Presentation delivered to Southmen breakfast group, Aug 2015, introducing Functional Medicine.

1.
Functional Medicine: Addressing the Root Causes of Chronic Disease for the
21st Century
Presented by James F. Carroll, DC to Southmen breakfast group 5 Aug 2015
Outline:
1. What is Functional Medicine?
2. How can it help?
3. How is it different than traditional medicine?
4. Q&A
Notes
What is Functional Medicine?
“Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using ​a systems­oriented
approach​ and engaging both patient and practitioner in ​a therapeutic partnership​. It is an
evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st
century. By shifting the traditional disease­centered focus of medical practice to a more
patient­centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an
isolated set of symptoms. Functional Medicine practitioners ​spend time with their patients​,
listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and
lifestyle factors that can influence long­term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way,
Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.” 1
Example​: When a patient presents with sadness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping for the past six
weeks, when someone comes in to see me and they have symptoms have sadness
hopelessness, helplessness, they have low mood they have no energy tonight eating well not
sleeping well, the doctor says, “I know what’s wrong with you, you have ​depression​, and you
need ​anti­depressants​!” However, the depression isn’t ​causing​ those symptoms, “depression”
is the name we give to that collection of symptoms.
Possible causes of depression:
● Gluten and autoimmune antibodies against thyroid
● Acid­blocker causing low Vit. B12 levels
● Vitamin D deficiencies
● Disturbed gut biome due to antibiotics
● Lots of Sushi leading to Mercury poisoning
● No fish and thus omega­3 deficiency
● Too much cinnamon rolls and insulin insensitivity
1
"What is Functional Medicine? ­ Institute for Functional ..." 4 Aug. 2015
<​https://www.functionalmedicine.org/What_is_Functional_Medicine​>
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2. Each of these requires a very different treatment approach. So it is insufficient to say, “The
patient has depression” and treat the diagnosis, which is really the constellation of symptoms.
Rather, we must understand the cause of the patient’s symptoms, and treat it.
Conversely, a ​single cause can result in a variety of symptoms​ in different people.
Inflammation can manifest as any of the following:
● Heart Disease
● Depression
● Arthritis
● Cancer
● Diabetes
So, ​what are the root causes? ​ Functional Medicine identifies seven (7) core physiological
functions, which work together to produce health and vitality. Inbalance or dysfunction in any
one of these basic processes can cause problems:
1. Assimilation​: digestion, absorption, microbiota/GI, respiration
2. Defense and repair​: immune, inflammation, infection/microbiota
3. Energy​: energy regulation, mitochondrial function
4. Biotransformation and elimination​: toxicity, detoxification
5. Transport​: cardiovascular and lymphatic systems
6. Communication​: endocrine, neurotransmitters, immune messengers
7. Structural integrity​: subcellular membranes to musculoskeletal integrity
Functional Medicine: Addressing the Root Causes of Chronic Disease for the 21st Century Page 2 of 3
James F. Carroll, DC. Southmen Breakfast Group 8/5/2015

3. Getting to the Root
So, in order to understand the root causes, Functional Medicine practitioners employ a different
approach to their patients.
● We spend a significant amount of time with patients. I usually spend 60 minutes during
an initial visit, and 30 minutes on follow up visits.
● We employ many of the same standard blood tests, but use narrower normal ranges.
This is because we are looking for imbalances and dysfunction ​prior ​to the manifestation
of disease.
● We may use specialized tests as well, which may include hormone, stool, or genetic
testing.
Once we have identified the root cause(s) of the problems, we engage with the patient in a
partnership to create lifestyle changes that will correct and prevent chronic disease. As we do,
we are guided by seven core principles:
1. Acknowledging the ​biochemical individuality​ of each human being, based on concepts
of genetic and environmental uniqueness
2. Incorporating a ​patient­centered​ rather than a disease­centered approach to treatment
3. Seeking a ​dynamic balance​ among the internal and external factors in a patient’s body,
mind, and spirit
4. Addressing the ​web­like interconnections​ of internal physiological factors
5. Identifying ​health as a positive vitality​—not merely the absence of disease—and
emphasizing those factors that encourage a vigorous physiology
6. Promoting organ reserve​ as a means of enhancing the health span, not just the
lifespan, of each patient
7. Functional Medicine is a ​science­using profession
Questions?
Functional Medicine: Addressing the Root Causes of Chronic Disease for the 21st Century Page 3 of 3
James F. Carroll, DC. Southmen Breakfast Group 8/5/2015