Functional & Integrative medicine

Functional medicine

Functional medicine is a patient-centered approach to chronic disease management. It seeks to answer the question “why is the patient ill?” so the patient can receive personalized, effective care for their needs.

By having a deep analysis of the patient’s history, complaints, physical exam, and lab tests it helps to identify the root causes of the illness, including triggers as poor nutrition, stress, toxins, allergens, genetics and microbiome (the bacteria living in and on the intestine). Once these triggers are identified, a personal treatment is created for the patient. The plan addresses many aspects of life: physical needs, nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental and emotional stressors related to social, work and community life.

Integrative medicine

Integrative medicine uses an evidence-based approach to treat the whole person: mind, body and soul. It integrates conventional healthcare approaches (medication and psychotherapy) and complementary therapies (acupuncture and yoga). In this way, it integrates all aspects of well-being to achieve optimal health and healing. Types of integrative medicine include: acupuncture, chinese medicine, chiropractice, nutritionist, holistic psychotherapy, massage, yoga etc.

WHO CAN BENEFIT?

Anyone facing a chronic condition or wants to prevent future diseases can benefit from these treatements.
Some of the most common conditions that functional or integrative medicine can treat:

• Acute and chronic pain
• Articular: Arthritis
• Breathing disorder: Asthma
• Autoimmune diseases: Hashimoto, Rhuematoide arthritis
• Cancer prevention
• Cardiovascular disease: Hypertension
• Chronic fatigue
• Digestive disorders
• Hormonal disorders: Diabetes, Thyroid disorders, Adrenal gland disorders
• Immune disorders, Recurrent infections
• Neurological disorders: Fibromyalgia, Headache, Migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Parkinson, Sleep disorders
• Environmental and food allergies
• Women’s health disorders: PMS, Menopause and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Infertility
• Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Prediabetes, Insulin resistance

HOW IS IT DONE?

2 Weeks before the first appointment:

The patient will be asked to fill in an extensive medical questionnaire which provides the groundwork for the investigation into the root causes of the current condition.

The patient will be asked to do a blood test . The serum levels of hormones only reflect quantitative organ output, not their functional activity, which can be affected by many factors (genetics, nutrition, and others).

During the appointment, the questionnaire will be revised, a physical exam will be done. The lab results will be explained and a treatment will be given.

THE TREATMENT INTEGRATES:

• Phytotherapy
• Homeopathy
• Medicines
• Nutrition
• Oligo-elements, Vitamines
• Lifestyle modifications

The doctor may send you to see a nutritionist, psychologist or any other specialist if needed.
In case of need, auriculotherapy may be done as well.
A follow up will be done from 3 months to 1 year, depending on each patient.