What is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is an approach to health care looking to determine the underlying root cause of illness. This is the understanding that all body systems are integrated, but paramount to this is the functional relationship of the digestive, hormone and immune systems. The digestive system is the key area of nutrient absorption and toxin elimination. The gut is the physical window to the body uniquely designed to allow the “good stuff to get into the bloodstream and keep the bad stuff out.” Unfortunately, this does not always happen, and people’s health can be greatly compromised by toxic food or a toxic gut that leads to inflammation and oxidative stress throughout the body. An example of this is gluten intolerance which generates inflammatory processes in the digestive system manifesting as bloating, gas, and stool problems (constipation and/or diarrhea), but also more systemic issues such as fatigue, headaches and joint aches and pains. In severe cases, a form or gluten intolerance called Celiac Disease has been linked to cerebellar atrophy (leading to neurological problems of balance and spatial perception) and Schizophrenia. A protein fraction of gluten called gliadin has also been associated with causing psychological changes in individuals with autism as well. The gluten peptide, aka gliadorphin, has been linked to brain chemical changes affecting attention, speech and behavior.

The digestive system is also the focal point of immunity that influences the rest of immune function throughout the body. The immune system in the gut, called mucosal immunity, is the first line of defense against pathogens entering the body through the digestive system and is uniquely set-up to neutralize these pathogens and influence immune shifts throughout the body to keep things functioning appropriately. A breakdown in mucosal immune function leads to pathogen overgrowth and increased antigen absorption from the gut which can trigger systemic inflammation and oxidative stress – all of which is a trigger for autoimmune reactivity and chronic ill-health. Gluten intolerance is just one example of a food source that can lead to mucosal immune system dysfunction and increase immune and inflammatory problems in the body. Many times, chronic infections such as bacteria, candida, and parasites can also contribute to these problems as well.

All these factors (and more) then influence the hormone system, most importantly adrenal function. The adrenals are a focal point of interconnectedness throughout the body as they influence everything from digestive, immune, metabolic, detoxification, and other biochemistry with respects to protein production, cellular assimilation, and neurological function. The interrelationship between digestive, immune and adrenal function is critical with regards to understanding and implementing assessment tools and therapy based on the tenets of functional medicine.