Today, there are many different ways of treating one health problem. You may have tried several different methods of treating a condition, and tried through many schools of thought, and still nothing has truly helped to make you feel healthy again.
That’s where functional medicine might be the right approach to your health which you’ve been looking for.
If you’re interested in learning more about functional medicine and its unique, holistic approach to health, keep on reading. Melbourne’s leading practitioner in functional medicine, Luke Clarke, explains the approach of this healthcare philosophy:
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to healthcare which treats the entire body as one cohesive system. Functional medicine approaches are personalised to each individual. It combines the holistic approach to health seen in traditional and alternative healthcare philosophies with a modern and scientific understanding of biology, health conditions, testing, and medications. Using both science and traditional wisdom, functional medicine is dynamic and offers a range of advantages over other, more generalised approaches.
What does functional medicine involve?
Functional medicine is all about treating the root cause of an illness or condition. Instead of simply treating symptoms, functional medicine addresses the cause of those symptoms, restoring function back to the body.
What can functional medicine be used to treat?
Functional medicine has the ability to treat a range of complex health problems which your average GP may not be able to help with. The most common conditions treated and solved by functional medicine include:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder caused by unique range of factors such as diet and stress, and is experienced by 1 in 5 Australians at some time in their lives.
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
SIBO is the presence of excessive bacteria in the small intestine, causing chronic diarrhea, weight loss and malnutrition
- Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain as well as fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.
- Adrenal fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is the inability of adrenal glands to function normally, resulting in feeling tired, run down, stressed and moody.
How does functional medicine treat these conditions?
Functional medicine uses functional foods and medicines in order to treat these conditions. It involves:
- Consumption of functional foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fermented foods such as kefir and sauerkraut.
- Elimination of inflammatory foods.
- Improving gut microbiome
- Restoring functions of the body through a combination of these methods
Functional medicine may be the approach that you’ve been looking for in order to treat your health condition such as SIBO or IBS. Melbourne’s best functional medicine practitioner, Luke Clarke, can help you successfully overcome these health challenges. Luke Clarke is a practitioner of functional medicine and naturopath in Melbourne who treats patients for common health conditions, looking at your individual needs. Combining science and naturopathic philosophies, Luke Clarke cares about your health and works alongside you to improve it. Contact Luke Clarke for a 10-minute free consultation today.