Functional Medicine

Evidence-based, patient-centered, root-cause medicine

Functional Medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century.

By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Through the Functional Medicine lens, Dr. Leopold spends the necessary time with patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. This is the best way to support the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.

Why Do We Need Functional Medicine?

Our society is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimotos thyroiditis.

The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward acute care, the diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness that is of short duration and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg.

Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease.

How is Functional Medicine Different?

There’s a huge gap between research and the way doctors practice. The gap between emerging research in basic sciences and integration into medical practice is enormous—as long as 50 years—particularly in the area of complex, chronic illness.

Most physicians are not adequately trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet, and exercise to both treat and prevent these illnesses in their patients.

Functional Medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks of a Functional Medicine approach include:

• Patient-centered care. The focus of functional medicine is on patient-centered care, promoting health as a positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease.

• An integrative, science-based healthcare approach. Functional Medicine practitioners look “upstream”
  to consider the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that can lead to illness.The unique genetic makeup of each patient is considered, along with both internal (mind, body and spirit) and external (physical and social environment) factors that affect total functioning.

• Integrating best medical practices. Functional Medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what are sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” medicine, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.

Functional Laboratory Testing

In conventional laboratory testing, "normal" ranges for laboratory tests are based upon population studies. The farther out of range the test result is, the more likely that the result reflects real disease.

Standard "normal" ranges for tests with numeric values are based upon use of a bell shaped curve. "Normal" is usually defined as those test values that fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean, which includes 95% of all results. Functional evaluation narrows the range to 1 standard deviation, which captures 68% of the bell curve. This allows the practitioner to identify trends in the health of the patient, even before they become pathological. Conventional testing also fails to consider that our population is no longer healthy. (A 2019 study from the American Heart Association found 48% of Americans are already living with at least one form of heart disease!). Functional testing compares data to historical and healthy population sets.

Some of the functional tests commonly run used by Dr. Leopold include:

GI Effects: Comprehensive Stool Panel

a group of advanced stool tests that provide immediate, actionable clinical information for the management of gastrointestinal health. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies and biomarkers, this profile offers valuable insight into digestive function, intestinal inflammation, and the intestinal microbiome.

Functional Imbalance Scores will help direct targeted therapeutic recommendations and treatment based on score severity of biomarkers grouped and scored in 5 key areas relating to GI function:

1. Maldigestion

2. Inflammation

3. Dysbiosis

4. Metabolite Imbalance

5. Infection

NutrEval

NutrEval is the most comprehensive functional and nutritional assessment available. It is designed to help identify root causes of dysfunction and provide a systems-based approach to help patients overcome chronic conditions and live a healthier life.

The NutrEval report offers:

• Nutrient recommendations for key vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and digestive support

• Functional pillars based around needs for methylation support, toxic exposures, mitochondrial dysfunction, fatty acid imbalances, and oxidative stress

• Interpretation-At-A-Glance pages for patient education

• Dynamic biochemical pathway charts for clearer understanding

Cyrex™ is a Clinical Immunology Laboratory Specializing in Functional Immunology and Autoimmunity. Cyrex™ offers multi-tissue antibody testing for the early detection and monitoring of today’s complex autoimmune conditions. Cyrex™ develops innovative arrays through continuous collaboration with leading experts in medical research and clinical practice.

Cyrex featrures several immunological arrays testings intestinal permeability, gluten other food sensitivities, neurological autoimmunity, and even Alzheimer’s associated immune reactivity.