The functional medicine approach to osteoporosis is to look at the body’s interconnected systems to understand the causes of deteriorating bone health, build bone strength and improve overall health. Osteoporosis means ‘porous bones’. It is a condition where bones become thin, weak and fragile and even a minor bump or accident can cause a bone to break,…

Tension Headaches – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment A tension headache is one of the most common types of headache, occurring in the head, scalp or neck due to muscle tension or tightness. They may be intermittent or chronic (two or more times per week for several months or longer) and are characterised by a dull,…

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease causing inflammatory arthritis. The immune system attacks the synovial membranes of the joints, causing pain, inflammation and deformity. It can occur at any age, but is more common between 30 and 50, and affects more three times more women than men. …

Osteoporosis – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Osteoporosis is a progressive skeletal disorder characterised by a reduction of bone density which can cause bone fragility, thereby significantly increasing the risk of fractures. It occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both. The World…

Osteoarthritis – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterised by degradation of both the cartilage and the sub-chondral bone in the joint.  In is a chronic disease that affects many individuals in Perth and Australia wide. The smooth cartilage surface becomes pitted and irregular, and the joint becomes painful and stiff.…

Muscle Cramps Causes & Treatment Muscle cramps are an involuntary and often painful contraction of muscle. They are extremely common, particularly in the legs where they mainly affect the gastrocnemius, hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups. They also commonly affect the feet, hands, arms, abdomen and ribcage. They may affect any age and may occur either…

Gout – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in the blood due to disordered purine metabolism, which is deposited as monosodium urate crystals in a joint, causing inflammation and sudden severe pain. Symptoms usually occur in a single joint and are episodic. Attacks are…

Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition in Australia characterised by long-term, widespread pain and tenderness in the muscles, tendons, joints and other soft tissues that persists for at least 3 months.   Previously, diagnosis was based primarily on identification of 11 out of 18 tender points around the body. However, this criterion…

Carpal Tunnel Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed within or adjacent to the carpal canal in the wrist. The median nerve provides feeling and movement to the thumb side of the hand. The area in the wrist where the nerve enters the hand is called the carpal…

Bursitis Causes, symptoms and treatment Bursitis occurs when one or more bursae become inflamed as a result of irritation or infection. Bursae are small sacs filled with synovial fluid located between bones and tendons or muscles. They function to create a smooth, frictionless gliding surface, making normal movement painless. Bursitis mainly affects the bursae of…