Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine is a holistic approach to Health & Wellness that addresses the individual as a whole, by identifying and addressing the underlying cause and not just treating the symptoms. Initially a patient will fill out a detailed Functional Medicine health history form by answering questions about their health, familial disease, lifestyle, diet, vitamins, supplements, exercise habits, dental fillings, environmental toxins, and medications to identify potential problems. Once this information has been gathered and assessed the next step is to order the proper lab tests to identify possible deficiencies (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidants, metabolites, hormones), toxicities (heavy metals, bacteria, parasites, yeast), genetic abnormalities and/or allergies. If any toxicities are evident in your lab results you will then start a detoxification phase. If the sources of toxicity are not removed, you will never see long term results. Once you have detoxed it is important to regenerate & rebuild through proper supplementation, a healthy diet and proper exercise.
Conditions Addressed with Functional Medicine:
| ADD & ADHD | Diabetic Nephropathy | Methylation |
| Adrenal Fatigue | Diabetic Retinopathy | Mold Illness |
| Adult Glucose Intolerance | Digestive Disorders | Multiple Sclerosis |
| AIDS | Downs Syndrome | Neurocognitive Dysfunction |
| Allergies | Environmental Exposure | Neurodegenerative Diseases |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | Epilepsy | Neurotoxicity |
| Anemia | Estrogen Metabolism | Neurotransmitter Balance |
| Anxiety | Fatigue | Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease |
| Arrhythmia | Fibromyalgia | Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity |
| Arthritis | Food Sensitivities | Nutritional Deficiencies |
| Asthma | Gastrointestinal Symptoms | Obesity |
| Ataxia | Genetic Disorders | Osteomalacia |
| Atopic Dermatitis | Gluten Sensitivity | Osteoporosis |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | Hashimotos | Oxidative Stress |
| Autoimmune Arthritis | Headaches | Pancreatitis |
| Autoimmune Disease | Heart Attack | Parkinson’s Disease |
| Autoimmune Disorders | Heart Disease | Peripheral Arterial Disease |
| Behavioral Disorders | Heavy Metal Poisoning | Pituitary Disorders |
| Birth Defects | Hormone Dysregulation | Preeclampsia |
| Blood Pressure | Huntington’s Disease | Psychiatric Disorders |
| Bone Demineralization | Hypertension | Recurrent Infections |
| Bone Health | Hyperthyroid Conditions | Respiratory Conditions |
| Calcium Absorption | Hyperthyroidism | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Cancer | Hypocalcemia | Schizophrenia |
| Cardiovascular Disease | Hypothyroid Conditions | Seizure Disorders |
| Celiac Disease | Immune Dysfunction | Sinus Infections |
| Chemical Exposure | Infections | Skin Conditions (Rashes) |
| Cholesterol Disorders | Infertility | Stroke |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | Inflammation | Thyroid Dysfunction |
| Chronic Hepatitis | Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Thyroid Function |
| Chronic Inflammation | Insomnia | Thyroiditis |
| Coagulation | Insulin Sensitivity | Toxic Chemical Or Metal Exposure |
| Cognitive Dysfunction | Irritable Bowel Disease | Toxic Mold Exposure |
| Congenital Heart Disease | Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Toxicity |
| Coronary Artery Disease | Joint Pain | Tumor Growth And Inhibition |
| Crohns Disease | Kidney Function | Type 2 Diabetes |
| Cystic Fibrosis | Liver Detoxification Function | Type I Diabetes |
| Dental Fluorosis | Mercury Poisoning | Urinary Issues |
| Depression | Metabolic Disorders | Vertigo |
| Detoxification Impairment | Metabolic Syndrome | Weight Loss Resistance |
| Detoxification Therapy | Metal Toxicity | Wheat Allergy |
| Diabetes |
Functional Medicine Lab Tests – these tests are quite different than your standard serum blood tests that are only a snap shot of your health at that given moment as they actually look back several months and longer and give a much broader picture as to what is going on with your health. Eventually these tests will be commonplace as more and more people get tired of treating symptoms with medication and actually address the root of their problem.
- Micronutrient Testing, which can test back 4-6 months – Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 C, D, K, Biotin, Folate, Pantothenate), Minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Copper), Amino Acids (Asparagine, Glutamine, Serine), Fatty Acids (Oleic), Antioxidants (Alpha Lipoic Acid, Coenzyme Q10, Cysteine, Glutathione, Selenium, Vitamin E), Carbohydrate Metabolism (Chromium, Fructose Sensitivity, Glucose-Insulin Interaction), Metabolites (Choline, Inositol, Carnitine), Antioxidant Function, and Immune Response.
- Cardiovascular Test – CardioMetabolic (Lipoprotein Fractionation, Lipoprotein Particle Numbers, Total LDL Particles, Total HDL Particles, Triglycerides, Lipoprotein, Leptin, Apolipoprotein A-1, Apolipoprotein B, hs-CRP, Homocysteine, Insulin, Glucose, Hemoglobin A1c, C-peptide, Adiponectin) Pre-Diabetes Biomarkers (Insulin, Glucose, Hemoglobin A1c, C-peptide, Adiponectin, Leptin, hs-CRP, Triglycerides, Total HDL Particles) and LPP Plus (Lipoprotein Fractionation, Lipoprotein Particle Numbers, Total LDL Particles, Total HDL Particles, Triglycerides, Lipoprotein (a), Apolipoprotein A-1, Apolipoprotein B, hs-CRP, Homocysteine, Insulin)
- Gene Testing/Genotyping – tests for risk of cardiovascular disease (stroke, thrombosis/clots, heart attack) so that the patient can be informed to make better lifestyle and treatment strategies. (Telomere, MTHFR Genotyping, Apolipoprotein E Genotyping, Factor V Leiden Genotyping, Prothrombin Genotyping)
- Hormone Balance – Male and Female Hormones (Androstenedione, DHEA-S, Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), Estriol unconjugated (UE3), FSH, IGF-1, LH, Progesterone, Prolactin, SHBG, Testosterone Total, Testosterone Free (calc), PSA Total) including Thyroid and Adrenal Glands (T3 Free (FT3), T4 Free (FT4), T4, TSH, Anti-Thyroglobulin Ab, Anti-TPO Ab, Thyroglobulin, Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG), Cortisol, DHEA-S, Reverse T3 (add on)).
- Clinical Microbiology (Blood, Urine & Stool) tests for Bacteria, Parasites, Yeast – Expected/Beneficial Bacteria Culture (Including Bacteroides fragilis, Bifidobacteria, E. coli, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Clostridium spp.), Dysbiotic Bacteria Culture and ID (Including Aeromonas, Campylobacter, Plesiomonas, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Yersinia, Edwardsiella tarda), Commensal/Imbalanced Bacteria Culture and ID, Yeast Culture and ID, Pharmaceutical and Natural Agent Yeast/Bacterial Susceptibilities (performed when indicated), Parasitology Identification Concentrate and Trichrome Stain, Giardia lamblia EIA, Cryptosporidium EIA, Elastase, Fat Stain, Muscle and Vegetable Fibers, Carbohydrates, Lactoferrin, Calprotectin, Lysozyme, White Blood Cells (WBC), Mucus, Secretory IgA, Short Chain Fatty Acids, Red Blood Cells (RBC), pH, Occult Blood, C. botulinum, C. tetani and C. perfringens, and Clostridium difficile.
- Toxic heavy metals & essential elements (urine or hair analysis) – Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Bismuth, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Cesium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Gadolinium, Iron, Lead, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Palladium, Phosphorus, Platinum, Potassium, Selenium, Sodium, Strontium, Sulfur, Tellurium, Thallium, Thorium, Tin, Tungsten, Uranium, Vanadium, and Zinc.
- Allergy & Immunology – Celiac Disease, Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS), Wheat Allergy, Inflammatory bowel disease and Adult glucose intolerance.
The goal of Functional Medicine is not to heal you, but to help you detox your body and then provide your body with the nutrients it is missing so that it can heal itself. Your body is intelligent and has the capacity for self-regulation, which expresses itself through a dynamic balance of all your body systems.