Over 100 distinct autoimmune diseases have been identified, affecting nearly every organ system and tissue in the body with at least 50 other diseases suspected of having an autoimmune component.Īutoimmune conditions can range from diseases like Type 1 Diabetes, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn's, to autoimmune conditions of the skin such as scleroderma, psoriasis and dermatomyositis. However, not everyone requires hormone replacement, especially if they have not investigated the underlying causes.Īutoimmune disease is one of the top ten causes of death in women and the elderly and now affects one in ten people worldwide. In other words, within the Functional Medicine model, you might find that a certain hormone needs to be supplemented, and so it becomes part of the treatment plan. A functional medicine approach to balancing hormones would be concerned with determining the underlying cause or source of the problem and addressing it at that level.Īnother important thing to consider is that replacing hormones may be something that needs to be done, but is rarely the only thing that needs to be done. In this manner, if you have low estrogen or progesterone, you will be given a prescription to increase these hormones. The replacement model is basically measuring what's low and replacing it. The conventional model is known as the “replacement” model of care. The most important thing to understand with hormone imbalance are the two models of diagnosis and treatment. Thus, hormone imbalances and related conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, breast cancer, prostate cancer, amenorrhea, estrogen dominance and low testosterone may all be related to an unhealthy digestive tract. Simply substituting thyroid hormone is not the best approach to correcting imbalances.įurthermore, emerging research indicates that the gut microbiome plays a central role in the regulation of both stress and sex hormones within the body. Here's the thing to understand: if autoimmunity is present, balancing the immune system or determining why the body is in “attack mode” should be the priority when it comes understanding the root cause of the problem. The most common autoimmune condition is Hashimoto's disease. The most common nutrient deficiencies include iodine, zinc and selenium. The two major causes of thyroid disorders are nutrient deficiencies and autoimmune disease. Hyperthyroidism is another thyroid disorder with a different set of symptoms such as heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, weight loss, diarrhea, anxiety, excessive body heat, increased appetite and insomnia. gallbladder, liver, glucose metabolism and body temperature. These hormones are responsible for the most basic aspects of our body's function and impact every single major system of the body including our brain, GI tract, cardiovascular system, bone metabolism, red blood cell function. Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disorder and characterized by cognitive decline, depression, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, irregular menstruation, infertility and joint pain. Although Levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone, is the fourth highest-selling drug in the US, the number of people suffering from thyroid disorders continues to rise. One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder. More than 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease and dysfunction, with up to 60% of these people being completely unaware of their condition. Impaired communication between the gut and brain.Food sensitivity, allergy or intolerance.A permeable gut barrier otherwise known as “Leaky Gut”.An overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.Chronic infections ranging from bacterial, parasitic or fungal infections.Dysbiosis or an imbalance between “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut.Deficiency of digestive enzymes including low stomach acid.Yet every digestive disorder can be narrowed down to one or more of the following underlying mechanisms: Like every other chronic health condition, digestive disorders are complex and have multiple causes that can vary from person to person. Some digestive issues – such as constipation and diarrhea – are relatively benign (yet uncomfortable), while others – such as inflammatory bowel disease – are life threatening. Today, we face numerous digestive diseases and conditions ranging from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to ulcerative colitis, and diverticulosis. Hippocrates, known as the founder of medicine and regarded as the greatest physician of all time, said “All disease begins in the gut.”Īlthough he said that over 2,000 years ago, medicine has yet to approach digestive disorders holistically.
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