About Alternative and Holistic HealthCare Services

What is Functional Healthcare?

Functional oriental medicine or healthcare, is personalized medicine that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes as well as symptoms for serious chronic disease. It is a science-based field of health care that is grounded in the following principles:

o The importance of individual variations in metabolic function that derive from genetic and environmental differences among individuals.

o Patient-centered care rather than "disease care," following Sir William Osler; admonition that "It is more important to know what patient has the disease than to know what disease the patient has."

o Dynamic balance of internal and external factors.

o Web-like interconnections of physiological factors; an abundance of research now supports the view that the human body functions as an orchestrated network of interconnected systems, rather than individual systems functioning autonomously and without effect on each other. For example, we now know that immunological dysfunctions can promote cardiovascular disease, that dietary imbalances can cause hormonal disturbances, and that environmental exposures can precipitate neurologic syndromes such as Parkinsons disease.

o Health as a positive vitality; not merely the absence of disease.

o Promotion of organ reserve as the means to enhance health span.

Functional oriental medicine is anchored by an examination of the core clinical imbalances that underlie various disease conditions. Those imbalances arise as environmental inputs such as diet, nutrients (including air and water), exercise, and trauma are processed by ones body, and spirit through a unique set of genetic predispositions, attitudes, and beliefs. The fundamental physiological processes include communication, both outside and inside the cell; bioenergetics, or the transformation of food into energy; replication, repair, and maintenance of structural integrity, from the cellular to the whole body level; elimination of waste; protection and defense; and transport and circulation. The core clinical imbalances that arise from malfunctions within this complex system include:

Hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances

Oxidation-reduction imbalances and mitochondropathy

Detoxification and biotransformational imbalances

Immune imbalances

Inflammatory imbalances

Digestive, absorptive, and microbiological imbalances

Structural imbalances from cellular membrane function to the musculoskeletal system

Oxidation-reduction imbalances and mitochondropathy

Detoxification and biotransformational imbalances

Immune imbalances

Inflammatory imbalances

Digestive, absorptive, and microbiological imbalances

Structural imbalances from cellular membrane function to the musculoskeletal system

Imbalances such as these are the precursors to the signs and symptoms by which we detect and label (diagnose) organ system disease. Improving balance; in the patient's environmental inputs and in the body's fundamental physiological processes; is the precursor to restoring health and it involves much more than treating the symptoms. Functional medicine is dedicated to improving the management of complex, chronic disease by intervening at multiple levels to address these core clinical imbalances and to restore each patients functionality and health.

Functional oriental medicine emphasizes a definable and teachable process of integrating multiple knowledge bases within a pragmatic intellectual matrix that focuses on functionality at many levels, rather than a single treatment for a single diagnosis. It uses the patients story as a key tool for integrating diagnosis, signs and symptoms, and evidence of clinical imbalances into a comprehensive approach to improve both the patients environmental inputs and his or her physiological function. It is a clinicians discipline, and it directly addresses the need to transform the practice of primary care.

Hormonal Imbalances

In order to understand the definition of "Functional Endocrinology" in oriental medicine healthcare, we must first define the term endocrinology.

The definition of endocrinology is the branch of medicine dealing with the endocrine glands and their hormones. What is the distinction between general endocrinology and functional endocrinology. General clinical endocrinology bases its therapy on identifying organs that are deficient or nonfunctioning and uses some type of a pharmaceutical agent or hormone to replace, suppress, or support the dysfunctional endocrine system. General clinical endocrinology seems appropriate for certain genetic disorders and disease patterns that seriously alter hormone production or function.

On the other hand, functional endocrinology identifies alterations in the endocrine systems that are not in a disease state at the point of diagnosis. Many of these alterations if not treated at the early signs of dysfunction may lead to pathology down the road. Functional endocrine disorders are typically ignored in the outdated disease-based Allopathic model.

People that suffer from functional endocrine disorders are not diagnosed with disease and therefore are left untreated in the standard medical care model until manifestations of disease become present. These patients typically suffer from wide ranges of symptoms from fatigue to serious cases of depression. It is almost as if people are being to told to go home and wait for their condition to get worse before anything can be done. Functional endocrine disorders also increase risk for many disorders if not treated. In the traditional healthcare model, patients that present with elevated blood pressure or cholesterol will be placed on pharmaceutical agents to alter the secondary changes that may take place from insulin resistance.

In the functional endocrine model, factors that change metabolism altering physiological response will be Based on the results of your evaluations, specific nutritional and homeopathic products are recommendedevaluated first. An example of this is managing the primary concern of insulin resistance and looking for concomitant improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol values. In order to practice functional endocrinology, the clinician must understand the depth of human physiology and metabolism. Memorizing signs and symptoms of a disease state and supplying the magic agent to manage the condition is pharmaceutical endocrinology, not functional endocrinology. Functional endocrinology involves understanding and supporting a complex series of vicious cycles that feed each other.

The role of the astute clinician is to identify these patterns and provide support and counseling to unlock these vicious cycles. It is not uncommon for a clinician practicing functional endocrinology to optimize gastrointestinal function as a therapy to reduce cardiovascular markers and risk.

Following your consultation, physical examination and evaluation to assess your current health status and specific products can be recommended to correct imbalances and improve symptoms. you willthen be provided with an individualized treatment plan and oriental diagnosis. This can include nutritional products, herbal, and various detoxification formulations.

Adrenal & Blood Sugar Disorder's

Adrenal disorders are probably the most common functional disorders found today. We live-in a society in which we are culturally inclined to eat a diet high in refined carbohydrates, synthetic sweeteners, artificial flavored foods, foods with numerous synthetic additives, and foods loaded with compounds to alter normal physiology such as partially hydrate fats found in boxed and bagged foods.

A poor diet places tremendous stress on the body, compounded with a society which places great demands on deadlines and social pressures, has lead to an epidemic of adrenal related disorders. The adrenal glands are two triangular type glands, attached above the kidneys. The adrenal gland produces steroid hormones cortisol, aldosterone, progesterone, DHEA, epinephrine and norepinephrine. The adrenal glands also produce a small amount of sex hormones.

Adrenal Function

1. Energy production: Abnormal adrenal function can alter the ability of the cells to produce energy for activities of daily living. People who have a hard time rising in the morning, or who suffer with low energy level during the day, often have abnormal adrenal rhythms and poor blood sugar regulation.

2. Muscle & joint function: Abnormal adrenal rhythms are known to compromise tissue healing. Reduce tissue repair and increased tissue breakdown can lead to muscle and joint breakdown with chronic pain.

3. Bone health: The adrenal rhythm determines how well we build bone. If the night cortisol level are elevated and the morning level are too high, our body does not rebuild well, and we are more prone to the osteoporotic process. Stress is the enemy of the bones.

4. Immune health: White blood cells cycle in and out of the spleen and bone marrow for special conditioning, and possible nourishment and instructions. So, if the cycle is disturbed, especially at night, then the immune system can be adversely affected.

5. Skin regeneration:Human skin regenerates mostly during the night.

6. Sleep quality: The ability to enter REM sleep cycle, is interrupted by high cortisol values at night and in the morning. Chronic lack of REM sleep can reduce the mental vitality and vigor of a person and induced depression.

7. Thyroid function: Quite often, hypothyroid symptoms such as fatigue and low body temperature are due to an adrenal maladaptation.

8. Grain intolerance & stress: Now 12-18% of the U.S. population suffers from a genetic intolerance to grain. The gut becomes inflamed within 30 minutes after consuming the grains and this can be to an adrenal stress response, increase core little and reduced DHEA.

Imbalances from any illness can cause any of these signs and symptoms. with oriental diagnosis and customized treatment, and preventive measures that may include diet and lifestyle changes, hormones, botanicals and vitamins,many of these issues can be resolved perminently:

o Fatigue

o Headaches with physical or mental stress

o Weak immune system

o Allergies

o Slow starter in the morning

o Gastric ulcer

o Afternoon headache

o Fullness or bloating feeling

o Crave sweets, caffeine, cigarettes

o Blurred vision,

o Get shaky or lightheaded if meals are missed or delayed

o Irritable before meals

o Eating relieves fatigue

o Cannot stay asleep or cannot falsely

Autoimmune Endocrine Dysfunction

Autoimmune responses can occur against any gland, any tissue, any hormone or neurotransmitter. Autoimmune responses against endocrine glands are commonplace in clinical practice. Many individuals in the healthcare system present with autoimmune endocrine patterns that are not addressed in case management by healthcare providers. It is not considered standard practice to investigate autoimmune endocrine dysfunction with individuals that present with glandular defect. The question of why the individual's gland stopped working is normally never questioned. Clinically, when a patient presents with an autoimmune endocrine pattern, nutritional support specific for the endocrine gland, glandular therapy and even hormone replacement does very little to improve the individuals response and physiology.

When investigating the mechanisms that lead to an autoimmune response, we see that many variables are involved which include genetics, environment, endocrine in balances, chemical exposure, antigen response, stress response, etc. The symbiotic orchestration of these factors at a given time period appear to switch on genes that attack our own cells.

The immune system protects us from invasion by foreign microbes. It is our bodies military system to identify and destroy organisms that may harm us or live off our energy reserves such as bacteria, parasites, viruses, ect. However, the immune system does more than just protect us from the non-self antigens. The immune system is involved with destroying our own cells to help us illuminate dead or senescent cells. This process is called cellular apoptosis and if this system fails, cancer develops. Our immune system is responsible for creating inflammatory responses that allow us to heal after injury, but if the inflammatory response is not regulated properly it can promote degenerative changes and disease.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal dysfunctions are the most overlooked and mismanaged disorders in health care today. The gastrointestinal tract is connected to every major system in the human body. Over 60% of the human immune system is found in the gastrointestinal tract. It is responsible for the production of 99% of the bodys neurotransmitters. In addition, the GI tract serves very important metabolic functions such as impacting nutrient absorption, eliminating toxins, metabolizing hormones, and producing energy.

The gastrointestinal tract relates to pain, inflammation, oxidative stress, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disorders, adrenal stress syndrome, estrogen dominance and metabolism, anemia, fatigue and hepatic detoxification. The gastrointestinal tract is essentially and external part of the body. This is the reason we do not have to sterilize our food, but only be sure it is clean and wholesome. Presently, the risk of being infected or infested by pathogenic organisms through food and water is ever increasing.

Mode Of Transmission & Who Is At Risk

The predominant method of transmission of parasites is the fecal-oral route through hand contact with infected individuals or via contaminated water and food. Many parasites are highly transmissible.

It can happen to anyone, even in the U.S. and you may not know you have it. with regular, individualized and specific detoxification programs and body cleanses, you wont have to worry about this infestation.

Prevention Notes:

o Observe strict personal hygiene habits

o Eat cooked food, when outside your home

o Wash fresh fruits & vegetables with soap & water

o Avoid drinking potentially contaminated surface water

o Before overseas travel, contact the CDC for tips

o Restrict pets to designated parts of the home

o Wash hands after touching pets

Various body cleanses will rid the boay of harmful bacteria, fungi, yeast overgrowth, and parasites, and specialized program will allow for replacement of natural flora and nutrients that the body needs to keep in balance for optitim health. Nutirional counseling provides this service so that you can know what is best for your specific condition without all the expensive testing.

Individuals with chronic and vague GI symptoms including:

o Frequent bloating, gas, cramping, and constipation

o Frequent travel within US and/or overseas

o Frequent eating outside the home

o Homosexuals

o Food handlers - to protect others

o Food preparers at restaurants, homes, schools, etc.

o Institutionalized individuals

o Uniformed services

o Dormitory Residents - common quarters

o Children that go to daycare centers

Thyroid Dysfunction

Typical Symptoms Of Low Thyroid Function (Hypothyroid)

1. Fatigue

2. Increase in weight gain even with low calorie diet

3. Morning headaches that wear off as the day progressed

4. Depression

5. Constipation

6. Hypersensitivity to cold weather

7. Poor circulation and numbness in hands and feet

8. Muscle cramps while at rest

9. Catches cold and other virus/bacteria easily and has difficulty recovering

10. Wounds heal slow

11. Excessive amounts of sleep required to function properly

12. Chronic digestive problems

13. Itchy dry skin

Typical Symptoms Of Overactive Thyroid Function (Hyperthyroid)

1. Heart palpitations

2. Increased pulse even at rest

3. Nervous and emotional

4. Insomnia

5. Night sweats

6. Difficulty gaining weight

7. Bowel hyperactivity

Female Hormonal Dysfunction

The ovaries are a very important part of the female reproductive organs. The ovaries are located on the right and left side of the pelvic cavity next to the uterus. Each weighs about 15 grams. The human female is born with immature ovaries which gradually mature into a fully functional reproductive system.

The Cyclical Pacing Of The Ovaries

The human ovary releases its hormones in a cyclical manner which is referred to as the menstrual cycle. The average cycle is it out 26-30 days.

The time and pacing of hormone release is governed by GnRH, FSH & LH, hormones from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain. The two major classes of ovarian hormones released during the menstrual cycle are Estrogen and Progesterone, which are known as female steroid sex hormones.

The major and most active estrogen released is Estradiol, while the major Progestin is Progesterone.

The Female Cycle Has Three Physiologic Phases

1. The follicular phase starts with the onset of menstrual blood flow and is variable length. This phases normally characterized by both low estrogen and progesterone output.

2. The ovulation phase 1 one to 3 days long and the human ovum (egg) is released in this phase. This phase is characterized by high estrogen levels.

3. The luteal phase is rather constant in length, 12-14 days, and ends with menses. Compared to the follicular phase, the luteal phase is characterized by high progesterone concentrations and a moderate increase in estrogen.

Functions Of Sex Hormone

Estradiol and Progesterone effect several target organs involved in a successful conception and pregnancy. Additionally, these hormones maintain number of secondary sexual characteristics such as reduced body hair, soft skin texture, a high voice pitch, possible release of search in pheromones, etc

What Can You Do About It?

There are several therapeutic options which may minimize or even eliminate many of the symptoms:

1.

Treat symptoms using synthetic hormones without hormone level testing.

2.

Treat symptoms using natural hormones without any testing.

3.

Treat and correct symptoms using natural treatment methods that natural increase or adjust hormone levels such as acupuncture and herbal medicine and it can be left up to you whether to test or not.

Male Hormone Dysfunction:

Andropause is the appropriate term for what many people call male menopause. Male menopause is a misnomer because men do not menstruate. Instead men go through a gradual decline in the ability to produce androgen hormones such as testosterone, DHT, and androstenedione. Therefore, the term andropause refers to a physiological state in which the production of androgen hormones declines. The level of androgen production can be the reason why some men age gracefully and others will not. Andropause usually manifests in the middle age man, but young man in their late 20s may also have functional imbalances in their hormone physiology. Andropause is identified with low testosterone levels.

What You Can Do About Male Hormone Imbalance:

Optimal health is dependent on the balance of hormones, and not just a single hormone. With regular acupuncture treatment, all hormones within the body are balanced and work efficiently.

The Roles Of some important Hormones Are Highlighted Below:

DHEA- is the precursor for both male and female hormones. Also, it is an anti-stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Unmonitored intake can easily alter the delicate balance between male to female hormones.

Androstenedione- is a week male hormone (androgen) and the precursor of both male and female hormones. if out of balance, in men can cause excessive female hormone production with minimal male hormone production. In women it causes excessive male hormone production with body & facial hair stimulation.

Testosterone- is the main testicular androgen and is a precursor to the highly potent dihydrotestosterone male hormone. Excessive amounts of testosterone promote hardening of the blood vessels, aggression, prostate problems and increase in total cholesterol. Low testosterone levels have been correlated with increased obesity, insulin sensitivity and increase cardiovascular risk.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)- is made from testosterone inserted tissue the rate of its production is controlled by the level of free active progesterone. Excessive DHT causes prostate enlargement and thinning of scalp hair.

Progesterone- this hormone is imported in both sexes. It is a natural calming agent to our nervous system. It also keeps in check excessive DHT production and counter balances the effects of excessive estrogen. imbalance can lead to breast enlargement, depression and weight gain.

Estrogen- is produced by both sexes in the fat cells. The more fat, the more estrogen which in turn self promotes fat deposits. Excess of estrogen can cause breast enlargement and contributes to prostate enlargement. In males, a certain low level of as estrogen is mandatory to balance the androgens.

Is treatment right for you?
if you want to balance any of the hormones mentioned above and/or you are;

1. Middle aged and having:

* impaired libido

* erectile dysfunction

* baldness and/or extremity hair thinning

* fat accumulation around the waist

* urinary symptoms: pain and/or frequency; urgency; interrupted stream

* change in sleeping habits

* lack of enthusiasm for life

* increase in bad cholesterol, decrease in good cholesterol

* your Dr. tells you that you have osteoporosis

2. Young and having:

* impaired libido

* erectile dysfunction

* early baldness

* inability to lose weight

How Do You Benefit?

1. prevenative and regular treatment with acupuncture can be affordable and less expensive than ongoing testing, treatment and hormone replacements.

2. Acupuncture spares you the biohazards and pain of venipunctures. with acupuncture there is usually no pain or minimal discomfort if any.

3. Results are in how you begin to feel and minimization and elimination of symptoms.

4. You do not necessarily need hormone replacement if the body can produce them on its own with help of proven Acupncture treatment. this keeps you safe from harmful side affects of replacement therapy and drugs.

Menopause

Literally, menopause means cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle and signals the end of women's natural childbearing years. Menopause is either a disease or an illness, it is a natural and usually gradual change in glandular function. It has its origins in the beginning of menses and culminates in a series of hormonal changes that result in the cessation of menstrual flow. This transition produces a variety of bodily manifestations and symptoms, and is due to changes in production of hormones and the time of their release. Various body parts undergo changes and can produce one or more of the following symptoms.

Endocrine

1. Bleeding irregularities

2. Vaginal dryness

3. Hot flashes/sweats

4. Changes in sex drive

Nervous Symptoms

1. Insomnia

2. Nervousness, irritability

3. Headaches

4. Mood changes

5. Depression

Metabolic Changes

1. Skin aging

2. Osteoporosis

3. Altered fat and carbohydrate metabolism

4. Arthrosclerosis

How Can this information help You?

by understanding what you are going through, you can find reasonable solutions to improving your condition. please note that menopause and hormonal imbalances are quite normal and happen as a result of our ever changing body. If we bring about balance in this hormones, we improve our conditions without harmful side affects and drugs. with acupuncture, testing is not normally necessary. we diagnose and treat according to what is going on in the body, your symptoms, and many other indications give us a picture of what is going on. Acupuncture can even diagnose and treat before a disease manifest in the body, thus preventing it from becoming a major problem. hormones are easily treated and balanced by acupuncture and at a fraction of the cost required to test and treat with hormone replacement. some people may decide to take an over the counter hormone replacement or herbal remedy. if it works for you then you have found your solution. if it doesnt, acupuncture and its modalities can be the solution for you. I have spoke to many patients that have tried this or that products and estrogen replacement and it sometimes helped a little but not enough to give them the relief they wanted, or they had side affects, so they eventually found acupuncture afterwards.

so with testing or not, I will work with you in balancing these hormonal levels,but just know that it is not necessary to test your hormone levels in order to get results.