The T.I.G.E.R. Protocol: An Integrative 5-Step Programme to Treat and Heal Your Autoimmunity

by Akil Palanisamy

Auto-immune disorders like Graves Disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Lupus, Coeliac and even Long-Covid, affect an estimated 300 million people worldwide. These disorders can be frustrating as they are difficult to diagnose, painful and often invisible. Now, with this simple yet powerful 5-step plan devised by Dr Akil Palanisamy, readers can learn to treat, tame and potentially reverse painful autoimmune conditions.

In The T.I.G.E.R. Protocol, Dr Akil Palanisamy uses his training in Western medicine and complementary therapies to create an integrative approach to treat autoimmune diseases. Addressing five key elements - Toxins, Infections, Gut health, Eating right and Rest and balance - this approach has proved remarkably effective for both patients with full-blown disease and those who had been told they were on the path to autoimmunity.

The foundation of this approach is the use of specific healing foods. Diet can be a powerful tool, but autoimmune diets that are typically recommended are often restrictive. Dr Akil's protocol expands the diet to be less draconian while maintaining clinical efficacy, potentially reversing the effects of years of suffering from disease and taking a person off the path to suffering in years to come.

The protocol is split into easy-to-follow Phase 1 and Phase 2 diets, allowing you to eliminate the necessary food sensitivities in the short term and then reintroduce foods to achieve a more diverse and balanced diet. It also includes Dr Akil's top 10 healing foods for the microbiome - including mushrooms, artichokes and dark chocolate.

Genres: Health

604 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2023

About the author

Akil Palanisamy, MD, is a Harvard-trained physician, author, and holistic medicine expert in integrative and functional medicine. His new book, “The Tiger Protocol”, integrates the best of conventional and holistic medicine. Dr. Akil presents a comprehensive protocol to help you treat and heal your autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and more.

Groundbreaking and timely, The Tiger Protocol teaches you how to eat right, detoxify, resolve infections, optimize your microbiome, and relieve stress to feel better than you’ve ever felt before.

Based on his own experience helping thousands of patients, Dr. Akil provides definitive, practical guidance on diet, lifestyle, and supplements that can heal autoimmunity. He presents a revolutionary plan that utilizes nourishing foods, powerful healing spices and targeted supplements to help you reduce inflammation, improve energy and transform your health.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same old, same old. Pretty much. How to heal inflammation contributing to autoimmune diseases? Eliminate toxins, get rid of infections, eat right and get adequate rest. Sounds easy but, of course, the "eating right" is the hardest part. The Standard American Diet (SAD) has taught us an appreciation for foods that are just not very good for us but they are very difficult for most of us to kick. However, this little book has the current protocal in a nutshell. Conventional medicine focuses on the symptoms of autoimmune diseases and not the causes because, frankly, they don't know the causes. Which is why many people embrace this alternative approach.

[Bri Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

All autoimmune diseases are not alike. These “fixes” are what people always say when they don’t know what they’re talking about. I have an autoimmune disease and this 100% is bull. Maybe it could work for some symptoms but people need to know that this is not a cure. People need to understand that somethings cannot have a quick fix like this. Sorry, not sorry.

I won this from a good reads giveaway.

[Healthypedia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a comprehensive guide for managing autoimmune conditions through holistic approaches and practical tools.

Autoimmune diseases, a complex group of conditions wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, have become increasingly prevalent in today’s health landscape. These disorders, which encompass a wide range of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, can have a profound impact on individuals’ lives, often requiring long-term management and care. In the quest for effective strategies to combat autoimmune diseases, a comprehensive understanding of their root causes and holistic treatment approaches is paramount.

Fortunately, there exists a promising resource that delves deep into these matters – The TIGER Protocol: An Integrative, 5-Step Program to Treat and Heal Your Autoimmunity by Dr. Akil Palanisamy. In this review, we will explore the book’s insights, strengths, and weaknesses, shedding light on its potential to empower individuals in their battle against autoimmune conditions.


Author’s background

Akil Palanisamy, MD, is a Harvard-trained physician specialising in integrative medicine, combining conventional medical knowledge with holistic approaches like functional medicine and Ayurveda.

He holds a magna cum laude Bachelor of Arts in biochemical sciences from Harvard University and earned his MD from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Currently, Dr. Akil serves as the Department Chair for Integrative Medicine at the Sutter Health Institute for Health and Healing (IHH).


What is the book about?

The TIGER Protocol by Akil Palanisamy is a groundbreaking book that provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing autoimmune diseases. Dr. Palanisamy has developed the TIGER Protocol, an acronym that stands for Toxins, Infections, Gut Health, Eat Right, and Rest. This protocol outlines the key root causes that should be tackled to prevent or reverse autoimmune conditions.

The book emphasises the importance of addressing these factors in a specific order for optimal results. Divided into three parts, the book covers the following topics:

• The immune system and its dysfunction in autoimmune conditions.
• Five root causes of autoimmunity and the factors contributing to the rise in autoimmune disorders.
• Practical guidance on implementing the TIGER Protocol, including detoxification, infection identification and treatment, gut-healing protocols, and proper rest techniques.
• Herbs, botanicals, vitamins, compounded medications, and natural therapies that can help ‘reboot’ the immune system.

The TIGER Protocol is not just about managing symptoms; it aims to help individuals achieve health and reduce flare-ups, attain remission with minimal medication, and live life to the fullest by providing a holistic approach to addressing autoimmune conditions. Dr. Akil Palanisamy’s book empowers readers with the knowledge and practical tools to take control of their health and well-being.


Three key takeaways from The TIGER Protocol

1. Detoxification is crucial for improving health, especially for autoimmune conditions

In The TIGER Protocol, the significance of detoxification in improving overall health and its profound impact on autoimmune diseases take centre stage. The author emphasises the critical role of detoxifying the body, particularly through optimising digestive function and daily elimination. The book explores the body’s detox pathways, including the liver, skin, and lymphatics, and provides valuable insights into enhancing detoxification capacity through dietary choices, spices, herbs, and supplements.

What sets this book apart is its compelling real-life examples, demonstrating how detoxification can positively influence autoimmune conditions. By sharing cases of individuals experiencing relief from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis through detoxification methods, the author underscores the protocol’s importance.

Furthermore, the book underscores the significance of regular bowel movements, the role of fibre in detox, and key clues that hint at suboptimal liver function. The author also delves into the practice of detoxification through sweating, particularly in saunas, and how it can help eliminate heavy metals and environmental toxins. Finally, the book provides practical dietary recommendations, including superfoods like beets, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and chlorella, to aid in daily detoxification. With this comprehensive guide, readers gain essential knowledge on detoxification’s pivotal role in addressing autoimmune diseases and achieving better health.

2. Gut health plays a central role in dealing with autoimmune conditions

In The TIGER Protocol, Dr. Akil Palanisamy emphasises the significance of gut health and its pivotal role in addressing autoimmune conditions. The book outlines a four-week program dedicated to healing and strengthening the gut, essential for restoring the body’s immune system regulation. The author discusses methods for assessing intestinal permeability, highlighting biomarkers like zonulin, the lactulose/mannitol ratio, and serum lipopolysaccharide.

Dysbiosis, a common cause of increased intestinal permeability in autoimmune patients, is addressed, along with dietary recommendations, including the importance of fibre intake, prebiotic fibres like inulin, bone broth, collagen, omega-3 fats, zinc, fermented foods, and intermittent fasting. Supplements such as curcumin, glutamine, colostrum, and probiotics are also explored, with a focus on selecting the right probiotic strains to meet specific goals.

Overall, the book underscores the vital role of diet and supplements in healing and improving intestinal permeability, offering valuable insights for readers seeking to manage autoimmune conditions through gut health optimisation.

3. Mindfulness practices are a powerful tool for managing autoimmune conditions

Stress is a significant factor in the development and exacerbation of autoimmune conditions. It triggers a cascade of responses in the body that lead to increased inflammation and autoimmune activity. Addressing stress through mindfulness and meditation can have numerous positive effects on both mental and physical well-being.

Regular meditation not only reduces stress but also positively impacts inflammation, the gut barrier, and the immune system. It can even lead to structural and functional changes in the brain. Incorporating meditation into daily life, even for just a few minutes a day, can be a powerful tool for managing autoimmune conditions and promoting overall health.


Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews

Strengths:
• Offers a comprehensive approach to managing autoimmune conditions, providing a step-by-step guide for readers.
• Effectively integrates conventional and alternative medicine, catering to a broad range of treatment preferences.
• Emphasises individualisation, recognising that each person’s healing journey is unique.
• Dr. Akil’s expertise and caring nature shine through the pages, making the book both informative and empathetic.
• Readers find the book highly informative and well-structured, with an overwhelming amount of information presented in an easily digestible format.

Weaknesses:
• While the book is praised for its content, the quality of the recipes may leave room for improvement.
• A few readers mentioned that they found the coconut flatbread recipe problematic, suggesting it may need revision.


Best quotes from The TIGER Protocol

“Research shows that using a sauna four to seven times per week led to a 40 percent reduction in death from all causes over a 21-year time period (using it two to three times per week was associated with a respectable 24 percent decrease).”

“Pesticides have been linked to various autoimmune conditions, multiple types of cancer, and other health problems; the CDC has determined that 93 percent of Americans tested had detectable levels of the insecticide chlorpyrifos and 99 percent had detectable levels of DDT, with the average person carrying about thirteen pesticides. This is concerning because the CDC tests for only a fraction of the total number of pesticides to which we are exposed, but still found that a significant number of people tested had potentially harmful body levels of certain pesticides above government safety thresholds.”

“Thus, for millennia, our ancestors evolved eating a diet that was much higher in fiber and prebiotics, and that is what our microbiota evolved to expect. This was likely the key factor in the robustness and diversity of the ancestral microbiome. As the intake of fiber has plummeted over the past 200 years, the food that our bacteria relied on has disappeared. The consequences are serious.”


Final takeaway

The TIGER Protocol by Dr. Akil Palanisamy is an invaluable resource for individuals seeking a holistic approach to managing autoimmune conditions. Dr. Palanisamy’s comprehensive protocol, blending conventional and alternative medicine, empowers readers to take control of their health and address the root causes of autoimmune diseases. The book excels in educating readers about the pivotal role of detoxification, the importance of gut health, and the power of mindfulness practices in achieving well-being.

Anyone looking to embark on a healing journey to manage autoimmune conditions should consider reading this book to gain insights, knowledge, and tools for better health.

[Siri Kalla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most complete and up-to-date guide to treating autoimmune diseases and other inflammatory conditions that I've come by! Highly recommended. Packed with references to research, so it gives you the "why" as much as the "how to".

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent overview of factors that contribute to autoimmunity and concrete steps you can take to heal. I’ve read many books on the topic, and what I particularly like about this book is that Dr. Palanisamy provides a practical, step-by-step protocol backed by scientific research as well as clinical practice.

I was already familiar with much of the discussion of root causes, but I love the way Dr. Palanisamy presents this information. He provides a reasonable level of detail on complex topics, with understandable explanations. I appreciated his cost-effective suggestions. As an example, he discusses the pros and cons of specific lab tests so you don’t waste money on unnecessary tests. He also provides guidance on herbs, probiotics, and nutritional supplements you might want to try, including recommended brands, dosages, and notes on how best to take them. His intention is that you get as much nutrition as possible from the food you eat, but some supplements can be very helpful.

After you reduce your toxin levels, treat infections, and heal your gut, the author prescribes a brief elimination diet that is slightly less restrictive than the Paleo autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet. After following his advice on reintroducing foods, he recommends eating a diverse, nutrient-dense, fiber-filled diet that includes lots of veggies, gluten-free grains, legumes, healthy fats, eggs, fish, and organic meat and poultry. The back matter includes a 7-day meal plan for the Phase 1 (elimination) diet, a 7-day meal plan for the Phase 2 (long-term) diet, and all of the recipes for those plans. I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, but they look appealing and are clearly written with nutrition facts included.

In addition to the meal plan and recipes, the back matter includes extensive notes.

I think this book will be very helpful for anyone dealing with autoimmunity themselves, or for practitioners who want to know how to better support patients with autoimmunity.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is such dangerous trash. Using the term "autoimmunity" and lumping all autoimmune diseases into one camp is sorely misleading. The examples of these patients are misleading as well. The idea that someone is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and told it's just going to get worse and there's nothing we can do is not something that happens in our current day and age. We have many disease modifying therapies that target specific autoimmune diseases and more and more getting developed every single year. Many diseases that used to spell permanent disability within years are now quite livable and treatable. The specific example that someone with hashimoto's was told he was on the way to developing multiple sclerosis is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. We still in 2023 do not know what causes multiple sclerosis even though we have a few ideas, but saying that someone is on the way to developing it is absolutely not a thing. I was told to read this book by an integrative health doctor and I mostly ended up saving passages to share with my neurologist so we can laugh about it. I'm so sad that there are so many people like this author who are well educated and really should know better. Unfortunately there are many medical specialists who really don't deserve the title and should not be seeing patients.

[Shyamala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros
1. One of the most comprehensive books out there on auto immune conditions
2. Lists all factors that impacts auto immunity - including physical, mental and emotional. Most practitioners only look at the physical elements.
3. Explains why supplements are important and gives guidance on the right way to take them.
4. Good guide on a clean eating plan
5. Well researched and cited.

Cons
1. Phase 1 and phase 2 diets by themselves very clear but the time period seemed to overlap and this wasn't well explained
2. Not many vegan recipes at the end of the book


Overall, an essential read and reference book for those with any autoimmune conditions

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched information. In a world of fast medicine that treats symptoms, this book shares a multifaceted strategy to address possible underlying causes of autoimmunity. There are so many recommendations with supplementation etc that it can be hard to know which things to add in. On the other hand it does give some great actionable things to look at and work through. I wish that it would have a simplified protocol/timeline at the end to work through or a checklist. Definitely worth reading especially for those willing to dig deep into autoimmune issues.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

My take-away from this book is that auto-immune diseases are complex and require specialized medical management, which is hard to find. I personally would not start taking supplements and herbal remedies based on what i read in a book. The most interesting research for me was the mind-body connection and the ways we can improve our immune system by meditation, visualization and other home remedies.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to review this book. The info in it is excellent and well thought out. But I am still in the process of trying to get to a place where I can manage Dr Akil’s food protocol. And I wish that there were some factors he took into account when explaining the food. Including more recipes would be great! The nice thing about both the book and about him as a clinician is that he doesn’t have an all or nothing kind of mindset and is very practical about mixing eastern and western medicine.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came across Dr. Akil's podcast with Dhru Purohit and I ordered the T.I.G.E.R Protocol after I listened to his talk. Thank you Dr. Akil for this book -- we need this step-by-step guide to prevent and heal autoimmune diseases. The emphasis on toxins and other factors are spot on. Highly recommend this book!

[Dariana Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

El mejor libro que he leído en cuanto a salud! No es una lectura súper fluida pero tampoco demasiado complicada. Muy completo, basado en la medicina funcional, gracias a la cual he mejorado mucho mi sistema inmune. Recomiendo 100% leerlo.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty well rounded book on autoimmunity. Touched on all sorts of stuff from what causes these reactions to diet that can help combat it. Overall recommend for people that want to learn more about the subject.

[Kristy]

Holistic 5-step program to treat heal autoimmunity:
Remove Toxins, Heal Infections, Improve Gut Health, Eat Right, Consciously Rest and Rebalance
Blends functional medicine, ayurveda, and ancestral nutrition

[Amanda Frame · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fantastic.

[Emily Funkhouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible! I learned so much about health and did a big reset for my body. Everyone needs to read this.

[Rex Reads 📚📖⚔️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really opened my eyes to what I can do to better my gut health. Not only that it was very intriguing with the many foods we think are good for us.

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a hardback library book and I am thinking about buying a copy of this for myself as it has many good ideas and interesting explanations for autoimmunity. It is a book that needs to be studied. As more and more women come down with autoimmunity this book is going to be needed more often.
If you have lupus, ms, RA, Sjogern's, Environmental Illness or MCS you will want a copy of this book also.