Functional Medicine Topics: Environmental Health

This module will review the foundational biochemistry and genetics of biotransformation pathways, connect organ system dysfunctions to potential toxic exposures, and detail the available laboratory evaluations useful in assessing both the toxic load and physiologic responses to toxicant and toxin exposures. This program also uses a case-based, integrated approach to effectively deliver tools necessary for clinicians to diagnose and treat the toxic component of their patients’ total health pictures.

+ What will you learn at the Environmental Health conference

Clinical competencies to be mastered:

Understand the synergistic effects of both toxicants and toxins and identify potential toxic exposures as the antecedents and mediators of chronic, systemic diseases. 
Integrate clinical point-of-care tools to effectively evaluate patterns of toxicity and monitor patient progress.
Recognize and address five clinical patterns of chronic toxicity and their effects on neurological, immunological, mitochondrial, hormonal function and carcinogenesis.
Recognize the influence of socioeconomic determinants of health (SDOH's) and mental, emotional, spiritual factors in an individual's susceptibility to toxin and toxicant exposure.
Recognize and evaluate the most important root causes and contributors of toxic load, including impaired biotransformation, impaired elimination, and nutritional deficiencies. 
Order and interpret laboratory evaluations of toxic load and biotransformation capacity. 
Maximize physical exam findings and conventional laboratory results to assess toxic load and burden. 
Apply nutritional support, toxicant reduction techniques, therapeutic detoxification regimens, and other individualized approaches to decrease total toxic load.
Apply various nutraceuticals, botanicals, pharmaceuticals, and lifestyle interventions to increase the mobilization, biotransformation, and elimination of toxic compounds.

Biotransformation Pathways & Toxic Exposures

We have learned a great deal in recent years about how toxicants and toxins affect us, where they originate, and how to improve our ability to detoxify. Understanding toxicity and taking practical steps to improve biotransformation and elimination of toxicants are essential and critical pieces in any integrative approach to a patient’s health and well-being.

Explore more below about the biochemistry and genetics of biotransformation pathways, connections of organ system dysfunctions to potential toxic exposures, available laboratory evaluations useful in working up a toxin-exposed patient, and various treatment approaches.

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Common Toxic Exposures

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This course was very well put together with all-encompassing information about environmental health. All data presented is evidence-based and includes information on how nutrition can help support these processes. The lecturers are knowledgeable and excellent speakers.

Environmental Health 2023 Attendee

The Environmental Health course has been a game-changer for my practice. It's enriched my expertise, improved my communication and collaboration skills, and allowed me to deliver more personalized and effective care. I'm now better equipped to contribute to my patients' healthcare teams, working in harmony with fellow professionals to optimize patient care and outcomes.

Environmental Health 2023 Attendee

This module helped me understand at a physiologic level, the reasons why we should avoid common toxins that are often talked about and why it is important to avoid them (prioritizing eating organic, clean personal care products). Often times you hear this advice being given without a clear explanation of how it impacts our overall health.

Functional Medicine Advanced Practice Modules^® (APM) Environmental Health

+ What will you learn at the Environmental Health conference

Environmental Health: Insights & Education

Biotransformation Pathways & Toxic Exposures