If you’ve lived with ITP for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard this phrase:
“Be careful — you don’t want to stimulate your immune system.”
I remember hearing this early in my own ITP journey — from doctors, from well-meaning friends, and even from people in the wellness world. At the time, it left me feeling stuck and afraid to try anything. I wanted healing, but I didn’t want to make things worse.
At first glance, that advice sounds wise. After all, ITP is an autoimmune condition. The immune system is attacking platelets. Why would we want to encourage it to do more? But here’s the truth I didn’t understand until much later — and wish someone had explained sooner:
Autoimmunity is not caused by an immune system that’s too strong.
It’s caused by an immune system that has lost regulation, tolerance, and has become overwhelmed with toxins.
Once I began to understand which immune cells were misfiring — and which ones actually help restore balance — my fear began to loosen its grip.
Which Immune Cells Are the Real Problem in ITP?
In ITP, the immune system tags platelets as dangerous and destroys them. The main players involved are:
🔥 Autoreactive T Cells (Especially Th1 and Th17)
- These are helper T cells that drive inflammation
- Th1 and Th17 dominance sends constant “attack” signals
- They encourage the immune system to stay in fight mode — even when no real threat exists
🧨 B Cells (Autoantibody Producers)
- B cells create antibodies
- In ITP, some of these antibodies mistakenly bind to platelets
- Once tagged, platelets are cleared out by the spleen and liver
🚨 Chronic Inflammatory Cytokines
- Signals like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17 keep the immune system on high alert
- This creates immune exhaustion, not healing
👉 So when ITP warriors fear ‘stimulating’ the immune system, what they’re really afraid of is further activating these inflammatory, autoreactive pathways.
That fear makes sense — but it’s only part of the story.
A Complementary Perspective from Eastern Medicine
One of the reasons I stopped being afraid of my immune system was learning how Eastern medicine understands autoimmune conditions like ITP.
Rather than viewing ITP as a broken or aggressive immune system, Eastern traditions often describe it as a terrain problem — a body overwhelmed by toxins, stagnation, or poor detoxification, leading to what might be described as “sick” or stressed platelets.
In this view, platelets aren’t being attacked at random. They are being flagged because they no longer appear healthy within an overloaded internal environment.
When the terrain is inflamed, toxic, or congested:
- Platelets may become damaged or altered
- The immune system responds to what looks “abnormal”
- Destruction becomes a downstream effect — not the root cause
The Immune Cells That Help Restore Balance
Not all immune activity is harmful in autoimmunity.
🌲 Natural Killer (NK) Cells: The Regulators
Research on forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) shows that time spent in nature:
- Increases Natural Killer (NK) cell activity
- Lowers cortisol and stress hormones
- Improves immune surveillance and regulation
NK cells are part of the innate immune system. Their job is to:
- Remove damaged or infected cells (including cancer cells)
- Help regulate immune responses
- Prevent immune chaos
NK cells do not cause autoimmunity.
They help keep the immune system from spiraling into confusion.
They help keep the immune system from spiraling into confusion.
This is why practices like gentle movement, prayer, rest, laughter, essential oils, and time in nature don’t “rev up” autoimmunity — they help retrain the immune system.
Why the Word “Immune Stimulation” Creates So Much Fear
The phrase immune boosting has done a lot of damage in autoimmune spaces.
ITP warriors don’t need:
- ❌ Immune activation
- ❌ Immune boosting
- ❌ More inflammatory signaling
They do need:
- ✅ Immune modulation
- ✅ Immune tolerance
- ✅ Nervous system calming
- ✅ Reduced inflammatory load
Think less gas pedal and more steering wheel and brakes.
Supporting the Immune System Without Fueling Autoimmunity
This shift — from fear to understanding — changed everything for me. My platelet recovery wasn’t about suppressing my body into silence. It was about reducing confusion, calming inflammation, and giving my immune system the right environment to relearn balance.
In my own healing journey and in my work with ITP warriors, the focus is always on restoring regulation — not suppression and not reckless stimulation.
🌿 Gentle, Regulatory Supports
- Supporting gut integrity (where immune education begins)
- Supporting liver detox pathways (to reduce immune confusion)
- Ensuring mineral sufficiency (magnesium, zinc, etc — when appropriate)
- Reducing toxin exposure
🧠 Calming the Nervous System (This Is Huge)
Chronic stress directly pushes inflammatory immune pathways.
Prayer, breathwork, slow walks, essential oils, and stillness aren’t “extra.”
They are foundational to immune healing.
They are foundational to immune healing.
Where Essential Oils Fit In
Essential oils became one of my favorite tools along the way — not because they were a magic fix, but because they supported something I was missing for a long time: a calm, regulated nervous system.
When the body is constantly stressed, inflamed, or in survival mode, the immune system follows suit.
One reason I love essential oils for autoimmune warriors is that many of them:
- Support nervous system balance
- Encourage parasympathetic (rest-and-repair) signaling
- Gently support immune communication without forcing stimulation
Oils such as Frankincense, Lavender, Copaiba, Blue Tansy, and Citrus oils can support calm, inflammation balance, and emotional resilience — all of which influence immune behavior.
Used appropriately, essential oils don’t shout at the immune system.
They whisper safety.
They whisper safety.
And when the body feels safe, healing becomes possible.
A Reframe for Every ITP Warrior
One of the most healing mindset shifts I made was realizing this:
My immune system was never my enemy.
It was trying to protect me — it was just receiving bad information and living in a constant state of alarm.
Your immune system is not your enemy.
It is:
- Overworked
- Misinformed
- Stuck in survival mode
Healing isn’t about silencing it into submission.
It’s about restoring leadership, communication, and trust.
Want Support on This Journey?
If you’re an ITP warrior who feels confused by conflicting advice, fearful of doing the “wrong” thing, or overwhelmed by all the noise around immune health — I understand. I’ve lived it.
Today, I help other ITP warriors explore gentle, faith-rooted, and science-informed ways to support immune regulation, reduce inflammation, and rebuild trust with their bodies.
✨ If you’d like to learn more, I’ve also created an ITP Guide for warriors who want clear, compassionate education on traditional and natural approaches to healing — without fear or overwhelm.
Whether you’re just diagnosed or years into your journey, the guide walks through immune balance, nutrition, toxins, stress, and supportive tools I wish I’d understood sooner.
You can explore the guide, learn about essential oil support, or reach out if you’d like to work together to help your immune system find its way back to balance. I’d love to connect.
Healing is possible — and it doesn’t require fear
There are years that teach us how to fly.
And there are years that teach us how to hold fast.
For me, 2026 is not about striving harder, doing more, or chasing the next thing. It is about choosing an anchor—even though part of me hesitated to choose that word.
An anchor doesn’t move the ship forward.
And that was my fear.
Because I still want to move forward—in ministry, in business, in calling. I don’t want to be stuck. I don’t want to lose momentum. I don’t want to mistake faithfulness for passivity. It doesn’t create momentum. It doesn’t look impressive.
But it keeps you from drifting when the currents are strong.
And that’s when the truth settled in: an anchor is not the opposite of movement—it’s what makes movement possible.
And drifting—quietly, slowly, almost imperceptibly—is how we lose our focus, our peace, and sometimes even our sense of calling.
The Danger of Drifting
Drifting rarely looks like rebellion.
It looks like distraction. It looks like busyness. It looks like good intentions with no grounding.
We drift when we stop paying attention to what is shaping us. We drift when we let urgency replace obedience. We drift when our schedules get louder than the voice of God.
Hebrews reminds us that we must “pay much closer attention… lest we drift away.” Drifting is not a moral failure—it’s a human one. And if we’re honest, all of us are susceptible to it.
Why an Anchor Matters (and Why It Doesn’t Mean You’re Stuck)
An anchor is not for calm seas.
Ships don’t anchor because they’re done sailing. They anchor so they don’t lose ground while they prepare to move again.
An anchor is for storms. For strong tides. For seasons when clarity feels thin and emotions run high.
Spiritually speaking, an anchor keeps us moving forward without being pulled off course. It keeps us:
- Rooted in truth when culture shifts
- Grounded in calling when comparison creeps in
- Steady in faith when prayers feel unanswered
Anchors are not glamorous—but they are faithful.
What I’m Anchoring To in 2026
For 2026, I am choosing to anchor myself intentionally and repeatedly to:
• The presence of God over productivity
If my doing is not flowing from being with Him, it’s noise.
If my doing is not flowing from being with Him, it’s noise.
• Obedience over outcomes
I am not responsible for results—only faithfulness.
I am not responsible for results—only faithfulness.
• Truth over emotion
Feelings are real, but they are not reliable anchors.
Feelings are real, but they are not reliable anchors.
• Calling over comparison
What God has entrusted to me is enough.
What God has entrusted to me is enough.
• Hope over fear
Even when the future feels uncertain, God is not.
Even when the future feels uncertain, God is not.
This anchor is not a one-time decision. It is a daily return.
I am not anchoring to stillness—I am anchoring to hope, so discouragement doesn’t quietly dictate my direction.
Anchors Are Chosen on Purpose (So We Can Move With Clarity)
Anchors don’t deploy themselves.
They must be dropped deliberately. Repeatedly. Sometimes urgently.
When life pulls hard, I want to be the kind of person who doesn’t panic—but anchors.
Not because I’m afraid to move forward, but because I want to move forward well. Who doesn’t spiral—but steadies. Who doesn’t drift—but remains.
Isaiah speaks of a people who are “steadfast of mind” because they trust in the Lord. That steadiness doesn’t come from strength—it comes from anchoring.
An Invitation, Not a Declaration (For Anyone Who Feels the Tension)
This isn’t a declaration of perfection. It’s a manifesto of intention.
If you’ve felt scattered… If you’ve felt pulled in too many directions… If you’ve sensed a quiet drifting from what matters most…
You’re not failing. You may simply need to drop an anchor—not to stop moving, but to make sure the movement ahead is aligned, sustainable, and rooted in hope.
And maybe—just maybe—2026 isn’t the year to chase the wind, but to hold fast in it.
My Prayer for the Year Ahead
Lord, anchor us. When the waters are loud. When the calling feels heavy. When waiting stretches longer than we expected.
Anchor us in Your truth. Anchor us in Your presence. Anchor us in hope.
Because ships don’t drift when they are firmly held.
And neither do we.
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
— Hebrews 6:19
— Hebrews 6:19
2026 doesn’t have to be a year of drifting. Come alongside other seekers in 'Battles and Breakthroughs,' where I share wisdom, hope, and practical steps to stay anchored while moving forward.
A gentle explanation for ITP warriors navigating chronic inflammation, detox confusion, and sensitive bodies.
When I was diagnosed with ITP back in 2003, I knew nothing about autoimmune disease, toxins, or liver health.
Like most of us, I trusted that what the doctors prescribed would simply “fix me,” and I believed that my immune system had somehow gotten broken. What I didn’t know then—and what I wish I had known much sooner—is that many holistic practitioners now believe autoimmune disease isn’t caused by a malfunctioning immune system at all.
Instead, they believe the immune system is responding exactly as it should to protect us from toxins and stressors that have made part of our body sick.
In the case of ITP, these toxins and stressors can burden the liver, disrupt cellular health, and ultimately trigger the immune system to remove what it perceives as “damaged”—including our platelets.
And that’s why cleansing matters.
The Holistic Perspective: Autoimmune Disease and Toxins
Holistic practitioners often ask a different question than conventional medicine:
“What is overwhelming the immune system in the first place?”
From this viewpoint, autoimmune conditions may begin when toxins accumulate faster than the body can clear them. These toxins can include:
- Heavy metals
- Medications and infusions
- Harsh ingredients in personal care products
- Artificial fragrances
- Processed and inflammatory foods
- Environmental pollutants
- Residue from chemotherapy or medical treatments
When these stressors overwhelm the liver—our body’s primary detox organ—it can become sluggish or “clogged.” A sluggish liver can’t properly filter toxins, and the immune system gets called in to help. For many of us, that was the beginning of our ITP journey.
My Detox Journey: What I Experienced
When I first began cleansing, I had no idea what my liver had been holding onto all those years. I had used fragranced lotions and soaps daily, had received vaccines and infusions, had taken medications, and had undergone chemotherapy. My body had been through a lot.
When I finally started detoxing, I experienced several noticeable symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Body aches
- Nausea
- Skin irritation
These weren’t random. And it didn’t mean something was wrong; just the opposite! They were signs that my liver was finally releasing toxins—but my elimination pathways were overwhelmed. When your body detoxes faster than it can eliminate waste, those toxins can exit through the skin, causing what seems like a skin reaction. I had this happen on a few occasions.
But something encouraging happened after I continued cleansing over the years:
My detox symptoms disappeared.
Over time, my liver was no longer sluggish, my body was no longer overloaded, and cleansing became much easier.
Do You Need a Liver Detox? Signs to Pay Attention To
If you’ve never done a cleanse before, the answer is almost always yes.
Even though the liver is a self-cleaning organ, it can still become congested from years of exposure to chemicals, stress, medication, and processed foods.
Consider these symptoms as signs that the liver may need support:
- Waking up consistently between 2:00–3:00am (the liver cleansing window in Traditional Chinese Medicine)
- Chronic fatigue
- Skin breakouts or rashes, including eczema
- Hormonal imbalances
- Digestive issues
- Trouble losing weight
- Headaches or brain fog
Your liver plays a role in every major system of the body. When the liver struggles, everything struggles. Pay close attention to skin issues. Your skin is the outward manifestation of what is going on inside; especially with the gut and liver.
Where to Start: Simple First Steps for ITP Warriors
If you’re new to cleansing—or you’re feeling overwhelmed—start here:
1. Shift Your Nutrition
Begin with small, supportive steps that will help your body prepare for deeper cleansing:
- Increase antioxidants (I have a favorite antioxidant supplement I can suggest)
- Add more whole, unprocessed foods
- Reduce inflammatory ingredients (gluten, dairy, refined sugar)
- Drink more water
- Add a squeeze of lemon to your water
2. Remove Toxins From Your Home
This step is so overlooked, yet so powerful.
This alone reduces the burden on your liver every single day.
Swap out:
- Artificial fragrances
- Toxic cleaning products
- Parabens + phthalates
- Personal care items that are full of disruptors
- Conventional candles, air fresheners, and detergents
3. Support the Liver With Targeted Foods & Supplements
The right support can make cleansing gentle and effective. Many options exist, including:
- Bitter greens
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Lemon water
- Milk thistle
- Dandelion
- Antioxidant-rich blends
- Gentle detox blends or essential oils (when used properly)
Why This Matters for ITP Warriors
If you’re living with ITP—or any autoimmune struggle—supporting your liver is one of the most foundational steps you can take.
Your cleansing journey doesn’t have to be extreme. It just needs to be consistent and intentional.
A healthy liver can help:
- Improve immune balance
- Support platelet health
- Reduce inflammation
- Clear chemical burdens
- Improve energy and sleep
- Strengthen overall wellness
I wish someone had told me this in 2003. It would have changed everything about my healing journey.
Even after supporting your liver, many of us notice lingering inflammation, fatigue, or flares. That’s because inflammation is often your body’s way of signaling that it’s still dealing with hidden burdens—like past toxins, stress, or ongoing environmental exposures. Understanding these signals is the first step to helping your body heal gently and effectively, without overwhelming it.
If you’re an ITP warrior who’s tried eating clean, supplementing, and “doing all the right things”—yet inflammation keeps returning—you’re not alone.
I’m hosting a free 5-day Facebook event where we’ll explore:
- Why inflammation persists even after you support your liver
- How toxic load quietly impacts sensitive bodies
- What your body may be asking for before deeper detoxing
This isn’t a cleanse. It’s a gentle, educational conversation designed to help you understand the signals your body is sending and how to respond in ways that support your platelets, energy, and overall wellness.
👉 Join the free event: Inflammation Isn’t the Problem — It’s the Signal
In the 1950s, researchers at Harvard conducted a fascinating study with rats that revealed something far deeper than endurance—it uncovered the power of hope.
In the experiment, rats were placed in a container of water to see how long they could swim before giving up. On average, they lasted only about 15 minutes. But when researchers rescued them just before drowning, dried them off, let them rest, and then placed them back in the water, something incredible happened. The same rats swam for more than 60 hours.
What changed?
Not their muscles. Not their ability.
It was their belief that rescue was possible.
They had learned that help could come—and that hope changed everything.
How This Connects to Our Health and Faith
Like those rats, our health struggles can make us wonder: How long can I endure what I’m going through?
When I was facing ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia), there were moments I felt like I was barely treading water. With no experience and no hope, I didn’t know if I had the strength to keep going. But through each trial—and each rescue—I learned something powerful.
It wasn’t about my own strength or ability to “swim.”
It was about the knowledge that rescue was possible.
Once we’ve been pulled from the water a few times, our hearts begin to draw a new conclusion: I can be saved. God can meet me here again.
Just as those rats swam longer after experiencing rescue, we too can endure longer when we know that God has delivered us before—and He will do it again.
As we see someone survive, that can build hope and resilience in us.
That’s why sharing our testimonies matters so much. When you see someone rise out of a health battle—when you see someone walk through ITP and find healing naturally and spiritually—it plants hope in your heart that you can rise too.
What We Feed Ourselves Determines Our Strength
In the Harvard study, the rats eventually did die after 60 hours. But it makes me wonder: did they really die of exhaustion… or of starvation?
We, too, can only endure for so long if we are not feeding ourselves properly—physically and spiritually.
- We need nourishment.
- We need truth.
- We need the Word of God to sustain us through long nights of waiting.
“But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength;
they will mount up with wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.”
— Isaiah 40:31
they will mount up with wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.”
— Isaiah 40:31
When we feed on God’s promises, our endurance increases. We find that we can tread the waters of uncertainty a little longer—because we’re not relying on our own strength. We’re trusting the One who rescues.
From Struggle to Strength
Seeing how God brought me through ITP reminds me that He is always near and that no trial is wasted. Every time I’ve been “pulled from the water,” it prepared me to swim stronger the next time.
If you are struggling with low platelets, chronic illness, or any season of uncertainty—please remember: you are not forgotten.
God is near, even in the deep water. And because He is your rescuer, you can endure with hope.
God is near, even in the deep water. And because He is your rescuer, you can endure with hope.
Keep looking up.
Keep believing.
And keep treading—because your rescue is coming.
Keep believing.
And keep treading—because your rescue is coming.
🌿 For ITP Warriors Waiting on the Lord
If you’re walking through ITP or another autoimmune condition and you’re searching for strength—both naturally and spiritually—I’d love to walk with you.
In my community, Platelets, Plants, and Prayers, I share encouragement, natural wellness tips, and faith-filled hope for healing.
You don’t have to face the water alone.
Hope and healing are possible.
Hope and healing are possible.
💛 Want to be reminded that hope still wins?
My devotional, "Battles & Breakthroughs: Victory in Christ for Chronic Illness and Life's Toughest Battles", was written straight from my own seasons of deep water. Each daily entry and reflection is designed to lift your spirit, renew your faith, and remind you that God never wastes a battle.
My devotional, "Battles & Breakthroughs: Victory in Christ for Chronic Illness and Life's Toughest Battles", was written straight from my own seasons of deep water. Each daily entry and reflection is designed to lift your spirit, renew your faith, and remind you that God never wastes a battle.
Let these pages encourage your heart while you wait on the Lord.
🩸 Wolfberries and Platelet Health: My Experience & What the Research Shows
When I was first diagnosed with ITP, I felt lost trying to figure out what foods and natural options were safe—or even helpful—for supporting my platelets. Over time, I discovered that some foods can play a supportive role, not as a cure, but as a way to strengthen the body and create a healthier environment for platelets to thrive.
One of those foods is the wolfberry (also called goji berry or Lycium barbarum). I’ve been using wolfberries daily for years, most often in juice form, and I’ve found them to be an encouraging part of my wellness routine. In fact, they’re one of the key features of my 11-Day Jumpstart protocol because of their nutrition, energy-boosting properties, and research-backed benefits for platelet health.
Why This Matters for ITP
If you’re new to ITP (immune thrombocytopenia), it’s an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly destroys platelets. Since platelets are essential for clotting, low levels can cause bruising, bleeding gums, or other bleeding risks.
That’s why many of us are cautious about what we eat and what supplements we try—because some things can negatively impact platelets. But thankfully, research is showing that wolfberries may offer gentle, natural support in several ways.
What the Research Says
One particular study caught my attention: “Therapeutic Uses of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides on Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Mice via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress.”
While this research was done on mice, the findings are encouraging:
- Platelet Counts: The active compounds in wolfberries, called polysaccharides (LBP), were shown to raise platelet levels.
- Oxidative Stress: Wolfberries helped reduce oxidative stress—a type of damage that can worsen platelet destruction in ITP.
- Immune Support: They also appear to help balance the immune response, which is key since ITP is autoimmune in nature.
Other studies have confirmed wolfberries’ strong antioxidant properties, suggesting they may help protect platelets from damage and support overall immune health.
How I Use Them in Daily Life
For me, wolfberries aren’t just something I read about in a study—they’re something I actually use and enjoy every day. I like them in puree or juice form because it’s easy and convenient, but there are many ways to add them to your diet:
- Sprinkle dried berries over oatmeal, yogurt, or salads.
- Brew them in a tea.
- Add them to soups, rice, or stir-fries (a traditional use in some Asian cultures).
They’re widely considered safe in moderation, though as always, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before making any changes.
My Encouragement to You
If you’re on an ITP journey, I know how overwhelming it can feel. The good news is there are safe, nourishing, natural options that may help support your body in the healing process. Wolfberries are not a magic fix, but they can be part of a diet and lifestyle that builds resilience, supports your immune system, and gives your platelets a healthier environment.
For me, wolfberries represent hope—a small but powerful step toward nourishing my body as I walk this path of healing.
✅ Key Takeaway: Wolfberries may support platelet health through their antioxidant and immune-balancing properties. They are safe, nutritious, and easy to add into everyday life, making them a gentle and encouraging option for those of us navigating ITP.
🌿 Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re looking for a simple way to nourish your body, reduce inflammation, and boost energy while supporting your platelets, my 14-Day Reset is a great place to begin. It’s a guided reset that focuses on clean eating, gentle detox, and daily habits that help your body thrive—wolfberries included!
If you’d like to learn more about the wolfberries or juice I personally use, feel free to reach out and connect with me. I’m always happy to share what’s worked for me and help you find options that fit your wellness journey.
