The Keystone Approach: Healing Arthritis and Psoriasis by Restoring the Microbiome Paperback – May 26, 2017

I am so thankful for this book! It has saved me and getting me off pharmaceutical drugs! There is a review listed where someone gave low stars and not to follow this advise for Psoriatic Arthritis because it can cause SIBO. If the reviewer read the entire book and followed the recommendations, he/she would have read that she addresses SIBO. I also took the recommendation for supplements for SIBO and have had unbelievably results. They have taken time. 4 months since I started and I did do the advanced recommendations.My overarching diagnosis is autoimmune arthritis, but I believe it is the subcategory of Psoriatic Arthritis because I had one skin patch on my knee that started last summer.I went to the dermatologist in September after trying everything to help this unusual patch. A biopsy was taken and all I got back was “general eczema.” They gave me steroid cream which dried out and thickened my skin patch but was not healing it.I went to the rheumatologist the month after because of all the pain I was having in my joints and my general doctor referring me. (I could not even dress myself at this point. I am only 48 years old). He never did a biopsy. In December they gave me the “autoimmune arthritis” diagnosis after ruling out MS, Lupus, Crohn’s, etc.After my diagnosis I went crazy on a search for more. I found The Keystone Approach by Rebecca Fett. After following the recommendations in the book for Psoriatic Arthritis, these picture progressions are the physical evidence of my healing.The Keystone Approach explains the science for greater knowledge and understanding. The book gives specific recommendations for supplements, probiotics, digestive enzymes & supplements and diet changes depending on the type of autoimmune you have.** It is worth noting, I went right to the ADVANCED method recommendations from the book. There are 3 levels for each autoimmune. I wasn’t going to mess around and went directly to the most changes. It was hard, it still is hard. I swallow more supplements and pills a day than I could ever imagine but it is working.

This book not only gave me hope but helped with my pain. Arthritis caused both of my hips to be replaced in the past 2 years plus a shoulder and a knee surgery. Yes I feel like I’m falling apart. After my second hip replacement, arthritis found its way to my spine. I was scared and didn't know what to do as stretching and PT were not that effective. The diet in this book beat back the pain that would keep me up at night and gave me my life back. Who would have guessed the impact "food" would have on arthritis.....not me.....but I was out of other options. It took about me 2-3 weeks to feel a huge difference. Sometimes when I travel I don't follow the diet and I can feel the impact within a few days. So I'm a believer. The information is presented in a straight forward and clear manner. I have given this book to both my sisters who are unfortunately following in my footsteps. I have read other books like "Healing Arthritis" by Dr. Blum. But with the program that Dr. Blum outlines in her book you will need to spend over $4,000 on supplements to complete all 3 of her Steps. The Keystone Approach has more up-to-date research and works without the high priced supplements. It makes me smile every time I go off the diet then go back on and my pain goes away.

This book is absolutely wonderful! I learned more about psoriatic arthritis/ankylosing spondylitis from this author than from all my doctors and specialists during the past 40+ years. This book is extremely well researched, up to date, and has many practical suggestions which I am already employing. At last, I can see the road ahead with my autoimmune disorder and can actually DO something about it and not just take drugs to cover up the symptoms. Thank heaven for this book. I highly recommend it. Brilliant author.

Diagnosed with autoimmune disease rather predictably since its affected most of one side of my family, I had the worst flare of my life which really took me out of commission and then worsened. A relative suggested this healthy food/anti-inflammatory approach to getting well that sent her lupus into remission. I was skeptical but sort of enjoyed this microbiologist's frank approach to addressing autoimmune because they honestly state that we're living in the dark ages of understanding the microbiome and they don't claim to have all the answers. I now believe pretty much all adults should be on a complex probiotic cocktail because of the pervasiveness of antibiotics. It's an elimination diet, so you gotta be in for a long haul of trial and error though.

I love the scientific research and explanations in the book. Take the time to read it -pace yourself. I was very motivated to learn and make changes to see improvement, that I overwhelmed myself with all the information. I had to go back and reread parts to really let my brain process and understand what I was reading. The diet suggestions have made a big difference and we haven't even stuck to it 100%. We follow the bigger guidelines, it's one of my favorite parts of the book. It is called an APPROACH for a reason. It is a way to look at your foods and why certain foods are better than others. It isn't a "eat this, not that" book (although there is some this is better than that - with explanations why!). It is a "research shows this for most people, here's how to figure out what your body needs, etc".