A Functional Approach to Fibromyalgia and
Fatigue by Dr. Greg Fors
T
hese days, some people ache all over at times. Others feel drained of all their
energy. Still others notice additional health issues, such as digestive problems, mood swings and brain fog. Anyone having these experiences is not alone. It is estimated that currently more than one person in 50 suffers from these syndromes, which may be labeled fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or something else. However we label it, this is simply the loss of cellular energy caused by poisoning from our modern diet, chemical exposure and chronic infections. This loss of cellular vitality is most noticeable in energy-demanding tissues such as muscles, digestive systems and brain matter, which leads to pain and disability. Research also now shows earlier rates of mortality from preventable diseases. The variety of symptoms is evidence that throughout the body and brain there is not enough energy to properly run and keep these tissues in good repair. This “gumming-up” of the cell function primarily involves chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals from poor diet and chemical exposure build up in tissues and cause damage to cells, thus sparking inflammation. Typical drugs prescribed for fibromyalgia cover up symptoms and do nothing to treat the underlying metabolic problems causing the damage. Through proper laboratory testing,
the source of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress can be identified and treated. There is hope, and these dis- abling syndromes can be conquered.
Dr. Greg Fors, of the Pain and Brain Healing Center, in Blaine, is a graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic and the International Board of Clinical Neurology. He also is the author of Why We Hurt: A Complete Physical and Spiritual Guide to Healing Your Chronic Pain. For more information, visit
PainAndBrainHealingCenter.com.
20 NA Twin Cities Edition
Functional Medicine
Taking the Whole
Toolbox Approach by Kathleen Barnes
Once called “alternative” medicine, then “holistic” or “comple- mentary” and later “integrative”, the newest evolution is “functional” medicine, designed to search out the underlying causes of illnesses in order to carry out effective treatment.
“C
onventional medicine is like a carpenter that only has a hammer to work with, while
functional medicine doctors are work- ing with a full toolkit,” says the author of From Fatigued to Fantastic, National Medical Director of Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, of Kona, Hawaii. Conventional medicine addresses symptoms instead of diseases, explains Los Angeles functional medicine practi- tioner Dr. Hyla Cass, author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health: A Take Charge Plan for Women. “It tends to treat the symp- toms with more and more medications that cause a host of other side effects that also need to be treated and can result in declining health, rather than increased vitality.”
“Functional medicine, rather
than simply ‘chasing symptoms’ while ignoring the causes, searches for and addresses environmental factors, nutri- tional deficiencies, genetic tendencies, biochemical dysfunctions and emotion-
natwincities.com
al and social stressors that can together cause the development of symptoms,” adds Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren. He operates Eco-Health Clinics internationally (the U.S. site is in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and serves as president emeritus and professor of nutrition and functional medicine with the California-based University of Natural Medicine. In every case, it takes some
investigation to get to the heart of the problems, and the solutions can take many forms. “For example, depression, insomnia and obesity aren’t diseases; they are symptoms,” says Cass. “If we can find the underlying cause of these symptoms, we can address the prob- lem permanently.”
An allopathic approach, on the
other hand, would routinely recom- mend a pill to lower temperature for high fever, prescribe a synthetic pill to elevate mood in treating depression, or look to pharmacological anti-inflamma- tory drugs for simple immune reactions. Tel-Oren is among those that link
healingways
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32