Functional Medicine/Nutrition Counseling/Labs
Functional Medicine combines the philosophy of balance and how to restore function from Chinese Medicine and the knowledge of biochemistry and physiology of Western Medicine with the latest scientific research about how our genetics, environment and lifestyle all interact with each other.
Functional Medicine focuses on assessment and intervention at the root levels of metabolic imbalance and is an evolution in the practice of medicine that addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century by focusing on prevention and uncovering the underlying causes of serious chronic disease.
Instead of suppressing symptoms, it deals with the root causes of disease and is less concerned with making a diagnosis and more concerned with the underlying imbalances, which are the mechanisms of the disease process.
If you have a stone in your shoe that is causing your foot to hurt, it makes sense to remove the stone rather than taking Advil for the pain. That is how Functional Medicine works – to remove the underlying cause of symptoms rather than cover them up.
For an example, three people might come into our office complaining of reflux. All may be given Nexium by their medical doctors. For one of them, the cause of the reflux might be his diet. Eliminating the foods that cause the problem can do the trick. For the second person, giving her probiotics and nutrients to heal the lining of the gastrointestinal system might help. For the third person, giving him HCl (yes you read correctly) giving him Hydrochloric Acid tablets to aid digestion could do the trick. All three might have different causes for the symptoms they are experiencing and would need to be treated accordingly.
Ham Lake Nutrition Counseling
We provide specific recommendations on nutrition supplements and healthy food choices to enhance our patients’ return to optimal health. Do you know which supplements and vitamins are good for you? Do you know how these supplements and vitamins interact with one another? Dr. Christine Ingbretson can provide a structured nutritional program based on your individual needs. We also offer metabolic testing for conditions such as gluten intolerance, elevated cholesterol, elevated stress hormones, and vitamin D deficiency.
Laboratory Testing
To assist the doctors in assessing underlying causes for the symptoms a patient is experiencing, labs may be ordered.
Tests that may be included in the assessment are:
* Comprehensive blood and urine analysis – test includes CDC and differential and platelets, cholesterol, thyroid markers, blood sugar markers, anemia markers, inflammatory markers and a urinalysis. This test is done through Prinicipal Labs.
Click here to go to the Principal Labs website
* Microbiology status (e.g. Candida, bacteria in the gut). This test is done through Cyrex labs.
* Using Cyrex Labs Arrays we can test for gluten intolerance, gluten-associated cross-reactive foods (foods that may cause the same or similar reactions in the body as gluten), autoimmune reactivity, Multiple food immune reactivity.
Click here to go to the Cyrex Labs website
* Stress hormones saliva analysis is done through DiagnosTechs.
Click here to go to the Diagnos Techs website
* Gastrointestinal and immunology profiles are done through Genova Diagnostics.
Click here to go to the Genova Diagnostics website
Click here to go to the Vibrant Labs
Click here to go to the Vibrant Labs | Test Offered
Supplementation
Often, the body can heal itself – if it has what it needs.This includes adequate water, rest, and good nutrition through food and supplements.
Our doctors tailor their supplementation recommendations to the needs of their patients.
We offer products primarily from NutriDyn, Metagenics, Barlean’s, Apex and Standard Process. These companies have a track record of quality, innovation, and scientific research.
See the Institute for Functional Medicine website for more information.
