Functional medicine is a 21st century approach to health care that uses a systems-oriented, patient-centered approach, which engages both the patient and the practitioner in a therapeutic partnership.  Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms or isolated body parts.  It’s focused on identifying the root causes of symptoms and conditions.

 

In our office we use Functional Medicine as we listen deeply to your personal and family health history, looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors which can influence health. We further use Functional Medicine to find the interconnections among internal organ systems, body chemistry, musculoskeletal pain and imbalance, diet, toxic exposures, stress, scar tissue, injuries, and other factors.  In addition to reviewing your health history, we use physical exam, laboratory evaluation (conventional and functional), and specific functional neurological evaluation. We then do our best to help you correct these underlying causes—wherever possible—with the aim to restore your energy and vitality; reduce pain; and improve digestion, mood, sleep, and ultimately resilience.  In this way, Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual. 

 

The father of Functional Medicine is unquestionably Jeff Bland, PhD, whose research, teaching, and publications have inspired contributions from many diverse researchers and clinicians in all fields of health care.

 

Functional Medicine is taught in a rigorous, science-based regimen by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) in Federal Way, WA. Dr. Shapiro has practiced Functional Medicine for most of the past 30 years, and is currently the only chiropractor in Oregon certified by the IFM. She contributes to the IFM’s mission and purpose by assisting in training health care practitioners of all disciplines in this model of health care.

 

For more information, visit: The Institute for Functional Medicine.