What is Functional Endocrinology?

The term and discipline of functional endocrinology refers to something totally different and mutually
exclusive to what we have now come to know as conventional medical endocrinology.

First of all, the term “endocrinology” in its classic definition means the study of the endocrine system.

Simply put, a medical doctor who is a specialist in the field of endocrinology, thus an endocrinologist, basically
uses drugs or hormones as therapeutic tools to deal with dysfunction or disease of the endocrine system.

As a practical example, let’s say you have been diagnosed by your general practitioner with hypothyroidism
(low-functioning thyroid). Your general practitioner could decide to treat you, or could elect to refer you
to an endocrinologist because the thyroid is an endocrine gland.

The interesting thing is, as a practice and general statement, each doctor (GP and endocrinologist)
would likely reach for the same tool: thyroid hormones.

What I am pointing out here… as it pertains to the general standard of care in medicine, a GP and endocrinologist
have access to the same basic tools: drugs and procedures irrespective of having specialty training.

So in this example, a determination is made that the thyroid gland, for whatever reason, is not able
to produce enough thyroid hormones. So typically speaking, a drug is prescribed. In this case, as I am
sure you could guess, you would be given thyroid hormones.

 

So…Here is How It Typically Works

 

THYROID DOESN’T PRODUCE ADEQUATE
LEVELS OF THYROID HORMONES.

 

 

PRESCRIBING DOCTOR PROVIDES THYROID HORMONES

 

 

THUS CHEMICALLY GIVING THE BODY WHAT IT
LACKS FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.

 

Here the simple distinction can be made, and thus, a clear
definition of Functional Endocrinology.

In functional endocrinology, the doctor identifies that function has been lost
and asks a much more important question:

Why has function been lost?

And what can we do to restore function?

In other words, the doctor looks to find the ROOT CAUSE or mechanism involved with any loss of function, which ultimately reveals why a  set of symptoms is there in the first place, or why the patient has a particular disease label.

(I know, a novel and groundbreaking concept.)

 

So contrasting with our previous example,
the model shifts as follows:

 

THYROID DOESN’T PRODUCE ADEQUATE LEVELS OF HORMONES

 

 

DOCTOR DETERMINES THE CAUSE(S) ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS LOSS OF FUNCTION

 

 

AND WORKS TO RESTORE PROPER FUNCTION SO THE BODY ONCE AGAIN PRODUCES THYROID HORMONES ADEQUATELY.

 

So what in the world does a thyroid problem have to do with your diabetes? A lot, actually, but that’s not the point.  Keep reading more on that later…

The point is the example and distinction made between the drug therapy model that is traditional
medicine and a doctor who looks at mechanisms (i.e., contributing causes and thus a doctor who practices
within the model of “Functional Endocrinology”).