Dr. Bruce Hoffman, a Calgary-based integrative and functional medicine doctor, has a unique and diverse background. With training in Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, Jungian theory, family constellation therapy, functional medicine and antiaging medicine, Dr. Hoffman has developed a whole person approach to treating chronic, complex medical conditions.
The Seven Stages Model
Central to Dr. Hoffman’s approach is the “Seven Stages of Health and Transformation” model, which views the human experience as composed of interconnected layers:
- External Environment: The quality of the water, air, soil and the effects of toxins and infectious agents.
- Physical Body: Biochemistry, structure, traditional medicine, functional medicine and structural interventions.
- Electromagnetic Body: The principles of physics, the brain, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems, man-made EMFs and the electrical effects on physiology and biochemistry,
- Emotional Body: Early childhood experiences and their neurological and hormonal impact on brain development and the fight-flight response.
- Ego Development: How we navigate the world with our ego, the operational sense of self with our belief systems, our internal dialogue, values and defenses, especially around early experiences in the first half of life.
- Soul: Our most authentic and instinctual self, often suppressed in early life and sought after in midlife.
- Spirit: The spiritual body beyond ego-based space-time demands and surrender to a higher intelligence larger than our ego self.
Beyond Symptoms: A Holistic Approach
Dr. Hoffman believes symptoms serve as entry points into the healing experience and illness serves as a means for a deeper enquiry into a patient’s history. He views them as “teleological”, serving the purpose of uncovering hidden dynamics that need to be brought to the surface through conscious understanding. He helps patients achieve optimal health and transformation by identifying the underlying causes of complex disorders by applying the Seven Stages to Health and Transformation concepts combined with his considerable exposure and education in multiple modalities of understanding the complexity of the human experience.
Diagnostics and Treatment
Dr. Hoffman employs a thorough diagnostic process, including conventional medical testing and imaging, functional medicine evaluations, brain imaging, qEEG analysis and psychological insights. He strongly emphasizes restoring mitochondrial function since he believes that at the root of most patients’ presentations is an inflammatory response to multiple stressors found in the human experience.
A multifaceted strategy is frequently used in treatment, including:
- Nutritional interventions: A paleo-autoimmune, low-histamine, locally grown and seasonal diet is frequently the first step.
- Interventions in traditional medicine: balancing hormones, nutritional deficits, adrenal and thyroid function.
- Mitochondrial support: Oral and IV lipid therapy and membrane-stabilizing support.
- Detoxification and addressing infections are implemented later in the treatment process once the body can withstand deeper treatments..
- Applying the principles of physics, circadian and quantum biology to the treatment process
- Neurofeedback and neuromodulation are used to treat dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, the stress response and brain functions.
- Amygdala retraining, psychological support, family constellation therapy and trauma therapy
Patient Outcomes
While Dr. Hoffman doesn’t employ a research assistant to compile his patient success outcomes, patients report significant improvements especially those who are actively participating in their healing journey. Most patients report improved lab results, symptom reduction and overall well-being within six months.
Dr. Bruce Hoffman’s Seven Stages model and holistic approach to functional medicine are powerful tools for understanding and treating complex illnesses.
