Welcome to the Guide To Wellness Podcast. Each episode we discuss topics that simplify Traditional Oriental Medicine and Functional Medicine to support your healthy life. In this episode, Susannah sits down with Dr. Breana McElgunn, a stellar naturopathic physician with a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of hormones, the gut and health in general. In this episode we chat about how we help people regain optimal health. Most important thing to know? It’s a partnership between you and your medical team. For more details, please read further…
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Functional Medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness rather than simply treating symptoms. It seeks to optimize health and well-being by considering the unique lifestyle, dietary environmental, and genetic factors that influence an individual’s health.
Dr. Breana and Susannah can guide you through some key principles and practices of Functional Medicine to help optimize your health:
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Personalized Approach: Functional Medicine recognizes that each person is biochemically unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It emphasizes individualized care by considering a person’s genetics, lifestyle, environment, and personal health history.
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Root Cause Analysis: Rather than just addressing symptoms, Functional Medicine aims to uncover and address the underlying causes of illness. This may involve investigating imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal issues, gut health, toxicity, or chronic inflammation.
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Comprehensive Assessment: Functional Medicine practitioners conduct in-depth evaluations to gather information about your health history, lifestyle, diet, stress levels, sleep patterns, and environmental exposures. They may also use advanced laboratory tests to identify potential imbalances or dysfunctions.
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Diet and Nutrition: Food is a powerful tool for optimizing health. Dr. Breana and Susannah can provide guidance on personalized nutrition plans based on your specific needs and goals. They may recommend an anti-inflammatory diet, elimination of food sensitivities, or targeted supplementation to address nutrient deficiencies.
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Lifestyle Modifications: Functional Medicine recognizes the impact of lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, exercise, and social connections on overall health. Dr. Breana and Susannah can help you develop strategies to manage stress, improve sleep quality, establish an exercise routine, and foster supportive relationships.
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Gut Health Optimization: The gut plays a crucial role in overall health. Functional Medicine practitioners focus on optimizing digestive function, identifying and addressing imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis), and healing the gut lining. They may recommend specific probiotics, herbs, supplements, and dietary interventions to support gut health. This may extend to brain health in positive ways.
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Detoxification: Environmental toxins can accumulate in the body and contribute to various health problems. Functional Medicine emphasizes supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways through targeted interventions, such as supporting liver function, hormone balance, and elimination. This includes guidance on having a clean diet and reducing exposure to toxins.
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Mind-Body Connection: Functional Medicine recognizes the importance of the mind-body connection in overall health. Dr. Breana and Susannah can guide you in incorporating stress reduction techniques, mindfulness practices, and other modalities to enhance your mental well-being.
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Integrative Therapies: Functional Medicine integrates complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and mind-body practices into treatment plans. These therapies support your body’s natural healing processes, improve patient outcomes, and wellbeing.
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Continual Monitoring and Adaptation: Functional Medicine is a dynamic and evolving approach. Dr. Breana and Susannah will work with you to continually monitor your progress, make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan, and empower you to take an active role in your own health optimization.
It’s important to note that while Dr. Breana and Susannah can provide valuable information about Functional Medicine, this podcast is not meant to provide individualized medical care. To fully explore and implement Functional Medicine principles, it is recommended you seek guidance from qualified healthcare professionals specializing in this field. You are welcome to contact either Dr Breana McElgunn, ND or Susannah Freeman, LAc for more information on working with us.