Peirson Center for Children
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Functional Medicine for Children

The Functional medical approach to treating patients with conditions such as Down syndrome, ASD (autism spectrum disorders), ADD (attention deficit disorder), and other neurodevelopmental conditions addresses the root cause of the cognitive and physical symptoms of these conditions. The root cause can be imbalances in areas such as oxidative stress, methylation, mitochondrial function, endocrine function, neurotransmitters, digestion, heavy metal toxicity and nutrient deficiencies, to name a few. It also addresses genetic and epigenetic factors that can contribute to these imbalances. 

We want it made very clear that when helping children with Down syndrome our goal is not to fix, cure or change them. Many of their health issues, nutrient deficiencies, immune dysfunction and even neurological issues can have nothing to do with having an extra chromosome. Often these issues are due to hypothyroidism that is under-treated or gastrointestinal dysfunction that isn't even recognized.  Please read Dr. Peirson's blog post Customized Treatment for Children with Down Syndrome and Medical Neglect of Children with Special Needs to find out more.

We do not replace your child's primary care physician. We work as adjunct providers to help support and optimize your child's health in ways that your child's primary care physician hasn't been trained. We do not provide "on call" emergency care. Treatment methods employed are often multifold and include, but are not limited to, diet, lifestyle, supplements and detoxification. No treatment plan is ever the same. Patients are carefully assessed with a thorough health history, physical exam and testing of saliva, urine, blood and feces.  Determination of which tests to run depends on the presentation of each individual patient.  For a complete list of testing options used in our clinic please refer to the "Testing" section below.


Potential benefits of biomedical treatment include:
  • Improved function of the immune system
  • Improved digestion
  • Better sleep
  • Reduced eczema, hives, and dry skin 
  • Increased speech, eye contact and social awareness
  • Decrease in negative behaviors (stimming, difficult to transition, aggression, inappropriate laughing)
  • Increased overall growth and development
  • Improved cognition

Evaluation

An evaluation of your child's healthcare needs starts with a thorough history that includes questions going all the way back to the health of the patient's mother at the time of conception.  Other areas often discussed include digestion, growth, sleep, behavior, skin, gross motor skills, muscle tone, body temperature, circulation, immune system, diet and many others. 

Testing

The following is a list of tests often used.

Routine blood work
  • TSH
  • free T4
  • free T3
  • revere T3
  • TPO/TgAb/TSI
  • CBC w/ differential and platelets
  • Iron panel (serum iron, % saturation, TIBC, ferritin)
  • Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
  • Zinc and copper
  • Serum B12
  • Magnesium, RBC
  • Vitamin D
  • Histamine
  • Homocysteine
  • Tissue Transglutaminase​
  • Anti-streptolysin O antibodies
  • Anti-DNase antibodies
  • IGF-1
  • IGFBP-3

Organic Acid Testing - Click this link for a list of resources about the many benefits of this testing.


Metabolomix+
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  • Malabsorption and dysbiosis markers
  • Cellular energy and mitochondrial function
  • Neurotransmitter metabolites
  • Vitamin markers
  • Toxin and detoxification markers
  • Tyrosine metabolism
  • Amino Acids
  • Urea cycle markers
  • Oxidative stress markers

Organic Acid Test (OAT)
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  • Intestinal Microbial Overgrowth
  • Oxalate metabolites
  • Glycolytic cycle metabolites
  • Mitochondrial markers - Kreb cycle metabolites
  • Mitochondrial markers - amino acid metabolites
  • Neurotransmitter metabolites
  • Pyrimidine metabolites
  • Ketone and fatty acid metabolites
  • Nutritional markers
  • Indicators of detoxification

GI Effects Stool Profile
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  • ​GI Effects is an innovative stool test measuring premier biomarkers of gastrointestinal function, providing valuable clinical insight into digestive performance, gut inflammation, and the gut microbiome — areas affecting not only GI health, but overall health as well.

SIBO Testing
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  • Hydrogen and methane breath test to detect presence of bacterial overgrowth of the small intestines


Heavy Metal/Toxic Elements
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  • The Toxic Element Clearance Profile is a toxic exposure test which measures urinary excretion of a diverse range of potentially harmful elements, such as mercury, aluminum, sulfur, lead and others. 


G-DAP – Gut & Detox Assessment Profile
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This profile is designed for the functional medicine practitioner as a way to help screen for the most common processes that are often at the root cause of disease. It looks at Zonulin, DAO, Histamine, LPS IgG, IgA and IgM, 8-OHdG, % Reduced Glutathione, Total Glutathione, F2 Isoprostane, Oxidized LDL, HgA1c, hsCRP, & Vitamin D.

Supplements

Multivitamin
Benfotiamine
Riboflavin
Methylcobalamin (B12)
Quercetin
Lithium Orotate
Liposomal Glutathione
Phosphatidylcholine
L-Carnitine
CoQ10


Nutrition

Low Histamine Diet
Low FODMAP Diet

Carbohydrate Specific Diet (SCD)
Anti-Candida Diet

GAPS Diet
Feingold Diet
This web site offers health, wellness, and nutritional information and is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. The use of any information provided on this web site is solely at your own risk. Nothing stated or posted on this website by The Peirson Center for Children are intended to be, and must not be taken to be, the practice of medicine. Information provided on this website does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and any doctor affiliated with our web site. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

©  2020. Peirson Center for Children. All rights reserved

P.O. Box 20446
Portland, OR 97294

8100 W. Marigold St. #140611
Garden City, ID 83714