Chronic conditions can be debilitating and some people get to their wit’s end as they struggle to find solutions to manage them through conventional medicine. But there is another option which is worth exploring and can provide long-term relief. Functional medicine works to not only help manage the symptoms of chronic conditions, but uncover and address the root cause of them.
Chronic conditions often affect multiple bodily systems and functional medicine specialists address the body as a whole, rather than just looking at individual symptoms or body parts. Through a patient-centric, personalised, collaborative and evidence-based approach, functional medicine has helped many people across the world manage chronic conditions.
Which chronic conditions can functional medicine help manage?
Almost one in two Australians are living with a chronic condition. Mental and behavioural conditions are the most common chronic conditions, followed by back problems, arthritis, asthma and diabetes.
Functional medicine can help with all of these and more, including other common conditions like adrenal disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cardiovascular disease, thyroid disorders and digestive disorders.
How does functional medicine treat chronic conditions?
Functional medicine takes an individualised approach to uncovering the root cause of chronic conditions. A functional medicine specialist will dig deep into your health history, lifestyle, diet, genetics and environment in search of finding the problem. Physical exams, blood and other lab tests may also be part of the search for the root cause of the symptoms that are showing. The fact is that most chronic conditions – including autoimmune conditions – are driven by diet and lifestyle factors, which cause an imbalance within the body. Things like poor diet, chronic stress, a lack of physical activity, not getting enough sleep, overuse of alcohol and smoking are all linked to chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, type 2 diabetes and even some types of cancer. By pinpointing some of these causes of chronic conditions, a functional medicine specialist can work hand-in-hand with you to try and change your current lifestyle and habits.
Poor gut health and function can also be linked to a range of chronic conditions, including autoimmune problems, thyroid issues, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, sleep issues, chronic fatigue and skin rashes and allergies. Gut health can be improved with the help of a functional medicine specialist, who can advise on foods to limit or avoid and those which you should be eating more of, as well as prescribing supplements which can assist. Working with a functional medicine specialist is not a quick fix and it will take some commitment on your behalf. However, the results are well worth the effort. Naturally and safely resolving chronic conditions will ensure better long-term results and will often negate the need for invasive surgeries or costly pharmaceutical medications. The path to better health is clear if you want to walk it.
Melbourne Functional medicine doctor
If you suffering from a chronic condition and would like to know more about how functional medicine can help manage it, contact Luke Clarke today. One of the most experienced practitioners in Melbourne, Luke has decades of experience in helping patients manage chronic conditions naturally and safely, with exceptional results.
For a free 10 minute consultation, contact Luke today by calling 03 8820 0010.