Functional Medicine

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine (FM) is a methodology that utilizes evidence based scientific clinical models to assess, address and prevent chronic disease and health imbalances. It integrates modern research from the latest in genetic science, immunology, endocrinology, biology, biochemistry, environmental and lifestyle factors to understand and correct the cause of your health concerns. 

Why use Functional Medicine?

Our society has reached a precipice of epidemic proportions in chronic degenerative conditions like heart disease, diabetes, dementia, cancer, obesity, mental health and autoimmune disorders. Modern medicine today, the mainstream approach to healthcare, leaves too many gaps. Whilst the traditional medical model has performed wonders in acute care, the mainstream capacity for addressing chronic conditions leaves much to be desired. 

• Functional Medicine has developed as a methodology to answer the crisis in healthcare by: 
• Attending to the patient as a full person, not a condition Attending to the full picture of what is going on in the life of the patient - because it all matters 
• Looking at the whole life story- not just the health problem, and relating it to 
  
• Comprehensive laboratory assessments and lifestyle factors. 
• Interpretation of blood, urine and other exams in terms relative to the individual and their condition, not in absolutes.  
• Addressing the issues with Integrative Nutrition - clinically working with the full picture with supplementation, nutrition, lifestyle factors and more.  

When it comes to addressing the complexities of cognitive decline, dementias, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative conditions, a comprehensive approach with Functional Medicine is essential.  

Integrative Nutrition as a clinical therapeutic method 

The Empowered Brain Program is an individualized health program that includes functional interpretation of blood chemistry, urine analysis and other laboratory studies as appropriate to identify the unique biomarkers and patterns associated with your condition. In combination with findings from your consultation and neurological assessments we can begin to apply Integrative Nutrition principles involving supplementation, meal plans and lifestyle therapies to steer north on the road to recovery and health.   

Nutrition is not just eating healthy- it is a state of balance between the life-giving materials we consume, the quality of digestion and elimination, good sleep, physical activity, happiness in relationships, and happiness with one’s self and more. It is a basic pillar in the foundation of health. 

Integrative Nutrition as an individualized process 

It’s true, we are indeed what we eat, however nutrition is more than just food. It determines our chemical makeup, how we produce hormones and neuropeptides and ultimately how we think, feel and age. The most important factor to address nutritionally is to reduce inflammation. Only by reducing inflammation can we restore cellular functions and therefore systemic functions. This relates to circulation, blood pressure, blood sugar balance, energy production, effective metabolic waste removal, sleep health and more.  

Every person is biologically and chemically distinct in their health needs. There is no one size fits all model in healthcare, especially when it comes to nutrition. Utilizing Applied Kinesiology with manual muscle testing (MMT) as a real time biofeedback tool offers a completely individualized approach. The phases are threefold and often overlap.  

• Remove: inflammatory foods; address chronic molds, fungi, bacterial and parasitic infections; environmental, chemical and heavy metal toxins.  
• Replace: nutrient dense foods and lifestyle habits.  
• Repair: systems with detoxification, supplementation, rehabilitation, lifestyle. Equally applied to brain function, cardiovascular health, insulin imbalances, atherosclerosis, arthritis and more.  

Common health issues addressed with Functional Medicine include: