Functional Medicine: The Holistic Approach to Better Health
What makes functional medicine unique? Why should you choose functional medicine over other forms of treatment? These are the questions we are going to address throughout this blog, and aim to provide you with useful information to help you make an informed decision when it comes to your health.
The specialists at the Integrative Hormone Center utilize functional medicine in our practice. Jeff Hogrefe, RPh, AFAARM, is an expert in functional medicine and is the primary contact for all consultations. His credentials include an Advanced Fellowship in Functional Medicine, certified in genetic testing as well as a pharmacist. We believe that not only does functional medicine provide the most comprehensive assessment of your health, but offers lasting solutions that do much more than mask your pain for temporary relief.
Functional medicine is about building a complete profile of your health and fixing the issue at its source. Instead of the focus being all about the disease, our focus is on our patients as individuals and what is needed to restore your good health.
Treating the Source to Resolve Your Symptoms
By focusing on one condition, it can narrow your sight and prevent you from seeing the bigger picture. For example, depression can be caused by a disorder in the endocrine system which regulates your hormones. But there are countless influences that can compromise your endocrine system. Jeff will communicate with you through a process of genetic and health history exploration until the true cause of your condition is found and each of the contributing symptoms is systematically treated.
Your consultation is an essential opportunity to explore your medical history and create a truly comprehensive profile of your overall health. We will discuss topics and conduct tests based on genomics, and hereditary conditions. The information obtained during the consultation can shed light on the following issues:
- energy issues
- metabolism
- cardiovascular issues
- gut issues
- autoimmune diseases
- lab work – analysis and interpretation
Where Traditional Medicine Gets it Wrong
Traditional medicine follows the ‘disease-centered’ approach, where patient suffering from condition X gets medical treatment Y. This method of treatment assumes that everyone reacts to treatment in the same way, it also assumes that the source of your condition is generically the same. All too often, these focused treatments have serious side effects that can be detrimental to your health in the long run.
The reason that this line of thought can be dangerous, is because it narrows the scope of your condition and limits your treatment options. It doesn’t explore the possibility of additional underlying or contributing factors that may be the real source of your condition. That is why the holistic approach, where your overall bodily health is considered, can be very effective for relieving symptoms but also correcting the source of the problem.
Get Started With Functional Medicine
If you would like to know more or would like to take the first step in the process, reach out to the specialists at the Integrative Hormone Center. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can schedule you for a consultation! The consultation is when we begin to build out your comprehensive health profile based on your medical history, pre-existing conditions, and lab work. Call or book a consultation online to meet with Jeff Hogrefe today!
