The use of the word "functional" is key to understanding the integrative medical approach. NIHA has many tests or assessments to determine how the body or organ is currently functioning, or working, as compared with normal, healthy functioning. Functional tests help determine how the body is functioning as opposed to other medical test and imaging tools, which measure pathological breakdown and disease.
A sub-optimal functional test may indicate a need for correction even though traditional testing may show everything is within the normal range. This is a subtle but important difference as many sub-optimal health conditions will cause symptoms that get us to the doctor, but then no reason can be found for what is causing our health problem.
Functional Testing for Prevention
Functional changes occur long before disease is manifested, so functional testing becomes an early warning test for disease which is ideal for prevention-oriented physicians and patients concerned about finding the root cause of their problem.
Functional medicine searches for the underlying imbalance, or root cause, which can contribute to illness or chronic disease. If you have an imbalance, it can affect your body in many ways.
Diagnostic Functional Testing
Dr. Gant's model of Functional Medicine involves special diagnostic Functional Testing, lab tests often covered by insurance, to identify and correct imbalances in the brain and body chemistry. These lab tests may uncover:
- * Nutritional Deficiencies
- * Hormonal Imbalances
- * Detoxification and Biotransformational imbalances
- * Immune imbalances
- * Inflammatory imbalances
- * Digestive,absorptive, and microbiological imbalances
- * Structural imbalances
Imbalances such as these may be early symptoms of disease or barriers to good health.
Expert Interpretation of Results
Dr. Gant has over 30 years experience in interpreting these complex tests. Based on his findings, he creates a plan for each patient to correct their imbalances and restore fundamental health.
Schedule a brief "meet and greet" appointment with Dr. Gant to learn how functional medicine can help.
"By paying attention to small problems, you can often prevent large problems."
Dr. Gant's Library Documents:
Recommendations for all Dr. Gant's Patients
Intro to Weekly Support Webinar
PRACTITIONERS:
Charles Gant MD, PhD
