Functional medicine: Root cause approach
Functional medicine addresses the alarming reality that over half of Americans are grappling with chronic health conditions, a trend that continues to escalate. This innovative approach redefines modern healthcare, offering a comprehensive solution to the chronic disease crisis. In this definitive guide, we'll explore the principles of functional medicine, how it operates and why it stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking lasting health improvements.
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a holistic and evidence-based healthcare approach tailored to each individual. It integrates traditional and alternative health perspectives with modern insights into biology, disease mechanisms, diagnostic testing, and medications to achieve effective health outcomes.
"Functional medicine prioritizes identifying and addressing the root causes of health issues instead of just alleviating symptoms. This method empowers individuals to attain optimal health and well-being through personalized care and lifestyle changes. Start your journey to better health with functional medicine."
– Dr. Cheryl Kent
This approach involves a thorough investigation of a person's overall health, considering factors like diet and lifestyle, supported by advanced comprehensive testing. It offers a personalized roadmap for recovery, focusing on long-term resilience. It is increasingly recognized that chronic diseases are often driven by modifiable factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environmental influences that activate certain genes. Functional medicine aims not only for disease resolution but also for prevention by mitigating known risk factors. Moreover, functional medicine acknowledges health and disease exist on a continuum, with many conditions being preventable, reversible, or manageable. Practitioners are trained to identify early signs of dysfunction, which can precede the full development of a condition, allowing for interventions that enhance health and prevent disease rather than merely masking symptoms.
The health status continuum
HEALTH &
WELLNESS
COMPROMISED FUNCTION AND SYMPTOMS
DIAGNOSED DISEASE
This method of managing chronic diseases the potential to not only stop or reverse the progression of illness but also enhance overall long health. Functional medicine is strategically positioned to significantly impact the trend of declining health and the increasing strain on the healthcare system, a situation expected to escalate as population ages.
What is the importance of functional medicine?
After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, patient Jennifer found herself making frequent visits to the doctor. She consulted an endocrinologist for her thyroid hormone prescriptions and a gastroenterologist for IBS-related symptoms like diarrhea and bloating. Frustrated by the long wait times and rushed appointments with specialists, Jennifer felt that the prescription-focused approach provided little dietary or lifestyle guidance to address her concerns. Feeling isolated undervalued, she navigated a healthcare system that failed to recognize her as an individual. Jennifer's experience is uncommon. Research shows that many patients perceive their care as inadequate within a fragmented system that lacks coordination, resulting in gaps that negatively impact their health outcomes. Patients are seeking more evidence-based support for chronic conditions, desiring a more engaged approach that emphasizes prevention and health, along with improved coordination and follow-ups for consistent care. That is our goal.
Who can benefit from functional medicine?
Functional medicine offers essential support for individuals facing chronic health conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, neurological issues, hormonal imbalances, digestive problems, and skin conditions. For those encountering health concerns that often elude diagnosis, functional medicine employs a thorough understanding of human biology and utilizes clinical tools, including functional testing, to identify and address root causes of dysfunction. The spectrum of chronic diseases that can benefit from this approach encompasses many chronic illnesses, such as:
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anxiety
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asthma
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chronic fatigue
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hormonal imbalances
Moreover, individuals experiencing seemingly unrelated symptoms can achieve clarity and support through functional medicine, as practitioners adopt a holistic perspective to uncover underlying connections foster overall wellness.
The process of functional medicine
So you might be wondering – how is functional medicine actually practiced? Functional medicine is a framework, and because functional medicine practitioners include doctors, naturopaths, chiropractors and even nurses, the way functional medicine is practiced will vary depending on what type of practitioner you see. However, all practitioners of functional medicine follow certain principles while working with patients to help them recover their health. Let’s take a closer look.
Functional medicine is the private investigator ro an unsolved mystery
Functional medicine resembles the work of a detective. It entails a comprehensive investigation into all potential factors contributing to a patient’s symptoms, systematically ruling out each possibility. At Balance Functional, we construct an in-depth timeline of a patient’s medical history to map their overall health, identifying possible root causes and contributing factors From this analysis, we formulate a tailored plan that is continuously refined as we clarify the underlying issues of the patient’s condition. meticulous approach demands time, curiosity, and a thorough understanding of biology and biochemistry, enabling practitioners to develop innovative solutions for each individual case.
Functional medicine focuses on addressing the cause of health issues to promote long-term wellness
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Conventional medicine prioritizes the identification and resolution of root causes of health issues to promote-term wellness.
To illustrate, consider the care of a tree: if its leaves turn brown, one might opt to paint them green or them, yet the underlying problem remains unaddressed., while medications may provide temporary relief, they often fail to tackle the root cause and can result in additional complications.
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For instance, in the management of high cholesterol, statins may lower levels but can also inhibit the production of CoQ10, an antioxidant, leading to side effects such as fatigue. Furthermore, many patients who experience heart maintain normal LDL cholesterol levels, indicating that high cholesterol is a symptom of broader imbalances within the body.
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Just as a tree's vitality is influenced by its environment, human health is shaped by various factors, including nutrition,, and exposure to toxins. By addressing these underlying issues we can enhance longevity and overall well-being.
Functional medicine investigates all the body systems collectively
Functional medicine adopts a holistic perspective to comprehend the body as a whole and its interconnected systems. This 'systems biology' approach emphasizes viewing the body in its entirety rather than concentrating on isolated components. As a result, functional medicine practitioners can provide more comprehensive and personalized care, particularly for chronic diseases that affect multiple biological systems. A example of this interconnectedness is the psycho-neuro-endine-immune (PNEI) system, which demonstrates how various factors can impact nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, especially in conditions Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus, where stress can worsen inflammation.
Functional medicine is inherently personalized. Rather than applying a generic protocol to patients with similar health concerns practitioners dedicate time to understanding each individual's diet, lifestyle, and health history, including family background. allows them to create a truly customized treatment plan that aligns with the person's unique biochemical makeup. The focus is on exploring a person's overall health instead of just treating a specific condition. By combining clinical expertise with the latest scientific insights and the patient’s health narrative, functional medicine practitioners develop strategies tailored for each individual. This approach continually asks, "What is best for this patient?" empowering patients to not only restore their health but also to learn how to live in harmony with their body's needs. As a result, two with the same diagnosis may receive entirely different treatment plans that target the underlying causes and triggers their conditions, as demonstrated by patients with the same autoimmune who may have distinct contributing factors and root causes requiring unique treatment strategies.
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Jennifer
Stephanie
Condition: Autoimmune Autoimmune
Cause: Gut issues Infection
Aggravators: Allergies Processed foods
Approach: Reduce allergens Whole food diet
Jennifer
In addition to her health issue of an autoimmune diagnosis, Jennifer was dealing with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea after meals, along ongoing stress from family matters.
The Investigation
Since stress, poor gut health and sensitivities to certain foods can cause flare-ups in autoimmunity conditions, our functional medicine physician conducted thorough stool analysis to assess Jennifer’s digestive health. She also performed food sensitivity testing to pinpoint potential triggers for her bloating. The stool analysis indicated an imbalance in the gut microbiome (known as gut dysbiosis), while the food sensitivity test showed that her immune system was reacting to gluten, a common component of her diet.
Gluten is recognized as a potential autoimmunity trigger, as it can compromise the intestinal barrier, proteins to enter the bloodstream and provoke an immune response along with inflammation A prevailing theory about the onset of autoimmunity is ‘molecular mimicry,’ where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own, like the thyroid gland, due to the similarity between foreign proteins like gluten and bodily proteins. Additionally, stress can negatively affect the gut microbiome and intestinal permeability, exacerbating autoimmunity and contributing to IBS.
Jennifer’s Customized Plan
Jennifer's tailored healthcare plan from Balance Functional Medicine included gut healing protocol aimed at restoring her gut microbiome and enhancing intestinal wall integrity, a gluten-free diet, and strategies to help her manage stress.
Stephanie
​During the discussion of Stephanie’s health history, it was revealed that she experienced a viral infection around the time her health began to decline. She reported persistent fatigue, significant energy drops throughout the day—especially after meals—along with feelings of irritability and anxiety. Additionally, she was overweight and faced ongoing issues with mood and sleep.
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The Investigation
Some viruses are known triggers for autoimmunity. A comprehensive evaluation of her diet and lifestyle indicated a high of processed sugars and foods, primarily relying on takeout and pre-packaged meals, which are significant triggers for autoimmune conditions. Her dietary habits, fluctuating energy levels, and irritability suggested poor blood glucose control, which was confirmed by her practitioner through monitoring her blood glucose levels with a glucometer before and after meals. Given her persistent challenges with energy, mood, and sleep, alongside autoimmunity, her functional medicine physician also considered methylation as a contributing factor. Hypomethylation of DNA has been linked to gene expression associated with autoimmunity, making it a potential precursor to these issues. Since methylation is crucial for healthy detoxification, energy production, and neurotransmitter synthesis, Stephanie’s we cordered a methylation profile, which revealed that her methylation levels were not optimal.
Stephanie’s Customized Plan
Stephanie’s healthcare plan included antiviral therapy utilizing immune-modulating compounds from the medicinal mushrooms, a dietary approach aimed at supporting blood glucose control, and clinical grade micronutrient supplements to optimize her methylation levels.
Each of these cases began similarly, yet the root causes and solutions varied significantly. This highlights why randomized controlled trials, treat a group with the same health issue using the same intervention, may not be the best indicator of an intervention's effectiveness for everyone with condition.
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The personalized nature of functional medicine makes it challenging to replicate in such studies assess its effectiveness. However, cohort research on this approach shown promising results.
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A 2016 study lasting four months revealed notable improvements in stress, energy, fatigue, digestive problems, and quality of life among middle-aged women. Additionally, more recent study found that patients with chronic illnesses, including autoimmune, neurological, hormonal, cardiovascular,, and skin disorders, significantly better quality of life outcomes compared to those receiving conventional treatment.
Functional testing is the strongest tool to uncovering the root cause
Testing is often required to undertake the health investigation, using standard blood pathology tests alongside functional tests such as:
Take a look at the most commom functional tests Balance Functional Medicine offers: