Did you know that 50 percent of patients feel dismissed by their doctors when it comes to general health concerns?
What about you? Do you feel like your doctor is only treating your symptoms without trying to find the cause? Do you feel powerless when it comes to your healthcare?
Functional medicine could change that.
Keep reading to learn more about what functional medicine is and how it can help with digestive disorders.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a new paradigm that is rapidly changing the health care world. It looks at the root cause of your ailments, not your symptoms.
It focuses on getting to the bottom of the real causes of your health issues instead of saying you have a “chronic illness” and prescribing you a drug that may or may not work.
The Science Behind Functional Medicine
By looking at the root cause of your medical symptoms, it becomes easier to prevent them from happening in the future. Functional medicine has evolved from the likes of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, and Dr. Andrew Weil.
It’s a combination of western and holistic medicine that focuses on how your lifestyle choices, environment, and genetics all interact to impact your health.
Digestive Disorders
Digestive disorders are a common health issue that can be caused by many things. Some of those causes include reactions to your environment, food allergies, or poor gut health.
Common Digestive Disorders
There are many digestive disorders that you may be experiencing, including:
- Acid reflux
- Gastroparesis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
- Colitis
- Celiac disease
- Leaky gut
- Excessive gas and bloating
These disorders all have different treatments, which is why it’s so important to really dig in and get to the root cause of where you’re experiencing pain. These conditions can all be treated by functional medicine doctors.
Functional medicine is a highly personalized approach that takes into account all of your unique circumstances. This is why it’s important to work with doctors who are dedicated to your health and well-being.
Functional Medicine for Digestive Disorders
Functional medicine can help you get on the right path to healing your digestive disorders. Here are some of the ways it can help.
Lifestyle Therapies
Movement is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. When you’re under stress, it can trigger your body to store fat, which can lead to digestive issues.
Not moving enough can also cause digestive issues as your body is trying to preserve the energy that would normally be used to help digest food. Movement is essential when it comes to digestive health.
Get to the Root of the Problem
Traditional medicine doesn’t always find the root cause of your ailment. Oftentimes, in modern medicine, you’re diagnosed with a chronic condition and prescribed a drug. Functional medicine takes a more personalized approach and can help get to the root of your ailment.
It starts with a history and a physical exam, where your doctor is looking for clues about the root of your health issues and also for labs that might be relevant to your specific symptoms. After your history and physical are taken, your doctor can search for clues that could lead to the root of your digestive issues with the help of food sensitiivty or allergy testing, and even more specialized digstive tests.
Perform a Body Systems Review
Your body has different systems that all need to work together in order to be healthy. For example, your digestive system, immune system, and nervous system all play a key role in your health.
In functional medicine, these systems are all taken into consideration. Functional medicine can also help treat chronic conditions that seem to have an immune system component, like Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
Listen to You
Do you ever feel unheard by your doctor? A functional medicine doctor will never diagnose you and run. Instead, they will really listen to what you have to say, all of your concerns, and will work with you to find a solution personalized for you.
Reduce Stress
Stress can bring on digestive issues. In fact, stress is a common trigger for IBS symptoms.
Stress disrupts the healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, which results in excess gas, constipation and diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other digestive issues. Functional medicine can help you find new ways to cope with your stress and reduce it.
Improve Your Diet
There are many potential food sensitivities that can cause digestive issues. Functional medicine can help you pinpoint these.
Eliminating food sensitivities can mean better digestion and less abdominal pain. Functional medicine can help you find alternatives to the foods you’re sensitive to. For example, if you’re gluten intolerant, you can try eating gluten-free pasta or bread.
Clean Out Your Gut
There are many natural ways to help clean out your gut, like drinking apple cider vinegar or taking probiotics and extra fiber. Functional medicine can help you find the right way to clean out your gut and make sure it stays clean.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is a crucial part of recovering from digestive disorders. Restful sleep can clear your mind, heal your gut, and help you stay healthy. Functional medicine can help you find ways to get the sleep you need, even if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Take Control Of Your Health
Functional medicine focuses on non-invasive treatments that can get to the root of the issue. This means the only side effects are positive ones. Functional medicine can help you take control of your health and avoid future digestive issues.
Treat Your Digestive Disorder With Natural Medicine
Functional medicine is an excellent way to address digestive disorders you struggle with. It seeks to get to the root of the problem and find treatments that work for you.
Are you ready to start treating your digestive disorder? Contact Fairbank Family Wellness today to make an appointment.
