Whole body approach to care
Functional Medicine is a whole-body approach to care which will involve recommendations concerning specific diets and nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress and nutritional supplements.
The clinician will use a comprehensive history and assessment of all symptoms reported. She may recommend basic and comprehensive blood testing to assess and address the underlying cause.
Challenging the conventional model of healthcare
Functional Medicine focuses on finding the root causes of health problems, customizing treatment plans, and prioritizing prevention for long-term wellness.
Understand root causes
Functional medicine looks at the root causes of health issues by examining medical history, lifestyle, genetics, and environment to identify hidden imbalances missed by conventional medicine.
Personalized treatment plans
Functional medicine tailors treatments to each individual, recognizing that what works for one may not work for another. This personalized approach empowers patients to take control of their health and wellness.
Prevention is key
Functional medicine prioritizes prevention to achieve optimal health by identifying potential risks and taking proactive measures to address them, avoiding the onset of chronic illnesses and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Frequently asked questions
One of the more well-known side effects of high dose oral vitamin C is diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues like pain, nausea and indigestion. If a person continues to ingest vitamin C at a dose that loosens stool, he/she is at risk of becoming nutritionally deficient.
Vitamin C is metabolized to oxalate, which can contribute to the formation of calcium oxalate stones in the kidneys. Your genes, dosage, type, immune system and metabolism all play a role.
High dose vitamin C can cause an imbalance in the person’s pro-oxidation and antioxidation status. At high doses, Vitamin C causes more oxidation, whereas, in lower doses, Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant.
Vitamin C increases absorption of iron in the cells. High and low levels of vitamin C may impact iron levels in the body.
Menstrual cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea, are painful sensations experienced by some individuals during menstruation. They typically occur in the lower abdomen, but the pain can also radiate to the lower back and thighs. Menstrual cramps can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by other symptoms like bloating, headaches, and fatigue.
The primary cause of menstrual cramps is the contraction of the uterus. During menstruation, the uterus contracts to help expel its lining, resulting in the release of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that trigger inflammation and pain. Higher levels of prostaglandins can lead to more intense and painful cramps.
Magnesium 400-600 mg, cod liver oil or EPA/DHA 3000mg, D3-K2 3000iu, cramp bark, chamomile, motherowrt and red raspberry tea may be helpful. Epsom salt baths can help relax painful joints and muscles. Castor oil packs on the abdomen and liver area can help reduce inflammation and support detoxification.
If all this doesn’t work for 2-3 cycles, I suggest a hormone workup.
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune condition of the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerve cells. In autoimmunity, the person’s immune system is failing to see the difference between ‘self’ and ‘non-self* – thereby attacking oneself. Every person with an autoimmune process going on has multiple triggers that are keeping the system over-active. The key is finding those and modifying them.
When it comes to autoimmunity, functional medicine takes a comprehensive view of the individual’s health, considering various factors such as genetics, environmental influences, lifestyle choices, and the gut microbiome. The goal is to restore balance and optimize the body’s natural functions.
It does depend on the cause. When hair greys (loses color) as a person ages, it’s simply a result of the hair follicle having less/no melanin so that when new hair grows it doesn’t have color. However, there are other reasons hair can become gray. To some degree, aging is actually a build up of oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are created through normal cell functions and the body’s ability to remove the ROS through detoxification. It is caused by many factors other than aging. Some of these are inflammation, some diseases, stress, impaired detoxification, poor diet (malnutrition) and environmental toxins. More recent studies are focusing on targeting oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. It does happen, on occasion, that when causes of oxidative stress are addressed that gray hair is ‘reversed’.
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