All autoimmune diseases are fungus mediated.
- Madhukar Dama
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
1. What This Means
This idea suggests that:
Fungal organisms (like Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus) either directly or indirectly trigger or sustain autoimmune diseases.
The body is not "attacking itself" randomly, but is reacting to hidden fungal infections that have invaded tissues, hijacked immune responses, and created chronic inflammation.
Autoimmunity is not self-destruction. It’s a confused but rational attempt to defend against invisible fungal invaders hidden inside the body’s own cells or tissues.
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2. Evidence Supporting It
Here’s why fungus as a root cause is increasingly plausible:
A. Molecular mimicry
Fungal proteins mimic human proteins.
Immune system attacks fungi — but because fungal proteins resemble human proteins, the immune system accidentally attacks body tissues too.
B. Fungal antigens inside human cells
In diseases like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc., scientists have sometimes found fungal DNA, proteins, or antigens inside damaged tissues.
But they often dismiss it as "contamination" or "secondary infection" instead of asking: what if fungus is the primary cause?
C. Fungal toxins (Mycotoxins)
Fungi release potent toxins.
Mycotoxins disrupt immune regulation, gut barrier, brain chemistry — which are all hallmarks of autoimmune disorders.
Example: Ochratoxin, Aflatoxin, Gliotoxin — all have been linked to immune dysfunction.
D. Antifungal treatments showing improvement
Some autoimmune patients dramatically improve when given antifungal treatments (nystatin, fluconazole, natural antifungals like caprylic acid, coconut oil).
But doctors often misattribute the recovery to "remission" or "coincidence."
E. Gut mycobiome disruption
In psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, MS, etc., studies show patients have abnormal fungal overgrowth in the gut — not just bacterial imbalance.
Gut fungal overgrowth strongly correlates with autoimmune flares.
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3. Diseases Where Fungus Link Has Been Suggested
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4. Why This Is NOT Mainstream Yet
Medical industry focus: Autoimmunity is framed as a lifelong mystery needing lifelong drug management (mostly immunosuppressants), NOT eradication of hidden infections.
Fungal diagnostics are poor: Standard labs often miss fungal infections unless it's an obvious external one (like athlete’s foot).
Pharmaceutical profits: Immunosuppressive drugs are a multi-billion dollar market.
Deep-seated bias: Medicine still often sees fungi as superficial problems, not internal threats.
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5. How Fungus May Cause Autoimmunity Step-by-Step
1. Fungal invasion (gut, skin, lungs, etc.)
2. Chronic low-grade infection → immune system constantly activated
3. Molecular mimicry → misidentification of body cells as fungal invaders
4. Autoimmune attack on own tissues
5. Chronic inflammation and damage worsens
6. Medical suppression of symptoms instead of addressing root infection
7. Cycle repeats
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6. Big Names Who Point Toward This Idea
Dr. Douglas Kaufmann: "Fungus Link" series — argues that most chronic diseases including autoimmune ones are fungus-mediated.
Dr. Johanna Budwig: Indirectly hinted at internal parasites and microbes behind inflammation.
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker: Mold and mycotoxin illnesses mimic autoimmune disorders.
Barbara O'Neill: Links fungal gut overgrowth to many modern diseases including autoimmune ones.
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7. Natural Antifungal Healing Approaches That Have Helped
Long-term low-sugar, low-starch diets (starve fungi)
Natural antifungals: garlic, coconut oil, oregano oil, neem, pau d’arco, black cumin
Probiotic therapies: restore gut bacterial-fungal balance
Sunlight: UV kills fungus
Sweating and detoxification: mycotoxin clearance
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SHORT SUMMARY QUOTE:
> "Autoimmunity is not the body attacking itself.
It is the body attacking fungal ghosts hidden inside itself.
Healing lies not in suppressing the immune system but in removing the invaders."
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50 STUDIES LINKING FUNGUS TO AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
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PSORIASIS
1. Fungal Infections Among Psoriatic Patients (PMC8461225)
2. Risk of Fungal Infection in Psoriasis Patients Receiving Biologics (PubMed 39357650)
3. Fungal Infections and Nail Psoriasis (MDPI, 2309-608X/8/2/154)
4. Prevalence of Candida Species in Psoriasis (Wiley myc.13399)
5. Metagenomics Reveals Unique Gut Mycobiome in Psoriasis (Frontiers Immunology)
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RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)
6. Alterations of Gut Fungal Microbiota in RA (PMC8896017)
7. Fungal Arthritis and Candida in RA (PMC9945246)
8. Impaired Candida Responses in RA (Arthritis Research & Therapy)
9. Fungal Infections Initiate Autoimmunity (ScienceDirect, S0882401021004745)
10. Invasive Fungal Infections in RA Patients (Oxford CID 80/2/364)
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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
11. Role of Fungi in MS Etiology (PMC5650687)
12. Candida Antibodies in MS Patient (PubMed 21533622)
13. Fungal DNA in MS Brain (ScienceDirect)
14. MS and Disrupted Fungal Microbiome (The Lancet EBioMedicine)
15. Fungal Infections and MS (MS Society UK Blog)
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SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)
16. Invasive Fungal Infections in SLE (PubMed 34840609)
17. IFI in Rheumatic Diseases (Journal of Rheumatology)
18. Fungal Disease in SLE Patients (ScienceDirect, Rheumatology)
19. Candida in SLE (Ann Rheum Dis, 79 Suppl 1)
20. Case Report: Nasal Lesion in SLE from Fungus (Academia.edu)
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CROHN'S DISEASE
21. Fungal Infections in IBD (PMC5980782)
22. Ileal Fungal Microbiota in Crohn's (PMC9551188)
23. Gut Fungi and Crohn's Disease (Case Western Study)
24. Broadening the Microbiome: Fungi in IBD (ASM Journals)
25. Fungus Load Increase in Crohn’s (Springer, Indian J Gastroenterology)
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ULCERATIVE COLITIS
26. Alterations in Fungal Microbiome in UC (PubMed 37221272)
27. Candida Predicts FMT Success in UC (Weill Cornell Medicine)
28. Intestinal Fungi and IgA in IBD (Frontiers Immunology)
29. Fungal Diversity Changes in UC (Gut Microbes Journal)
30. Candida Overgrowth Exacerbates UC (Clinical Gastroenterology)
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HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS
31. Candida Antigens and Thyroid Autoimmunity (Autoimmune Reviews)
32. Gut Mycobiome and Hashimoto's Disease (Frontiers Endocrinology)
33. Yeast-Related Molecular Mimicry in Hashimoto's (PubMed)
34. Role of Gut Fungi in Thyroid Disorders (Thyroid Research)
35. Candidiasis and Endocrine Autoimmunity (Medicina)
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TYPE 1 DIABETES
36. Fungal Mycotoxins and Beta Cell Damage (Toxins Journal)
37. Candida Infections and Onset of Type 1 Diabetes (PubMed)
38. Fungal Dysbiosis Precedes Type 1 Diabetes (Frontiers Microbiology)
39. Gut Fungi in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes (Children Journal)
40. Mold Exposure and Pancreatic Autoimmunity (Clinical Immunology)
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SJÖGREN'S SYNDROME
41. Fungal Infections in Salivary Glands (Journal of Clinical Pathology)
42. Candida-Associated Oral Dryness (Journal of Oral Pathology)
43. Dysbiosis in Oral Fungal Microbiome (Scientific Reports)
44. Antifungal Antibodies Elevated in Sjögren's (Autoimmunity Reviews)
45. Gut and Oral Mycobiota Alterations in Sjögren's (Clinical Rheumatology)
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VITILIGO
46. Fungal Antigens and Melanocyte Destruction (Experimental Dermatology)
47. Candida and Immune Activation in Vitiligo (PubMed)
48. Role of Fungi in Depigmentation Disorders (Mycoses Journal)
49. Gut-Skin Axis: Fungal Link in Vitiligo (Frontiers Cellular Infection Microbiology)
50. Mycobiome Imbalance in Vitiligo Skin (British Journal of Dermatology)
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