What is Functional Medicine and how can it help treat mental health problems?
When it comes to mental health, we often don't treat anything below the neck. We treat thoughts, emotions, and brain chemical imbalances. We are inundated with messages and commercials from pharmaceutical companies about how their products solve the problems of mental illness by treating the symptoms of the illness. What they don't do is treat the root causes of illness. That is where Functional Medicine comes in.
Mental Health and Physical Health are two very different realms of study and treatment, often times, not blending or sharing discoveries. Unfortunately, this means that patients become trapped in a seemingly never-ending ping-pong game of therapy and medications to attempt to alleviate the intense pain of emotional suffering.
In this panel discussion, we will be hearing about MANY ways we can access functional medicine specialists to incorporate the wellness of our physical selves in order to assist in the healing of our emotional selves. We will learn about assessing for and treating root causes of mental health problems and how these treatments can dovetail with mental health services.
Panelists include:
Amanda LaPlante MA, INHC
Radio host of "Get Real to Heal" and Integrative Health Coach, Amanda LaPlante battled multiple autoimmune diseases for two decades. By 2013, at age 33, she was seeing 6 specialists and a primary care physician every month, with more than a dozen active prescriptions at the pharmacy. After discovering the power of nutrition and Integrative / Functional Medicine, Amanda dropped over a dozen medications, shed 50 pounds, regained control of her health. She found new purpose in life... She is on a mission to illuminate the amazing healing potential within us all and the powerful roles that food, lifestyle, and mindset play in our health!
Dr. Jason Wibbenmeyer
Dr. Wibbenmeyer will be discussing The Gut -- Brain inflammatory connection to anxiety, depression, emotion and mood and a functional medicine approach to calming the inflammation of our brains.
Dr. Michael Frith
Dr Frith is an expert in the evaluation and diagnosis of conditions of Craniofacial pain, sleep apnea and snoring. Hi goal is to successfully treat these conditions that can often lead to or exacerbate mental health issues, using non-surgical therapies such as Ozone treatments and Sleep Therapies
Dr. Troy Curry
Dr. D. Troy Curry, Medical Director for Greenbrook TMS will discuss the benefits of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy.
Dr. Kelsey Schwander, PharmD.
Dr. Schwander is a Pharmacist who practices in both Colorado and Missouri. She has her Clinical Cannabinoid Medicine Certification and is experienced in discussing cannabis with patients. She will be speaking about medical cannabis, its effects on the body, and interactions with other medications, and its impact on the symptoms of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions
Heather Wheeler L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CFMP
Heather has an MS in Acupuncture from Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture and is one of a small handful of advanced qualified Acupuncturists in the St. Louis, MO, area. Having a background in nutrition and pharmaceuticals, Heather experienced acupuncture for pain relief from a car accident and endometriosis which led her to pursue her education in Traditional Chinese Medicine. With over 15 years experience, Heather practices acupuncture and functional medicine in St. Charles, MO.
Learning Objectives
Discuss the difference between Functional Medicine and Traditional Western Medicine approaches to health
Develop a greater understanding of how acupuncture works, what to expect from a treatment plan, who it is good for and when it is applicable.
Aquire a greater understanding of how cannabis effects the body and interacts with other medications, as well as how it can be helpful or harmful in treating depression and anxiety
Be better equipped to talk to clients about potentially helpful adjunctive treatments such as TMS, sleep therapy, ozone treatments, gut health assessments, balanced diet, acupuncture, or traditional Chinese Medicine
Gain a stronger understanding of how the gastrointestinal tract and the brain are connected, impacting hormones and neurotransmitters necessary for a resilient stress response and reducing anxiety