When my dad went into practice 70 years ago as a chiropractor/naturopath, the chiropractic adjustment was a magic bullet.

He said it could cure anything.

DD Palmer made a deaf man hear with one adjustment of the thoracic spine.

Over time, our environment has become more challenging, and our bodies have become more compromised.

Because of this, there is a greater need to rely on function medicine.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine (or what has been known until recently as natural medicine) does not need to wait for pathology to develop to be able to intervene and help.

Functional medicine looks at you as a complex person in an ever changing social, emotional, and physical environment that impacts you and your health.

We all come into the world with certain genetic proclivities.

Functional medicine’s emphasis is on modulating these proclivities via epigenetics.

We use nutrition, lifestyle, mental and spiritual health to influence the expression of genetics.

That is what epigenetics is!

Genes have to be turned on.

They are turned on by the environment, and can be turned off by the environment.

You are the star of your life.

You are the hero in your story.

Functional medicine helps you shine.

How Does Functional Medicine Figure Out What is Wrong?

Functional medicine uses standard lab tests, additional lab tests, and imaging to understand what is causing you discomfort and concern.

When we use standard lab tests, we often interpret them in a more narrow range because we are helping to guide you toward ideal health.

We also use additional lab tests that your conventional doctor might not order and will not be covered by insurance.

These tests help us understand additional hidden influencers in your life.

These tests include ways of determining early autoimmune trajectories, organic acids, genetic testing of fecal matter to see what types of microbes and parasites could be there despite showing negative under microscopic exam, and alternative mycotoxin, lyme, and allergy testing.

What Will Happen at My Functional Medicine Appointment?

Prior to coming to your functional medicine appointment you will upload prior recent labs and imaging of conditions we are working on.

Dr. Caroline Peterson will review these prior to your visit.

When you come to your visit, we will discuss your history and your health concerns and determine what has already been done, what hasn’t been done, what has worked for you, and what hasn’t worked for you.

Based on your history, we will decide if more lab and imaging is needed, or if we can start with what you have.

After the history, we will continue to the vitals (blood pressure, pulse, heart, lungs) assessment and physical assessment.

Almost all patients have a need for help with their physical body with manual medicine.

Many patients additionally benefit from including the mind-body therapy called neuroemotional technique, and energy medicine.