Lifestyle and Functional Medicine
Docere
The doctor will teach.
Evidence-Based Strategy
Get ready for the most in-depth conversations that you’ve had about you and your health - every detail is relevant and important. Every conversation leads to a concrete plan, accountability, and ongoing support. Optimizing health becomes a way of life that is empowering and inspiring.
If you’re ready to starting working together, contact us for a complimentary 15min informational consultation.
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The most up to date understanding of health research, medical diagnoses, treatment, and technology
Clinical Research: Studies involving human participants to evaluate new treatments, interventions, and diagnostic methods.
Clinical Trials: Controlled studies that test the efficacy and safety of new drugs or therapies before they are approved for general use.
Epidemiology: The study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations, helping to identify risk factors and develop preventive strategies.
Pharmacology: The study of drugs and their effects on the body, crucial for understanding treatment options.
Diagnostics: Development and validation of tests and procedures to diagnose diseases accurately.
Clinical Practice: The application of clinical science principles in healthcare settings, including patient assessment, management, and treatment.
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Lifestyle medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on the use of lifestyle interventions to prevent, manage, and even reverse chronic diseases. It emphasizes the importance of healthy behaviors in promoting overall well-being and improving health outcomes. Here are some key components of lifestyle medicine:
Diet and Nutrition: Advocating for a whole-food, plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats while minimizing processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
Physical Activity: Encouraging regular exercise and movement as essential components of a healthy lifestyle, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week.
Sleep Hygiene: Recognizing the critical role of sleep in health and promoting practices that enhance sleep quality and duration.
Stress Management: Implementing techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and other stress-reduction strategies to help manage stress effectively.
Reducing Environmental Risks: Supporting individuals in identifying and reducing exposures to harmful substances, such as alcohol and tobacco.
Social Connections: Highlighting the importance of strong social ties and community support for mental and emotional well-being.
Behavior Change: Utilizing evidence-based strategies to help individuals make and sustain lifestyle changes, such as motivational interviewing and goal setting.
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Functional medicine is an approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of diseases rather than just treating symptoms. It emphasizes a patient-centered model, where practitioners consider the whole person—biological, psychological, and social factors—in their diagnosis and treatment. Key principles of functional medicine include:
Personalized Care: Treatments are tailored to individual patients based on their unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
Holistic Approach: It considers the interconnectedness of bodily systems and how they influence overall health, rather than viewing each system in isolation.
Focus on Prevention: Functional medicine aims to prevent disease by promoting healthy lifestyle choices and addressing risk factors early on.
Comprehensive Assessment: Practitioners often use extensive testing to understand a patient’s health history, including laboratory tests, dietary habits, and environmental exposures.
Lifestyle Modifications: Emphasis is placed on diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management as foundational elements of health.
Collaboration: Functional medicine practitioners often work in collaboration with other healthcare providers to create a comprehensive treatment plan.
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Naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on supporting the body’s innate ability to heal itself through natural therapies and lifestyle interventions. It combines centuries-old healing traditions with modern scientific knowledge, emphasizing prevention and the treatment of underlying causes of illness rather than merely addressing symptoms. Naturopathic medicine is often seen as a complementary or integrative approach, working alongside conventional medicine to provide comprehensive care.
Here are some key principles and practices of naturopathic medicine:
Key Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic doctors (NDs) believe in the body’s inherent ability to heal itself when given the right support. This principle emphasizes the importance of a balanced lifestyle, healthy diet, and proper self-care to maintain health and restore wellness.
Identify and Treat the Causes: Rather than focusing only on alleviating symptoms, naturopathy seeks to uncover and address the root causes of health conditions. This may include factors like lifestyle, environmental influences, emotional stress, and genetic predispositions.
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic treatments aim to use therapies that are gentle, natural, and non-toxic. NDs avoid or minimize interventions that may cause harm or produce adverse side effects.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere): NDs view themselves as educators, empowering patients with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health. Education is a key part of the healing process, helping individuals take an active role in their own care.
Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic medicine emphasizes the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. It looks at all factors that may influence a person's well-being, such as stress, nutrition, relationships, lifestyle, and environmental influences.
Prevention is the Best Medicine: Naturopathy places a strong emphasis on preventive care, including lifestyle modifications, nutrition, and regular screenings, to avoid illness and maintain optimal health.
Designing for Health
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Centralize
Thorough assessment of all medical information including lab results, imaging, pathology reports, endoscopic evaluations, and more
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Analyze
Identify trends and patterns in the medical data and correlate with subjective feelings and intuitive impressions
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Reflect
Refine the health vision and values into focus and tailor a strategy to meet goals and needs
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Implement
Choose areas of focus to make changes or observe more carefully between sessions
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“Dr Emily is an incredible listener and skillfully knows how to zoom out to link my aliments together. It’s been an immense relief to work with a practitioner who will facilitate healing for all aspects of my health.”
— Lifestyle Intensive