Clinical definitions of diseases are black-and-white, but that isn’t how the body works. Chronic illnesses don’t simply appear out of the blue. They tend to progress over time and can often be detected through bloodwork and other tests long before symptoms appear.

The conventional medicine approach will wait until you are “officially” ill—based on discrete clinical definitions of diseases—before treating you. For example, if your blood sugar levels are 5.8 mmol/L or more you would be considered prediabetic, marking the start of your treatment. If your levels are 5.7 mmol/L or less, you would likely be labeled as “normal,” and most conventional doctors would not treat you or address the problem.

Diabetes has a range of unpleasant symptoms, from frequent urination to weight changes to numbness in the extremities. If left unchecked, it can even lead to organ damage. Rather than waiting for these symptoms to appear, my approach is to prevent them from happening in the first place.

It is much easier to treat physical imbalances before they develop into debilitating illness. That is why I focus on identifying which diseases you are most at risk for and helping you avoid them altogether.

Integrative And Functional Medicine

I treat people, not isolated symptoms or diseases. I also leverage a broader range of diagnostic and treatment tools than those used in conventional medicine, taking into consideration diet, lifestyle, and nutrient factors.

Doctors who are not trained in integrative and functional medicine may focus on diagnosing you rather than helping to alleviate your symptoms. For example, if you were to visit a conventional gastrointestinal doctor for symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, they may perform a colonoscopy to see whether you meet the clinical definition of any diseases. If not, that doctor may send you on your way without ever addressing your symptoms.

I am board-certified in integrative medicine, so I will focus on helping you feel better, regardless of whatever diagnosis you may or may not have been labeled with. I employ a wide range of treatments, both conventional and alternative, to help you achieve optimal bodily function.

If it turns out that you have a food sensitivity, for example, I can recommend a diet plan to help you replace those foods with alternatives that are easier on your system. If you have a sweet tooth, we can explore the possibility of an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans, which appears naturally in the body in small amounts but can grow into problems. If your discomfort is caused partly by inflammation, I can recommend dietary changes and herbal supplements to reduce that inflammation.

I subscribe to the philosophy that we must look beyond a person’s physical body and also consider their lifestyle, mental state, and even spiritual health to help them achieve optimal well-being. So in addition to suggesting a new diet, supplements, or exercise, I may also recommend other modalities, such as acupuncture, yoga, or massage therapy.

Khanh Perrin, MD is a diplomat of the American Board of Integrative Medicine, and a former Diplomat the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine. She has trained at UCLA Harbor Medical Center, Loma Linda Medical Center, and Huntington Hospital. She has studied at the Institute of Functional Medicine, Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, the American College of Nutrition, Temple University School of Medicine, Scripps College, and San Diego State University.