Functional neurology encompasses a subset of medicine that concentrates on non-invasive methods for treating a variety of disorders.
The brain can make remarkable changes, both good and bad, at all stages of life. Sometimes those changes are forced upon us rapid, like with head injuries, others can accumulate over time like in diabetes. Functional neurology employees a multitude of techniques to appropriately assess these deficits and create a therapeutic plan with the ultimate goal of restoring proper balance.
Every cell and group of tissue needs balance in the body and the central nervous system is no different. This imbalance can come in many forms and manifest as conditions such as:
- ADD/ADHD
- Anxiety/OCD
- Depression
- Learning disabilities
- Vertigo
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Brain injury rehab
- Memory deficiencies
Utilizing different diagnostic tools, assessing gait pattern and eye movements can cue in a keen practitioner into what is going on with your brain. One of the best parts; most of this work-up can be done in-office and even some virtually!
Treatment techniques also come in a low cost, high reward (from a biological sense) format and may be as simple as in-home neuro-retraining exercises, or targeted nutritional, lifestyle, or neuro-based nutrients. Each case is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure you are getting a truly customizable plan to achieve results that you can experience rather than being convinced that you’re feeling better.
Dr. Joshua Conzo CFMP, DC is the current director and hands on clinician of the functional neurology division at Gateway Natural Medicine & Diagnostic Center.
His concentrations are in neurodevelopmental disorders, vertigo, mood disorders and post concussive therapies. Dr. Josh started his initial training in the Melillo Method and has further advanced these concepts.
Dr. Josh’s techniques aim to help integrate current neuroscience with clinical disorders such as:
- ADD/ADHD
- OCD
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Dyslexia
- Asperger’s
- Bipolar disorder
- Tourette’s
- Concussions
- and other behavioral and learning disorders
A typical functional neuro appointment involves a detailed history, thorough examination which assesses primitive reflexes (or retained reflexes from childhood) and a neurological exam to establish which regions of the brain are involved. Your practitioner will also discuss as traditional and alternative diagnostics (such as imagining, urine tests or blood-work) when necessary.
Services we utilize in care include:
Comprehensive functional neuro evaluation -This examination is intended to help identify the when, where, and why the brain isn’t functioning optimally. Many times, this can be performed in the comfort of our office or even at home!
Laser therapy – This therapy is a safe and effective modality helping the brain receive more energy and healing neural inflammation and stimulation of different regions of the brain. It will do so by delivering more energy (ATP to the cells and neurons of the brain to allow them to function more effectively).
Primitive reflex integration– Thorough examination to establish if the brain-stem has retained any of our childhood/primitive reflexes which would hinder firing of different hemispheres of the brain. If we retain these reflexes the brain-stem doesn’t allow the brain to develop from the base up and integrate down. Developing exercises to help integrate these reflexes, which can come as a developmental cause or from concussion or head trauma, to help the brain improve neurological function and signaling.
Whole body vibration – This therapy helps integrate coordination, muscle balance, gut function, and pain. We can even couple this with other therapies to get the best of multi modalities at once.
Vagus nerve rehabilitation – The vagal system helps to stimulate different regions of the brain and body. If it is firing properly, it can help establish the nervous system balance between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous systems. We utilize different methods such as Rezzimax Tuner Pro, Fisher Wallace device and others to help retrain this system and re-balance the brain.
Motion guidance visual feedback laser therapy – This is a powerful rehabilitation tool that we use to help with motor control, visual feedback, and retraining the vestibular system.
Light therapy/Blaze Pod training – Different light therapies and color therapies help retrain different regions of the brain and integrate the hemisphere that is showing deficit to allow the brain to talk in coordination.
Nutrition – Food is medicine and its impact on the developing and injured brain plays a major role in healing and integration of its function. We can help develop specialized diet plans and supplemental regimens to ensure you will get the most out of care.