Inflammation is often described as the root of many chronic health conditions—from autoimmune diseases and fatigue to brain fog, joint pain, and digestive issues. But what exactly is inflammation, and how can functional medicine help address it at its core?
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury, infection, or stress. In the short term, it’s a helpful and protective process that allows your body to heal. But when inflammation becomes chronic—meaning it stays active for weeks, months, or even years—it can start to damage tissues and contribute to long-term health issues.
Common signs of chronic inflammation include:
What Causes Chronic Inflammation?
Chronic inflammation doesn’t have just one cause—it’s often the result of multiple stressors on the body over time. Common contributors include:
These factors can trigger an overactive immune response, keeping your body in a state of low-grade, persistent inflammation.
How Functional Medicine Addresses Inflammation
At MediThrive Personalized Wellness, we believe that inflammation is a symptom of deeper imbalance—not the root issue itself. Functional medicine looks at the whole picture, using advanced lab testing and individualized protocols to uncover and address the sources of inflammation.
Here’s how our practitioners approach inflammation:
1. Testing, Not Guessing
Comprehensive lab testing is used to look at inflammatory markers, hormone balance, food sensitivities, gut health, and nutrient deficiencies.
3. Support Gut Health
Since much of the immune system lives in the gut, healing inflammation often starts with the microbiome. Targeted protocols are used to address dysbiosis, leaky gut, or infections like candida or parasites. We also encourage an anti-inflammatory diet based on whole, nutrient-dense foods that help reduce inflammation and support healing.
4. Stress & Sleep Optimization
Chronic stress and poor sleep fuel inflammation. We help patients regulate cortisol levels, address possible hormone imbalance and assist with sleep quality using natural sleep support methods.
5. Targeted Supplements & Therapies
From omega-3s and curcumin to adaptogens and peptides, functional medicine offers evidence-based therapies to reduce inflammation, restore balance, and promote resilience.
Inflammation Isn’t the Enemy—But It Is a Signal
Inflammation is your body’s way of asking for help. You don’t have to settle for “normal” labs and persistent discomfort. Through a root-cause, whole-body approach, functional medicine helps you listen to that signal—and respond with care, strategy, and ultimately healing.
Leah Griffin O’Connor – Wellness Care Strategist
Leah has deep family roots in the Lake Norman area, fostering a strong connection and commitment to her community. With a longtime interest and passion for functional nutrition and lifestyle, she holds a profound belief in the power of functional medicine.
Outside of work, she enjoys being with her family and friends, spending time on the lake, and traveling. Leah is dedicated to enhancing the patient experience and creating awareness for MediThrive’s solutions to help others unlock their wellness potential. Leah looks forward to watching MediThrive help others feel their best and thrive
