Functional medicine is defined as a “systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease” by the Institute for Functional Medicine. Simply, functional medicine, also known as functional health, works to address health complications through a more natural, holistic approach.
When the body is unable to produce energy, the body compensates by releasing stress chemicals. These stress chemicals suppress various organs, ions, vitamins, enzymes, and hormones from functioning optimally and in turn negatively affects energy production.
By restoring energy production pathways within the cell and therefore within the organs, we can break these destructive stress cycles and truly get back to health. In the words of Hans Selye, MD, PhD, ScD, considered the “Father of Stress Research,” “It’s not the stress that kills us, it’s our reaction to it.” How one chooses to address his/her stress and stressors is up to each individual. It is ultimately oxidative stress (oxygen and free radical stress) within our body, causing ATP (energy source) and organ dysfunctions, which in turn causes energy production problems.
Energy production is more than a lack of physical energy throughout the day. Lack of physical energy, throughout the day, means you are not regulating your energy systems correctly. However, this is a symptom not a cause. Energy production is poorly understood with fractionalized treatment approaches within our modern-day healthcare system, which is beautifully articulated by Douglas Wallace, PhD (2005), founder of the field of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetics.
“Life is the interplay between structure and energy, yet the role of energy deficiency in human disease has been poorly explored by modern medicine.”
Functional medicine doctors are either Naturopaths, Chiropractors, or Medical Doctors. Each profession has the legal ability to practice as a functional medicine doctor. A functional medicine doctor works to facilitate healing through more holistic means – non-pharmacological means.
More often than not, the primary difference between a regular doctor and a functional health doctor is the focus of when interventions are implemented. A functional medicine doctor works to identify and help the body by being proactive and identifying why a person cannot fight off a pathogen (i.e. virus, bacteria, etc.) before a problem manifests. In comparison, a “regular doctor” helps attack a pathogen once it is present; this comes at a cost. To attack the pathogen, you must attack the host. This is a reactive approach to health.
Simply ask yourself, are you at a point in your life you want to be proactive or reactive regarding your health? If you seek to be proactive, we have options for you. If you are currently experiencing chronic health problems and want help, we consider this proactive. If your desired approach is reactive, e.g. “I’ll wait until I’m sick,” then we are not the right fit for you. Our goal is to help those who want to proactively improve energy production and thrive throughout the years to come.
