What a Positive ANA Test Really Means: A Functional Medicine Guide to Autoimmunity
Autoimmune diseases are on the rise, affecting nearly 1 in 10 people in the United States. Over 80 autoimmune conditions have been identified, with the most common including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. Many more individuals are walking around with early markers of autoimmunity—such as a positive ANA (antinuclear antibody)—without realizing it.
If you're reading this, there's a good chance I just reviewed your labs with you and mentioned that your ANA test came back positive. First, take a breath—this doesn’t automatically mean you have a serious autoimmune disease. I’m sharing this article to help you understand what that result means and what we can do about it from a functional medicine perspective.
As a functional medicine practitioner, I routinely order ANA testing as part of my initial screening lab work—especially since it's not commonly run by conventional primary care providers. You likely had no idea what ANA even was before we talked about it. You're not alone. I’m often the first one to test for it and the one who explains what this result really indicates.
In conventional medicine, when ANA comes back positive, it often leads to a referral to a rheumatologist. Rheumatologists typically order more advanced labs to label the autoimmune condition and prescribe medications to manage symptoms. While that approach can be necessary in certain cases, it usually stops short of asking why the immune system is attacking the body in the first place. That’s where functional medicine offers a different—and more hopeful—path.
What Is a Positive ANA?
The ANA test looks for autoantibodies that mistakenly target your own cells, particularly the nucleus. A positive result may indicate an autoimmune process, but it does not confirm a diagnosis on its own.
Many people can have a positive ANA and never go on to develop a full autoimmune disease. Others might have vague symptoms—like fatigue, joint pain, or brain fog—but no clear diagnosis. Conventional medicine may take a "wait and see" approach, while the patient continues to suffer.
A positive ANA is most commonly associated with:
Lupus (SLE)
Sjogren's syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis
Scleroderma
Mixed connective tissue disease
But it can also be found in:
Healthy individuals (especially women)
Chronic infections
Viral illnesses
Certain medications
The titer and pattern of the ANA can provide clues but rarely offer the full picture. That’s where functional medicine steps in.
How Conventional vs. Functional Medicine Views Autoimmunity
In conventional medicine, once you've been labeled with an autoimmune disease, it is often considered a lifelong, chronic, and irreversible condition. The focus is typically on managing symptoms with medications like steroids, biologics, and immune suppressants.
In functional medicine, we ask a different question:
Why is the immune system attacking the body in the first place—and can we reverse it?
The answer, in many cases, is yes.
I have personally seen patients reverse their autoimmune symptoms, lower their antibody levels, and even convert a positive ANA test back to negative—by identifying and addressing the root causes driving the immune dysfunction.
The Functional Medicine View: The 3-Legged Stool of Autoimmunity
Autoimmune conditions are believed to stem from three main factors:
Genetic predisposition – Your genes may load the gun, but your environment pulls the trigger.
Environmental triggers – Infections (like Epstein-Barr), toxins (like mold or heavy metals), food sensitivities, and stress can all disrupt the immune system.
Leaky gut (intestinal permeability) – When the gut lining is compromised, undigested food particles and toxins enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses.
Root Causes We Look For in Functional Medicine
We don’t stop at ANA. We dig deeper:
Gut health testing (GI MAP, SIBO breath test)
Toxin testing (mold/mycotoxins, heavy metals)
Infection panels (EBV, Lyme, Candida, H. pylori)
Nutrient and immune status (Vitamin D, zinc, omega-3s)
Hormone and adrenal testing (DUTCH test, adrenal stress index)
Every patient’s root cause is unique, but the outcome is often the same: the immune system is overwhelmed, confused, and attacking the wrong targets.
Can a Positive ANA Become Negative?
Yes. In my practice, I’ve had multiple patients whose ANA tests returned to negative after personalized, root-cause treatment.
When we:
Remove inflammatory triggers
Heal the gut
Support detox pathways
Calm the nervous system
Rebuild immune tolerance
...the body responds. Inflammation drops. Symptoms improve. And for many, antibodies like ANA no longer show up in testing.
Healing Autoimmunity Naturally
Autoimmunity doesn't mean you are broken. It means your immune system is out of balance. The goal is to restore that balance—not suppress it.
Some of the most powerful healing tools include:
An anti-inflammatory diet
Gut-healing protocols
Targeted supplements (Vitamin D, omega-3s, glutathione, curcumin)
Nervous system regulation (breathwork, acupuncture, mindfulness)
Detoxification support (binders, saunas, clean water and air)
The AIP Diet: A Game-Changer for Autoimmune Conditions
The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet is a powerful, food-based strategy that removes inflammatory foods and focuses on nutrient-dense, gut-healing meals. It has shown great promise in improving symptoms for autoimmune patients.
In clinical studies, AIP has helped reduce fatigue, pain, gut issues, and even lower antibody levels. It’s one of the first tools I recommend for patients with a new autoimmune diagnosis or a positive ANA.
The most important foods to eliminate—what I call the big offenders—are:
Gluten
Dairy
Soy
Corn
Refined sugar
Industrial seed oils (like canola, soybean, and vegetable oil)
Eggs (sometimes)
Nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, white potatoes)
In my own practice, I often use a version of AIP called the Renew Diet, which is a gentle yet effective elimination diet created from the Institute for Functional Medicine. It helps patients lower inflammation, uncover hidden sensitivities, and support gut and immune healing.
Final Thoughts
A positive ANA is not the end—it’s a beginning. It’s your body raising its hand to say: “Something’s not right.”
Instead of ignoring it or waiting for it to get worse, functional medicine empowers you to act now. With the right testing, personalized treatment, and lifestyle changes, it’s possible to reverse the course of autoimmunity and feel healthy again.
You are not your labs. You are not your diagnosis. And you absolutely can heal.
