Functionl Medicine
Functional Medicine is a health model comprised of multiple disciplines and therapies to achieve optimal health and healing, as naturally as possible.
Society is experiencing a dramatic rise in the amount of people suffering from complex, chronic diseases such as digestive disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, ADHD, autism and mental illness. Traditionally, chronic conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome are treated with the medical approach, providing short-term relief, however there is little to no impact on the long-term suffering of the individual. Patients need an approach which embraces healing by addressing the root cause of their problems, rather than perpetually trimming the leaves of their symptoms.
Functional medicine does not reject conventional medicine, instead it uses conventional medicine as a foundation on which to add new dimensions in the evaluation, management and prevention of chronic disease.
The foundation of functional medicine is the use of food and nutraceuticals as a first-line therapy. The focus is on stripping away environmental disruptors and reintroducing favourable nutrition, in combination with lifestyle and behavioural interventions to help clients to take charge of their health.
Functional Medicine considers factors such as diet, genetics, hormonal changes, prescription and over the counter medications, and other lifestyle components. It is a true “inside-out” approach starting deep inside with the patient’s unique genetic makeup then outward to identify any physiological imbalances expressing themselves as complaints, symptoms and ultimately disease.
Personalised care is becoming increasingly prevalent in healthcare environments.
The Functional Medicine
Principles
The Individual
Each of us has a genetic blueprint that defines how we look, how we respond to environmental factors and how our biological pathways work. Because of this, the very first principle of functional medicine is to treat each person as unique. Each client has a set of healing mechanisms defined by their DNA structure. Encouraging self-healing is an important part of the functional medicine model.
Evidence-Based
Each of us is the result of a network of biological interactions that affect not only our health but how we respond to disease and illness. These intricate systems give us an in-depth insight into how the human body functions and how the individual expresses their genes.
The Human Body is Self-Healing
Research today tells us that the human body is incredibly effective at regulating and healing itself. The balance between different organs in the body and how they interact is a key factor in providing an environment where healing can take place.
Ageing Does Not Equal Disease
We each have the potential to heal and prevent diseases commonly associated with ageing. Our bodies have an incredible and innate ability to heal under the ideal circumstances. Poor and avoidable lifestyle habits lead to chronic disease, which is, in essence, the body ageing at a rapid rate.
"Health" is More than the Absence of Disease
We tend to ignore important health indicators as individuals. We often consider good health as not having something wrong with us, however the absence of disease is not the only signal that we are in good health. Vitality, a good appetite, optimum weight, a good sex-drive and a settled emotional state are all indicators of general wellness.
DNA Testing / Epigenetics
The Human Genome Project was a large, well-organised, and highly collaborative international effort that generated the first sequence of the human genome. Carried out from 1990–2003, it was one of the most ambitious and important scientific endeavours in human history. The project’s architects and participants hoped the resulting information would usher in a new era for biomedical research.
DNA sequencing involves determining the exact order of the bases in DNA — the As, Cs, Gs and Ts that make up segments of DNA.
The project researchers used a thoughtful process to recruit volunteers, acquire their informed consent, and collect their blood samples.
Launched in October 1990 and completed in April 2003, the Human Genome Project’s signature accomplishment – generating the first sequence of the human genome – provided fundamental information about the “human blueprint”, which has since accelerated the study of human biology and improved the practice of medicine.
SNPs in Genome Sequencing: A human blueprint describes the typical 'recipe' for a functional human being. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, frequently called SNPs (pronounced “snips”), refer to the numerous variations along this “typical recipe” that make us unique.
Your DNA provides the exact blueprint for your health & wellness
Epigenetics is the study of how your DNA makeup interacts with your lifestyle habits: diet, exercise, stress management and sleep. It looks at how your body is literally wired for optimum performance. It tells you what is but also what can be.
The main reason why your friend's diet doesn't work for you is because of genetic variation, or bio-individuality. Your DNA informs us what foods, supplements, sleep patterns, exercise and lifestyle choices will naturally lead to the best version of you.
You will learn how your body processes chemicals and reactions, so that you can directly attend to the root of any area of discord. It's important to work with a trained practitioner or clinician in order to understand which insights are most relevant for you today, as Genetic Expression can change with age, life events, and medical history.
This incredibly valuable knowledge will provide you with the guidance of how to best support your body to feel your absolute best and minimise risk of disease, increasing vitality and longevity. If you've ever wished that you knew EXACTLY what would work for YOUR body before trying yet another diet, workout, or lifestyle approach... If you've ever felt like you wasted money on supplements or couldn't really tell if your vitamins were doing anything for you... then stop guessing and start testing!
