Services

Functional Medicine

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Functional medicine is a way to address the whole person naturally. It has been rapidly gaining momentum as people have become increasingly disenchanted with the disease maintenance model of conventional medicine. Like traditional Chinese medicine, functional medicine is designed to be a preventative means by which people maintain health. If however imbalance is revealed through our detective work, functional medicine utilizes a different framework by which to address a prospective patient. The idea is to address the patient's state of adaptive physiology and support the body naturally back to homeostasis with diet, nutraceuticals, herbal supplementation, exercise and stress management. Instead of treating various isolated symptoms, the whole system is addressed. The standard of care in our mainstream healthcare system is to wait for a patient to become sick before any treatment plan is implemented. By this time, often there is only maintenance of the disease. Functional medicine is a tool to achieve and maintain optimal health naturally.


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Blood Chemistry Testing & Analysis

Functional blood chemistry testing has been an ever evolving tool to gain a broad perspective of the state of a persons physiology. Medical doctors review the various lab values and assign a western diagnosis. If certain lab values are outside of the"pathological range," then a disease diagnosis is given and pharmaceutical intervention is indicated. There are, however other ways of identifying imbalance by using a much narrower reference range called the "Functional range" whereby optimal lab values are set. If any lab value is outside of the functional range, various natural interventions may be implemented to restore homeostasis. These may include anything from pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements to changes in diet or even the temporary addition of herbal formulas. The intent is to eliminate stressors and give the body what it needs to flourish. So, through using objective data in various lab tests we can support the underlying physiology back to homeostasis.

It is important to remember that we do not use western medical diagnostic terms, but rather discuss any imbalance within a traditional Chinese medical framework. If any pattern shall arise that requires western medical intervention, you will be referred to your primary care physician where we will work closely to address any immediate concerns.


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Advanced Clinical Nutrition

This very powerful method of regaining health is often coupled with functional blood chemistry testing. After a traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis has been made and/or nutritional deficiencies have been identified, a comprehensive diet plan will be created. Often times its the elimination of certain foods that prove to be the most helpful aspect of the health plan. In other cases, a constellation of symptoms may be rectified by the simple addition of a few key nutrients that are building blocks for a vast array of other physiological processes. This is where the patient is in charge of their own health as the daily intake of food can be helpful toward their goal of optimal health or counterproductive. So educating and guiding patients toward their nutritional goals is one of our biggest tools as this leads to lifestyle changes and sustained wellness.

It is important to remember that we do not use western medical diagnostic terms, but rather discuss any imbalance within a traditional Chinese medical framework. If any pattern shall arise that requires western medical intervention, you will be referred to your primary care physician where we will work closely to address any immediate concerns.


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Lifestyle Counseling

This very important aspect of your comprehensive health plan is the glue that will bind everything together. This includes identifying as many elements of one's life that induces a stress response such as overwork, irregular sleep patterns, skipping meals, lack of exercise or over exercise, over eating and family/relationship stress to name a few. The toll that chronic stress takes on our lives is cumulative and we often unconsciously adapt to the stress and normalize it. However, long term low grade stress can create a cascade of physiological effects that can lead to chronic inflammatory conditions, neurotransmitter fluctuations and even gastro-intestinal issues etc. So, developing good routines and habits will serve you well as you venture into a lifestyle change that will be supportive to reclaiming your health.

It is important to remember that we do not use western medical diagnostic terms, but rather discuss any imbalance within a traditional Chinese medical framework. If any pattern shall arise that requires western medical intervention, you will be referred to your primary care physician where we will work closely to address any immediate concerns.

Appointments

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Business Hours

  • Tuesdays, 10:00am-5:00pm
  • (By Appointment Only)