FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
Helping people achieve
VIBRANT HEALTH
BENEFITS OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
1
Hormones
Optimizing hormone levels by identifying the cause, fixing the HPA axis dysfunction, and correcting not only the levels but also the rhythm helps improve or reverse symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, brain fog, female hormone issues, low testosterone, low libido, hair loss, headaches/migraines
2
Alleviation of Five Major Complaints
Anxiety/depression; Hormone imbalances; GI problems; Weight gain; Autoimmune conditions.
3
Digestive Health
By revealing and fixing the cause, may it be in the gut or brain, improved gut immune function leads to potential resolution of GI symptoms like Irritable bowel syndrome, chronic gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort, heartburn etc.
4
Detoxification
By identifying the toxin burden specific to the individual, providing necessary nutrients in the form of diet, trace minerals, proper electrolyte balance and supplements that help detoxification and escorting the toxins out of the body, suggesting lifestyle interventions to avoid toxin load, we see improvement and even reversal of brain fog, fatigue, depression, anxiety, memory issues etc.
5
Mind/Body/Soul Relationship
Our mind, through meditation and breathing, body though exercise and movement, and soul through connection to our inner self, help rebalance the core physiological processes and achieve long-lasting results.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is science based, individualized, patient centered approach that asks how and why the illness occurred and addresses the root cause using low risk interventions that modify molecular and cellular systems, rebalance the core physiological processes and achieve optimal wellness. A system that helps physicians rethink the disease by looking at genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that influence long term health and complex chronic disease. A powerful tool that uses multimodal treatment plans that lead to longevity of health not just longevity of life. A system that prescribes lifestyle treatment plans in addition to the targeted nutraceutical and pharmaceutical therapies. It offers the potential to achieve financial savings by liberating patients from lifelong dependency on costly medications that do not address the illness’s root cause. A path to excitement, effervescence and enthusiasm for health which is priceless.
Our Approach
Dr.Donthu’s approach is to treat the whole system, not just the symptoms, and to use an integrated functional medicine approach with lab based assessments. We test for digestive health and microbiome, hormones, organic acids, amino acids, omega 3 and 6 fatty acid levels, major nutrients like Vitamin D, C, B and more to understand your unique body makeup.
Dr. Donthu designs a custom supplement protocol, personalized nutrition, and lifestyle treatment plans based on your unique health history, genetic, environmental, lifestyle factors and lab results.
Key Areas We Focus On to Achieve Optimum Wellness:
- Brain & Endocrine system
- Hormones
- Inflammation
- Gut and Microbiome
- Mitochondrial function
- Oxidative stress
- Neurotransmitters
- Detoxification
- Mind-Body-Soul relationship
The Story behind the Symptoms
The Essence of Functional Medicine
1
Hormones & Neurotransmitters
Excessive emotional, dietary and inflammatory stress leads to overproduction of stress hormones and causes catecholamine surge, which in turn decreases the production of essential hormones such as thyroid and sex hormones. This can result in symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, mood disorders like depression and anxiety, and low libido.
2
GUT & Digestive health
Dietary stress can lead to catabolic physiology, which breaks down the gut lining and decreases the production of secretory IgA, weakening the immune response and causing a leaky gut. This leads to decreased absorption and assimilation of proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals resulting in symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, low energy, and weight gain. The weakened gut immune defense also increases the susceptibility to parasitic, bacterial, and yeast infections.
3
Detoxification system
We are exposed to about 85,000 different chemicals every day, including heavy metals, plastics, bacterial toxins, cosmetics, GMO foods, pesticides, preservatives, and food colorings. The toxins that are endocrine disruptors affect thyroid and sex hormones, while the toxins which affect brain chemicals lead to “broken brain” and can cause symptoms like depression, anxiety, memory problems, and dementia. Excessive toxin burden can cause mitochondrial damage, leading to low energy production and fatigue.
4
Mitochondrial function and oxidative stress
Normal mitochondrial function is essential for proper fat-burning and energy production. However, excessive toxin exposure, such as air and water pollution and soil contamination can cause free radical damage to mitochondria. Mitochondrial damage can lead to symptoms such as fatigue from energy production issues, being overweight due to blocks in fatty acid metabolism, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, joint pains, depression, headaches, and skin problems.
5
Neuroendocrine-GI Integration commonly known as Gut-Brain Axis
During times of stress, there is a surge in brain hormones, which can lead to leaky gut and a weakened immune system. Conversely, chronic inflammatory problems in the gut can deplete brain chemicals.
How Can We Help?
Hormonal Imbalances
Symptoms suggesting hormone imbalances : fatigue, brain fog,PMS, peri and postmenopausal issues,acne,PCOS, irregular menstruation, infertility, low testosterone, low libido, hair loss, headaches/migraines.
Mental Wellbeing
We use a mind/body/soul approach to help with anxiety, depression, hopelessness, loss of interest, mood changes like irritability, low mood, ADHD, difficulty concentrating, brain fog, insomnia, fatigue, appetite/weight changes and low energy.
Autoimmune Conditions
Our systems biology approach helps address the root cause and treat conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Inflammatory bowel disease, Chronic sinusitis, skin problems, eczema/psoriasis, Adrenal disorders, and diabetes.
Digestive issues
With our whole-body approach, we address a range of digestive issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, chronic bloating and abdominal pain, food intolerances, SIBO, chronic heartburn/GERD, and leaky gut.
Weight & Metabolism
We identify and address the root cause of problems like inability to lose weight, Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, overweight, and obesity. We offer support for stress reduction, detoxification, exercise plans, and diets.
Health Optimization
Disease doesn’t happen overnight. Dysfunction precedes the disease.If you are healthy, but want to prevent the development of chronic disease, our functional medicine tools help identify dysfunction and rebalance the core systems of the body thereby preventing the development of chronic disease and optimize your whole health.
Long Covid Treatment and Prevention
We offer multimodal treatment plans that help restore ACE2, repair mitochondria, and restore gut health. These plans can improve long-haul COVID symptoms such as fatigue, persistent loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, cough, brain fog, headache, memory problems,anxiety, depression, insomnia,rashes, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine is a biology-based approach that aims at finding the underlying root cause of an illness. The focus is on the patient’s health as a whole and not just on treating the symptoms. The reason for that is that a symptom may be caused by a variety of causes and a cause can lead to multiple manifestations.
For example, the low thyroid function may be caused because of some nutrient deficiencies which we call it a root cause of your thyroid problem. And correction of that deficiency often leads to fixing the problem.