Functional Medicine & Disease Prevention
Functional medicine described
The beauty of the functional medicine approach is that it is applicable to a wide range of conditions and diseases. It is safe, effective and beneficial to those who want to achieve an improved state of health and prevent future illness, as well as those who are suffering from a chronic condition and taking multiple medications.
The clinical approach of functional medicine is to search for the root cause of the disease or condition. The clinician is always asking “why did this symptom start?” and “why is it progressing?”. Causes of any disease could be:
nutrient imbalances
hormonal imbalances
poor gut health
excess environmental toxins
poor sleep
poor stress response
poor diet and exercise
poor stress management
and many more…
Two people may be diagnosed with the same disease, but the causes may be completely different. Therefore, each of their treatment plans would be different as well. Searching for the person’s individual root cause, and creating a holistic treatment plan, makes the functional medicine approach so effective for such a variety of conditions.
Conditions treated
Preventative Health
Someone may think they’re healthy, and think they do not need a doctor because they have not been diagnosed with a disease. But this is an old way of thinking. Ideally, people should start seeing doctors because they wish to become more well, and live their best life. People often find that they’re not feeling their best, and are surprised with how good they can feel.
Improved sleep
Improved focus
Improved ability to handle stress
Increased physical performance
Increased mental clarity
Weight Loss
Increased energy
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Hippocrates once said “all disease begins in the gut”, we are now seeing how true this statement really is. There are many foundational systems that depend on good gut health to function well. For instance, 80% of an individual’s immune system is found in the GI tract, and up to 90% of serotonin is produced there as well. Therefore, we often see that poor gut health complicates and worsens other conditions including mental health disorders, immune dysregulation, hormone dysregulation, among others. We absorb nutrients in our gut, if our gut is inflamed or not functioning properly, key minerals and vitamins will not be absorbed and utilized. We need these key cofactors for basic biochemical processes in our body.
For this reason, just about all my patients undergo a thorough GI evaluation. The tests that are commonly used to workup and treat gut health may include a stool analysis, breath test, and organic acid profile. Due to the interactions of the GI tract with multiple other systems in the body, most functional evaluations and treatments are foundationally anchored with the health of the gut. If the gut is not functioning properly, it is more difficult to achieve wellness within other bodily systems.
GERD, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Food Allergies / Intolerances
Yeast Overgrowth
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth
Skin Conditions
Skin is the largest organ in the body. As physicians we look for clues in the skin when evaluating internal disease. So it’s no surprise that oftentimes treating the skin means uncovering and treating root causes of inflammation, imbalance and nutrient deficiencies.
Therefore, evaluating hydration, gut health, hormone health, and nutrition, as well as stress and sleep habits are foundational to the treatment plan.
Eczema
Psoriasis
Dermatitis
Allergies
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease
The key components of cardiovascular risk reduction include inflammation reduction and improving metabolic health. Key biomarkers are analyzed to stratify risk and assess for lipoprotein status as well as arterial wall inflammation (eg Lp(a)-P, hs CRP, Lp-PLA2, homocysteine and myeloperoxidase).
Treatment and risk reduction is centered around lifestyle changes to incorporate inflammation reducing eating plans, stress reduction, and resolution of root causes of inflammation. This may include evaluation of gut health, toxin exposure and hormone analysis.
Hypertension
Hyperlipidemia
Sleep Apnea
Metabolic Syndrome
Heart Diseases
Diabetes
Endocrine and Hormonal Disorders
Hormone producing organs of the body (e.g. pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, testes, adrenals) secrete hormones which regulate a multitude of functions including metabolism and reproduction. The central nervous system, through the control of the hypothalamus and pituitary sends signals to these organs for secretion. There is a chain of function that begins with the hypothalamus and pituitary and ends with the cell itself where the hormone is intended to act. Imbalances of hormone production, transport, sensitivity and then detoxification can result in symptoms of hormone dysregulation. Each of these steps are evaluated for missing or mismatched links, and treatment plans are centered on balancing this system and chain of function. This requires addressing issues in a systematic manner, and typically not jumping straight to hormone therapy. As a last result, hormone therapy may be employed, but it is not the first step in treatment.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Obesity, Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Adrenal Dysfunction
Female Hormone Dysregulation
Insulin Resistance
Mental Health Disorders
Almost every single person we see complains of some degree of difficulty sleeping, anxiety or depression. This is not surprising, as about 1 in 5 adults suffer from at least one of these ailments.
Insomnia, depression and anxiety are disruptions in brain health. This means that an evaluation of factors that affect brain health is at the foundation of the assessment. This may include evaluations of nutrition, physical exercise, environmental toxins, spiritual health, genetic predispositions, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, gut health and interpersonal relationships.
Due to the many factors affecting mental health, it’s no surprise that many people are offered medication to treat the symptom, as going through all the potential contributing factors is somewhat daunting. However, many people don’t always respond to antidepressant therapy (some say 30-40%). It is important to note that some people greatly benefit from these medications and clearly thrive while on them, especially those with severe depression. It is a personal decision to start or wean off of an antidepressant; which needs to be discussed with your healthcare provider.
A functional approach includes an evaluation of gut health, adrenal function, thyroid disease and vitamin deficiencies. As well as lifestyle and dietary analysis to reduce inflammation and stabilize the mood and blood sugar. A truly multi-faceted approach is necessary to stabilize good brain health for the long term.
Insomnia
Anxiety
Depression
Inattention Disorders
If you are interested in learning more about how Functional Medicine can benefit your life and health, reach out to us here or set up a consultation to see if Oasis Women’s Functional Medicine can support you in your wellness journey!
