Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine determines how and why illness occurs and aims to restore health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual. It is an individualised, client-centred approach that empowers clients and their practitioner to work together to address the underlying causes of symptoms and disease and promote optimal wellness.
In Functional Medicine there can be one condition with many causes or one cause creating many conditions or symptoms. For example depression can be caused by Omega 3 deficiency, antibiotic use, low thyroid function, Vitamin D deficiency or pre-diabetes. On the other hand inflammation can create depression, arthritis, cancer, diabetes or heart disease. The manifestation of symptoms depends on genetics, environment and lifestyle factors and only initiatives that address the right cause will have a lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression.
Health Coaching
A Health Coach supports you to achieve your health goals that may have otherwise been elusive. It helps you excel at your life, even – or especially – if you have a chronic medical condition. With the support of your Health Coach you are in the driver’s seat creating goals as well as the strategies on how to achieve these goals.
We work with a broad variety of issues, such as weight loss, stress reduction, management of chronic health conditions, improving diet and movement, ceasing smoking, addictions or adjusting to a life-altering health event like heart attack or stroke. We are happy to work alongside or in consultation with your other practitioners, or as a stand-alone support service.
Specifically, Functional Medicine Health Coaching guides clients towards optimum levels of wellness using the principles of Functional Medicine, Functional Nutrition, Mind-Body Medicine, and Positive Psychology Coaching. A central theme is supporting clients to harness their innate character strengths and leveraging these achieve optimal functioning and success.
The time commitment of coaching is highly variable. Some people will engage with a Health Coach for just one session or for one simple problem, whereas others may participate in coaching for months or years for something such as ongoing weight management, diabetes, depression or hypertension. It is entirely up to you.
Coaching is flexible and can be carried out by phone, via video-conferencing or in person at our clinic 1:1.
Functional Nutrition
Functional Nutrition is a component of Functional Medicine. It is bio-individual nutrition and requires the practitioner to take a holistic view of the client, including mind, body and spirit along with symptoms and digestion.
Recommendations are both nutritional and lifestyle designed to address the underlying causes of disease or dysfunction. Emphasis is placed on the body’s innate intelligence and its ability to heal itself if given the right support.
Functional Nutrition emphasises the importance of high quality real foods and phytonutrient diversity to address clinical imbalances and to move people to their highest expression of health.
A Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner uses a deep foundational and bio-individual approach, using nutrition to balance the body chemistry and achieve optimal wellness.
At Embody Health we complete functional clinical assessments and functional lab testing to evaluate imbalances, deficiencies, food sensitivities and gastro-intestinal issues enabling us to accurately pinpoint the root cause of symptoms. We provide a tailored set of recommendations designed to support the client & their wellness goals.
Learn more
Discover more about Functional Medicine by exploring the Institute for Functional Medicine website.
Learn more about Functional Nutrition by researching on the Nutritional Therapy Association website.
Supporting your wellness journey….
“Leigh provided me with an insightful and knowledgeable assessment of my health and nutrition. What I appreciated most was her holistic approach to health – mind, body and spirit. Her ability to coach and support me to take little steps that have had a big and positive impact has made such a difference to my quality of life, health and happiness. Thanks Leigh.”
— C.E. Auckland