What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is different than traditional medicine as instead of looking at and treating health problems as isolated diseases, the whole person is examined to find the cause of the disease and revealing underlying dysfunctions and imbalances.
Identifying and treating the underlying root causes, has a much better chance to successfully resolve a patient’s health challenge. Using scientific principles, advanced diagnostic testing, and treatments other than drugs or surgery, Functional Medicine restores balance in the body’s primary physiological processes.
Although mainstream medicine is needed for acute interventions like a heart attack, surgery, etc another approach is needed in addition for the chronic, debilitating conditions as diabetes, arthritis, etc.
To battle chronic health conditions, Functional Medicine uses two scientifically grounded principles:
- Add what’s lacking in the body to nudge its physiology back to a state of optimal functioning.
- Remove anything that impedes the body from moving toward this optimal state of physiology.
Functional medicine aims to understand underlying causes and symptoms of a chronic disease or illness. Qualified practitioners may treat the patient once they determine preventative measures, the origins of the illness and steps necessary to begin proper treatment.
Highlights of functional medicine include:
- Patient-centered care as topmost priority to treat the patient’s health as a whole, not just the disease or condition itself.
- Interaction of many inclusive factors such as how lifestyle practices, patient medical history and physiology of the body can determine the best way to treat symptoms.
- Combining both traditional and alternative practices such as Advanced Laboratory tests to identify the root causes of one’s health problem, prescription drugs or supplements, changes in diet/nutritional intake, exercise and stress management techniques.
- For treatment, Functional Medicine practitioners use a combination of natural agents (supplements, herbs, nutraceuticals and homeopathics), nutritional and lifestyle changes, spiritual/emotional counseling, and pharmaceuticals, if necessary, to stimulate a patient’s physiology back to an ideal state. Educating one about their condition, will give one a feeling of empowerment to take responsibility of their own health, ultimately leading to greater accomplishment in healing.
As an example, conventional doctors would normally prescribe pharmaceuticals like Prilosec, to treat acid reflux or heartburn. When the patient stops taking these medications, heartburn returns.In contrast, a Functional Medicine practitioner might find that a patient’s acid reflux is caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Eradicating the Helicobacter pylori may lead to the end of heartburnsymptoms, permanently. Also, it is important to note that in Functional Medicine, treatment for similar symptoms might vary tremendously for different patients. Factors that can come into play in producing the same symptoms include toxic chemicals, pathogenic bacteria, parasites, chronic viral pathogens, emotional poisons like anger, greed or envy, and structural factors such as tumors or cysts.
When you consult a Functional Medicine practitioner, the first step is always your history and to make sense of a complex story. The next set of clues comes from a comprehensive physical examination. The final set of clues comes from advanced laboratory testing. Innovative, cutting-edge lab tests help the practitioner look deeply into a patient’s physiology to discover how it has been compromised and how physiological balance can be restored. After diagnosis and treatment, a Functional Medicine patient can expect his or her symptoms to diminish in severity, with a new sense of well-being and substantial boost in health and vitality.
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We Love Our Clients!
Thank you for taking the time to read these reviews.
Dr. Iris is a wonderful and caring doctor.
“Dr. Iris is a wonderful and caring doctor. I have been fortunate enough to be her patient since 2012, when my large toddler was causing havoc on my back. She was easily able to get me out of pain and back to functioning order and has been doing so ever since.
She has an amazing intuition when it comes to the body. She is able to find the little spots that are out of alignment, even if I’m not able to locate them myself, and put them back where they belong.
She is completely committed to her patient’s well being and will do everything in her power to make you well, body and mind!”
Since seeing Dr. Rosenfeld, I have had progressive improvement
“I first came into the office in January 2008. I had a chronic issue with burning tightness in the right hip, extending to the middle back. It began about 10 years ago. I believe it was progressively getting worse but started with having a more sedentary job. It was not debilitating, but was annoying most of the time. I had been to my family doctor, an orthopedist, and another chiropractor. With the other chiropractor I had moderate results. The MDs had little to offer and no idea how to help. I found this office via a web search on the internet. Since seeing Dr. Rosenfeld, I have had progressive improvement, but the supplemental therapies have been both helpful and entertaining.”
I would give 10 stars if I could.
“I would give 10 stars if I could. Dr. Rosenfeld is the consummate professional!
If you want to get the best chiropractic care available look no further. I must receive impeccable care/service for me to write a review. Dr. Rosenfeld will increase your quality of life and reduce your pain. This is all done in a professional manner and setting. The staff is just as professional as Dr. Rosenfeld which is extremely important to me! I have been to numerous Chiropractors and very rarely will I return for a second visit. My search took over 6 months to find the right Dr and care. And the office hours should accommodate anyone’s schedule.
Thank you Dr. Rosenfeld. I’m so excited to have found you!”
With Dr. Rosenfeld I felt comfortable that she would take care of me.
“I had a neck injury seven years ago and have continued to have periods of bad times. I recently had a knee replacement which threw my back and neck out to the point I could not walk. I lost my job, can’t work and can’t work out. I just felt down. I had a bad experience with a chiropractor a long time ago. With Dr. Rosenfeld I felt comfortable that she would take care of me. Within a couple of visits I could walk and the pain was not so terrible and now we are working on the neck to try and relax it. I also use the natural products as well as the exercises given to me by Dr. Rosenfeld to try to get the best results. When I feel better life is better and everyone and everything is better. I tell people to try chiropractor care because if they try it they will be surprised.”
I no longer feel frazzled or out of sorts.
“I had neck pain that I had suffered from since a car accident in June of 2005. I suffered with this pain everyday – sometimes mildly and sometimes more severely. Also, my adrenal glands were shot and I was feeling a lot of stress. I had been seeing another chiropractor for about a year with little results. My pain never really went away despite facet blocks, trigger point injections and physical therapy. My mother told me about Dr. Rosenfeld and I made an appointment. My neck is feeling so much better. My flare-ups are few and when they do occur Dr. Rosenfeld resolves them quickly. The DSF supplement has helped me tremendously. I no longer feel frazzled or out of sorts. Thank you!!!”
I am being treated by Dr. Rosenfeld for pain relief.
“I am a law enforcement officer. I had middle back pain like a pinch under the left shoulder blade area. This limited me from working out and running. I was very conscious at work with regard to my profession. I had heard from a friend that chiropractors thoroughly studied the spine, concentrated on one discipline as opposed to western medicine. I am being treated by Dr. Rosenfeld for pain relief. Because of the long hours of sitting in a radio car or long hours standing and the approximately fifty pounds of gear I wear on a daily basis, I don’t have the small aches and pains I used to have. I have talked to several of my co-workers who complain of back pain and told them to consult a chiropractor. I have also told them about some of the other services Dr. Rosenfeld provides.”
Now am able to walk a mile or more with NO PAIN, NO NUMBNESS and my NEUROPATHY IS GONE!
“About 3 months ago, started having worsening pain in my thighs and calves when walking. It had gotten so bad that when walking more than a few houses, I had to stop because of the severe pain. Had an MRI and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, severe degenerative disc disease and protruding discs. Since I wanted to avoid surgery, I decided to try Spinal Decompression treatments from Dr. Iris, twice a week for 5 weeks. Now am able to walk a mile or more with NO PAIN, NO NUMBNESS and my NEUROPATHY IS GONE! My advice..just try the Spinal Decompression Therapy!”
It was amazing.
“I first came to Dr. Iris’s office in April of 2004. At the time, I was in bad shape. I had recently pulled a neck muscle, was extremely fatigued and could not concentrate on my course work. I suffered from many food allergies and an extreme sensitivity to gluten. Within 3 visits my neck pain was gone. Dr. Iris had recommended certain supplements which helped immensely with my fatigue and concentration. Within a year of starting the allergy treatments, my food allergies vanished, including my gluten problem (which was deemed impossible by other doctors and allergists I have seen) along with a dust allergy. It was amazing.”
Dr. Rosenfeld is a very loving and generous doctor.
“Dr. Rosenfeld is a very loving and generous doctor. I highly recommend her. She is always studying and learning new ways to help her clients. Dr. Rosenfeld has a very long list of techniques that she can offer to help. Dr. Rosenfeld is high energy and fun and an inspiration. I am grateful that my 19 yo son is her patient since I want him to meet motivated professionals.”
I was really impressed with the advanced equipment and techniques
“In April of 2008 I was struck by another car while driving and felt my neck snap and muscles in my upper body pull and tear. When I woke up the next day I had a migraine and was so stiff I could not walk. Dr. Iris saw me immediately and began working on me. I was really impressed with the advanced equipment and techniques she uses on accident victims. She eliminated my headache in the first visit and got me walking without pain quickly. I would never see or recommend another chiropractor as long as Dr. Iris is still practicing. She is such a wonderful person and talented professional.”