Our Functional Medicine Approach

Functional medicine is preventing, reversing and optimising health……Not the masking of symptoms.

Incidences of chronic disease is rising, and despite major efforts, the population is overwhelmed with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease and mental health issues to name a few. Functional medicine aims to meet the health demands of the 21st century. This ground-breaking approach is science and evidence-based. Advanced and leading research is emerging every day, keeping it up-to-date.

We use the 5R’s Functional medicine programme as our approach to preventing and treating complex chronic dease and optimising health.

1. Remove

   Toxins, allergens, parasites, bad bacteria and fungus.

   Comprehensive food allergy tests, stool tests and heavy metal tests help identify the irritants which cause widespread inflammation and chronic disease. Treatment involves the use of herbs, elimination diets and occasionally prescription medication as a means to remove the toxic burden on the body.

2. Replace

   Vitamins and minerals

   A full blood analysis to identify vitamin and mineral deficiencies allows replacement through diet and food supplementation. Cutting-edge genetic tests aid careful titration of doses to optimise health for each unique individual.

3. Re-inoculate

   Good gut flora

   Gut restoration proteins are used to strengthen the gut lining whilst using specific strains of good bacterial probiotics carefully selected as a result of the stool and blood analysis. Evolving research states that changes in the gut microbiota has profound effects on our nervous system, mental health and behaviors.

4. Repair

   Antioxidants

   Interpretation of fatty acid and antioxidant status allows the use of antioxidants, amino acids and omega fatty acids to restore balance. This aims to reverse inflammation and optimise the immune system.

5. Rebalance

   Hormones and mind

   Comprehensive ground breaking hormone, adrenal and thyroid testing to reveal the degree of hormonal imbalance. Treatment involves the use of natural extracts and prescription medications to restore overall hormonal balance. Addressing sleep and stress as contributing factors.

 “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

World Health Organisation (WHO).

The following fundamental principles are at the heart of functional medicine:

• Biochemical individuality:

  The nutritional and chemical makeup of each person is unique, based upon their own genetic structure, nutrition and environment; Understanding the individuals’ personal history and pairing this with cutting edge blood tests and genetics enables tailor made and individualised treatment programs at a whole new level.

• Systems based biology:

  The human body functions as an integrated web-like network of systems. Using this knowledge allows a holistic approach to determine the root cause of problems, which does not simply focus on masking the symptoms.

• Prevention of disease and optimising health:

  A decline in health precedes the onset of any disease. Appreciating that a mix of unusual symptoms, that do not fit a classic textbook diagnosis, needs intervention at this stage in order to reverse and prevent the onset of disease.

• Chronic disease is reversible:

  Inflammation is at the root of most chronic disease. Poor nutrition, lifestyle and stress results in nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances causing inflammation. Using a holistic approach to address these underlying issues reverses chronic disease where possible.

• Gut-Brain axis:

  Well established research suggests that the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in influencing psychological behaviour and cognition. This ground-breaking development helps manage autism, ADHD, depression, anxiety and other  and mental health problems as well as cognitive decline. 

• Person-centered:

  Emphasising personalised care rather than disease care, following Sir William Osler: “It is more important to know what patient has the disease than to know what disease the patient has”

• Mind and Body:

  Recognising and accepting the mind and body as one entity. Stress is at the root of the 21st century health decline. Managing stress has the power to optimise mental and physical health allowing us to live fulfilling lives.