We consider that your body always has your best interests at heart. When things go wrong, it doesn't always feel good, but by spending time understanding the conditions, symptoms and “DYS-functions” of your system, we can often help your body to achieve what it seems unable to do by itself.
We often compare functional medicine to the way a tree grows – everything that attracts your attention is above the surface, but everything that's important to that tree’s health and life, comes from under the ground. It’s what is under the ground that gets the tree from sunny and plenty, through cold or dry seasons - so too with your body!
The understanding behind functional medicine is that chronic illness occurs because there are imbalances in your body often caused by poor nutrients from “your roots!”
When inflammation, blood sugar imbalance, insulin resistance, oxidative stress or exposure to toxins and chemicals occurs, it creates hormonal and immune system “dys-function.” The body has to fight desperately to restore the balance and health. In an environment where there is a poor diet, lack of essential nutrients, emotional stress, environmental stress, environmental toxins, lack of exercise and other poor lifestyle choices; the stage is set for disease to develop.
So how can functional medicine help?
It’s an
individualised way of caring for your health. The key? YOU. Because
you’re unique, the
treatment is unique. We’ve learnt that what works for one, might not work for all; so it’s imperative to understand the
individual!
Yes, we still do conventional tests, like taking blood samples. BUT… we
add a host of cutting edge technologies to both our
testing and our treatment such as genetic testing, organic acid testing, essential fatty acid balance and toxicology screens. We can check for heavy metal toxins like mercury and lead as well as other metals that are either in excess or deficient, that can be affecting your health.
Food tests include standard allergy testing, but we take it up a notch, by testing for
food intolerances that may be making you sick, just like an allergy, but much slower and more sinister.
When we have the test results back that relate to you specifically, we use them in conjunction with a thorough medical and life history, to piece together the mystery and awesomeness that is you, in a way that would make Sherlock Holmes proud!
