If you’re like most people, you’ve undoubtedly gone to the doctor, had blood work done, and gone to many appointments just to be informed that everything appears “normal,” even though you don’t feel that way.
A relatively new perspective on health called functional medicine may be helpful. It is a unique strategy and methodology for avoiding and treating complicated, long-term conditions. Instead of treating a set of symptoms, its primary goal is to treat the person as a whole.
Doctors who practice functional medicine spend enough time with their patients to analyze medical symptoms, nutrition, physical activity, traumatic events, lifestyle, and toxic exposures. They then work together to treat the disease’s hidden causes.
This article is a must-read if you want to learn about some ailments or conditions you can treat with functional medicine.
Adrenal and Thyroid Disorders
Functional medicine is the best way for individuals tired of using drugs and have seen numerous doctors without getting the necessary answers.
An appointment with a functional medicine physician may be necessary for several reasons, including the possibility of thyroid and adrenal disorders. They frequently go unnoticed and can result in symptoms that most individuals would describe as generally feeling unwell.
Numerous health problems, such as persistent weariness, weight loss, weakness, and stomach pain, can align with adrenal insufficiency. A series of hereditary diseases known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) impact the adrenal gland’s functioning and energy levels.
Mood disorders may not even be psychological problems because they may correspond to other symptoms such as depressive disorders, anxiety, erratic moods, impatience, and others. Stress causes the body to work more tirelessly than it should, releases hormones like cortisol, and makes a person feel ill. The presence of thyroid and adrenal dysfunction can also be evident by sleep disturbances.
These symptoms and others can be traced to their roots with the help of functional medicine. All you need to do is visit an expert for intensive care of any thyroid or adrenal disorder you suffer.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Due to their numerous symptoms, functional medicine is also the best way to treat these illnesses. The best action is not to cure each symptom while ignoring the underlying problem.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two illnesses that produce irritation and inflammation in your digestive tract and are collectively referred to as “inflammatory bowel disease” (IBD). In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the gut contents move too quickly or slowly, frequently accompanied by stomach pain.
Doctors refer to IBD as an anatomical disease. It implies that your symptoms are the result of physical harm. When your doctor performs an endoscopic examination, X-ray imaging, surgery, or biopsy on your gut, they may detect chronic inflammation or ulcers.
IBS is a functional medical condition. There is no medical cause for your problems, according to tests. By how you feel, you cannot identify the ailment you have.
IBD and IBS both impact your gut over time. Therefore, they share symptoms like stomach pain, gas, loose stool or constipation, excreting more frequently, or having the urge to go straight away. These medical conditions are often found in young people.
Bloody or black feces, decreased appetite, fever, and swelling of the joints, skin, or eyes are just a few symptoms of IBD inflammation that can progressively worsen with time.
IBS might make you feel sick and give you more bloats than regular. After a bowel movement, you could feel like you still need to go.
Autoimmune Disorders
When your body’s immune system targets healthy cells, it can cause autoimmune illnesses, manifesting as a range of symptoms. To assist you in restoring your body, functional medicine experts strive to determine the underlying cause of your autoimmune conditions.
Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, allergies, and some thyroid diseases are examples of these types.
Typically, your immune system defends you against illnesses and infections. When it detects these infections, it develops distinct cells that specifically hunt down foreign cells.
The immune system can typically distinguish between your cells and alien cells. However, if you have an autoimmune condition, your immune system misinterprets your skin or joints as foreign substances. The body then releases antibody-like proteins to harm healthy cells.
Some autoimmune disorders only affect a single organ. Type 1 diabetes may harm the pancreas. Lupus and some other health disorders may cause damage to the entire body.
Sex (particularly female sex), environmental variables, nutrition, ethnicity, family history, and other medical disorders are some underlying reasons for this illness.
Lethargy, dizziness, fainting, poor-quality fever, aching muscles, swelling, memory loss, tingling and numbness in the legs and hands, baldness, and skin rashes are all signs of autoimmune diseases.
Fibromyalgia
An illness known as fibromyalgia is marked by widespread pain in the muscles and joints along with problems with tiredness, sleep, memory, and mood problems. According to researchers, fibromyalgia alters how the brain and spinal cord receive painful and non-painful information, amplifying unpleasant sensations.
After an occurrence, such as injury to the body, surgery, infection, or emotional trauma, symptoms frequently start to show themselves. In other cases, symptoms progressively worsen over time without a clear cause.
Women are more likely than men to have fibromyalgia. Many fibromyalgia patients can experience tension headaches, TMJ issues, bowel dysfunction, anxiety, and depression.
Even though there is no known treatment for fibromyalgia, several drugs, and functional medicine can assist in managing symptoms. Exercise, rest, and stress-reduction techniques may also be beneficial.
Nerve Damage
Peripheral nerves are fragile and vulnerable to injury. A nerve injury may affect how the brain communicates with muscles and organs. Peripheral neuropathy refers to the impairment of the peripheral nerves.
Peripheral nerve damage requires medical attention as soon as feasible. You can avoid complications and long-term harm with early identification and treatment.
You might suffer symptoms from peripheral nerve damage that range from minor to severely restricting your regular activities. Depending on which nerve fibers are injured, your symptoms can vary widely. They could include involuntary muscle twitching, excruciating cramps, excessive perspiration, blood pressure fluctuations, and an inability to endure the heat.
You could find it challenging to walk, feel temperature changes, maintain balance (especially when you close your eyes), or fasten your buttons.
Treating Your Health Conditions with Functional Medicine
Functional medicine doctors take a thorough history as part of their procedure, so you may expect them to spend extra time with you. Functional medicine specialists may also recommend complementary therapies like acupuncture treatments, meditative practices, or herbal remedies alongside prescription medications.
Individual needs are addressed by functional medicine. A functional medicine doctor will assist you in determining which particular treatments are appropriate for you by employing methods different from those used by a traditional medical practitioner. Set up a consultation with one right away to improve your health.
