While conventional medicine focuses on managing particular symptoms through medication or surgery, functional medicine is focused on whole-body wellness. Functional medicine’s primary goal is to identify and address the root causes of illness.
While we believe traditional medicine has its place and is absolutely necessary in many cases, functional medicine can naturally and effectively address a myriad of health conditions.
Unearthing the Root Cause
We suggest that our patients visualize a “wilting plant.” It may be brown with drooping leaves. The “plant” doesn’t look healthy, and the soil is dry. Functional medicine looks at “why” the plant is wilted.
The standard medical approach might be to “paint” the leaves green by giving the plant all kinds of medicine to see if those will help. Sometimes the medication could lead to a ‘cure’. But, unfortunately, the majority of the time the medications simply cover up the symptoms. And, in a high percentage of cases where medication is involved, dosages (often with a laundry list of potential side effects – some worse than the original condition) continue to increase over time as the body builds resistance to the chemicals.
Instead of just painting the leaves of the plant green so the plant appears healthy (but underneath is dying), our approach provides all the necessary components to support a more natural return to healthfulness. In brief, functional medicine addresses the “why” and seeks to create better overall health and well-being.
Taking a Deep Dive
Instead of saying, “I have hypertension,” or “My stomach hurts” and getting medication for that symptom, functional medicine looks a little deeper to find out what might be causing your high blood pressure or the pain in your stomach. “With functional medicine, we try to eliminate those things or fix the root causes so you don’t get that symptom anymore,” said Dr. Case.
Some symptoms that can be helped through functional medicine include:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Memory loss
- Heat/cold intolerance
- Gas/bloating
- Sugar or carb cravings
- Skin rashes, acne, eczema
- Autoimmune diseases
- Depression/anxiety
- Chronic diarrhea or constipation
What to Expect
The first step is to have a conversation on the phone with Dr. Case. Then, we’ll send you some questionnaires. Dr. Case will have you keep a 7-day food diary of everything you eat during that period. After you’ve completed everything, we’ll ask if you have any blood tests, scans, or tests that you’ve had within the past three years. Dr. Case will then have you gather all that information and get it to her at least a week prior to your appointment.
Prior to your appointment, Dr. Case will review and analyze your records and perform a functional analysis of any blood work.
At your first visit Dr. Case will actively discuss her initial findings, and you’ll reach agreement on customized “next steps”. These steps typically include strategically scheduled follow-up visits. Additional testing and medical-grade supplements may also be included within the plan. There is no “cookie cutter” approach to the process. Dr. Case is passionate about restoring her patients’ health, so every plan is as unique to each patient.
Take That First Step to Better Health
You don’t have to settle for suboptimal health. Contact us today to book a functional medicine consultation.