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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Dr. Rosenfeld is a great teaching Doctor.
"I was in a car accident and had a back and neck injury. In addition, I had pain in my hip and tingling in my cheeks. A long time ago (before my accident) I had visited a physical therapist that hooked me up to electrical stimulation and put heat on me for weeks. Over time I got better. I found Dr. Rosenfeld through my PPO Blue Cross list of providers. The first couple of weeks were learning new habits and each time and each visit I have learned more of what I can do to maintain the relief that Dr. Rosenfeld has brought me. I am able to work without pain for days at a time and I know I can return to Dr. Rosenfeld's office and get support for continuing recovery. I am still working on permanent neck pain relief but my lower back, hip and cheek tingling are gone! Wonderful. Dr. Rosenfeld helps me and motivates me to keep coming in! Her office staff is completely supportive and knowledgeable too. Dr. Rosenfeld is a great teaching Doctor."
Overall my results have improved tremendously with spinal decompression therapy
"I have had been having spinal decompression therapy for the last month. I have had excellent results. I was having sciatica and neuropathy; after the first treatment the neuropathy was so much less! Dr Iris and the office staff are very professional, efficient and caring. Overall my results have improved tremendously with spinal decompression therapy. I would recommend Dr Rosenfeld to all patients with back problems, she listens and will work with you to improve your life."
I experienced miraculous results after visiting Dr. Rosenfeld.
"My back for no apparent reason was so painful. I couldn't move. After two days in bed a friend recommended I see Dr. Rosenfeld. I could barely drive or sit when I came in. This had happened several times in the past twenty years. A medical doctor had given me muscle relaxers only. They weren't all that helpful but over time and with restricting activities I got better. I experienced miraculous results after visiting Dr. Rosenfeld. I am able to do more than before in movement and strength with no pain, my whole outlook each day is more positive and I feel more energized."
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 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!"
The results were truly outstanding after only a few weeks of treatment.
"I developed lower back pain following very light work in my garden! The condition had been underlying since a recent flight from New York. I had previously had a similar episode over 10 years ago. The back pain was preventing me from carrying out most of my daily living events. I needed immediate help on a Saturday morning and found Dr. Rosenfeld through a Google search on the internet. The results were truly outstanding after only a few weeks of treatment. I was well on the way to recovery assisted by a new "toolbox" of exercises provided by Dr. Rosenfeld. I am now fulfilling the majority of my daily living events - even cleaning my car. My goal is now to resume my jogging routine which my back condition has prevented me from doing."
Previously I have seen a GI and an Allergist, with no help.
"I first came into the office on April 2007. I had food and environmental allergies. The allergies were moderate and caused mental fog, fatigue, stomach cramps and IBS. Previously I have seen a GI and an allergist, with no help. Because of the treatments I received here, I am 85% recovered. Most of the foods which caused troubles do not currently cause any symptoms."
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 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."
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."