You might have seen a lot of ads lately touting the benefits of detoxification. However, the products, eBooks, and services many of these entrepreneurs are pushing are made up by amateurs based on common misperceptions. They are rarely worthwhile. In fact, some of them are harmful!
A functional medicine detox plan is completely different. Based on scientific principles, these detox plans are safe and effective. When you seek help with detoxification, it’s far better to consider a clinic for functional medicine. Tennessee is home to one of the best.
Thinking you might benefit from a detox plan? Get Started by watching a free webinar today!
Toxins and Detoxification
Detoxification is not an outside force you impose on your body. The truth is that it is your body that accomplishes detoxification, and it does it well when you are healthy. In functional medicine, we refer to this as “metabolic detoxification.” Several of your organs get into the act, including your:
- Kidneys
- Liver
- Sweat glands
- Large intestine
- Lymphatic system
These organs and systems provide metabolic pathways in your body. Within these pathways, your body transforms toxins into chemicals that your body can easily eliminate, mostly through stool and urine. Your body performs this miracle day after day.
However, modern life poses a higher risk for accumulating too many toxins faster than your body can eliminate them.. You may be exposed to many toxic substances at any time. Here are some of the toxins that can enter your system through the environment that surrounds you, your food, or your water:
- Bacteria
- Plastic particles
- Heavy metals
- Pollutants
- Pesticides
- Fertilizers
- Herbicides
- Carpet chemicals
- Household cleaners
- Toxins from dental work
- Second-hand smoke
- Auto exhaust
- And more
With all these toxins coming at you every day, your body can easily build up a high burden of toxins. Everyone is different, but if you reach your unique maximum, these chemicals can cause many health issues. Detoxification from a clinic for functional medicine in Tennessee can reduce that body burden and help your organs function effectively again.
Toxic Symptoms
You might wonder, “How will I know if I have too many toxins in my body?” It’s a fair question. After all, parents rarely teach their children these things, and many doctors are more concerned with treating symptoms.
However, at Tri-Cities Functional Medicine in Tennessee, Dr. Radawi and his team start every treatment by looking for the root causes behind symptoms. You never have to come in with certainty that toxins are causing your problems. After a careful evaluation of your symptoms, genetic factors, and physical condition, the doctor will know whether a functional medicine detox plan might help you.
Still, it might help you to know the symptoms of body toxicity as well as diseases that might be caused or made worse by toxins. Here’s what to watch for:
- Obesity or recent unwanted weight gain
- Type 2 diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Thyroid problems
- Chronic fatigue
- Cancer
- Allergies
- Behavior problems
- Mood disorders
- Infertility
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Cognitive problems
- Brain fog
- Parkinson’s
- Alzheimer’s
- Autoimmune diseases or flare-ups
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic pain
How Functional Medicine Detox Plans Work
When you have your first appointment with a functional medicine doctor, the doctor examines you, listens to your symptoms and concerns, and creates a customized treatment plan for you. From there, they guide you in following the plan and check on your progress. Here’s how the process works.
Evaluation
For functional medicine specialists in Tennessee, the first step in any treatment plan is to search for the underlying root cause of health problems. To find out the problems causing your body to build up too many toxins, they might ask you several questions.
The functional medicine Tennessee doctor will want to know what’s behind your body’s toxicity. If you’ve been constipated a lot lately, your body hasn’t been able to excrete as many toxins. After you talk about your current diet, the doctor will understand if you might be deficient in nutrients.
Recognizing that you’re stressed gives the doctor a clue your body may have a higher toxic load. Also, if you aren’t getting enough sleep or exercise, toxins could be building up. Inflammation from an injury or disease can also introduce more toxins into your system.
Along with these situational factors and your own medical history, the doctor will ask questions about your family medical history to look for possible genetic causes of your health problems. This is accompanied by physical findings and diagnostic labs, which may include:
- a comprehensive blood chemistry analysis
- a comprehensive digestive stool analysis
- food allergy/sensitivity testing
- vitamin/mineral/nutrient testing
- Heavy metal testing
- Persistent viruses and infections
- Expanded hormonal panel
Components of the Detox Plan
While your detox plan should be customized to you, there are certain components that are common to most functional medicine detox plans. The plan usually covered a set amount of time, perhaps six weeks or up to 10 weeks or longer. During this time, your doctor offers instructions on how to complete each component of the plan. Here are the most common parts your doctor might recommend.
1. Clean food: Eat healthy, clean foods, including organic foods, fresh foods, or foods from your own garden. The doctor may give you a specific plan to follow, a list or a website with a list.
2. Clear water: Stick with water filtered to remove contaminants, plastic particles, chlorine, or other toxins. Your doctor might suggest a home purification system and drinking out of glass or stainless-steel cups.
3. Fresh air: Options include using special filters on your HVAC system, getting rid of unnecessary carpeting, or using an ionized HEPA filter or electrostatic filter to clean the air in your home.
4. Sweating out toxins: Sweating removes toxins from your body – you might exercise, do manual labor around the house, or sweat in a sauna.
5. Supplements: To aid your body’s innate detoxification functions and to restore balance in your system.
Benefits of Functional Medicine Detox
After you complete all the steps in the detox plan from your doctor of functional medicine in Tennessee, you may notice some very big changes in the way you feel and think. The benefits of following your plan can include:
- Relief of disease symptoms
- Less pain and fatigue
- Better moods
- Clearer thinking
- Better sleep
- Weight loss
Since the detox plan is personalized to meet your own specific needs, you may get other benefits that relate to your individual health and mental health problems. At the end of your program, your doctor will assess your progress and recommend any further treatments if needed.
The Tri-Cities Approach: Functional Medicine in Tennessee
At Tri-Cities Functional Medicine in Tennessee, Dr. Joseph Radawi takes a different approach to medicine that you might not have seen from other doctors. Dr. Radawi focuses on getting to the bottom of your health problems rather than medicating the symptoms. Often working with patients who have chronic diseases, he is dedicated to helping people throughout the community and beyond improve their overall well-being. The goal of Tri-Cities Functional Medicine is to teach and guide our patients as they reclaim their health and move toward healthy, happy, more fulfilling lives.
Want to have better overall health? Take the first step:
- Watch a free webinar to learn about our approach to the health concerns you are facing.
- Schedule a Free Discovery Call to discuss your health concerns and goals to see if our practice is a good fit for you.
- After your discovery call – if we are a good fit, you’ll schedule a consultation with our doctor to dive deeper and formulate an individualized treatment plan for you.
Tri-Cities Functional Medicine is located in Johnson City, Tennessee, and serves patients throughout Tennessee and into Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky. These areas include but are not limited to: Washington County, TN, Sullivan County, TN, Carter County, TN, Greene County, TN, Knox County, TN, Bristol, TN, Holston Valley, TN, Tri-Cities, TN, Walnut Hill, TN, Elizabethton, TN, Greeneville, TN, Morristown, TN, Blountville, TN, Bluff City, TN, Kingsport, TN, Jonesborough, TN, Colonial Heights, TN, Limestone, TN, Knoxville, TN, Bristol, VA, Abingdon, VA, Grundy, VA, Asheville, NC, Boone, NC.
