What is Functional Medicine?
While Functional Medicine has been around a few decades, the last few years its popularity has boomed. A deep frustration with conventional medicine coupled with a continued rise in chronic illness has left many people hungry for a new approach to health care.
Although there’s plenty of curiosity about Functional Medicine, there’s still much confusion surrounding it. So, let’s dive into what Functional Medicine is, how it differs from traditional medicine, and explore if it might be right for you.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine is a patient centered, biology based, individualized approach to health care. It was originated in 1991 by Dr. Jeffrey Bland PhD, a biochemist and nutritional researcher who realized that most chronic diseases were caused by a combination of genes, lifestyle, and environmental exposures. (1) Dr. Bland founded the Institute for Functional Medicine to create a new patient centered health care model to address the root cause of illness.
While conventional medicine focuses on treating symptoms, Functional Medicine addresses the underlying cause of disease. It understands that healing requires reversing the imbalances that led to illness. Each person is a unique, complex web on lifestyle and environmental influences. One health condition may have many different causes, and each cause may lead to more than one health condition.
For example, one patient’s IBS may be due to not only food allergies, but yeast overgrowth, stress, and poor diet. And that same patient’s food allergies may cause not only IBS, but depression, fatigue, rashes, brain fog, etc.
Once the triggers are identified, balance can be restored. Functional Medicine’s goal is not just symptom suppression, but vitality and well-being.
How does Functional Medicine work?
Functional Medicine is a collaborative approach to health care, where the patient and practitioner work as a therapeutic team. Functional Medicine practitioners typically spend more time with you than a traditional doctor, which helps uncover imbalalances contributing to disease.
William Osler said, “It is much more important to know what sort of patient has a disease, than what sort of disease a patient has.” Functional Medicine wholeheartedly agrees.
The process starts with a thorough health and family history, examination of past medical records, and lab testing to isolate the triggers that led to disease, whether that be environmental, toxins, allergens, infections, nutrition, genetics, or lifestyle.
Once the triggers are identified, an individualized treatment plan is prescribed that may include nutritional recommendations, supplements, detoxification programs, stress management techniques, exercise, or sleep and rest.
How do Conventional and Functional Medicine differ?
The infographic below sums up the key differences between conventional and Functional Medicine.
How do I know if Functional Medicine is right for me?
While Functional Medicine can be incredibly successful for treating chronic illnesses, it’s not right for everyone. This is not a quick fix solution, where you pop a pill and go back to your old, unhealthy habits. Functional Medicine requires you to take responsibility for your health – which can often mean stepping out of your comfort zone. But if you possess the 3 key traits below, you’re likely a good fit for Functional Medicine:
You’re motivated
You must want to heal. But you must also be willing to take the steps required to allow that to happen. That may mean letting go of some old habits and replacing them with healthier choices.
Your personalized treatment plan will likely include not only supplements, but dietary and exercise recommendations, sleep protocols, or stress management techniques. These things are just as important (if not more important) than supplements, but they only work if you’re consistent.
But this isn’t about perfection. It’s about moving the needle over to a healthier direction in any area that’s out of balance. Progress wins over perfection any day – but you must commit to take daily steps towards health and balance.
2. You’re open-minded
Your personalized treatment plan may ask you to try some new things – new foods, exercises, meditations, and more. Some of these things may require you to take a step (or many steps) out of your comfort zone. Approaching these new things with an attitude of curiosity rather than skepticism will make the healing process much more enjoyable.
3. You’re patient
Your body experiences imbalances for years before a chronic illness shows up. Undoing that damage doesn’t happen overnight. True healing takes time.
Remember, Functional Medicine is not about symptom suppression. To address the root cause of illness does require patience. But in time, that patience is rewarded with renewed vitality and a deep sense of well-being.
Ready to get started?
I’m thrilled to be a licensed Functional Medicine practitioner certified by the Kharrazian Institute and offer both in-person and virtual sessions. If you’re ready to reclaim your health, click the button below to schedule your consultation. I can’t wait to hear from you!