Functional Medicine
Functional medicine is always a personalized, patient-centered approach to healthcare. Doing a thorough intake and listening to the patient, we focus on identifying and treating the root cause(s) of chronic illness rather than just managing symptoms. We view the body as an interconnected system and look to correct these systems that are causing the symptoms. Through the intake and advanced lab testing we can determine what systems aren't functioning properly. Then we plan treatments around lifestyle changes, nutritional interventions, and recommendations for supplements and Chinese herbs.
Certified vs Non-certified Functional Medicine Providers
In order to become a certified functional medicine provider, the practitioner has to have an advanced medical degree. Functional medicine schools require all students to have this degree in order to start their programs. Examples of these degrees include MD's, Licensed Acupuncturists, PT's, Pharmacists, chiropractors and nurses.
Dr Bret has a Doctorate in Acupuncture in Chinese Medicine (DACM) and a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine. He also attained certification in Applied Clinical Nutrition as well as becoming a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner.
If you go to a functional medicine provider, make sure to check their educational credentials.
Why see a Functional Medicine Provider
While your primary doctor might be bound by time constraints put on them by insurance companies, your functional medicine provider will take the time to see the big picture of what's going on with your health. Symptom treatment only stops the symptom, while the underlying cause persists. The symptom isn't the problem. The problem is a deficiency or imbalance of systems in your body. System imbalance or deficiency causes the symptoms, and only by correcting the system can you expect for a natural return to function and removal of the symptom.
Functional medicine isn't just for patients with chronic illnesses. Although functional medicine helps many chronically ill patients, it's extremely helpful to get functional medicine work done before you get sick, as it's an excellent preventative medicine. Just as you don't only eat well and workout once you become ill. You want to start and maintain those healthy habits when you're young. Doing functional medicine lab work helps to find the minor imbalances and deficiencies in your body before they become a major problem. Life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease and metabolic syndrome (diabetes), don't just happen overnight. These are conditions that, in most cases, have taken a decade or 2 to develop. Usually due to over-exposure to toxins, or chronic deficiencies and imbalances in the body that have gone unchecked for too long.
The Bottom Line
Take care of your body better than any of your other assets! You take your car in for maintenance. You change the oil, buy new tires, rotate and balance them, and wash it regularly too. You clean your home, maintain the yard, do maintenance on the air conditioner and furnace every year. Your body is your number one asset and you should be putting your health first.
Things We Look For
Functional medicine providers look at lots of systems. Through the thorough intake we decide on what labs we need to order. We may want to measure your stress level by testing your cortisol levels throughout the entire day. Looking at the gut microbiome (balance of good/bad bacteria, viruses, parasites, worms, inflammatory markers, etc...) can provide great insight into a patient's health. We may also look at things like food allergies and sensitivities, thyroid function, vitamins and mineral levels, oxidative stress levels, heavy metals, Lyme's disease, mold exposure, and genetic markers. Usually the provider will start with 2-4 labs. The more information we can get, the better picture we get of the patient's health. While there's hundreds of tests, doing the detailed intake helps us to narrow down what tests will be the most beneficial to unravelling and successfully managing your health concerns.