Functional medicine is a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Patients, especially women, can walk away from healthcare experiences feeling powerless. I wish to eliminate this experience. By first developing a strong patient – provider relationship, my goal is to identify unhealthy patterns, find what is causing your body to heal correctly, get to the root cause of your problem, and propose appropriate, personalized treatments and lifestyle modifications.
A patient who is following a functional medicine provider will find their care is based on treating the entire body verses just focusing on the symptoms you're having. For example, if you're suffering with symptoms that mimic depression and anxiety, I wouldn't focus solely on brain health, but also on gut health since we've learned that the gastrointestinal system has 400 times more serotonin (neurotransmitter responsible for mood) than the brain.
A list of what functional medicine can do for you:
An example:
Patient symptoms: Irregular bowel movements, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, indigestion.
Conventional approach: treat with laxative or antidiarrheal medications, antacids, or antibiotics which may help with symptoms but not fix the underlying problem.
In reality, most of these symptoms are often caused by an imbalance in the healthy bacteria that are required for digestion and absorption of nutrients. In addition to potential food sensitivities or allergies, this imbalance causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract which is often the source of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, thyroid issues, lupus, asthma, allergies, psoriasis, eczema, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, etc.
Functional medicine approach: I would use comprehensive stool testing and/or breath testing to identify the types of pathogens and imbalances that are specific to each case.
I would then tailor a treatment plan for you which may involve removing harmful pathogens, replacing digestive properties, repairing with helpful nutrients and antioxidants, re-inoculating with pre and probiotics, and rebalancing with better lifestyle choices and activities.
Please schedule an appointment if you’d like to learn more about how I can help you. I'm excited to partner with you and help improve your health and quality of life.
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