WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE?

Functional medicine takes a whole-person approach that focuses on finding and treating the root cause of your symptoms. Dr. Aruna identifies the underlying cause by learning about your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health, as well as your genetics, biochemical imbalances, lifestyle habits and environmental influences.

By comparison, conventional medicine follows a one-size-fits-all approach that focuses on the disease, not the person. These providers identify a symptom or disease and treat it with the approved protocol of medications and procedures.

WHY DOES FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FOCUS ON THE ROOT CAUSE?

Finding the root cause is the only way to fully heal your body and restore wellness. Here are two examples:

HEADACHES

You treat a headache by taking pain relieving medication. Though the pain improves, the medication won’t stop your headache from returning if it developed due to depression, anxiety, stress, food additives, a hormone imbalance, or insomnia (to name a few of the possible root causes).

GUT PROBLEMS

Problems in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract trigger nerves in the gut. These nerves directly communicate with your brain, where they may cause mood changes and depression. In this case, taking antidepressants won’t help because the root cause of the depression lies in your gut.

Virtually every symptom, whether psychological or physical, can be relieved with medication or a procedure. However, your health doesn’t improve as long as the underlying cause remains.

HOW DOES GUT HEALTH FACTOR INTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE?

“Heal the gut” is a central concept in functional medicine. Your gut digests and absorbs nutrients, regulates your immune system, and produces essential biochemicals like neurotransmitters. 

As a result, your gastrointestinal (GI) tract supports energy production and your body’s ability to function and heal. GI tract problems or an unhealthy gut microbiota (bacteria) cause body wide inflammation and contribute to many mental and physical problems.

WHAT SERVICES MIGHT I RECEIVE THROUGH FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE?

The team at Trinergy Center for Integrative Psychiatry draws from a wide range of treatments, combining traditional therapies with Western medicine as needed to treat the root cause of your mental health condition.

Your treatment plan may include any number of therapies. A few examples include:

• Psychotherapy
• Dietary and nutritional counseling
• Nutritional supplements
• Exercise recommendations
• Therapeutic massage
• Hyperbaric oxygen chamber (HBOT)
• Alpha-Stim® cranial electrotherapy stimulation
• Mindfulness meditation
• Ayurvedic herbs
• Detoxification
• Yoga

Dr. Aruna prescribes psychiatric medications when needed (using the smallest effective dose), while simultaneously healing problems in your body.

If you want to achieve optimal mental health, call the Trinergy Center for Integrative Psychiatry or book an appointment online today.