Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine is a term intended to convey a new paradigm of medical thinking, which looks at patterns and systems of function rather than single disease diagnoses. It approaches the complexity of human health and disease as unique to the particular individual's genetics, behavior and circumstances. It looks for the key points of leverage where an "illness" can be coaxed back to the preferred and optimally-adapted dynamic state we call "wellness." Functional medicines identifies several key systems of basic healthy human functioning. It is important to note that each of these affects all of the others. The clinical judgment lies in understanding which of these is both the most treatable and is most likely the best way to reduce the strain on the overall balance of the patients internal systems.
- IMMUNE IMBALANCES
Autoimmune diseases, allergies, frequent infections, some cancers, chronic infections - HORMONAL AND NEUROTRANSMITTER IMBALANCES
Hypothyroidism, adrenal exhaustion, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety
- STRUCTURAL IMBALANCES
Many types of chronic pain, scoliosis, post-polio syndrome, hypermobility syndromes, surgical absence or modification of organs
- TOXICOLOGICAL STRESSES
Heavy metal poisoning, multiple drug sensitivities, hormone disruptors from the environment, various environmental sensitivities
- NUTRITIONAL, DIGESTIVE, ABSORPTIVE IMBALANCES
Irritable bowel, bacterial overgrowth, reflux, incomplete digestion, food intolerances, subtle vitamin deficiencies
- PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL
Early childhood trauma, toxic relationships, chronic stress, isolation, fear, post traumatic stress syndrome