What is Functional Medicine?
Our physicians are all avid believers and practitioners of Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine is an emerging field of medicine that focuses on the origins, prevention and treatment of complex chronic diseases. This type of medicine aids our physicians in that it is patient-centered, integrative and science-based. While much of Functional Medicine is biochemically based, it sees you, the patient as a whole person, with a unique life, a unique set of circumstances and a unique set of genes. All this interacts to become what we call “a disease.” By restoring the dynamic equilibrium between your body’s systems, Functional Medicine physicians can begin to transform chronic illness toward a state of health.
According to The Institute for Functional Medicine, “Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.”
Seeing and Treating the Whole Person
Unlike much of contemporary medicine, which has compartmentalized the body into separate parts and specialized functions, Functional Medicine takes a holistic approach and understands that everything is connected. Drawing from many different fields, it takes an interest in all parts of your life, including your diet, environment, work-life, relationships, stress-levels, exercise routines, medications, etc. Rather than treating just the symptoms, Functional Medicine goes deeper, looking at your fundamental processes in an effort to find the underlying imbalances that might be causing the symptoms to manifest. Some of the characteristics of Functional Medicine include:
- The recognition that each person is unique.
- Health is more than simply the absence of disease.
- Balanced biochemistry is essential to proper functioning.
- Encourages a personalized approach to medicine.
Looking Inside
Because of its systemic approach, Functional Medicine makes use of a variety of lab tests to help understand system functioning. Our physicians will do comprehensive lab testing to assess where your imbalances lie.
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Immune and inflammatory imbalances
- Digestive, absorptive and microbiological imbalances.
- Oxidation problems
- Neurotransmitter and hormonal issues
- Detoxification and Biotransformation problems
Then coupled with a comprehensive evaluation, they can partner with you to customize a plan just for you. Functional Medicine can prove to be a powerful, transformative approach to health and well-being!
