What in the hey, howdy is functional medicine?

The simplest definition of functional medicine – is “root cause” medicine. Functional doctors and health coaches focus on genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors when working with patients on disease prevention and management. We consider the individuality of each person, and create a personalized treatment plan that addresses their specific needs. Functional medicine is the ideal “preventive medicine!”

One area I am especially passionate about as a health coach is disease prevention from conception and birth. If every couple looking to start a family used functional medicine and health coaching as part of their pre-conception healthcare, it would impact the health of the next generation in a big way! Have you heard of the idea of “transgenerational epigenetics?” Research shows that the health of a child’s biological parents can be passed down through many generations!

All too often I meet patients who are at the end of their rope, because they feel like conventional medicine has failed them. They have suffered far too long, seeing many doctors and specialists along the way, and still do not have answers. They come to us for lifestyle and nutritional advice, but by the time we meet for the first session, they have been totally confused by what they hear from doctors or the media about healthy eating and exercise – everyone tells them to do something different! One common thing I hear from patients is, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” It is so true, we don’t know what we’re supposed to know when it comes to creating a lifestyle of good health, because we hear so many contradictory messages. The bottom line is that the “right” lifestyle plan is unique for each person!

So how do we start figuring out what the right plan for each person is? What are the “how’s” of Functional Medicine?
We call these the foundational pillars of a healthy lifestyle:

How is your sleep?
How are your eating habits?
How do you move your body?
How do you manage your stress?
How are your relationships?
Let’s take a quick look at each one.

Sleep is essential for maintaining good health, and inadequate sleep can lead to a variety of health problems. Functional medicine recognizes the vital importance of sleep and we work with patients to identify any underlying sleep disorders or disturbances. We also recommend lifestyle changes and natural remedies to improve sleep quality and duration.

Nutrition plays a significant role in maintaining good health. Have you heard, “you are what you eat?” If you put junk in, you are going to get junk out. If you put good stuff in, you will get good stuff out! However, there are no foods that are inherently “good” or “bad” for everyone. We always personalize nutritional recommendations for your own situation. We work to identify any nutritional deficiencies or food sensitivities and make personalized recommendations for dietary changes and nutritional supplements as necessary. The goal is overall optimization.

Exercise is important for maintaining good health, and functional medicine practitioners recognize the benefits of regular physical activity. We work with patients to develop a movement plan that is appropriate for their fitness level and health goals. Exercise can help to improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, optimize brain function and support healthy weight management.

Stress Management. Stress is a root cause of most diseases! If you have not seen our previous blog about stress, check it out here. Functional medicine focuses on stress management techniques that suit each person. This may include relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, and lifestyle changes to help patients close down their stress cycle each day.

Relationships. Healthy relationships are essential for maintaining good health. We work with patients to identify any social isolation or relationship issues and develop strategies for improving social support. This may include joining support groups, engaging in community activities, or improving communication in relationships.

And another pillar that we always discuss, but don’t list – is pooping! Have you pooped today?! It is so important for good health. We will make sure that you are not constipated as you work to implement your new lifestyle plan!

In Functional Medicine we know that all these pieces are interconnected, and optimization of each is necessary for good health. By addressing these pillars holistically and creating a personalized treatment plan, we can help you achieve lifelong health and well-being.

Take care and Be WELL,
Tammy Rich, BSN, RN, NBC-HW

Health Coach

Upstream Functional Medicine

Call Us Here: 319-471-4727

Register with us to schedule a Health Coaching Session: https://upstreamfunctionalmedicine.md-hq.com/registration