What’s functional medicine? It’ll involve an entirely new way of assessing, understanding, treating, and preventing chronic disease. It’ll integrate a number of science-based approaches to finding and treating underlying imbalances within how the body’s systems are working.
Any chronic health problem in adults or children may be treated utilizing a functional medicine approach. Whether you’ve already been diagnosed with a chronic disease or still are having trouble figuring out what’s causing your symptoms, a functional medicine provider can be of assistance. Examples of chronic conditions that functional medicine providers treat, depending upon their focus and training, involve:
• Chronic symptoms of all kinds, which includes sleep problems, fatigue, weight issues, pain, nasal congestion, headaches, allergies, poor memory and concentration, skin rashes, constipation and frequent colds
• Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
• Women’s health problems such as infertility, PMS, PCOS, menopausal symptoms, fibroids, pelvic pain, and endometriosis
• Men’s health problems such as low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, and prostate enlargement
• Autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Neurological disorders such as autism, migraines, Parkinson’s, and dementia
• Metabolic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and diabetes
• Cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart disease and high cholesterol
• Hormonal disorders such as Grave’s disease and hypothyroidism
• Gastrointestinal disorders such as GERD, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, and IBS
What Does a Trip to the Functional Medicine Practitioner Involve?
Generally, functional medicine practitioners spend more time with their patients than a practitioner within the conventional medical system. Usually, patients are interviewed and asked to fill questionnaires out on a number of topics. Lab tests of many kinds, which includes some less conventional testing, is usually suggested to assist in determining which main biological processes are normally functioning and which aren’t. All the gathered details help a functional medicine practitioner find the underlying imbalances, as well as influences which have helped to create the dysfunction or disease.
Main Therapies Utilized by a Functional Medicine Practitioner
The functional medicine treatment approach is focused upon ameliorating dysfunctions in biochemistry and physiology which have resulted from interactions between someone’s lifestyle, environment, and genes. The aim of treatment includes maximizing functionality at all levels of spirit, mind and body. Treatments are personalized and individualized to address each individual’s unique diet, genetics, environmental exposures, nutrition, exercise, stress, and spiritual and psychological needs.
Treatment and therapies utilized by functional medicine practitioners vary depending upon a practitioner’s training and practice scope in her or his state. Therapies generally include tools from integrative and conventional medicine and are based upon clinical scientific research. Treatments might include blends of herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, diets, traditional ways, exercise, detoxification programs, bodywork, physical therapy, spinal manipulation, acupuncture, stress-management techniques, and counseling.
The patient always is an active partner in whichever therapy is utilized and takes the leading part in changing her or his health. Several kinds of comprehensive therapies typically are suggested since the aim isn’t simply to relieve symptoms yet to reestablish functionality and balance and restore health.
For more information on our San Antonio functional medicine contact Imagine Wellness today!
