 immunity and chronic intestinal inflammation. Increased gut permeability allows uncontrolled entry of food and microbial antigens — massively stimulating immune complexes.
TH1/TH2/TH17 Imbalance
TH17-type lymphocytes — characterized by IL-17 and IL-22 production — play a central role in all autoimmune diseases alongside regulatory Treg lymphocytes, influencing TH1 and TH2 immunity.
Integrative Diagnostics & Detoxification
Using GC-MS, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), HPLC, FACS, ImmunoCAP, LTT and ALCAT technologies, GIMC detects the smallest amounts of toxins, identifies cellular sensitisations against foods and heavy metals, and measures free radical production to monitor treatment progress.
Phase 2 Hepatic Enzyme Activation
Elimination of metals by increasing hepatic conjugation through Phase 2 enzymes (CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GST-M/-T/-P, NAT2, UGT). Cruciferous vegetables activate these detoxification enzymes.
IV Chelation Therapy
Intravenous mild or strong chelation of heavy metals using antioxidants (GSH, alpha-lipoic acid) or synthetic chelators (EDTA, DMSA, DMPS) — not available in classical autoimmune therapy.
Organotoxin Elimination
Mobilisation of pesticides, solvents and organochlorines from adipose tissue via mild chelators and hyperthermia, followed by intestinal adsorbents and plasmapheresis or hemoabsorption.
Nutritional Substitution
Replacement of Vitamins A, B, D, E; amino acids for neurohormone synthesis; plasma proteins (albumin, human gamma-globulins). Vitamin D3 at therapeutic doses suppresses excess TH-17 and activates regulatory T cells.
Immunomodulation
Immunomodulation via bacterial extracts, immunoglobulins and vital mushrooms (Ganoderma). Anti-inflammatory orthomolecular therapy blocks free radicals with fat-soluble vitamins, polyphenols, glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid — without corticosteroids.
"We have a series of cases of young people with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, who have been symptom-free for over 15 years, and who I believe we can consider as cured. These patients followed our therapeutic concept for a year, returning step by step to a normal life."
Prof. Dr. John G. Ionescu — Founder & CEO, German Integrative Medical Center
Scientific References
Get to the Root of Your Autoimmune Condition
Our integrative specialists use advanced environmental medicine diagnostics to identify your individual causal factors — and build a personalised protocol that targets them.