Functional Medicine Journal » FM Editor

Functional Medicine University Preview Webinar

FM Editor — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:02:05 +0000

This Monday (October 5, 2009) at 6pm PST 9 PM EST the Functional Medicine University will be holding a preview webinar of it’s online university which specilizes in training physicians and practitioners in the field of Functional Diagnostic Medicine. The online training in Functional Medicine offers 24×7 online access to an extensive archive of learning materials.

If you would like to attend the FREE webinar you will need to register at the link below:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/island/webinar/registration.tmpl?id=414499873

The webinar will be hosted live and will give you an inside glimpse of how the online university functions and what you as a student of FMU can expect. If you have never taken an online training before this is a great opportunity to get involved and learn Functional Medicine. The online learning center at Functional Medicine University, allows for you to learn at your own pace and without incurring the costs of travel and accommodations, such as with a traditional conference or seminar.

The upcoming tour will include a review of all aspects of the University, including the online training forums and downloads library. There will also be a review of the indepth nine modules which comprise the Functional Medicine online training.

Previous students will also be given an opportunity to share some of their experiences of how they found the training and what they recommend when getting involved in learning Functional Medicine. If you need more information please visit: http://www.FunctionalMedicineTraining.com or click on the link above.

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming webinar.

Functional Medicine Seminars

FM Editor — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:53:42 +0000

If you haven’t heard by now Functional Medicine University has been hosting what could be known as the Super Bowl of Functional Medicine. Ten Days of Functional Medicine Telesemiars by world leading experts in the field of Functional Diagnostic Medicine.

So far the feedback has been outstanding and particpation has been tremendous! This years 2009 Functional Medicine Teleseminar line up includs lectures by Andrea M. Girman MD, Joel Yaffa, MD Jeffrey Moss DDS, Richard S. Lord Ph.D, Shelia Dean Dsc-C, RD, Ronald J. Grisanti, D.C., David Quig Ph.D, Aristo, Vojdani, PH.D, Dicken Weatherby ND, Joe Evans Ph.D.

All lectures are being recorded and are now available for download at the website http://www.FunctionalMedicineExperts.com

Official sponsors of Septembers Functional Medicine Teleseminar includes: Metametrix Institute, Genova Diagnostics, Diagnos-Techs Inc., Bio Health Diagnostics, Doctor’s Data, Moss Nutrition and Xymogen.

We want to express our appreciation to everyone who is participating and who is attending the 2009 seminars.

Childhood Obesity Functional Medicine

FM Editor — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:21:04 +0000

In this article Dr. Michael Lyon, medical director of the Canadian Centre for Functional Medicine, discusses treating childhood obesity with a functional medicine approach. The article continues discuss the founding of new weightloss camp in Squamish this spring. The camp is the first of it’s kind located in Canada and will be open to youth between 11 and 18 who are at least 20 pounds overweight. Below is an excerpt from the article entitled: Helping obese youth shed pounds

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Similar to a traditional ‘Fat Camp’ The Wellspring Camp also limits calories, but clinical director Kirschenbaum claims it offers a more scientific approach that uses psychology, activity and a low-fat diet.

“By emphasizing fat reduction over calories, Kirschenbaum says the campers don’t leave the table hungry.”

“We try to prevent a feeling of deprivation,” he says. “If they feel hungry and deprived, it’s not going to last. Our approach is designed to increase satiety, increase satisfaction with kid-friendly foods.”

Each morning, they walk five kilometres before breakfast. In Squamish, they will also kayak, hike and river raft, and play team sports such as basketball, soccer and field hockey.

“If you just diet and don’t increase activity, your body actually becomes metabolically more efficient,” he says.

The third tier of Wellspring’s approach is to use cognitive behaviour therapy to help youngsters change behaviours and develop what Kirschenbaum calls a healthy obsession.

Functional Medicine and Women’s Sleep

FM Editor — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:05:32 +0000

In this article Dr, Weymouth, a practitioner of Functional Medicine discusses the connection between the need need for Women to stay well fed and thus get optimal sleep. She discusses some of her experiences with patients. In specific situations in which the patient claims to not feel feel hungry but on a nutritional level they are lacking fuel to create the cortisol needed by the body. Below is an excerpt from the article entitled: Why Can’t Women Sleep? Part I: Building Better Sleep Basics

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“Feed Your Brain

Dr. Weymouth, a chiropractor and ex-insomniac, practices “Functional Medicine” whose aim is to answer the why’s, what’s and how’s of health. When a woman appears in her office complaining of poor sleep - and most do - she asks what they’re eating.

“If you’re not sleeping well at night, you’re probably not eating as well as you think you are,” she says.

Women who wake during the night may not feel hungry. But they may well be starved for nourishment their brain needs to make it calmly through the night.

“If we don’t have enough fuel, the body asks the adrenal glands to make cortisol,” Dr. Weymouth explains. Which, as I understand it, is like making fight-or-flight in a bottle that just happens to be your trying-to-sleep body.

To up your odds of sleeping well, Dr. Weymouth suggests eating breakfast within an hour of waking, have lunch within four hours of breakfast (and if you can’t, have a snack, and then your meal).

If three to four hours pass between dinner and bedtime, eat a snack before bed made up of fat, protein and carbohydrate - part of an apple with a small amount of nut butter, cheese and crackers, a fork-or-two of dinner leftovers.

Orgasms can be a great natural sleep aid for women who find them relaxing. (”If you want to run around cleaning your closet afterward, then you have your sex in the morning,” Weymouth says.)

Lemon balm, lavender and linden teas can have a calming effect on the nervous system, as can 2-3 minute rounds of slow deep breathing.

Insomnia, of course, is very real. So, where is the line between sleeping badly and sleep disorders?”

Lack of Sleep May be Connected to Belly Fat

FM Editor — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:27:49 +0000

Here is an interesting article which draws a connection between lack of sleep and belly fat. The Canadian Centre for Functional Medicine in Vancouver has run several clinical trials in which several of the participants have reported sleeping better after weight-loss. In specific the article discusses how dramatic fluctuations in their blood sugar throughout the night can effect one’s sleep.

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Belly fat may keep you up at night
Author: Kerry Benjoe

“Having sleep trouble?

It could be your belly fat keeping you awake, says one researcher.

Kate Rheaume-Bleue has discovered a link between excess abdominal fat and insomnia.

“This is really a serendipitous finding coming out of weight loss trials dealing with a combination of fibres that’s developed at the University of Toronto,” explained Rheaume-Bleue. “There are clinical trials being done on this PGX combination at the Canadian Centre for Functional Medicine in Vancouver. Many of the participants in the weight-loss trial were reporting that they were sleeping better.”

Rheaume-Bleue, a naturopathic physician, said she’s become interested in keeping on top of research in into insomnia and weight loss because it’s new and interesting information. She shared some of her insights with people who attended the Total Health Show at Evraz Place on the weekend.

She said in the most recent trials researchers have begun monitoring glucose levels and their connection to belly fat and insomnia.

“What was shown in these weight-loss trials is that many people who were overweight but with abdominal fat in particular because that fat is actually different from fat in the rest of the body, those people would suffer with quite dramatic fluctuations in their blood sugar throughout the night,” explained Rheaume-Bleue.

She said those types of changes don’t happen in average or generally healthy people.

“When the blood sugar drops at night time, especially at 3 a.m., that could wake them up,” said Rheaume-Bleue.

She explained that fibres have a very stabilizing affect on blood sugar so it was noticed very early in the trials the affect fibre was having on participants.”

Read Full Article…

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Originally Published: Canada.com
Title: Belly fat may keep you up at night
Author: Kerry Benjoe

ADHD and Functional Medicine

FM Editor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:53:18 +0000

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD or ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder. It affects about 3 to 5% of children with symptoms starting before seven years of age.

ADHD treatment begins with the proper diagnosis by a certified practitioner or doctor. Often times ADHD can coexist with other disorders and identifying them is crucial in determining the correct treatment.

Medications are usually prescribed and behavioral modification techniques are used to prevention symptoms, but not addressing the root cause of ADHD.

Functional Medicine offers a more in-depth approach to investigate some of the underlying biochemical, physiological, environmental and psychological factors which might be occurring in the patient and thus creating the particular experience.

Functional Medicine treats the person at the root cause for AD/HD ADHD rather than treating the ailment alone.

To lean more talk with your Functional Medicine Doctor today.

Functional Medicine: Pregnancy & Childbirth

FM Editor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:50:38 +0000

Pregnancy & Childbirth are can be one of the most memorable & celebratory experiences of any woman’s life. While modern healthcare offers many options & practices around pregnancy and childbirth, which one works best to provide the women with the most nourishing holistic care?

How can a mother to be most supported in having the best experience during this physically and emotionally demanding time?

During an average pregnancy / postpartum women can commonly experience a wide variety of changes from depression to anxiety, soreness, reduced libido, and overall discomfort.

Working with a Functional Medicine Doctor or practitioner can often offer women with a better understanding for the changes they are experiencing as well as a way in which to work with these changes.

Implementing a personalized approach to medicine which focuses on primary prevention and whole body health care.

More detail

Functional Medicine & Children Getting Started Early

FM Editor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:35:28 +0000

As a parent, the health of your childern is your first priority. Being actively involved in your health care decisions allow you to make informed choices while keeping you in-the-know. How do you navigate the every complex and changing world of health care especially when children are involved. Often times’ pediatrician’s only provides a one-sided point for achieving optimal health. While a physician or practitioner trained in Functional Medicine has looked at the situation from a holistic point of view.

By working with a certified FM Doctor or FM Practitioner you are making an informed decisions to make empowered healthcare decisions. Start early with children by applying principles of disease prevention, self-healing, and noninvasive treatment. As a parent you want the best for your children make informed decisons by taking steps to learn more about functional medicine today and enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Functional Pain Medicine

FM Editor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:29:45 +0000

Traditionally pain management relies on an approach which often includes pharmacological applications such as narcotics or NSAIDs and pain modifiers such as tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants. Functional Pain Medicine (FM Pain Medicine) also focuses attention on non-pharmacologic approach by implementing interventional procedures such as physical therapy or physical exercise.

In addition FM Pain Medicine takes an analytical approach for how all components of the human biological system interact within the environment thus creating and causing chronic pain. By addressing the root cause of the situation FM Doctors are able to approach pain managment and create Functional Pain Managements Plans which offer both individualized & holistic treatment.

Finding a Functional Medicine Clinic

FM Editor — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:20:14 +0000

The core quality of a Functional Medicine Clinic (FM Clinic) is one in which health care starts with a patient-centered approach.

While there is currently no formal directory of FM Clinics you can begin your search for FM Doctors Here

FunctionalMedicineDoctors.com