Functional medicine differs from conventional medicine because it believes that everything is connected through a complex web-like structure in the body. Our genetics, and every decision we make about lifestyle, nutrition, and stress affects the mind, body, and spirit. There are seven different sections in this system that are interconnected like a spider web. Any part that is not functioning or is damaged, affects the whole body and disrupts the function of the other systems.
· Gut Health is a foundational part of functional medicine. Good gut health is necessary to digest and absorb nutrients, produce key vitamins and minerals, and then eliminate any waste. If you suffer from bloating, gas, irregular bowel movements, or reflux, this part is not functioning well and may now affect the whole system.
· Transport, the second system, takes the digested food and circulates it through the body and to the communication center. If you suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, lymph swelling, or have poor circulation, this system may not be able to get critical nutrients to the body.
· Communication Center, the third system, is the hormonal organs of the body (thyroid, adrenals, sex hormones, and neurotransmitters). These hormones are chemical messengers that provide information to the individual cell. The cell then decides to fight off inflammation or infection, repair any structural damage (from arthritis, injuries, etc.), create energy, or to detoxify whatever the cell does not need. Disruption here may result in hormonal imbalances, mood swings, fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain.
· Immune & Inflammation, the fourth system, is how your immune system responds to any infections as well as low grade chronic inflammation, which is the root cause of all disease processes. 70% of the immune system resides in the gut, so gut health and a healthy immune system are intimately linked. When this system is not working, a patient may present with recurrent illness, fatigue, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
· Energy, the fifth system, is how your body creates energy. When this is not functioning well, patients may have headaches, fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, chronic pain, or diseases that affect the brain such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Dementia, etc.
· Structural Integrity, the sixth system, is how your body repairs any damage in the musculoskeletal system as well as other parts of the body. Diseases and symptoms that may affect this area include osteoporosis, arthritis, and joint pain.
· Detoxification, the seventh system, is another critical factor in helping the body function well. The body faces many toxin exposures all day including external toxicants such as heavy metals, mold toxins, and environmental toxins as well as internal toxins created by the body as waste products. These toxins need to be removed from the cells and the body before they begin to disrupt normal pathways.
Since these systems are interconnected, an imbalance in one will lead to imbalances in the others. Our treatment plan may target multiple systems to help you rebalance and improve your health and vitality.