When was the last time you assessed total toxic burden as a mitigating factor in your patients' persistent symptoms? Chronic, low-level exposure to toxic compounds found in the air, water, personal products, and food affects human health in disparate ways and has been associated with disease pathologies ranging from cardiometabolic dysfunction to neurodegeneration. Given the ubiquitous nature of these compounds in the environment, the bioaccumulation and overload of various toxins can impact the vital enzymatic detoxification pathways and cause downstream disruptions in the body. Toxins that are absorbed but not properly eliminated may be an underlying, mitigating factor to disease; therefore, it is critical to assess total toxic load, especially if a patient's condition does not respond to initial treatment. Understanding toxicity and taking practical steps to improve your patients' biotransformation and elimination are essential for any integrative approach to health.  

The Environmental Health APM overviews the biochemistry and genetics of biotransformation pathways, connects organ system dysfunctions to potential toxic exposures, and details the available laboratory evaluations useful in assessing both the toxic load and physiologic responses to toxicant and toxin exposures. Several interventions, including exposure reduction, lifestyle-based modifications, and therapies to support the microbiome and the gut-liver axis will be explored. 

New Online Cohort Format - Learn at Your Own Pace!

The Environmental Health APM is a six-week online course with on-demand lectures and live Q&A sessions with educators. Learners can access course materials and review presentations when it is most convenient for them. This format expands access to functional medicine education, allowing practitioners to balance the demands of their practice and their training.