Functional Medicine- What it is, Why I practice it…by Dr. Paul Gannon
Naturopathic physicians have always been trained to practice from a functional medicine perspective. Lately ‘functional medicine’ has become a buzz-word of sorts in the medical field thanks to the work of a few people who took the model of teaching at naturopathic medical schools and created programs to teach traditional M.D.s what naturopathic physicians were doing all along.
So what is functional medicine? It is the way I work with my clients. What is your personal biology and your personal physiology? What are your genetics and how do you alter that for optimal health? What do you need to truly thrive and experience your utmost vitality? Finding these answers so that you can gain true health is what I do best as a naturopathic physician.
I strive to find the root cause of any illness or dysfunction so that true healing can occur. I want to help you find what is causing your imbalance so that once removed, health will improve.
Factors such as organ function, toxins, allergens, infections, stressors, lifestyle, diet and nutritional status are just a few of the things that must be looked at to help target where treatment should be.
I do patient-centered medicine, not disease-centered medicine.
What does this mean?
Not everyone with the same disease has the same treatment or the same cause. Every person is different, and a particular disease will manifest differently in different people. Disease is not a fixed entity.
I don’t treat the disease like the traditional/allopathic model of medicine does, but rather the function of your body, integrating all of its aspects. I help to bring it all together for you, offering you an overview of all the workings of your body: the functioning of your organs, the functioning of your hormonal systems, the functioning of your digestion and elimination, and the functioning of the regeneration mechanisms your body has in place for true health.
Our bodies have an inherent wisdom and ability to heal. Our bodies are constantly repairing and rebuilding. I work with patients to remove the things that get in the way of this regeneration while providing what is needed to fix imbalances, all while honoring the innate wisdom of your body.
Take charge of your health today, so you can enjoy a vibrant future!
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Consultations are available to people all over the country via telephone or in-office.
I specialize in:
- Women’s health
- Gastrointestinal overhaul
- Oncology co-management
- Allergy elimination
- Arthritic elimination
- Acute and chronic illness
Food and cooking are also an essential part of Dr. Gannon’s practice. He offers fun whole foods cooking classes. His knowledge and passion culminate at the table to help patients with integrating lifestyle into preventive health and respecting the premise of ‘food as medicine’.
As a public speaker and educator, Dr. Gannon also offers informative talks on a variety of issues and preventative health topics.
Additionally Dr. Gannon has been leading detoxification programs for groups and individuals for over 20 years. His experience working with hundreds of people in this field has led him to develop the most comprehensive and effective cleanse program available today.
Dr. Gannon earned his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, which is recognized worldwide as the leader in education and scientific study for naturopathic medicine.