How many visits have you had with the Doctor this year?
Whether it’s once a month, once every couple of months, or even rarer because maybe you just can’t face that visit, what we would all hope for is a preventative method of managing our health where we don’t have a need to see the doctor when something has gone wrong.
This is why one of my first steps as a health coach is to support my client’s medical health by ensuring they have had a review of the root causes of their ailments.
The Institute of Functional Medicine describes this as
‘an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It relies on a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.’
In the West, the way medicine is practiced really puts the treatment of patients’ symptoms first, whereas when we look at ancient practices in the East such as Ayurvedic or traditional Chinese medicine they really focus on the root cause, and therefore how the disease has manifested.
I like to see functional medicine as the bridge between East and West. This is not to say there isn’t a place for contemporary medical practice, I mean if I had a serious accident tomorrow it’s likely a Western approach would be needed urgently. However, by having a relationship with my functional practitioner, I’m certain my body will be in a stronger state to help faster repair.
By working with a local functional medicine practitioner you can form a bond between yourself & your medical professional that supports a preventative approach to health.
I will then work with my client on how they can implement the necessary steps within their lifestyle using a holistic approach that will primarily look at nutrition & lifestyle changes.
Should you be interested in health coaching then contact me at elika.co or email: elika@elika.co
