A Physician on a “Rheumission”: Innovative Integrative Rheumatology

2024-12-06

“Everyone’s gut microbiome is different, their genetics are different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all,” I had the privilege of talking with Dr. Yu, an integrative rheumatologist that incorporates complementary medicine with traditional rheumatology, about his journey with autoimmune disease and how it shaped his unique approach to patient care. Hearing his story of being diagnosed with gout at 17 and later spondyloarthritis was powerful. His experience pushed him to look beyond conventional medicine. Could diet, life...

“Everyone’s gut microbiome is different, their genetics are different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all,”

I had the privilege of talking with Dr. Yu, an integrative rheumatologist that incorporates complementary medicine with traditional rheumatology, about his journey with autoimmune disease and how it shaped his unique approach to patient care.

Hearing his story of being diagnosed with gout at 17 and later spondyloarthritis was powerful. His experience pushed him to look beyond conventional medicine. Could diet, lifestyle, and mental health be the missing links in managing these conditions? Dr. Yu found relief through a plant-based diet, which inspired him to dive deeper into integrative and functional medicine—and what he’s learned has the potential to transform how we treat autoimmune conditions.

I loved hearing about his work at Rheumission, a virtual clinic where he and his team address not just the physical symptoms of autoimmune disease but also the emotional and psychological factors. How often do we, as practitioners, ask our patients about trauma or stress? Dr. Yu believes those are essential conversations, and his approach has shown just how impactful they can be.

This episode will get you thinking: What if healing isn’t about finding the perfect medication but about uncovering the right combination of tools for each patient? Dr. Yu’s innovative methods and commitment to personalized care are an inspiring reminder of what’s possible when we reimagine healthcare.

Quotes

“Everyone’s gut microbiome is different, their genetics are different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all.” (10:15 | Dr. Micah Yu)
“The mind-body medicine piece is so important. Oftentimes, we don’t ask about trauma or what our patient’s upbringing was... These things are very important. There is so much of our mind that controls the pain. We know that in patients with anxiety and depression, there’s higher incidence of autoimmune diseases, and there’s inflammation of the brain that is connected to the systemic inflammation of autoimmunity. So, there’s these things that we overlook, we don’t have time to talk about at a regular doctor’s visit.” (11:22 | Dr. Micah Yu)
“Being an autoimmune patient, I understand what it’s like to live with autoimmune disease, especially rheumatic disease, at a very young age as well. Through all the education, diving into rabbit holes, and nonstop learning, I’ve realized there’s no one-size-fits-all. The same goes for diet—there’s no universal solution, as I mentioned earlier. However, there is a theme: a plant-predominant diet rich in phytonutrients can often be helpful. For some, infections might be driving their disease. For others, it could be mental health. You don’t know your true potential for healing unless you keep exploring.” (32:25 | Dr. Micah Yu)

Links

Free Micropractice Assessment: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/to/P56ItjWi?typeform-source=drlarasalyer.com

Infographics: https://drlarasalyer.com/shop/#Infographics

Connect with Dr. Micah Yu:

www.drlifestyle.org

www.rheumission.com

www.myautoimmunemd.com

https://www.instagram.com/myautoimmunemd

https://www.instagram.com/rheumissionhlth

Connect with Lara:

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com

The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst