Functional Medicine Doctor, Integrative Health

The modern approaches to Functional and Integrative Medicine are transforming the way doctors and practitioners approach, diagnose, and treat illness.

A Functional Medicine doctor or practitioner is at the forefront of this innovative healthcare revolution. Functional Medicine is a biology-based method that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be a contributing factor to an individual’s overall health, and the functional medicine practitioner takes a comprehensive approach to their patient’s health. Functional services at Holistic Integration focus on the functions of your body, everything from eating, sleeping, and breathing to the levels of your bloodwork.

A significant benefit of functional medicine is its personalized nature. Unlike conventional medicine, where one-size-fits-all, functional medicine practitioners understand that every individual is unique, both genetically and biochemically. They dig deeper, exploring the patient’s history, environment, and lifestyle to discover the root cause of the health issues, instead of just treating the symptoms.

Furthermore, functional medicine aims at promoting health as a positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease. Addressing the whole person, it supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual, enhancing their quality of life and reducing healthcare costs over time.

What is Integrative Health?

Integrative Medicine, or Integrative Health, focuses on healing the patient, considering all aspects of their lifestyle. An Integrative Medicine doctor, often referred to as an integrative doctor, combines both conventional and alternative approaches to address the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of health and illness. This emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship ensures a personalized strategy, which enhances the body’s natural healing capabilities.

Integrative medicine offers numerous benefits, including its focus on prevention and the use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible. It values good medicine as being based in good science, being inquiry-driven, and being open to new paradigms.

An integrative doctor values all aspects of a patient’s well-being. They consider health factors beyond traditional medical procedures, such as mental and emotional health, dietary habits, physical activity, and environmental influences. This leads to a more comprehensive and in-depth healthcare approach, promoting overall wellness rather than merely treating illness.

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• Physician Assistant Exam

  • Wellness
  • Sick
  • Physical

• Trigger Point Injections

  • These shots are designed to reduce or relieve back pain by injecting shots into knots in the muscle
  • These are recommended for muscles that are not loosening with other methods and need extra help releasing

• EDS (Electro Dermal Screening)

  • A non-invasive assessment tool that can support other diagnostic tools when assessing health issues
  • EDS uses state-of-the-art computer technology to measure the body’s energy system through acupuncture points on the body
  • This provides information that can suggest appropriate actions, or remedies, to support the meridian, and can later be confirmed with conventional testing such as cultures, or blood, skin or urine tests

• Diagnostics

  • All to support internal health The Prather Practice offers
    • Blood Work
    • Hair Analysis
    • GI Stool Kit
    • Food Intolerance Testing
    • X-Rays
    • EKG
    • Spirometry
    • ANS Testing (Autonomic Nervous System)
  • DTS- Weight Loss and Health Coaching

• EMI (Electro Meridian Imaging)

  • This allows us to analyze the body’s meridian points
  • EMI helps to know which specific points to focus on when doing acupuncture
  • An EMI must be done before acupuncture with electric to know which points to focus on

• Acupuncture

  • Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body to stimulate energy points
  • After an EMI (which determines what points on which to focus and what type of acupuncture is best for the patient) Acupuncture can be used to help the patient’s mind and body reach the point of homeostasis
  • Can be used to help treat addiction, infertility, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches/migraines, and a number of other neurological symptoms

• Auricular (also known as ear acupuncture)

  • Auricular is the stimulation of the external ear for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions in other parts of the body
  • This treatment can be used for treating a wide variety of conditions such as migraines, insomnia, depression, addictions, indigestion, autonomic symptoms, chronic pain, and inflammation
  • Some patients feel immediate results and others take several days to notice

• Diathermy

  • Diathermy helps to detox the affected areas with electromagnetic currents
  • It increases the blood flow to these areas to assist in the healing process

• Infrared Sauna

  • Because infrared rays can penetrate deeply into the skin, the muscles and internal organs are heated, and the body responds with a hypothalamic-induced increase in heart volume and rate.
  • This increases the blood flow to muscles, joints, and connective tissues which can help with healing and reduce pain in injuries, arthritis, muscle spasms, and much more