Functional Medicine

What is Functional Medicine and how does it work?

Functional medicine is a personalized, systems-oriented approach that delves deep into the interactions between a patient’s genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Rather than treating isolated symptoms, it aims to correct imbalances within the body to promote long-term healing. Chiropractic care, which focuses on the nervous system and spinal alignment, naturally complements functional medicine by improving the body’s structural integrity and enhancing its ability to self-heal.

Functional Medicine’s Role in Treating Neuropathy

Functional medicine practitioners view the body as an interconnected system, understanding that nerve health is influenced by various factors like diet, inflammation, toxin exposure, and lifestyle habits. This approach allows practitioners to create personalized treatment plans that focus on healing and restoring function, rather than just masking symptoms.

Key Strategies in Functional Medicine for Neuropathy:

1. Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is one of the leading contributors to nerve damage. Functional medicine emphasizes dietary and lifestyle changes that reduce inflammation, such as adopting an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids. Removing processed foods and added sugars, which are known to promote inflammation, is also key to supporting nerve health.
2. Addressing Nutritional Deficiencies: Nerves require specific nutrients to function properly, and deficiencies in vitamins such as B12, B6, and folate are often linked to neuropathy. Functional medicine practitioners will often test for nutrient deficiencies and recommend supplements or dietary changes to replenish essential nutrients. For example, increasing foods rich in B vitamins, like leafy greens, fish, and eggs, can help support nerve repair and function.
3. Detoxification: Toxin exposure, whether through heavy metals, pesticides, or other environmental pollutants, can damage nerves over time. Functional medicine focuses on supporting the body’s detoxification processes by optimizing liver function and reducing toxin load. This may involve the use of supplements, increased hydration, or dietary changes that promote detoxification pathways, such as increasing fiber intake and including cruciferous vegetables.
4. Managing Blood Sugar Levels: Neuropathy is commonly associated with diabetes, as elevated blood sugar levels can damage nerves over time. Functional medicine incorporates dietary changes, exercise, and other interventions to help manage blood sugar levels more effectively, which is critical in preventing further nerve damage and promoting healing.

Functional Medicine’s Approach to Gut Health

In functional medicine, gut health is addressed by looking at the body as a whole. Key areas of focus include identifying food sensitivities, restoring the balance of gut bacteria, healing the gut lining, and improving nutrient absorption. Functional medicine practitioners often take a detailed health history, perform specialized testing, and tailor treatment plans to the individual’s unique needs.

Steps to Improve Gut Health in Functional Medicine:

1. Dietary Adjustments: Functional medicine places significant emphasis on diet. Foods high in sugar, processed ingredients, and inflammatory components like gluten or dairy can disrupt gut health. A chiropractor practicing functional medicine might recommend an elimination diet to identify food sensitivities that contribute to digestive issues. Including nutrient-dense, whole foods that promote a healthy microbiome is also key.
2. Restoring Gut Flora: The balance of bacteria in the gut plays a critical role in digestion and overall health. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut flora, is often linked to conditions such as IBS, leaky gut syndrome, and inflammation. Functional medicine may include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and fermented foods to rebalance gut flora, improving digestive function and reducing symptoms like bloating and irregular bowel movements.
3. Healing the Gut Lining: A damaged gut lining can lead to leaky gut syndrome, where toxins and undigested food particles enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation. Functional medicine addresses this by recommending supplements like L-glutamine, zinc, and collagen, which help repair the gut lining and restore its integrity.
4. Addressing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation can lead to poor gut health and exacerbate conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other autoimmune disorders. Chiropractic care, combined with functional medicine strategies like anti-inflammatory diets and stress reduction techniques, can lower overall inflammation in the body, leading to improved digestive function.

Functional Medicine Care in New Richmond

Our clinic specialized in Functional Medicine. We help patients all across New Richmond achieve healthier lifestyles by using these alternative healing methods and opening up natural healing opportunities for your body.

If you’re dealing with a chronic illness or disease, book an appointment with us today and speak with our Functional Medicine Team!