In this episode, Dr. Micah Yu and Dr. Melissa Mondala explore the rising epidemic of autoimmune disease. They unpack the root causes, early warning signs, and the whole-body approach needed for healing. They share personal clinical experiences, including a powerful success story using an anti-inflammatory protocol, and preview upcoming discussions on mental health, trauma, and psycho-neuro-immunology. The tone is both educational and hopeful, aimed at empowering patients and practitioners alike.

Key Bullet Points:

• 10% of the global population has autoimmune disease — and that number is rising.
• Autoimmunity affects multiple systems: rheumatology, neurology, endocrinology, GI, and beyond.
• These diseases are often missed or misdiagnosed, with patients cycling through many specialists.
• Women make up 80% of autoimmune cases.
• Autoimmune diseases include lupus, Hashimoto’s, RA, Crohn’s, type 1 diabetes, celiac, and more.
• Patients often develop multiple autoimmune conditions over time.
• Traditional medicine focuses on symptom suppression, not root cause resolution.

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Micah Yu’s YouTube: My Autoimmune MD
• Dr. Melissa’s channel: Dr. Melissa’s Kitchen (healthy recipes)
• Clinic website: https://myautoimmunemd.com — based in Newport Beach, CA, offering telemedicine across the U.S.

About Your Hosts:

Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University’s Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women’s wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.

For more information, please visit https://myautoimmunemd.com.