Top Functional Lupus Doctor in Manhattan
Have you spent years searching for answers to Lupus, cycling through medications, and managing unpredictable symptoms that affect the immune system, joints, skin, brain, gut, and energy levels? Dr. Raphael Kellman offers a different way forward. Based in Manhattan, he is a world-renowned pioneer in gut-microbiome restoration and root-cause medicine.
Dr. Kellman has helped countless individuals uncover why their flares happen, why fatigue persists, and what can be done to nourish the immune system from the inside out.
How Functional Medicine Addresses Lupus at Its Root
Conventional rheumatology focuses primarily on controlling the immune system’s attack on healthy tissues. While this approach provides relief, it rarely explains why the immune system becomes dysregulated in the first place. Functional medicine works to identify and correct those drivers.
Dr. Kellman evaluates:
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Gut microbiome imbalances
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Hidden infections or viral reactivations
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Nutrient deficiencies affecting immune regulation
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Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress
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Hormonal and mitochondrial dysfunction
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Environmental triggers such as toxins, mold, or allergens
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By mapping these interconnected systems, Dr. Kellman creates personalized treatment plans aimed at lowering the autoimmune burden, healing the gut, balancing immunity, and improving the patient’s overall resilience. The goal is not just fewer flares, but better energy, less pain, clearer thinking, and a stronger foundation for long-term wellness
Six Symptoms of Lupus Dr. Kellman Can Help Improve
Lupus affects each person differently, but many patients experience similar patterns of discomfort and dysfunction. Using advanced diagnostics and his microbiome-based approach, Dr. Kellman can help address:
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Chronic Fatigue – One of the most debilitating symptoms of lupus, often tied to mitochondrial strain, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis.
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Joint Pain and Stiffness – Autoimmune activity, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammatory triggers contribute to ongoing pain that functional medicine can help calm.
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Skin Rashes and Flares – Many skin manifestations of lupus are influenced by immune dysregulation, gut health, and environmental exposures.
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Brain Fog and Cognitive Changes – Neurological symptoms often improve when inflammation and microbiome imbalances are corrected.
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Digestive Problems – Bloating, irregularity, food sensitivities, SIBO, and leaky gut are extremely common in autoimmune conditions like lupus.
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Hormonal Imbalances – Shifts in stress hormones, thyroid function, and sex hormones can exacerbate autoimmune activity and worsen symptoms.
Lupus may be chronic, but your symptoms do not have to control your life. Functional medicine expands the toolkit of what is possible.
How the Gut Impacts Lupus
Autoimmune conditions—including lupus—are profoundly influenced by the gut. Roughly 70 percent of the immune system resides within the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, meaning that microbiome health, intestinal permeability, and inflammation all directly shape immune behavior. When the gut barrier becomes compromised, inflammatory molecules and bacterial byproducts can enter the bloodstream, activating the immune system and worsening autoimmune flares. This is known as the gut-immune axis.
Dr. Kellman’s work has shown that restoring microbial diversity, repairing the gut lining, and optimizing digestion can lead to improvements not only in gastrointestinal symptoms but in systemic autoimmune activity as well.
As Dr. Kellman explains, “When we heal the microbiome, we help recalibrate the immune system. For many patients with lupus, gut restoration is a powerful step toward reducing inflammation and restoring balance throughout the body.”
This microbiome-centered approach is what sets Dr. Kellman apart. By focusing on the foundation of immune health, he supports meaningful, lasting improvements.
You Deserve Answers and a Personalized Plan
Lupus is not simple. It affects your energy, your mood, your relationships, your work, and your quality of life. It can feel unpredictable and frightening—especially when you’re trying to make sense of conflicting diagnoses, persistent symptoms, or treatments that don’t address the deeper issues.
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Dr. Kellman understands the emotional weight and uncertainty that come with autoimmune disease. His approach is grounded in empathy, thorough investigation, and a belief that every patient deserves to understand their body at a deeper level.
Get Answers for Your Lupus in Manhattan
Whether you have a new diagnosis of lupus or have been managing symptoms for years, now is the time to pursue a more comprehensive and personalized approach. Dr. Kellman is ready to help you uncover the root causes of your symptoms and build a plan that supports healing from the inside out.
Start your journey toward better immune balance, clearer energy, and improved overall well-being. Contact the Kellman Center in Manhattan today to schedule your consultation and begin transforming your health.