Since attending my first Functional Medicine conference in 2018, I knew that this exciting and revolutionary medicine method would be the model by which I would conceptualize health and wellbeing. Functional medicine is a science-based approach to healing based on natural solutions to health problems. Functional medicine focuses on finding the root cause of dysfunction and restoring to proper function by treating the cause. We understand that disease manifestation depends on gene expression, environment, diet, activity patterns, psycho-social-spiritual factors, stress, and lifestyle. Treating the right causes has lasting benefits beyond symptom suppression. Most disease processes resolve if normal body function and balance are restored. Identifying dysfunction and promoting balance is the primary means of improving health under the Functional medicine model.
Functional medicine doctors listen to our patients carefully to understand, connect, and empathize with their stories. Creating an optimal healing environment is paramount in working together and discovering clinical elements and factors that influence their health. Functional medicine doctors orders various types of labs based on body systems. These can include specialized digestive assessments, nutrient level assessments, amino acid levels, organic acid levels, genetic testing, food allergy, and hormone assay testing. We order labs to help identify critical imbalances in the body systems. The labs can often reveal hidden problems that have plagued the person with symptoms for decades. Rather than symptoms-based analysis, this systems-based approach distinguishes functional medicine from conventional medicine. Along with our patient's history, we interpret labs to help develop personalized health programs for individual clients.
Functional medicine doctors focus on the individual and not the disease. We understand that human biology is complex and individual. We take spiritual and emotional life seriously and understand that physical health depends on spiritual and emotional connection. We believe that what you eat every day, meditation, exercise, and restorative sleep can affect health. We take environmental toxins and environmental pollution very seriously as a health threat. We don't dismiss our patients' symptoms when all standard medical testing is "normal." We value the concept of healing without turning to drugs and surgery first yet are unafraid to recommend these if necessary. We know that the body can heal itself given the right circumstances.
Resources:
"What Is Functional Medicine?" The Institute for Functional Medicine, 28 Oct. 2021, https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine/what-is-functional-medicine/.
Hanaway, Patrick. "Form Follows Function: A Functional Medicine Overview." The Permanente journal vol. 20,4 (2016): 16-109. doi:10.7812/TPP/16-109
Beidelschies, Michelle et al. "Association of the Functional Medicine Model of Care With Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes." JAMA network open vol. 2,10 e1914017. 2 Oct. 2019, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.14017
