Root Cause Medicine
Erica Armstrong
|
Nov 20, 2023
Conventional medicine often focuses on managing symptoms, but a growing movement towards root cause medicine is gaining momentum. Root cause medicine, or functional medicine, is an approach that seeks to identify and address the underlying causes of chronic conditions rather than merely treating the symptoms.
In this article, we’ll discuss our approach to root cause medicine and give a few condition specific examples to communicate the differences between these two medical approaches.
What is Root Cause Medicine?
Root cause medicine is an approach to treating health conditions and preventing disease by finding the root cause of your health issues. It is also commonly referred to as functional medicine. Instead of delivering a diagnosis and only treating your symptoms, functional medicine doctors find out why you have the diagnosis. They will do an in-depth assessment to look at all of your body systems (not just the one causing symptoms) and evaluate how well your body is communicating using specialized testing.
Learn more about the difference between conventional and functional medicine.
Hashimoto’s
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune thyroid disease leading to progressive damage and inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is also the most common cause of hypothyroidism in America.
Common symptoms of Hashimoto’s include:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Thinning hair, brittle nails
- Cold intolerance
- Period irregularities and/or infertility
Hashimoto’s is not usually treated in the conventional health model unless the individual has subsequent hypothyroidism. In this case, a traditional doctor would likely prescribe a thyroid hormone replacement medication. However, while taking medication may lower TSH into the normal range and reduce some hypothyroid symptoms, many people continue to feel unwell.
Root causes of Hashimoto’s may include:
- Inflammation
- Leaky gut and/or food sensitivities
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Chronic stress
A root cause treatment approach for Hashimoto’s may include a gut health protocol, nutrient repletion, a short-term elimination diet, and/or food and supplement recommendations aimed to lower inflammation.
Read more about our root cause approach to using functional medicine for Hashimoto's.
Key Takeaways
Root cause medicine represents a shift in healthcare towards a more comprehensive and personalized approach to managing chronic conditions. By delving into the underlying factors that contribute to conditions like IBS, Hashimoto's thyroid disease, and PCOS, Root members work with our doctors and dietitians to address the root causes of their symptoms, promote healing, and improve long-term health outcomes.
Learn more about our comprehensive functional medicine membership program.
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