FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

What Is

Functional medicine focuses on the cause of diseases rather than isolating on a set of symptoms. I view the body as a whole, taking into account nutritional, lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors. Through active doctor-patient communication and an education-based approach, I give patients an opportunity to take control of their health. This is an evolution in health care, shifting the disease-centered focus of a practice to a more patientcentered approach. I don’t really treat a disease; I look at the underlying causes and work on mending the causes. On the initial exam, I spend an hour with a patient. And prior to the patient coming in for the first visit, I send them out for bloodwork, have them answer a symptom survey that they can complete online at home, and fill out a seven-day food log. I have all this information ahead of time. When they come in, we weigh them, perform a body-fat analysis, calculate their body-mass index, and take their blood pressure. We have to know where patients are starting to get them to where they want to go as far as health. Using all that information, I create an individualized protocol for each patient focusing on exercise, nutrition, lifestyle factors, and digestive health. At my practice, we do not use any medications, drugs, or injections. We create a partnership with each patient, and the goal of that partnership is to bring patients back to health by identifying what lifestyle factors we can change based on their unique circumstances. An individualized approach is important because every patient has a unique set of genetics and biochemistry.

I have been a chiropractic physician for 25 years and am a certified functional medical practitioner. I’m also an athlete who has competed in powerlifting, bodybuilding, and cycling. I know what the body needs to perform at an optimal level. I teach quarterly classes at my practice, which includes a 10-day BloodSugar program for patients addicted to sugar, a 10-day ammation program, or a 10-day Detox Balance program. In January I teach a 21-day Purification program using whole foods with supplementation to support patients during the lifestyle-changing process of weight management and creating a new normal for the new year.

After the initial consultation, depending on the patient, I’ll see him or her in 30 days or sometimes once a week if they need extra care, support and accountability. However, they have my email should any questions or concerns arise. I’m an early bird, so if they send me an email in the evening they’ll have an answer first thing in the morning.