Insomnia can be defined as difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep, or nonrestorative sleep, associated with impairments of daytime functioning or marked distress for more than 1 month length of time.
To begin peeling back the layers and correcting the symptoms of insomnia, a Functional Medicine, Certified Clinical Nutritionist will first look at all of the possibilities that can contribute to such a troubling condition. Most patients with insomnia are exhausted while they cannot sleep properly and this can be very stressful. With insomnia it is possible to have more than one functional problem contributing to the overall symptom presentation. Fortunately, Dr. Shaw specializes in working with the functional changes in your body to correct the cause of the symptoms and remove a symptom like insomnia.
In working with a Functional Medicine, Certified Clinical Nutritionist you will hear the word “functional” quite a bit. What we are referring to is that not all problems show up in your blood work, and there may be a more subtle change in your system that is not bad enough to raise the red flags for your medical doctor. Correcting insomnia with nutrition is a perfect example:
There are many sources of challenges to the body that can manifest as an interruption of a normal circadian rhythm. Undiagnosed toxic metal syndrome, depression, anxiety disorders, chronic pain patterns, sleep apnea, exercise deficiency, computer brain stimulation syndrome, food sensitivities, hormone imbalances, functional thyroid problems, chronic elevated stress levels, exposure to mold and undiagnosed Lyme disease are just a few of the potential causes that can combine and contribute to a debilitating insomnia. In Pittsburgh, it is amazing how many potential challenges there are in our immediate environment that can be corrected by working with an experienced Functional Medicine, Clinical Nutritionist.
If we are able to identify where the source of your insomnia comes from, we can correct the symptom of not sleeping well. Whether it is the inability to fall asleep, the inability to stay asleep, the inability to achieve a deep rest with sleep or all of these combined, working with a practitioner like Dr. Shaw can help you resolve the problem.
It is important to note that when your medical history and health related goals are explored, your consultations are held directly with Dr. Shaw, not an untrained individual, a staff member, a questionnaire or a computer program. You will not be signing up for a “program” and paying money up front for services not yet rendered. Your health care journey in our office is unique to your specific needs.— Dr. Conan Shaw Functional Medicine, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Pittsburgh PA