Functional Medicine Toronto

A Functional Medicine approach is a personalized, systems-oriented model that empowers patients to achieve optimal health. A Functional Medicine approach focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease.

Functional Medicine addresses the underlying root cause of disease using a systems-oriented approach that engages both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It seeks to understand the origins of chronic disease so that meaningful treatment and prevention methods can be applied in order to initiate a thorough healing response.

INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

A PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO ADVANCED MEDICAL CARE

A Functional Medicine approach is essentially a partnership between the patient and the doctor. The goal of this partnership is to bring the patient back to health while informing the patient about the core principles of health maintenance and prevention.

Imagine this as a volcano, a named disease such as diabetes, cancer, or fibromyalgia might be visible above the surface, but when using the Functional Medicine approach, the real issue lies in the altered physiology caused by factors found below the surface. Traditional medicine often treats one area of the overall problem and rarely leads to long-term relief, vibrancy and well-being. Functional Medicine identifies and treats the underlying root causes and has a much greater chance of successfully resolving a patient’s health challenge.

Functional Medicine Toronto

Who Is Functional Medicine For?

Functional Medicine targets underlying reasons that are causing your current symptoms, making it a suitable approach for many conditions. Primarily, though, it is linked to chronic conditions ranging from arthritis to irritable bowel syndrome and various forms of Auto Immune conditions.. This method of treatment can be used by patients of all ages and backgrounds, and may be deemed suitable if;

  • You want a personalized experience rather than a generic plan,
  • Previous treatments have managed symptoms but not dealt with root causes,
  • Your chronic symptoms have worsened despite traditional treatments,
  • You would like to spend more time with your practitioner,
  • You feel that there are better treatments than what you’ve had so far.

Due to its personal approach, Functional Medicine will require you to provide a lot of information about the timeline of your symptoms as well as various lifestyle issues. Detailed laboratory work is often an essential component of a functional medicine workup. In return, the diagnosis and treatments for your complex chronic conditions will be greatly improved.

Examples Of Functional Medicine

The systems-oriented methodology of Functional Medicine seeks to treat every patient as an individual. Given that no two patients are the same, you will receive a fully tailored strategy based on your individual situation. Your practitioner will use a wide range of data to establish the best possible treatment plan. Some of the factors that could influence your individual results include;

  • The condition or disease.
  • The individual symptoms you experience.
  • Underlying health issues.
  • Your age, gender, and background.
  • Your lifestyle.
  • Your work/employment.
  • Your environment.

Functional Medicine ultimately sets out to target the root cause and underlying health issues rather than a specific symptom. While your treatment will be entirely built around you, some of the most common components of a FM treatment program are detailed below:

Customized Lab Testing

Functional Medicine harnesses the power of lab testing as a critical part of our patient centered approach. Oftentimes our new patients have had standard tests done prior to working with us and have been told all results are in the “normal” range. Unfortunately, these individuals continue to feel unwell and do not function at their full potential. By focusing on your unique health goals, utilizing and interpreting data uncovered by selected lab tests, taking and reviewing your medical history – we will help you uncover missing pieces of your ‘puzzle’ and help you formulate an in-depth program customized to you.

Customized Nutrition

We use supplements (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.) and herbs as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for many diseases. We integrate these treatments into your care based on solid scientific evidence and extensive experience from other countries that commonly use supplements and herbs for many disease conditions. We advise our patients on which types of preparations are most effective and try to guide them to quality manufacturers of these products.
Herbs and supplements are generally safe, but the unsupervised use of these products may result in unnecessary expenses and potentially serious side effects when not administered properly, or po0r quality products used. We review your chart for any potentially harmful drug or herbal interactions. We strive to help our patients maintain wellness through a healthy lifestyle and with as few medical interventions as possible.

IV Vitamin Therapy

IV vitamin therapy, also known as intravenous vitamin drip therapy, is a treatment used to safely deliver nutrients or medicines straight to the bloodstream. By bypassing the digestive system, the body can absorb nutrients quickly and efficiently. Up to 99.9% of the nutrients can be successfully absorbed when using this method.

The treatment can be used as part of a program for addiction recovery, controlled weight loss, and improved wellness. The physical rewards may also help you unlock a better state of mind. Digestive issues and nutritional deficiencies can be found at the core of many chronic conditions, which is why IV vitamin therapy may be included as a part of your Functional Medicine strategy.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathy is an approach to care that focuses on supporting the body’s natural defense systems so that it can repair itself. Having been introduced to America in the 19th century, it is a long-running methodology that treats underlying causes rather than managing symptoms. In that sense, it aims to aid the body, mind, and soul.

The use of natural medicines may also be accompanied by lifestyle changes and other preventative methods. Additional elements may include stress management or herbal medicines. Naturopathy takes its name as a derivative of ‘nature’ and promotes natural healing to restore your body’s overall health, which can subsequently combat the symptoms currently experienced.

Acupuncture/TCM

Derived from ancient Chinese medicine, acupuncture is the therapeutic use of needles to stimulate nerves under your skin and muscles. This can aid blood flow and promote increased production of endorphins. While this will deliver noticeably prolonged pain relief, the main purpose of acupuncture is to restore the body’s energies.

Your practitioner will use acupuncture to treat a range of chronic conditions, although it is likely to form a part of your overall Functional Medicine plan rather than be a long treatment. You may find that multiple sessions are booked. The chosen body sites for the needles to be used will depend on a range of circumstances based upon the findings of consultations and data analysis.

Botanical Medicine

Botanical medicine, is a medical system based on the use of plants or plant extracts that are taken internally or applied to the skin. Since ancient times, herbal medicine has been used by many different cultures throughout the world to treat illness and to assist bodily functions. Botanical remedies in the form of extracts, tinctures, capsules, tablets, and teas may be recommended by your provider as a way to address your medical concerns.

Why Opt For Functional Medicine?

Whether it’s IV vitamin therapy or another extension of Functional Medicine therapies, many patients experience a wide range of benefits that can be stand alone or in conjunction with traditional or other alternative therapies.. Functional Medicine is an approach that appreciates the fact that one condition may have many root causes and vice versa. As a patient, this method of diagnosing and treating physical and mental health issues will deliver several key benefits, including but not limited to;

  • Patient-centered medical care that looks to identify the condition, cause, and individual symptoms. In turn, the accurate diagnosis means that your treatment plan or symptom management strategy is perfectly aligned to your personal illness and/or health goals for optimal levels of care throughout the journey ahead.
  • Personalized medical care that is supported by transparency and clear communication at every step of the journey. This gives you, the patient, a sense of control and understanding that subsequently brings calmness and peace of mind before, during, and after your treatment.
  • Affordable medical care that avoids the unnecessary costs of generic treatments that target an overall condition rather than the specific cause or symptoms that are affecting your health. While money isn’t the most important thing at this time, getting straight to the root of the cause will reduce your costs.

Above all else, the personalized approach and close relationship with your practitioner will put your mind at ease. For those reasons and many more, functional medicine may be the perfect choice regardless of whether this is your first attempt at combating the condition or you’ve failed to see results from other plans.

Ready to take control of your health? We are here to help. Contact us to get started TODAY and book a complimentary 15-minute Discovery Session.