Functional Medicine
A holistic approach to health and wellness
What is Functional medicine?
Functional Medicine is more than just treating symptoms; it’s about finding and addressing the root causes of your health issues
Functional Medicine is a patient-centred, holistic approach that evaluates and corrects the underlying imbalances responsible for chronic health conditions. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses on symptom management, Functional Medicine aims to restore and optimise overall health by addressing the core dysfunctions in the body’s systems.
Connecting the Dots: Solving Your Health Puzzle
Functional Medicine explores every aspect of your health journey, from childhood illnesses and significant stressors to your current lifestyle and diet. By connecting these dots, we can develop a comprehensive view of your health timeline, which can help us identify the root causes of your issues.
Addressing Chronic Disease: From Early Imbalances to Full-Blown Illness
Chronic diseases often develop over many years, starting with subtle imbalances in one or more body systems. These imbalances can persist unnoticed, gradually worsening over time until a condition is formally diagnosed. Conventional medicine might label this pre-diagnostic phase as “good health,” but it’s a critical period where early intervention can prevent the onset of disease.
Functional Medicine practitioners are trained to detect and address these early imbalances, providing an opportunity to correct issues before they escalate into chronic conditions. By understanding the gradual progression of dysfunction, we can take proactive steps to restore and maintain health.
The Functional Medicine Model:
A Tree of Health
Imagine your body as a tree. The “leaves” of this tree are your symptoms. Symptoms are important to assess, as they are outward signs of an underlying dysfunction. A symptom might appear to be only associated with one part of your body, but like the leaves on a tree, they can tell us a lot about your overall health.
The “trunk” of the tree represents your organ systems. Just like a tree’s trunk supports its branches and leaves, your organ systems work together to maintain your health. When one organ is out of balance, there is an impact on other organs, leading to a variety of symptoms that might not seem connected at first glance.
The “roots” are the foundations of your health. These foundations for health are your nutrition, exercise, sleep, rest, and relationships. If these foundational aspects of health are not addressed, vibrant health cannot be achieved.
It is also important to consider your environment, the soil and air around the tree, as this is also vital for health.
A Functional Medicine Practitioner doesn’t just “paint your leaves green” by masking or treating your symptoms temporarily, instead they focus on nurturing your roots. This holistic approach supports vibrant health from the ground up.
Personalised, Client-Centred Care
We work with you are part of your team
Become the Master of Your Own Health
How we can help
Comprehensive & Functional Assessment
1. Medical and Stress History
We start by understanding your complete medical history, including any sources of stress and significant life events that may be impacting your mental health.
2. Family History
Exploring your family history helps us identify potential genetic predispositions to certain conditions. However, having a family history of a condition, does not mean that this is your future. Your genetics are important, however they may only play a minor role compared to environmental factors.
3. Food Choices and Digestive Function
We assess your diet, eating behaviours and gut health, which are critical components in managing mood disorders.
4. Lifestyle Evaluation
Your sleep patterns, exercise routines, and daily activities play a significant role in your overall well-being.
5. Biochemical and Functional Assessment
We aim to assess key markers of health through regular pathology and assessment. We look at pathology for subtle changes away from optimal, and consider multiple markers to help us investigate possible organ imbalances.
6. Functional Metabolic, Hormonal, Genetic and Microbial Testing
If needed, we can suggest more specialised tests to identify imbalances in hormones, nutrients, metabolic processes or gut bacteria that could be contributing to your symptoms.
A Personal Wellness Treatment Plan
Nutritional Support
We address nutritional deficiencies, optimise your nutrient intake, help you balance eating behaviours and suggest specific foods/food plans and recipes to support optimal health.
Lifestyle Adjustments
We provide strategies to reduce stress and improve your daily routines, including sleep, exercise, and relaxation practices.
Herbal and Natural Medicines
We may suggest evidence-based herbal and natural remedies to support your goals and alleviate symptoms.
Emotional and Mental Support
Healing at a deep level requires emotional and mental resilience, self-respect and a healthy dose of passion and purpose. Strategies for this are diverse and very personal but may include mindfulness, meditation, a passion project, cultivating positive relationships, and/or professional counselling.
Education and Empowerment
We empower you with the knowledge to understand your body’s needs and make informed health decisions, helping you become a master of your own health.
Trusted by our Clients
Learn about our 3-Month Foundational Functional Medicine Program
The Journey starts with our Functional Medicine Program. This program is essential to gain a clear understanding of your health and create your long-term wellness plan.
