Which Conditions Benefit from Treatment with Functional Medicine?
When you’re dealing with a chronic illness or a confusing group of symptoms that no one can seem to make sense of, you may feel like traditional medicine has failed you. Functional medicine doctors take a more comprehensive, holistic approach to evaluating, diagnosing, and treating illness and disease. They investigate the underlying cause of an illness or symptom, rather than just using a variety of prescription medications to treat it. Here is your guide to understanding functional medicine and its benefits, and which conditions benefit from being treated with functional medicine in Golden, CO.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a specific approach to diagnosing, treating, and preventing illness and disease. Functional medicine doctors focus on finding the root cause of illness rather than treating symptoms individually. They typically develop a more personalized relationship with their patients because they take the time to get to know each patient and understand how their symptoms or illness is affecting their lifestyle.
What are the Benefits of Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine offers a more holistic, personalized approach to care. When you visit a functional medicine doctor, you may feel like someone is finally actually listening to your symptoms and trying to understand their cause. The biggest benefits of functional medicine are:
- Access to highly personalized patient care that considers your unique lifestyle, health history, biology, and needs
- A flexible, collaborative treatment program that addresses the root cause of your symptoms
- A treatment program that includes a combination of therapies to offer comprehensive care
- Access to education and resources so that you can become a more informed patient and take on a greater role in your own healthcare
- A focus on addressing physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health to enhance your balance and quality of life
- Guidance in managing symptoms of chronic illnesses and diseases
- A greater focus on using advanced research and new technology to treat and manage illness and disease
Who Should Consider Visiting a Functional Medicine Doctor?
Everyone can benefit from visiting a functional medicine doctor, even if they aren’t currently ill or experiencing symptoms. A functional medicine doctor can empower you to take control over your health and improve your diet, nutrition, sleep habits, relationships, weight, and lifestyle habits. You should make an appointment with a functional medicine doctor if you:
- Are dissatisfied with the approach offered by traditional doctors or conventional medicine
- Want to explore alternative therapies like acupuncture, cupping,
- Have symptoms that traditional medicine can’t diagnose or explain but that are affecting your life
- Have a chronic condition that is affecting your physical and/or mental health
- Want to explore lifestyle changes that will help you increase your energy, reduce stress, lose weight, and improve your quality of life
- Are experiencing symptoms of a hormone imbalance
- Are dealing with age-related physical or mental health issues
- Have developed sudden weight fluctuations
- Are at risk of an illness or disease and want to make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk
What Conditions are Treated with Functional Medicine?
A functional medicine doctor can treat many of the same illnesses and conditions that a traditional doctor can treat. The most common conditions treated with functional medicine are:
- Autoimmune disorders – Functional medicine doctors can help you manage symptoms of autoimmune disorders like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, eczema, and type 1 diabetes. They will explore the underlying cause of your symptoms and help you improve your lifestyle to improve your health and reduce symptoms.
- Endocrine disorders – Your endocrine system includes the glands and organs that produce hormones. An endocrine disorder can affect your metabolism, sexual health, and more. A functional medicine doctor can determine the underlying cause of an endocrine disorder and design a personalized treatment plan to manage symptoms.
- Gastrointestinal and digestive disorders – Functional medicine doctors can help you find sustainable, holistic solutions to gastrointestinal and digestive disorders like IBS, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis and can help you relieve symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, weight gain or loss, and inflammation.
- Mental health disorders – A functional medicine doctor can help you explore alternative therapies for mental health issues like anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and more.
- Chronic illnesses – A functional medicine doctor can help you gain a deeper understanding of your chronic illness and help you develop tools to improve your health and manage symptoms. They can also help you reduce your reliance on prescription painkillers for managing chronic pain.
- Illnesses and diseases that don’t have a traditional or conventional treatment model – Some illnesses and diseases are so newly discovered that there isn’t a lot of research available on what causes them, and there isn’t a conventional treatment model to follow. Functional medicine doctors can find holistic, personalized solutions for conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, long COVID, and other conditions.
- Women’s health issues – Functional medicine can offer a more holistic and sustainable approach to treating women’s health issues like PCOS, PMS, PMDD, hormonal imbalances, perimenopause, menopause, and more.
- Hormone deficiencies and imbalances – Hormone imbalances and deficiencies can cause symptoms that affect every area of your life. A functional medicine doctor can help you determine the root cause of your hormone imbalance and find sustainable, effective solutions that improve your quality of life.
- Respiratory conditions – A functional medicine doctor can help you make lifestyle changes and improve your health to manage respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.
- Food allergies and sensitivities – If you are experiencing digestive issues or GI symptoms, you may have a hidden food allergy or sensitivity. A functional medicine doctor can offer allergy testing and micronutrient testing and help you design a nutritional plan that relieves symptoms and helps you avoid problem foods.
- Weight fluctuations – If you have experienced a sudden increase or decrease in your weight and you’re not sure why, you may have an underlying condition affecting your metabolism or nutrition. A functional medicine doctor can determine if you have a thyroid condition, metabolic disorder, hormone deficiency, or other issue that is affecting your weight.
Schedule a Consultation with a Functional Medicine Doctor in Golden, CO
At Kore Regenerative Medicine, we offer holistic, personalized patient care through functional medicine in Golden, CO. Our experienced, compassionate team of medical professionals will work closely with you to determine the root cause of your symptoms, disease, or illness and help you find sustainable and effective solutions. We want to give you the information and resources you need to take control over your health and improve your diet, nutrition, weight, energy, sleep habits, and overall lifestyle. We offer bioidentical hormone therapy, IV infusions, vitamins and supplements, diet and nutritional counseling, ketamine assisted therapy, osteopathic manipulations, and mental health treatment options. Call us now or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation with one of our functional medicine doctors in Golden, CO.