Functional Medicine Clinic in Pittsburgh

Hippocrates once said “all disease begins in the gut”,  we are now seeing how true this statement really is.  There are many foundational systems that depend on good gut health to function well. For instance, 80% of an individual’s immune system is found in the GI tract, and up to 90% of serotonin (the feel-good hormone) is produced there as well. Therefore, we often see that poor gut health complicates and worsens other conditions including mental health disorders, immune dysregulation, and hormone dysregulation, among others.  We absorb nutrients in our gut, if our gut is inflamed or not functioning properly, key minerals and vitamins will not be absorbed and utilized.  We need these key cofactors for basic biochemical processes in our bodies.

For this reason, a thorough GI evaluation is often recommended.  How do we discover an imbalanced GUT?  In some cases a stool analysis, breath test, and an organic acid profile. Due to the interactions of the GI tract with multiple other systems in the body, most functional evaluations and treatments uniquely Involve the health of the gut.  If the gut is not functioning properly, it is more difficult to achieve wellness within other bodily systems.

• GERD, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Food Allergies / Intolerances
• Yeast Overgrowth
• Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth
• Improved energy
• Efficient Detoxification
• Stable moods

The skin is the largest organ in the body.  The skin holds some key clues when evaluating internal disease.  So it’s no surprise that oftentimes focusing on the health of the skin means uncovering and treating root causes of inflammation, imbalance, and nutrient deficiencies.

Therefore, evaluating hydration, gut health, hormone health, and nutrition, as well as stress and sleep habits are foundational to the treatment plan.

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Dermatitis
• Allergies
• Acne
• Rosacea

Today, 1 in 12 people suffer from an autoimmune disease in the United States. It represents one of the fastest-growing groups of chronic diseases in modern times.  The immune system is closely linked to mental health, endocrine function, cardiovascular health, and growth and repair. Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks their own body.  The body loses the ability to differentiate itself from non-self.  Some potential factors that have been shown to increase the body’s susceptibility to autoimmunity include dysbiosis (microbiome imbalance), leaky gut ( intestinal permeability) heavy metal overload, chronic infections, environmental toxins exposures, mineral and vitamin deficiencies(Vitamins D, C, and B12 and Folate) , neuroendocrine disruptors (like BPA and environmental estrogens) , among others.  

The approach to any autoimmune disease is individualized due to the multiple causes of immune system dysregulation.  The overall goal is to identify and remove the factor that is causing the immune system to become upregulated.  Oftentimes there are multiple factors, which is why a systems biology-based approach is necessary.

• Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Psoriasis
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Celiac Disease
• Graves Disease (Hyperthyroidism)

The key components of cardiovascular risk reduction include inflammation reduction and improving metabolic health.  Key biomarkers are analyzed to stratify risk and assess for lipoprotein status as well as arterial wall inflammation (eg Lp(a)-P, hs CRP, Lp-PLA2, homocysteine and myeloperoxidase).

Treatment and risk reduction is centered around lifestyle changes to incorporate inflammation reducing eating plans, stress reduction, and resolution of root causes of inflammation. This may include evaluation of gut health, toxin exposure and hormone analysis.

• Hypertension
• Hyperlipidemia
• Sleep Apnea
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Insulin Resistance

Almost every single person we see complains of some degree of difficulty sleeping, anxiety or depression.  This is not surprising, as about 1 in 5 adults suffer from at least one of these ailments.

Insomnia, depression and anxiety are disruptions in brain health.  This means that an evaluation of factors that affect brain health is at the foundation of the assessment.  This may include evaluations of nutrition, physical exercise, environmental toxins, spiritual health, genetic predispositions, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, gut health and interpersonal relationships.

Due to the many factors affecting mental health, it’s no surprise that many people are offered a medication to treat the symptom, as going through all the potential contributing factors are somewhat daunting. However, many people don’t always respond to antidepressant therapy (some say 30-40%). It is important to note, that some people greatly benefit from these medications and clearly thrive while on them, especially those with severe depression.  It is a personal decision to start or wean off of an antidepressant; which needs to be discussed with your healthcare provider.

A functional approach includes an evaluation of gut health, adrenal function, thyroid disease and vitamin deficiencies.  As well as lifestyle and dietary analysis to reduce inflammation and stabilize the mood and blood sugar. A truly multi-faceted approach is necessary to stabilize good brain health for the long term.

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Inattention Disorders