Functional Medicine

Palo Alto Mind Body

Concierge Psychiatry & Ketamine Therapy Clinic located in Palo Alto, CA

Functional medicine, an approach that is touted as the future of conventional medicine, studies why certain symptoms are occurring, rather than just attempting to mask symptoms. Functional psychiatry assesses what chemical reactions in the body are misfiring and causing emotional and physical distress. While medications may provide strong benefits as part of treatment, the road to optimal recovery necessitates addressing the underlying cause of the disorder. The combination of traditional and functional therapies allows for an evolution towards recovering your best self. M Rameen Ghorieshi, MD, MPH, and colleagues at Palo Alto Mind Body believe that the human body was designed to perform optimally; however, the combination of modern toxins, medication side effects, poor nutritional status, and genetic susceptibility can create a significant hurdle to healing. Dr. Ghorieshi offers a broad array of treatments, with an ultimate goal of restoring both mental and physical health. He utilizes today’s most dynamic diagnostic, therapeutic procedures, and employs the latest biological science in his patient’s treatment plans. To learn more, call the office in Palo Alto, California, or send a confidential email. We also serve many patients located in the surrounding Bay Area, such as South Bay, North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula, San Jose, and San Francisco.

Functional Medicine Q & A

green pills

What conditions does Functional Medicine treat?

The underpinnings of the recent explosion in chronic health conditions—including autoimmunity, endocrine disorders and many behavioral and mood disorders—are now thought to begin in our gut. Without a strongly intact intestinal lining, toxins that should not enter our bloodstream escape, and wreak havoc throughout the body.

Many mood disorders and health conditions can be successfully reversed by healing the gut and restoring the integrity of the intestinal wall. In addition to treating the gut, customized treatment of nutrient deficiencies can significantly ease mood disorders.

For example, many scientists have noted that most western world residents are deficient in magnesium due to recent soil depletion and lack of magnesium in our food. Magnesium deficiency can cause migraines, weakness, muscle pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia and a host of other symptoms. The same is the case in a wide range of micronutrient deficiencies.

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What different types of Functional Medicine treatments can I receive?

A fully functional evaluation begins with a discussion of your entire health history, to better understand the triggers of your current health problems. Dr. Ghorieshi and the providers at Palo Alto Mind Body offer laboratory testing of food sensitivities, stomach, and intestinal permeability, and micronutrient status to paint a more detailed picture of what is creating distress and inflammation in the brain and the body.

When treating and recovering from addiction, the rest of the body must be supported for optimal success. Attempts to discontinue medications or recreational drugs are often thwarted because the body does not have the resources to heal and mend, making the dependency and withdrawal process incredibly frustrating. Withdrawal symptoms can be eased with the correct nutrients in place and a happy gut.

Genetic testing is also offered—e.g. specific genes (e.g., MTHFR) can impact how effectively a specific process methylates individual nutrients. With the insights from genetic testing and the specifics from your data, your functional doctor at Palo Alto Mind Body develops an individualized treatment plan that best compliments your life and goals.

How does Functional Medicine relate to the other therapies offered?

The correct medication, used at the right time, to address a specific issue is an invaluable tool available to doctors and their patients.  While medication is an essential approach to get relief from what are often crippling symptoms, it is not the one-and-only solution; and certainly not the solution one-hundred percent of the time for one-hundred percent of ailments.

Simply put, if a patient is severely depressed and suicidal, there is little to no value trying to discuss altering their diet to address their condition, regardless of how applicable it may be. However, providing the right medication to help lower or eliminate the patient’s suicidal thoughts, will allow the patient to focus on the next step in their healing: find and resolve the cause.

With Dr. Ghorieshi’s commitment to both mind and body health, Functional Medicine is an exciting and natural extension of his psychiatric and addiction medicine specialization. He not only provides the latest advancements in psychotherapy and genetic testing, but he has also now incorporated the latest evidence-based innovations in Functional Medicine to help patients find and address the cause of the condition.

Patients evolve through their journey of health. Your functional doctor at Palo Alto Mind Body goes beyond the benefits of medication to provide you a holistic continuum for achieving your best health possible.

For a functional medicine doctor near me, call Palo Alto Mind Body or send a confidential email. Please note, we also serve many patients located in the surrounding Bay Area, such as South Bay, North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula, San Jose, and San Francisco.

650-681-2900