Functional Medicine is a science-based patient centred healthcare approach which aims to understand the “how and why” of illness by looking at the root causes of symptoms as opposed to suppressing and managing symptoms. It is aimed at those with ongoing chronic and/or debilitating (as opposed to acute) health conditions and by working together with clients developing personalised programmes based on their specific needs and requirements, enabling them to restore health.
The Functional Medicine model looks at the cumulative negative effects of stress to the individual over their lifespan (called the “allostatic load”) such as diet, environmental toxins and stress and provide personalised programmes to help redress biochemical imbalances. These imbalances which may be for example gastro-intestinal (gut) imbalances or sex hormone imbalances will impact individual clients’ symptoms and imbalances.
How I can help you using Functional Medicine
You will be involved at every stage from the initial completion of a detailed nutrition and lifestyle questionnaire prior to the initial consultation, to the development of an agreed health optimisation plan based on your specific health goals at your first 1 hour consultation. Follow up consultations allow for your progress to be reviewed to ensure you are moving forward to reach your health goals and may also include results from laboratory testing such as stool tests or blood tests to determine for example sex hormone status.
As Functional Medicine Practitioner, I am trained to involve, educate, and inspire clients on their journey back to health by helping them understand the impact of all the different factors which impact their health and wellbeing, what may be contributing to their symptoms and through agreed actionable steps modify what is preventing a client from optimal health.
To discuss your specific goals and learn more about how I can help, don’t hesitate to get in touch using the form below. Please note that my responses can sometimes end up in junk folders so be sure to check there.
Angela Loftus BSc, PGDip, DipION, CFMP is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner registered with BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council). She is based in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire and works with clients both in person and online across the UK.
Angela graduated as a Nutritional Therapist from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in 2015 and qualified as a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP) in 2021.
Functional Medicine underpins everything she does in clinical practice – providing the framework for investigating the root causes of a client’s symptoms, identifying the biological, nutritional and lifestyle factors that are driving their condition, and developing personalised programmes that address those causes directly rather than managing symptoms alone. Over ten years and more than 1,000 client consultations she has applied this approach to a wide range of complex and chronic health conditions, with a particular specialism in female hormone health.