Autoimmune
A classification of illnesses in which an immune system mistakenly targets and attacks healthy human cells. According to the AARDA there are more than 100 different autoimmune diseases on record. It takes an average of 4.5 years and 4 different doctors to finally get an autoimmune diagnosis. This delay increases if you are female, despite women being 80% more likely to receive and autoimmune diagnosis.
Flare
The height of ones disease symptoms, which occurs at the tipping point of inflammation. In a flare state, if your body was a house, it would be on fire.
Immunosuppressant
The traditional pharmaceutical approach to treating autoimmune disease. The theory behind them being, if you greatly impede the immune response…it won’t be able to attack you anymore.
Leaky Gut
A breakdown in the integrity of the intestinal lining which allows toxins and pathogens to pass through from the digestive tract into the body. These foreign cells enter the blood stream, the lymphatic system and encounter the immune system, which through a process called molecular mimicry can cause the immune system to be confused into attacking Self. (auto-immunity)
Microbiome
The collection of microbes including bacteria that live in and on every part of the human body. The genetic material of which out numbers the amount of actual human genes we have in our entire bodies, meaning… technically we are more bacteria than human! The bacteria in our microbiome directly impacts digestion, immune function, anxiety, mood and almost all interplays between our human bodies and the environment.
Nervous System
The body’s command center. Originating in your brain and influencing every major organ and bodily system. The health and functioning of your nervous system determines whether stress becomes toxic to your body. It is greatly impacted by trauma and often an overlooked root cause of dysfunction in the body.
Neuroplasticity
The brains ability to reorganize and rewire new neural pathways. Chronic pain and fear physically alter your brain. Neuroplasticity means you have the power to change your brain for the better.
Epigenetics
The ability to modify the expression of genetic code without altering the actual DNA sequence. i.e. the reason that the health problems of your parents are no longer an unavoidable inevitability for you.
Co-Regulation
The act of making physical and emotional adjustments through connected and meaningful social interaction.
Functional Medicine
The Institute for Functional Medicine describes their model of care as follows:
“The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.
By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions. As a result, Functional Medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual.” -IFM website
What is Health Coaching?
One of the most important things you can do in your search for healing is to find help. Not only do you need a medical team you can trust but you need a source of ongoing support while you do the work.
Healing from any form of chronic illness is like climbing a treacherous mountain. If you wanted to climb mount Everest you would no doubt hire a mountain guide to ensure your success.
A health coach is like a mountain guide. We know where the tricky footing is, when to make camp for the night, and we can be counted on in a crisis because we’ve traveled this path before. A health coach can help in many ways. It is important to note however, that no one can climb the mountain for you. The work is yours alone, just like the accomplishment of healing.
LINKS
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
patient advocacy and community support
Institute for Functional Medicine
practitioner search
Greenmedinfo
evidence-based natural health resources
Pubmed
search engine for biomedical literature
Heal Documentary
a film about the power of the mind