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What is Functional, Integrative Medicine?

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By: California Center of Longevity & Functional Medicine on September 25, 2013


In Functional Medicine, we ask the following questions:
  1. What is the root of the medical problem
  2. What do we do to correct it?

A major challenge in medicine today is to understand the physiological mechanisms that cause the disease process. The underlying cause of the disease process is often ignored and treatment is usually with a pill.
 
The Four Major Causes of Disease are:
  1. Free Radicals damage our cells and DNA, increasing the risk of developing cancer and chronic disease.
  2. Inflammation is a major factor in most chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
  3. Glycation is the consumption of excess sugar, which causes inflammation and excess free radicals.
  4. Stress can increase the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, which can lead to memory loss, excess belly fat, and insulin resistance.
 
In Functional Medicine, we examine the core clinical imbalances that cause the disease or condition in order to reverse it; rather than just treating the symptoms.
 
We ask the following questions in order to examine the cause:
  • Is it food allergy?
  • Is it environmental allergens?
  • Is it mold?
  • Are your gut microbes out of balance?
  • Is it environmental toxins or pollution?
  • Is it the chemicals in your food?
  • Is it stress, poor sleep, or poor diet?
  • Is it vitamin or hormone deficiency?
 
By identifying the cause of the disease or condition, we can treat patients to reverse the disease process. Returning patients to health requires reversing specific dysfunctions that contribute to the disease state. These dysfunctions result from our lifelong interactions with our environment, our lifestyle and our genetic predispositions.
 
Prevention is better than cure. Please call the office if you would like to make an appointment: 818.346.1440

Dr. Allan Kurtz
California Center of Longevity & Functional Medicine

Integrative Medicine - The Whole-Body Approach to Good Health


 



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