Functional Medicine

The functional medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness.

Unlike the acute care model of traditional western medicine, Functional Medicine does not apply a standard protocol to each problem. This is not “one-size-fits-all” medicine. Through the unique partnership between patient and doctor, Functional Medicine produces a comprehensive plan for maximizing the health of the individual. Beyond alleviating symptoms or slowing the progression of disease, the corrected imbalances and lifestyle changes resulting from the Functional approach promote wellness and vitality for the whole patient.

Digestive Issues

Let’s talk about heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, food allergies, abdominal pain, and bloating. We know it can be embarrassing, but don’t worry! It affects most Americans. That means if you suffer from one or more of these issues, you are not alone.

Many people begin to accept these problems as normal. However, prolonged or irregular issues with your gut and stomach could be the signs of serious digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, food sensitivities/allergies leaky gut, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Furthermore, serious stomach issues can extend out beyond the digestive tract and can lead to issues in other parts of the body if it is not properly regulated. These digestive problems can cause systemic symptoms, even if the person is not showing digestive issues. These symptoms include joint pain, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and skin issues such as acne and rashes.

Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a persistent, complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that cannot be explained by any specific medical condition and can be set off with even normal to low activity.

Many people believe that having low energy is directly tied to the amount of sleep they receive each night. However, sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome know that even when they get enough sleep, they will still feel the consequences of their condition. When symptoms persist even after a full night’s rest, it can be an indicator that there is a more serious problem that is occurring.

Signs of Chronic Fatigue

Signs of chronic fatigue often include extreme tiredness throughout the day and following light movement or exercise. Other signs include short or long term memory loss, poor decision making, brain fog, and cognitive decline.

The cause of chronic fatigue can vary, but the most common reasons include poor dietary choices, food allergies/sensitivities, adrenal dysfunction, or gastrointestinal issues. Other causes include a hidden infection, exposure to environmental toxins, poor detoxification capacity, and high stress

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormones — such as estrogen, testosterone, insulin, adrenaline and thyroid — are extremely important chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your overall health. These chemical messengers, which are made by our endocrine system, work throughout your entire body to accomplish a wide range of important physical and chemical functions.

At some point in our lives, most of us are faced with symptoms sparked by fluctuations in our hormones which causes imbalances. The symptoms of hormone imbalances include:

Painful or irregular periods or PMS
Infertility
Thyroid disorders
Unexplained weight gain or weight loss and change in appetite
Depression, anxiety or brain fog
Fatigue or low energy
Insomnia or lack of deep sleep
Low sex drive
Digestive issues, skin issues, or vision issues
Hair loss and thinning hair

The causes of hormone imbalances vary, but the most common culprits include:

Poor dietary choice
Lack of exercise
High levels of stress
Food allergies or sensitivities
Hidden infections
High levels of inflammation
Weight gain and obesity
Exposure to toxins
Genetics

Chronic Stress

Your adrenal glands are a set of glands that sit on top of your kidneys, and they play a vital role in your overall health. The adrenal glands act like the emergency command and control center of your body—similar to a 911 call operator. When we are faced with a stressful situation, a hormone called cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and tells the rest of the body what to do in order to survive. When we face a stressor, cortisol shuts down fat burning to help us preserve energy, but it will give us a short burst of energy commonly known as an adrenaline rush.

High cortisol levels can:

Shut down the digestive tract
Stop the immune system from working properly
Affect other parts of the body such as the brain, thyroid gland, connective tissue, and sex glands in both men and women.

In a short-term sense, the release of cortisol is beneficial, and it helps us survive stressful situations. However, when we are under constant stress—and the body is releasing excessive amounts of cortisol—the adrenal glands can burn out or become “exhausted.” When your adrenal glands burn out and your cortisol levels drop, you end up: storing body fat around your midsection; your energy levels drop and fatigue sets in; and your mood will become depressed. Eventually, some people experience gastrointestinal issues, and they experience ulcers, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, and excessive gas. Females with high cortisol levels may also experience imbalances in their reproductive hormones which can lead to infertility, PMS, PCOS, and low libido. The list of negative effects cortisol has on the body is extensive.

Brain Issues

Everything we do affects the brain: the inflammatory foods that we eat, how we think, how much we exercise, what environmental toxins we are exposed to, and even how we maintain our gut health. Many brain issues are systemic disorders where the body affects the brain.

Today, more than ever, our brain health has been compromised. Current data from the Centers for Disease Control reveals a 41% increase in rates of ADHD diagnosis over the past decade and a forty-fold spike in bipolar disorder diagnosis. Similarly, diagnoses of various autism spectrum disorders, once considered rare, have increased by 78% since 2002.

Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia

There are roughly 10 million new cases of dementia worldwide each year. Every 65 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. An estimated 5.5 million people of all ages have some form of Alzheimer’s disease. There are roughly 10 million new cases of dementia worldwide each year. Every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia.

Whether it is ADHD, autism, Alzheimer’s or dementia, all brain-related disorders respond favorably to functional medicine treatment.

Optimal Health

Not every person who comes to our office is suffering from a medical condition. Some people simply want to be the healthiest versions of themselves and prevent any future issues. We can help with that too!

In a busy world where health and wellness often take a backseat to productivity and prosperity, we must continue to move forward, striving for a healthier mind and body. Our gentle, natural approach to healthy living encourages individuals to build on their current strengths as they explore new ways to eat, exercise, and relax. Through a whole body preventive approach, we provide ongoing, research-backed information, and education to help individuals take control of their health and make the positive decisions necessary for optimal well-being.

Balance Holistic Health Center offers an array of convenient, at-home tests to help identify any deficiencies or imbalances in the body that could affect both physical and mental health. Easy access to important health and wellness information and related tools is crucial to helping prevent many disease processes and conditions in the body. Ultimately, our goal is to help you find the right combination of therapies and support that empowers you to make the kinds of changes that will benefit your health. Balance Holistic Health Center provides the tools you’ll need to get started and the ongoing support to maintain permanent, life-altering changes!