What is functional medicine?

Root causes—such as chronic stress, trauma, toxin exposure, allergies, infections, poor diet and nutrient deficiencies—can disrupt the body's delicate internal balance. These factors, when influenced by your unique lifestyle, environment, and genetics, can lead to dysfunction in essential body systems.

Key areas affected include:
Mitochondrial activity: Impacts energy production and cellular function
Gut health: Affects digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunity
Hormonal balance: Regulates metabolism, mood, and reproductive health
Nervous system regulation: Influences stress response, cognition, and mental health
Detoxification processes: Supports the elimination of harmful substances
Immune response: Helps defend against infections, cancer and chronic disease

When these systems are compromised, it can lead to conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, obesity, anxiety, heart disease, PCOS, dementia, IBS, diabetes, cancer, and more.

Functional medicine views the body as an interconnected system, examining key factors such as lifestyle, diet, environment, genetics, and advanced lab data to build a comprehensive understanding of your health.

As your functional medicine practitioner, I take a thorough look at your medical history, daily habits, and overall well-being. I utilize advanced lab testing to uncover hidden imbalances such as nutrient deficiencies, hormonal disruptions, inflammation, toxicity, or gut dysfunction that could be contributing to your symptoms.

I design personalized treatment plans that may include:
Dietary adjustments: Tailored to meet your specific nutritional needs
Lifestyle modifications: Focusing on stress management, sleep optimization, and physical activity
Supplements: Repleting deficiencies and promoting balance and healing
Targeted therapies: Addressing key systems such as gut health, immune health, inflammation, and hormones

The goal of functional medicine is not just to alleviate symptoms but to empower your body's natural healing processes. By restoring balance and addressing root causes, we work together to prevent chronic illnesses and promote long-term wellness.

Many people are drawn to functional medicine for its personalized and proactive approach to health. It empowers individuals to take an active role in their well-being by addressing the unique factors that influence their health. Together, functional and conventional medicine can complement one another. Functional medicine provides deeper insights into chronic conditions and preventive care, while conventional medicine is invaluable for treating acute and life-threatening conditions. An integrative approach offers the best of both worlds for achieving lasting health and vitality.

1. Root Cause vs. Symptom Management
Conventional medicine typically targets symptoms and manages diseases through medications or surgical interventions. In contrast, functional medicine seeks to uncover and address the root causes of illness, treating the whole person rather than isolated issues. 

2. Personalized Treatment Plans
Functional medicine offers highly personalized care by examining factors like genetics, lifestyle, environment, and health history. This comprehensive approach allows for tailored treatment plans designed to meet each individual’s unique needs. In comparison, conventional medicine often follows standardized protocols based on a specific diagnosis, which may not account for personal variations. 

3. Emphasis on Prevention
While conventional medicine excels in acute and emergency care, functional medicine focuses on prevention. By identifying and addressing imbalances early, it aims to restore health, reverse chronic conditions, and prevent future illnesses. This proactive strategy helps optimize long-term well-being rather than just managing disease progression.