Vince Taylor DC, CFMP - Functional Medicine Solutions

Thanks again for joining us yesterday. The class was a huge success thanks to all of you.

We’ve received some great questions, remember we’re here for everyone so don’t hesitate to reach out any time.

We’d love to hear more about your experience. Please share your number one takeaway from yesterday's class.

If anyone is interested in learning more about our practice, feel free to give us a call at 9319193833. We look forward to hearing from all of you!

Post 23

Thank you all for joining us today! We know a lot of information was covered, please share your questions below. You may find it easier to allow the information to sink in and ask questions later. Either way, we’re here to provide you with answers!

Thanks again for allowing us to share this experience with you today.

Post 22

The following resources have been used to create this class:

https://www.ccs.edu/cms/lib8/NY01913591/Centricity/Domain/188/Healthy%20Today%20Article.pdf

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/mapped-global-epidemic-lifestyle-disease-charts/

https://medcraveonline.com/JCCR/JCCR-09-00326#_ftnref1

https://www.morrisonhealth.com/notable-differences-between-practice-conventional-and-integrative-medicine/

http://southwestfunctionalmedicine.com/about-functional-medicine/

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002294.htm

Post 21

When all is said and done, functional medicine recognizes the need for a life in balance with connection, community, love, support, and a sense of empowerment as essential elements for achieving optimal health.

Post 20

Here’s a quick review of the topics discussed today:

Functional medicine considers the whole body both in the diagnosis stage and the treatment stage.

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Functional medicine treats the root cause of an illness, not just the symptoms.

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Functional medicine uses natural treatments with fewer adverse side effects.

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Functional medicine combines scientifically proven treatments with alternative medicine to produce an integrated medical solution.

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Functional medicine often utilizes diagnostic tests that can identify cells that are moving toward disease but are not yet diseased.

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Functional medicine focuses on disease prevention and more adequately address chronic conditions.

Post 19

While conventional medicine has been the methodology for treatment for decades, it may not be enough to address systemic conditions. Because chronic disease diagnosis has been on the rise, many people are looking to functional medicine to treat conditions systematically.

Functional medicine has been referred to as medical care of the future because it takes conventional medicine to the next level by incorporating more holistic ideas and methods that actually work.

Post 18

Because functional medicine addresses more than just physical well-being, reducing stress is also an essential aspect of disease prevention.

Any number of stress reduction techniques can be utilized depending on what will fit into your personal lifestyle. Your practitioner may suggest incorporating a daily meditation practice, breathing exercises, or yoga to help reduce stress.

Between the pressures of work, social, and home life, stress is an inevitable aspect of life. Finding natural outlets for reducing stress are recognized by functional health practitioners as an essential aspect of wellness.

Post 17

The body is intelligently designed to eliminate toxins; however, today’s highly processed diet and chemical-filled environment can overwhelm the detox organs.

Functional medicine addresses issues with toxic burden and enhances the body’s natural detoxification processes. A straightforward technique for aiding detoxification may be to drink more pure water. Many herbal remedies can also be utilized to promote the optimal functioning of the liver and other detox organs.

Post 16

Our bodies are fueled by the foods we eat, which is why addressing issues of the digestive system is something that functional medicine takes seriously.

Digesting, absorbing, and assimilating all the food and nutrients we eat is critical for health. A breakdown anywhere in this process creates illness. Many conditions stem from a condition known as leaky gut syndrome.

The balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut plays a tremendous role in our health. By properly balancing the gut bacteria, many symptoms can be lessened or dissipate altogether.

Post 15

Inflammation throughout the body often accompanies a chronic disease. While inflammation plays a vital role in protecting the body from foreign invaders or abnormal cells, and overactive inflammatory response can cause illness.

Functional medicine addresses inflammation by correcting nutrient deficiencies and hormonal imbalances.

Post 14

Hormonal balance is another core body system addressed through functional medicine. Imbalances can occur for any number of reasons including medication side effects, diabetes, stress, thyroid disorders, and more.

Hormonal imbalances can occur in both men and women and are responsible for a number of adverse health conditions. Symptoms can range from mild to severe including weight gain, fatigue, depression, and physical pain to name a few.

Depending on the type of hormonal imbalance in question, functional medicine utilizes a number of tests to confirm an imbalance including blood tests, ultrasound, biopsy, MRI, X-ray, thyroid scan, and more.

Post 13

When addressing specific conditions, functional medicine taps into a number of core body systems to encourage natural healing.

The first step is often to optimize nutrition. The right balance and quality of macronutrients (protein, fats, and carbohydrates), and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) can kickstart the body’s natural healing process.

It’s true. We are what we eat. A diet high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and processed foods can cause the immune system to be overactive. A diet rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients from all the colorful pigments in plant foods, on the other hand, support our wellbeing.

Through functional medicine, you will work with your practitioner to create a diet that works for your lifestyle and provides your body with the fuel and protection it needs.

Post 12

When you visit a functional medicine practitioner, you can expect to spend a lot more time with them than you would with a conventional provider. You can also expect to do most of the talking. A functional practitioner is trained to listen to patients while gathering a detailed personal and family history, the circumstances around your first symptoms, and your lifestyle habits and health behaviors.

The reason for such a detailed account of your health is to uncover the underlying causes of your health problems and determine which types of physical examination and laboratory testing are best suited for your individual needs.

Topics your practitioner may discuss with your include:

-Simple lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and better sleep

-Testing for hormone imbalances or nutritional deficiencies

-Assessing family medical history and using FM as a means of prevention

-Strengthening the body’s normal healing abilities rather than narrowly attacking symptoms or disease

-Eating whole foods instead of unhealthy processed foods

Post 11

Functional medicine is specially equipped to address many different diseases and health issues such as:

Allergies

Depression

Cancer

Obesity

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Arthritis

Heart Disease

Anxiety

High Blood Pressure

Autoimmune Disease

Fibromyalgia

Chronic Pain

Do you suffer from any of these common health concerns?

Post 10

A vital aspect of addressing disease and illness is first identifying the root cause. While there can be any number of factors causing an illness, a few common root causes of many health issues include:

-inflammation

-improper sleeping

-poor diet

-stress

-immune imbalances

-trauma

-negative thought patterns

-lack of regular exercise

-digestive problems

-toxin exposure

Post 9

Systemic disease is a term used to describe conditions that affect the entire body, rather than a single organ or body part, opposed to an infection that affects only one body part or organ is called a localized infection.

Many diseases can be considered systemic. Some common systemic illnesses include:

Arthritis

Cancer

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Diabetes mellitus

High cholesterol

Hypertension

Lupus

Post 8

The most important element of the functional medicine approach is the prevention of disease. As the adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The goal is to help the body to function optimally with the intent to support self-healing. Rebalancing the body once a disease has progressed is more involved and may require medical intervention which is why prevention is preferred.

The tools utilized by functional medicine reach far beyond pharmaceuticals and surgery. Detoxification programs and stress management techniques are often used and tailored to what the individual patient needs.

The partnership created between physician and patient allows the patient to become an active participant in the healing process, providing the patient to be in control of improving their health and achieving optimal wellness.

Post 7

The foundation of functional medicine is based on three main pillars of healthcare.

PATIENT-CENTERED CARE

Patient-centered care is the practice of caring for patients, and their families, in ways that are meaningful and valuable to the individual patient. This involves creating a client-doctor partnership for creating an individualized care plan.

INTEGRATIVE, SCIENCE-BASED METHODOLOGY

Functional medicine utilizes the latest evidence in medical research and clinical expertise. The complex web of genetics, medical history, physiology, and lifestyle create an “inside-out” approach to identify any physiological imbalances.

INTEGRATING BEST MEDICAL PRACTICES FROM MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES

Functional medicine often combines traditional Western medical practices with other types of therapeutic approaches from around the world. The integration of multiple disciplines emphasizes

-prevention of disease through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle,

-use of the latest laboratory testing and diagnostic techniques, and access to combinations of medications, botanicals, supplements, therapeutic diets, exercise plans, rehabilitation plans, detoxification programs, and stress management techniques.

Post 6

It’s important to note that functional medicine does not reject conventional medicine, but uses it as a foundation on which to add new dimensions in the evaluation, management, and prevention of chronic disease.

Functional medicine offers a personalized and integrative approach to healthcare. The process involves prevention, management, and understanding the root causes of complex chronic disease.

Because of the dramatic shift from infectious to noncommunicable disease, functional medicine is needed to address chronic lifestyle-related illness. With functional medicine, healing the patient replaces treating the patient.

Post 5

Now that we’re all on the same page regarding the definition of health, we can explain functional medicine.

In many ways, functional medicine is similar to conventional medicine. They are both practiced by licensed medical professionals; both are evidence-based, employ advanced diagnostic tests, and may use prescription medications.

Where the two styles of medicine differ is in the guiding philosophy. Conventional medicine is well equipped to correlate symptoms with an illness which is ideal for addressing acute and urgent medical conditions such as infectious diseases, broken bones, and physical trauma. However, we just shared that the leading causes of death are chronic conditions that develop over a long period of time.

This is where functional medicine comes into play. While conventional medicine is focused on symptoms and treatment with the goal of turning symptoms off, functional medicine addresses illnesses by identifying and addressing the underlying cause.

Key differences:

-Functional medicine is health-orientated; Conventional is disease-oriented

-Functional is patient-centered; Conventional is doctor-centered

-Functional is holistic; Conventional is specialized

-Functional focuses on prevention; Conventional focuses on disease detection

Post 4

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), those not transmitted by infection, are the leading cause of death globally with the notable exception of Africa. While currently deaths in Africa are attributed to infectious and viral conditions, the World Health Organization predicts NCDs will be the biggest killers in Africa by 2030.

The main factors for chronic diseases include smoking, physical inactivity, high levels of alcohol consumption, and obesity. Although to***co remains the leading cause of chronic conditions, sedentary lifestyles aren’t far behind.

The main types of NCDs include cardiovascular diseases (CVD), stroke, diabetes, certain forms of cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases and are heavily linked to lifestyle choices.

Lifestyle-related diseases often have a long latency period, making them difficult to detect until a condition is in an advanced stage. The good news is noncommunicable diseases are often preventable through better lifestyle choices.

Post 3

When it comes to determining the status of your health, four different factors have been identified for consideration. They include personal health behavior, physical environment, heredity influences, and the quality of health services available to you.

HEALTH BEHAVIOR

Our health habits contribute to at least 50% of all major causes of death. Lifestyle dramatically impacts the quality of health. Behaviors identified by researchers include sleep, diet, physical activity, weight, and use of to***co and alcohol.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The environment includes the places you live, work, and play. The conditions of each environment directly impact health. From air quality to noise level, access to fresh food choices, and crowded living space, the physical environment plays a significant role in your health outcome.

HEREDITY

Genetics influence certain disease factors which are passed down from parents. While heredity certainly plays a role in certain disease factors, in many cases, behavior and lifestyle choices can reduce or increase the risk of such disease.

HEALTH-SERVICES

This aspect refers to one’s access to care, which includes the ability to reach a healthcare facility as well as financial access. For example, lack of health insurance most likely results in lower access to care.