When I started practicing medicine, I practiced what is called reactive medicine. Essentially, a physician is called in to fix something after it becomes a problem. So, I was called in to help someone dealing with advanced Alzheimer’s, but I rarely got the chance to help anyone keep it from showing up in the first place. I felt there had to be a better way.
Certainly, there was a way to get to the cause of the problems and understand the “why” behind all of this madness. There was a way to determine why a patient was having all of these symptoms in the first place. Although knowing I could treat a good portion of my patients after they were sick, I wanted to know why the disease existed in the first place. I wanted to be able to help my patients decrease their risks of entering hospitals and nursing homes. This is when I first began to look at functional health medicine as a way to help my patients.
Functional medicine is really root cause medicine. This approach takes into consideration the whole picture including such things as diet, exercise, environment, genetics, stress, sleep, medications, spiritual impact, toxins, and mold. This lifestyle approach was what my patients needed; knowing this could make an impact on my patients and family’s’ lives as we looked at the entire picture. Everything discovered about functional medicine motivated me to learn even more, especially realizing how all these pieces in my own life were intertwined.
As a wife, mom, and physician, I could relate very well to the multitude of stressors that could hit a person on a daily basis. I understood that my patients were searching for more hours in a day to accomplish everything that was set before them. Functional medicine helped me to learn that the best way to be happy and healthy is to STOP being reactive to life and START being proactive. That is why I developed a practice that enabled me to connect with my patients, encouraging them to embrace life and set forth on a path that develops personal well-being, inner and outer beauty, and a healthier lifestyle.
The focus of my practice is to look at my patient’s entire story and help them get back to the basics. I show my patients and their extended families that health and well-being are more than just taking a pill for every symptom. Although I believe in using prescription medications, I firmly believe that it is best to discover the root cause of the problem before going down that road. I can also help them see that things like an adult’s childhood history, family history, and current stress levels are keys to understanding current health. In fact, looking at the big picture and determining the underlying cause of symptoms is the definition of functional medicine.
Functional medicine got me excited about being a doctor. It has me conference hopping, networking, shadowing other providers, and seeking more knowledge to help my family and patients.
I would love to speak with you about your health concerns and how Functional Medicine can help you. Book Your FREE Unlimited Health Institute Assessment below.
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We look forward to speaking with you!
Dr. Tamika Henry