Beat Autoimmune & Thrive! with Palmer Kippola

A Functional Medicine Approach to Autoimmunity with Sunjya Schweig, MD

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Mar 11, 2025

Sunjya Schweig, MD, an integrative medical doctor and founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, dives into the world of chronic illness and autoimmunity. He discusses the importance of a data-driven approach for personalized patient care, highlighting foundational healing steps anyone can take. The conversation touches on the critical link between infections and autoimmune disorders, the impact of mold exposure, and the role of technology in managing health. Schweig emphasizes that understanding the root causes of illness is key to true healing.

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ANECDOTE

Dr. Schweig's Wife's Illness

Dr. Schweig's wife suffered a mystery illness with symptoms like night sweats, anxiety, and fatigue.
Ten years later, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease and Babesia after a second tick bite.

INSIGHT

Rising Autoimmune Rates

Autoimmune diseases are increasing, and having one increases the risk of developing more.
Factors like stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, and environmental exposures contribute to this rise.

ADVICE

Foundational Lifestyle Changes

Prioritize nutrition, stress management, sleep, and movement before deeper interventions.
These foundational changes improve the effectiveness of later treatments and reduce relapse risk.

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Sunjya Schweig, MD is an integrative medical doctor and the founder and president of the California Center for Functional Medicine. A leading expert in complex chronic illnesses, Dr. Schweig specializes in rigorous investigation and personalized management strategies. With over 25 years of experience, he takes a deeply investigative, data-driven approach to patient care.

He is also the founder of the non-profit Functional Medicine Research and Technology Center, which advances research and programs focused on first responders, tick-borne illnesses, long COVID, and data visualization.

In this episode, Dr. Schweig shares the investigative steps his functional and integrative practice takes to detect and treat chronic illness—plus foundational steps you take to support your health starting today.

Quote: “You're not crazy, you have a lot of things going on, and any one of these could be the reason you're sick.”

What’s inside this episode?

01:26 Dr. Sunjya Schweig’s story and what caused him to go into integrative and functional medicine as a conventionally-trained medical doctor

08:54 The landscape of autoimmune disorders today based on conditions he sees most commonly in his practice

19:06 Foundations for healing that you can get started on before even starting to work with a functional medicine practitioner

26:36 After taking on the foundational components of healing what’s the next step while working with a practitioner

30:16 Why it’s so important to address infections when you’re facing autoimmunity

34:48 Gut and stool tests that Dr. Schweig’s practice prefers

38:07 When mold comes into the hypothesis of what may be wrong with somebody, and what it's like to work with a “mold dog”

46:28 A message to those who are feeling fearful and overwhelmed

47:40 What Dr. Schweig is working on and how AI comes into play

Resources mentioned:

California Center for Functional Medicine: https://www.ccfmed.com/

CCFM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccfmed_ca/

Trauma healing and nervous system reset resources:

Book: When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

The Gupta Program: https://guptaprogram.com/

Alex Howard: https://www.alexhoward.com/

Primal Trust: https://www.primaltrust.org/

DNRS: https://retrainingthebrain.com/

Aimiee Apigian: https://traumahealingaccelerated.com/

Amy B. Scher: https://amybscher.com/

Sleep Resources:

Dhru Purohit podcast: Sleep Masterclass with Dr. Schweig: https://dhrupurohit.com/dp-ep378/

Book: Why We Sleep by Mathew Walker: https://amzn.to/3XrOQYt

Gut Resources:

Genova GI Effects stool test: https://www.gdx.net/products/gi-effects

ParaWellness parasite and yeast stool test: https://parawellnessresearch.com/order/

Mold Testing and Inspection:

Real Time Labs urine test: https://realtimelab.com/

MyMyco immune response blood test: https://mymycolab.com/

Mold Dog services: https://mold-dog.com/

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you are determined and committed to reclaiming your best health and life, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/apply/