On their first office visits, most of our clients bring in stacks of traditional lab test results, which have pronounced them to be "normal," regardless of the fact that they still suffer from unresolved, chronic symptoms like:

• chronic fatigue and chronic pain
• digestive problems
• unexplained weight gain
• immune system problems
• difficulty sleeping

Does this sound familiar? The truth is, on traditional medical lab tests, the range for "normal" is extremely broad and, unless the processes of the body have broken down to the extent that disease has set in, it's typical to fall into the "normal" range on these tests while still having chronic symptoms.

If you have had any of the experiences below, you're just like most of our clients:

• You've been told by medical specialists that there isn't anything wrong with you, but you don't feel well and have a sense that "something's not right."
• You've been told that your symptoms are "in your head" or that you'll "just have to learn to live with them."
• You've been to many different doctors and have purchased bags full of drugs and vitamins that haven't made you feel any better.
• You believe it's possible to feel much better than you do, if you could only find the root cause of your symptoms.

There's a big difference between being free of disease and actually feeling your best, and most of us learn to merely "get by" instead of feeling truly energized and healthy. Does this sound like you?

You may not be familiar with the term, "Functional Medicine." But, if, like most of our clients, you have consulted a variety of traditional medical doctors and haven't gotten the answers or resolution you're looking for, consulting a functional medicine doctor may be helpful for you.

Functional Medicine is a component of alternative medicine that is practiced by a growing number of holistic practitioners around the country, including doctors of chiropractic, doctors of medicine, and naturopathic doctors. Functional medicine and traditional medicine each have their strengths and their place in healthcare. However, a functional medicine approach differs from a traditional medical approach in a fundamental way: it is a holistic approach that seeks to determine how well the systems of your body are functioning, versus merely identify the presence or absence of disease.

Functional Medicine seeks to assess and improve the level of function of all of the body's systems. It is an individualized approach to care that is guided by fundamental principles such as:

• Functional Medicine is the practice of "whole person care", not "disease care."
• Health is defined as the daily presence of vitality, not simply as the absence of disease.
• Each person is a unique individual - structurally, biochemically, and emotionally. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to a wide variation in metabolic function from person to person.
• There is a web-like connection between all of the body's systems. Changing one system impacts all of the other systems. In other words, "we're all one piece."
• Treating the underlying causes of symptoms leads to long-lasting improvements in the body's function. And improving the body's function enhances quality of life.

Taking this approach to your health can provide the insight required to optimize the function of all of your body's systems and get you feeling your absolute best. If you're looking for alternative medicine advice and would like a Functional Medicine consultation, please call our offices at (817) 857-1057.