Tame Autoimmune Disorders
Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine · Austin, TX
Living with autoimmune disease is hard enough.
We see you. The fatigue, the flares, the grief of a body that feels like it's working against you. There is another way forward, and we can help you find it.
The conventional medical system wasn't built for this.
Autoimmune conditions are not simple. They're whole-body, whole-person conditions and the conventional medical system often treats them like a fire to put out rather than a landscape to understand.
You've probably been told your labs are "within normal limits." You've probably been handed a prescription and sent home. You've probably sat in a waiting room, explained your symptoms again from scratch, and left feeling more dismissed than when you arrived.
That ends here.
We listen deeply to the full picture of your health
We treat your body, your nervous system, your emotional experience, and your spirit
We give you tools that go home with you
We work alongside your medical team
We meet you exactly where you are, from newly diagnosed to decades in
“I am beyond grateful to have found Stardust Wellness. Their expertise in chronic pain and autoimmunity has made a profound difference in my life.”
How We Work
A whole-person approach to a whole-body condition
Autoimmune disease doesn't live only in your immune system. It lives in your nervous system, your gut, your relationships, your grief, your sense of self. We address all of it.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture works by modulating the immune system, reducing systemic inflammation, calming an overactive nervous system, and supporting your body's natural regulatory processes, without the negative side effects associated with pharmaceuticals, as studies have shown.
Herbal Medicine
Customized herbal formulas have been used to modulate immune function for thousands of years. Unlike immunosuppressants, many herbs offer immune-regulating benefits with significantly fewer systemic side effects. We work with the body to regulate immune function rather than suppress it.
Lifestyle & Mind-Body Coaching
Stressors, emotional, physical, and environmental, are some of the most powerful triggers for autoimmune flares. We want to make you an expert on your own body. Every patient leaves with personalized, practical tools and lifestyle guidance they can use between sessions. You’ll have tools that you can use daily at home.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
Chronic illness carries grief. The loss of who you were before, the life you imagined. We hold space for all of this. Healing isn't only physical when it comes to autoimmune conditions. We take it all into account.
Personalized Planning
Every treatment plan at Stardust is unique to you. We track your patterns, adjust your protocol as you change, and collaborate with your other providers to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Ready to get started?
Evidence-Informed. Grounded in ancient wisdom.
A growing body of peer-reviewed research supports what Chinese medicine practitioners have known for millennia: acupuncture and herbal medicine can meaningfully shift immune function, reduce inflammation, and improve quality of life in autoimmune conditions.
We practice with both ancient wisdom and modern science as our guides. When we prescribe an herbal formula or design your acupuncture protocol, it's grounded in clinical evidence, traditional diagnostic methods, and deep knowledge of your individual constitution.
Current Research Findings
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Immune Modulation
Research published in Autoimmunity Reviews (2024) found that acupuncture in models of RA, MS, psoriasis, and ulcerative colitis downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased anti-inflammatory IL-10 expression, and improved regulatory T-cell differentiation, key mechanisms in autoimmune disease.
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Anti-Inflammatory Pathways
Acupuncture's anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to involve vagal-adrenal and cholinergic pathways, which are the same pathways targeted by some of the most expensive biologics on the market, with a much lower risk of side effects. See the study.
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Immune Homeostasis
A 2024 review in QJM found that acupuncture supports immune homeostasis, the stable, balanced immune state that prevents pathological self-reactive immune responses. In other words, it helps the body stop attacking itself.
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Pain & Quality of Life
A 2022 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that acupuncture significantly improved pain scores, joint function, and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis, with a safety profile far superior to that of conventional medications.
Autoimmune conditions we support
Don't see yours? We work with a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including those not listed here. Reach out. If we can help, we'll tell you. If we can't, we'll point you in the right direction.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Lupus (SLE)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis
Eczema / Atopic Dermatitis
Crohn's Disease
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Raynaud's Phenomenon
Vitiligo
Pernicious Anemia
Graves' Disease
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Sjogren's Syndrome
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Myasthenia Gravis
Addison's Disease
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Undifferentiated / Suspected Autoimmune
And more — ask us
Let’s talk to see if we’re a good fit to join your health team.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For most people, the answer is a resounding “yes!” And the research backs this up. Peer-reviewed studies show acupuncture modulates inflammatory cytokines, supports regulatory T-cell function, and activates the body's natural anti-inflammatory pathways. For autoimmune conditions specifically, the goal isn't to "boost" immunity (which would worsen autoimmune activity) but to regulate it. Chinese medicine excels at this nuanced approach, which is why it complements conventional care so well.
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Absolutely not. We work alongside your existing medical team and treatments. Many of our patients continue their conventional medications and add Chinese medicine to achieve better outcomes, sometimes with lower doses over time, in consultation with their doctors. We will never advise you to stop a prescribed medication. What we will do is help your body function better so that your overall treatment load may be able to decrease over time.
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We take herb-drug interactions very seriously. At intake, we do a thorough review of all your medications and supplements. Our practitioners are trained specifically in herb-drug interaction and will only prescribe formulas and herbs that are safe alongside your current treatment plan.
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This varies significantly by condition, severity, and how long you've been living with autoimmunity. Some patients notice improvements in energy and sleep within the first few sessions. Reducing flare frequency typically takes 2–3 months of consistent care. We'll give you an honest, personalized projection at your first appointment. And we'll track your progress together so you can see your own improvements over time.
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We hear this a lot. And our honest answer is yes, there is hope for a better quality of life that looks like real improvement in how you feel and function day to day. We've seen patients who were convinced nothing could help them experience a reduction in flare frequency, less severe symptoms, better sleep, and a return to things they loved. We can't promise miracles. We can promise honesty, skill, and genuine care.
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Yes! Our in-person clinic is located in Austin, TX, but we also see people from all over the United States and beyond. Virtual consultations are especially useful for herbal medicine, lifestyle coaching, and at-home self-care plans.
Have a Question?
If a question isn't here, please reach out. We love talking about this, and we will give you an honest answer.
Ready to Begin?
You deserve to feel like yourself again.
Book an appointment or start with a free phone consultation to see if we're the right fit.