Toronto Naturopathic Doctor for Autoimmune Health
I’m Dr. Claire Lockridge, ND, a registered Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto. I help women understand and treat autoimmune conditions naturally.
- Two-year mentorship in autoimmune and cardio-metabolic health
- Root cause testing for your specific autoimmune type
- Natural protocols that calm immune dysfunction, not just suppress symptoms
- Most women see improvement within 8-12 weeks, full results in 6-12 months
- Work alongside your rheumatologist or specialist
Autoimmune Conditions I Treat
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Your thyroid antibodies attack your thyroid gland. Weight won’t budge. Exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix. Hair falling out. Brain fog. Feeling cold constantly.
Thyroid medication replaces hormones but doesn’t fix why your immune system attacks your thyroid. Treatment reduces antibodies by healing your gut, removing triggers, and fixing deficiencies.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA happens when your immune system attacks joint tissue. Morning stiffness for hours. Swelling and pain in your hands, wrists, knees. Fatigue makes getting through the day impossible.
Most rheumatologists miss the gut connection. About 70% of your immune system lives there. Treatment addresses gut dysfunction and food triggers while providing natural pain management.
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
Lupus is unpredictable. Good days and terrible days with no warning. Joint pain, extreme fatigue, sun-triggered rashes, unexplained fevers. Flares knock you out for weeks.
I work alongside your rheumatologist. Treatment manages inflammation, identifies triggers, addresses hormonal factors, and builds stress resilience.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
Chronic diarrhea controls your day. Abdominal cramping. Blood in your stool. Weight loss despite eating. Nutrient deficiencies.
IBD is serious. Natural medicine works alongside your gastroenterologist’s treatment. We reduce inflammation, heal gut lining, identify dietary triggers, and manage stress-induced flares.
Other Autoimmune Conditions
Graves’ disease. Celiac disease. Psoriasis. Scleroderma. Sjogren’s syndrome. Multiple sclerosis. Type 1 diabetes support.
Each autoimmune condition has unique features. But they share common root causes. Gut dysfunction. Food sensitivities. Chronic inflammation. Hormonal imbalances. Nutrient deficiencies. Stress.
Addressing these foundations helps regardless of which tissue your immune system attacks.
Ready to improve your immune health naturally?
My Approach to Autoimmune Health
Testing for Autoimmune Conditions
Blood work gives us the full picture.
- Thyroid Panels: For Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease.
- Inflammatory Markers: Shows current inflammation levels.
- Nutritional Panels: Autoimmune disease causes deficiencies that worsen symptoms.
- Food Sensitivity Testing: Identifies delayed reactions to foods triggering symptoms.
- Gut Health Analysis: Comprehensive stool testing for bacterial balance and inflammation.
- Hormone Assessments: Hormones influence autoimmune flares in women.
Not everyone needs all testing. We prioritize based on your symptoms and budget.
Treatment Protocols
Your autoimmune protocol is built specifically for you.
Gut Healing Protocols
Removing foods triggering immune reactions. Healing intestinal barrier with therapeutic nutrients. Restoring healthy gut bacteria. Addressing infections or bacterial overgrowth.
Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition
Whole foods eliminating inflammatory oils. Adequate protein for tissue repair. Blood sugar balance to reduce inflammation. Carbohydrates supporting thyroid function. Lots of vegetables.
For many women, removing trigger foods alone reduces antibodies significantly.
Targeted Supplementation
Vitamin D for immune regulation. Omega-3s reducing inflammation. Selenium and zinc for thyroid health. Probiotics for gut support. B12 and iron for deficiencies.
Stress Management
Stress worsens every autoimmune condition. Your cortisol patterns directly affect immune function.
We work on nervous system regulation. Realistic stress reduction. Sleep optimization. Movement that doesn’t increase inflammation. Mindset work for living with chronic illness.
Botanical Medicine
Herbs that reduce inflammation and modulate immune function. Turmeric, boswellia, adaptogens for stress response.
Only when appropriate for your condition and medications.
Tired of your immune system attacking you?
Who I Can Help
You must be located in Ontario due to regulatory requirements.
I work primarily with women in Toronto and the GTA dealing with autoimmune conditions. But I help women of all ages.
Good Fit If You're Experiencing:
- Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism with high antibodies
- Rheumatoid arthritis affecting your quality of life
- Lupus or other systemic autoimmune conditions
- IBD (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Any autoimmune condition affecting metabolism or hormones
- Multiple autoimmune diagnoses
- Family history of autoimmune disease with concerning symptoms
- Normal test results but persistent symptoms
- Interest in addressing root causes, not just suppressing symptoms
Not a Good Fit If:
- You’re looking for someone to replace your rheumatologist or specialist. I work alongside conventional care, not instead of it.
- You want quick fixes without diet and lifestyle changes.
- You’re not willing to eliminate foods temporarily to identify triggers.
Let’s work together to restore your health
Autoimmune Health FAQs
Can naturopathic medicine cure autoimmune disease?
No. Once your immune system develops antibodies against your own tissue, that sensitivity doesn’t disappear.
But we can put autoimmune disease into remission. Reduce antibodies. Eliminate symptoms. Prevent flares. Stop disease progression.
Many women see their Hashimoto’s antibodies drop to near-normal levels. Their RA symptoms completely resolve. Their lupus stops flaring.
Everyone’s different. But addressing root causes makes a massive difference.
Do you treat men with autoimmune conditions?
Yes, but my practice focuses on women because autoimmune disease affects women disproportionately. About 80% of autoimmune disease occurs in women.
Hormones play a huge role. Estrogen influences immune function. Pregnancy and menopause trigger autoimmune flares. Birth control affects immune responses.
My training and approach address these female-specific factors.
What about pregnancy with autoimmune disease?
Pregnancy planning with autoimmune disease needs extra support.
Some conditions improve during pregnancy (RA often goes into remission). Others worsen (lupus can flare). Medications need adjustment. Nutrient needs increase.
Preconception care optimizes your health before you conceive. Getting your condition stable. Addressing nutrient deficiencies. Adjusting protocols for pregnancy safety. Working with your specialist on medication management.
Pregnancy with autoimmune disease is absolutely possible. But preparation matters.
Will I need to stop my autoimmune medications?
No. For serious conditions like lupus, RA, or IBD, your conventional treatment prevents irreversible damage.
My role is complementary. I support your body’s healing capacity by identifying triggers, reducing inflammation naturally, optimizing nutrition and gut health, and managing stress.
Many women find their medication needs decrease over time as symptoms improve. Medication changes happen only with your doctor’s supervision.
Ready to Address Your Autoimmune Condition?
Through comprehensive assessment, autoimmune-specific testing, and personalized treatment protocols, we’ll identify what’s driving your immune dysfunction and address it naturally.
