Conditions Treated by Functional & Integrative Medicine:

There are many conditions that can be treated by a Functional/Integrative Medicine practitioner because we don’t actually treat the condition…we treat the patient. Each person is unique in terms of the layers present that cause or allow an illness to form, and the approach for each person will be different. This is a basic list that covers most of the conditions seen on a routine basis and how they’re viewed within the biological systems-based model of Functional Medicine. There is overlap and interconnection among all condition categories, and this list is not exhaustive.

Autoimmune Diseases

This is a growing list of >80 different diseases. Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which a person’s immune system loses the ability to differentiate self from non-self and begins attacking tissues in the body. The most common triggers include gut dysbiosis, chronic infections, neuroendocrine disrupting chemicals, heavy metals and other toxins, hormone imbalance, mineral and vitamin deficiencies, and chronic stress. Autoimmune diseases are more common in women, especially post-menopause, and require a highly individualized approach.

• Behcet’s

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Sjogren’s

• Lupus

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Hashimoto’s

Endocrine and Hormone Disorders

The central nervous system, through the control of the hypothalamus and pituitary, helps regulate metabolism and reproduction in the body by sending signals to the hormone-producing organs. These hormones interact back to the brain as well as to the organ systems that are targets of the hormones. Biochemical pathways affecting hormone production, transport, sensitivity and detoxification can be evaluated, allowing for an individualized intervention. Most hormone imbalance can be resolved by addressing underlying causes of dysregulation in a systematic manner. Some patients may require bio-identical hormone replacement as they work with their healthcare team toward achieving balance in the endocrine system.

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

• Obesity

• Endometriosis

• Diabetes

• Andropause (male hormone imbalance)

• Insulin Resistance

• Female Hormone Dysregulation

• Low Testosterone

• Hypogonadism

• Hypothyroidism

• Adrenal Fatigue

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases

These conditions have metabolic dysfunction and endothelial (artery wall) inflammation as a major component. There are over 300 biomarkers (lab tests) to evaluate patients in this category to help identify dysregulated biological activity that could be contributing to increased disease risk (insulin, cholesterol particle size, leptin, adiponectin, MTHFR, APOE and other genetic markers, CRP, TNF alpha, etc.). A thorough analysis can help determine where dysfuntions lie within a person’s complex biochemical pathways for metabolism, detoxification, etc. Once these roadblocks are identified, they’re addressed in chronological order on an individualized basis through lifestyle modification, detoxification, inflammation reduction, nutrient support and more, based on which layers are present.

• Cardiac Disease Prevention and Risk Reduction

• Hypertension

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

• Osteoporosis

• Gout

• Hypertriglyceridemia

• Hyperlipidemia

• Sleep Apnea

• Kidney Stones

• Cardiovascular Disease

• Heart Disease

• Diabetes

Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders

Hippocrates once stated that all disease begins in the gut, and we find >95% of patients seen for any reason have one or more significant imbalances in their GI tract that must be addressed for healing to occur: most commonly weak digestion, infections (parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral), deficient immune response and/or leaky gut. Approximately 80% of the body’s immune response originates in the GI tract, >90% of the body’s serotonin receptor sites are found there, and nutrient absorption relies heavily on healthy digestive function, so most integrative evaluations include GI evaluation and treatment.

• Yeast/Candida Overgrowth

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s, Colitis)

• Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease

• Food/Environmental Allergies/ Intolerances

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Gastritis & Reflux

• Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

Autonomic Dysregulatory Disorders

The autonomic nervous system interacts with the entire body, so diseases originating there are not clear cut and often overlap with multiple conditions. Mitochondrial disorders are closely related to autonomic dysfunction. This group of conditions requires the most diligence on the part of both the clinician and patient in discovering underlying root causes.

• Blood Pressure Regulatory Dysfunction

• Undiagnosed Syncope

• Digestive Disorders

• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS) Syndrome

• Adrenal Fatigue

Neurological Dysfunction

Once neuron cells are lost, they can’t be recovered, but through neuroplasticity, improved function can be achieved. Proper nerve function is often disrupted by environmental and systemic toxins, so these are important to identify and address.

• PANS/PANDAS

• Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Parkinson’s

• Alzheimer’s

• Balance & Coordination Imbalances

• Dizziness

• Peripheral Neuropathy

Mitochondrial Dysfunction

The mitochondria in all cells of the body combine nutrients and oxygen to release the stored energy from our food, allowing each cell to efficiently carry out its functions. Mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly common due to escalating toxic exposures from our diet and environment, and declining nutrient sufficiency. Toxins poison mitochondrial function if not removed efficiently from the body, and detoxification requires good nutrient status. The standard American diet is declining in nutrient density due to leaching of soils and more pervasive use of refined and processed foods, so regular detoxification is becoming increasingly important, whether or not fatigue is present, for most conditions.

• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome

• Cardiometabolic Disease & Chronic Pain Syndromes

• Chronic Fatigue & Immunodeficiency Syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Ehlers’ Danlos Syndrome

• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS) Syndrome

Chronic Pain & Fatigue Syndromes

This group of conditions overlaps with mitochondrial disorders, digestive disorders, immune system disorders and psychiatric illnesses and thus requires addressing multiple system imbalances.

• Chronic Lyme’s Disease

• Post Treatment Lyme’s Disease Syndrome

• Chronic Fatigue & Immunodeficiency Syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

Chronic Infections

New research is finding a close symbiotic relationship between our body and the microbes we’re exposed to. Dysregulation in the immune system can result in recurrent herpes, shingles, chronic Lyme and other infections. Chronic oral infections (periodontal disease and tooth infections) have been seen to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and premature labor, as well as babies small for their gestational age; the DNA of H Pylori and and chlamydia have been found in coronary arterial plaque. Because chronic infections can interact with all other systems of the body, identifying and addressing them is extremely important, and often require highly personalized treatment protocols.

• Chronic Lyme, Herpes/Shingles

• Recurrent Strep, Ear Infections, Respiratory or Sinus Infections, Styes

• Chronic or Recurrent Vaginal Yeast Infections, Urinary Tract Infections

Functional Psychiatric & Mental Health

Over the last decade with the reclassification of mental health diseases by the DSM-V manual, in addition to new discoveries in neuropsychiatric function, we’ve learned that many mental diseases have a neuro-inflammatory component that must be investigated to determine underlying cause/s, which can range from mycotoxins, heavy metals and other toxins, to GI dysfunction, infections and food intolerance.

• Depression

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• ADD

• Bipolar Disorder

• Chronic Insomnia

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Often advanced therapy modalities such as PT, OT, Speech, Interactive Listening, Vision Therapy and other modalities are required when addressing these types of conditions. Parental interaction and individualized dietary modifications are paramount. Supplementation with neuroprotective supplements can also help.

• Developmental Delay

• Autism

• ADHD

• Intellectual Developmental Disorder

• Conduct Disorders

• Vision and Hearing Impairment