THE PROCESS
Discover your healing potential
Addressing Complex Chronic Illness
The current medical system is not designed to account for bio-individuality or address chronic illness
at its roots to achieve remission or reversal. Instead, it operates as a palliative and algorithmic system,
structured around reactive wack-a-mole disease management and symptom suppression.
This approach essentially means waiting until a problem becomes so severe that it’s too late to reverse
or intervene. The reliance on algorithms creates significant challenges. Practitioners are taught a
simplistic equation: X + Y = Z.
– X represents a set of symptoms,
– Y involves lab testing and interpretation,
– And Z concludes with a disease diagnosis.
This cookie-cutter methodology reflects the limitations of the Western approach to disease treatment,
which often overlooks the complexities of individual health and the potential for root-cause solutions.
I believe that using advanced labs in functional medicine allows for a deeper understanding of an
individual’s unique health challenges, leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life.
Here’s a summary of the limitations of conventional medical labs and the benefits of more specialized
testing for optimizing health.
Problems with Conventional Medical Labs:
01
Focus on Disease Detection, Not Prevention:
Conventional labs typically identify diseases or conditions only after they have progressed to a
diagnosable stage. This reactive approach misses opportunities for early intervention.
02
Many conventional reference ranges are based on averages of populations that may not represent
optimal health, leading to “normal” results even when a person may have underlying issues. We don’t
want “normal” we want “optimal.”
03
Standardized Reference Ranges:
The reference ranges in conventional labs are often broad and may fail to flag suboptimal levels.
For example:
Thyroid tests may appear “normal” even when patients have symptoms of hypothyroidism, due to
a lack of sensitivity in the tests used.
Nutrient deficiencies, like vitamin D or magnesium, are often overlooked because the ranges don’t
reflect levels needed for optimal function.
04
Limited Scope of Testing:
Conventional labs often focus on the most basic metrics, such as fasting glucose for diabetes or
total cholesterol for cardiovascular health. These tests might miss subtler markers like insulin
resistance (measured by fasting insulin or HOMA-IR) or the nuances of cholesterol particle size.
Gut health, inflammation, and other functional markers are often ignored, despite their significant
impact on chronic conditions.
05
Fragmented Approach:
Conventional testing tends to treat the body as separate systems, whereas functional medicine
views health through an integrative lens. Many labs fail to explore how different systems interact, such
as the gut-brain connection or the role of inflammation in chronic disease.
The Case for More Specific Labs:
Advanced tests include:
- Early Detection and Prevention:
Functional labs focus on detecting imbalances before they become full-blown diseases. For
example, advanced lipid panels, detailed hormone profiles, and tests for chronic inflammation (like hs-
CRP or homocysteine) can uncover risks early.
2. Individualized Reference Ranges:
Labs used in functional medicine often consider “optimal” ranges tailored to individual health
rather than broad population norms, leading to more personalized care.
• Comprehensive stool analysis for gut health, which provides insights into microbiome imbalances,
infections, or inflammation.
• Nutritional panels that assess micronutrient levels, oxidative stress markers, and mitochondrial
function.
• Adrenal function tests, such as a cortisol saliva panel, to evaluate stress and energy levels.
OUR GOALS
Focus on Root Causes:
Functional labs help practitioners identify root causes of symptoms, such as chronic inflammation,
environmental toxin exposure, or hidden food sensitivities.
Empowering Patients:
These tests allow patients to understand their health better and make proactive lifestyle changes rather
than waiting for a diagnosis.
Sports Medicine/ Pain Management
01 Identifying the Root Cause of Dysfunction
POSTURAL IMBALANCES
Misalignments in posture (e.g., forward head posture, anterior pelvic tilt) can create uneven stress on joints, muscles, and connective tissues.
MALADAPTATIONS
When the body adapts to repetitive movements, poor ergonomics, or trauma, it can
develop movement patterns that perpetuate dysfunction.
COMPENSATIONS
If one muscle group or joint is weak or injured, others compensate, leading to
overuse, fatigue, and further injury.
For example:
Tight hip flexors compensating for weak glutes may exacerbate lower back pain.
02 Reducing Chronic Stress on the Body
Poor posture and compensatory movements place excessive strain on certain areas, leading to:
JOINT DEGENERATION
Uneven loading of joints can accelerate wear and tear (e.g., osteoarthritis).
TISSUE STRESS
Chronic tension in overused muscles can lead to trigger points, inflammation, and pain
syndromes.
Correcting these issues helps distribute forces more evenly, reducing chronic stress and preventing
further injury.
03 Restoring Functional Movement
PROPER BIOMECHANICS
Postural alignment ensures that muscles, tendons, and ligaments work as they
are designed to, reducing the risk of injury.
MOVEMENT EFFICIENCY
When compensations are eliminated, movements become more efficient,
minimizing energy expenditure and improving performance.
JOINT STABILITY
Balanced posture enhances stability, reducing the risk of acute injuries like sprains or
strains.
04 Enhancing Healing and Recovery
IMPROVED BLOOD FLOW
Correct posture and alignment reduce muscle tension and compression on blood
vessels, enhancing circulation to injured tissues.
OPTIMIZED NERVE FUNCTION
Proper alignment minimizes nerve impingement, which can cause pain or
numbness (e.g., sciatica).
05 Breaking the Pain Cycle
Chronic pain is often perpetuated by a cycle of poor posture, compensatory movements, and muscle
tension.
Addressing these factors can:
REDUCE MUSCLE GUARDING
Chronic pain often leads to protective muscle contractions that worsen the
problem.
RETRAIN NEUROMUSCULAR CONTROL
Teaching the body to move correctly helps reset pain pathways and
promotes lasting relief.
06 Preventing Recurrence
Addressing postural imbalances and maladaptations treats the underlying causes of musculoskeletal
pain, reducing the likelihood of re-injury. Long-term benefits include better movement patterns, improved ergonomics, and resilience against future stressors.
Therapeutic Approaches
POSTURAL ASSESSMENT AND CORRECTION
Identifying and addressing misalignments using tools like visual
analysis, plumb lines, or motion capture.
TARGETED EXERCISES
Strengthening weak or inhibited muscles (e.g., gluteus medius, core).
Lengthening tight or overactive muscles (e.g., hip flexors, pectoralis minor).
MANUAL THERAPY
Techniques like Acupuncture, myofascial release, joint mobilization, or massage to correct soft
tissue imbalances.
NEUROMUSCULAR RE-EDUCATION
Training the body to move efficiently through techniques like proprioceptive exercises or
functional movement patterns.
Demystifying Anxiety, PMS, Migraine and Other Unexplainable Symptoms
What do anxiety, PMS, and migraines have in common?
They are signals from the body, indicating imbalances in our physiology. Symptoms are not merely burdensome
conditions but rather act as clues to deeper imbalances, urging us to pay attention. These messengers uncover upstream root
causes that precede illness and reflect the body’s way of expressing its unmet needs.
Simplifying complex, seemingly unexplainable symptoms like PMS, migraines, anxiety, and insomnia
requires an understanding of systems biology and a bio-individuality-focused approach.
Here’s how this perspective works and why acupuncture/Chinese medicine is particularly effective:
01 Systems Biology: A Framework for understanding Symptoms
Systems biology views the body as an interconnected web of systems rather than isolated parts.
Symptoms like PMS, migraines, anxiety, and insomnia are not treated as standalone issues but as
indicators of underlying imbalances in the body’s networks, including:
NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Hormonal imbalances (e.g., estrogen dominance or cortisol dysregulation)
can drive PMS, migraines, and anxiety.
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Dysregulated autonomic responses (e.g., chronic fight-or-flight mode/sympathetic
dominance) are common in anxiety and insomnia.
GUT-BRAIN AXIS
Microbiome imbalances or leaky gut can contribute to migraines, mood disturbances,
and even sleep disorders.
INFLAMMATORY PATHWAYS
Low-grade, chronic inflammation often underpins these conditions.
ENERGY METABOLISM
Mitochondrial dysfunction or nutrient deficiencies can exacerbate symptoms.
02 The Role of Bio-Individuality
Every person’s unique biology, shaped by genetics, environment, lifestyle, and emotional experiences,
influences how these systems interact and express dysfunction. For example:
PMS
One person may have symptoms due to low progesterone, or estrogen dominance while
another’s symptoms stem from poor liver detoxification, chronic stress or blood sugar imbalances.
MIGRAINES
Triggers might vary widely, from food sensitivities, histamine overload, to hypersensitivity
of certain cranial nerves or hormonal fluctuations.
ANXIETY
Some may experience it due to chronic inflammation, stress-hormone dysregulation and
imbalances, while others might have issues rooted in trauma, dysregulated breathing patterns
micronutrient deficiencies, and metabolic inflexibility.
INSOMNIA
It could be linked to elevated nighttime cortisol in one person, inability to break down
(methylate) stress hormones, magnesium deficiency metabolic disturbances, ect.
Everyone is unique, and we must address the heterogeneity of each case while being able to
differentiate between the underlying root factors.
KEY TO SIMPLIFICATION
By considering bio-individuality at every step, systems biology avoids a one-size-
fits-all approach. It seeks to uncover root causes and personalize interventions.
03 How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Thrive
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, excels by naturally embodying systems
biology and bio-individuality principles.
TCM Approach to Symptoms:
HOLISTIC DIAGNOSIS
TCM does not isolate symptoms like migraines or anxiety but evaluates the entire person through
patterns of disharmony and restoring balance.
Every treatment plan in TCM is customized. Two people with any similar condition or set of symptoms
will receive entirely different acupuncture protocols or herbal prescriptions depending on their unique
presentation.
PMS
TCM sees PMS as a combination of stagnation (e.g., liver qi stagnation, blood stagnation) and
deficiency (e.g., blood vacuity). Acupuncture promotes hormonal balance, reduces inflammation,
relaxes muscle tension and improves emotional stability.
MIGRANES
By addressing systemic triggers like stress, poor digestion, or hormonal fluctuations, sensory
hypersensitivity and dysregulation of trigeminal nerve, acupuncture reduces migraine frequency and
severity.
ANXIETY
Acupuncture stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest system) reducing fight-
or-flight responses, and enhances GABA production, promoting relaxation.
INSOMNIA
TCM restores the body’s natural rhythms by calming an overactive mind (“Spirit Disturbance”) and
nourishing deficiencies (e.g., Kidney or Heart).
04 Integration of Systems Biology and TCM
When combined, systems biology and TCM create a powerful model for simplifying complex symptoms:
SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
Provides scientific insights into molecular pathways, nutrient needs, and
physiological networks.
TCM
Offers practical, time-tested interventions to restore balance and support the body’s innate
healing abilities.
05 Practical Steps for Simplification
Gather detailed information about the individual’s lifestyle, diet, stress levels, and health history.
IDENTIFY PATTERNS
Look for systemic imbalances (e.g., adrenal hyper-function/HPA Axis dysregulation, poor
detoxification).
PERSONALIZED INTERVENTIONS
Combine acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle adjustments tailored to the person’s
needs.
Monitor and Adapt
REASSESS REGULARLY TO REFINE TREATMENTS BASED ON PROGRESS
By combining systems biology’s analytical framework with TCM’s holistic and personalized
interventions, complex symptoms can be demystified and addressed in a way that honors each
individual’s unique health journey. This leads to not only symptom relief but also deeper healing and
balance.
