Biomedicine is similar to functional medicine (which primarily focuses on the integration of digestive, immune and hormone balance) in that it seeks to understand the root cause of illness. However, in the classic definition of functional medicine which appreciates the interrelationship between the digestive, immune and adrenal systems which then impacts oxidative stress and detoxification, biomedical medicine integrates additional information such as hereditary factors, environmental toxicity, special biochemical imbalances such as methylation defects and metabolic enzyme problems and neurochemistry issues. Biomedicine is well suited towards helping the autism-spectrum community, but is applicable to any patient population and merges incredibly well with the basics of functional medicine. In essence, functional and biomedicine medicine go hand-in-hand to deepen a practitioner’s knowledge of multisystem problems and ways to intervene on the patient’s behalf.
An example of an integrative medicine approach is the use of a diagnostic tool called the Organic Acids Test which is available to assess various metabolic disorders that can be negatively influencing a person’s health. For example, a chemical called 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid (HPHPA) produced from clostridia bacteria can lead to psychiatric problems such as Schizophrenia, depression or even autism. This is not a marker identified from adrenal, digestive stool and immune testing and so is often missed with many practitioners performing standard functional medicine diagnostics.
Many medical doctors are familiar with Organic Acids Testing, but only in the context of serious childhood metabolic disorders. They do not appreciate the subtleties between different Organic Acid Tests and which ones measure more biomedical markers important for a broader range of patients.
The Organic Acids Test is just one example of integrative medicines expanded ability to identify different problems leading to chronic health issues. Through the use of Organic Acids Testing a practitioner can often implement integrative health treatments that support the body naturally and improve overall health.
