Anti-inflammatory diet. For people who suffer from a disease with a chronic inflammatory component (which includes autoimmune diseases), D^r Andrew Weil recommends a semi-vegetarian diet, which is similar to the Mediterranean diet: an abundance of fruits and vegetables, as much fresh food as possible, a minimum of refined foods and junk food, a good amount of omega-foods. 3, etc.² For the details of this diet, see our text Dr Weil: the anti-inflammatory diet.

 echinacea (Echinacea sp.). Commission E, ESCOP and WHO recommend avoiding echinacea in case of autoimmune disease, because the active ingredients of this plant modulate the immune system and we do not yet fully know its mode of action. This recommendation is not based on the results of studies, but on a theoretical extrapolation. Echinacea is a popular natural health product, especially used in the winter season to prevent or treat colds and flu.