What is Functional Medicine.
Functional medicine is an advanced, holistic alternative health care practice that rests in the principle of identifying root cause of symptoms and disease. The ultimate goal of functional medicine is to reverse as much dis-ease state as possible and propel you to a healthier and more vibrant state of being. Its popularity is gaining momentum as the values of FM seek to provide the answers and fill in the gaps that our broken healthcare system leaves.
The tools of the trade generally involve various types of testing that go outside of what the traditional allopathic medical system utilizes (diurnal cortisol testing, comprehensive stool testing, more thorough blood work, etc.) Additional lab work and narrower diagnostic ranges provide a more thorough look at how the concert of the body is working. Most importantly, Functional medicine should take into account and treat the whole person-mind, body, and spirit, not a compartmentalized section of you.
Beyond testing and treatment protocols, attention to diet, lifestyle, and mindset are paramount to whole health care. You can’t supplement away a diet consisting of fast food or a self negating mindset.
What Functional Medicine should not be.
Functional medicine should not be about treating lab values rather than the person. If symptoms do not match lab work, it is not cause to supplement or treat just to get numbers into a particular range.
For example, ferretin is a blood marker that can indicate low iron stores even when iron is in the normal range in a blood test. This can be a contributing factor to fatigue and other symptoms of iron deficiency like hair loss, and in this case one would supplement with iron. On the contrary, if a patient has no issues with fatigue, exercise tolerance, hair loss, and generally feels good, there is no reason to supplement with iron even if ferritin is functionally low on a blood test.
Treat the person, not the labs.
Yes, there can be a lot of supplements.
Past diet and lifestyle changes, supplementation with nutrients and herbal medicines are the go too for FM practitioners. Sometimes this involves intricate protocols that temporarily involves numerous supplements. What is important about supplements is that they are used with intention, mindfulness, and purpose with an end goal in sight.
Who is qualified to practice Functional medicine and how to find a good practitioner.
Functional medicine training is available to any previously licensed healthcare professional. MD, DO, Chiropractor, OMP/Acupuncturist, and NP’s being the most common practitioners offering Functional medicine. Training can be a conglomerate of mini-offerings, or more formal programs from the likes of the Functional Medicine Institute, Chris Kresser Institute, Kalish Institute, or the Functional Medicine University, to name a few.
The best functional medicine practitioners are licensed health care professionals who have successfully completed a formal functional medicine program.
Ultimately, Functional medicine should be the antithesis of traditional healthcare. This means attempting to identify and treat root cause of health issues, emphasizing prevention while addressing diet and lifestyle choices, and focusing on the whole person. Outside of training, the biggest factor that any medical professional practicing alternative medicine should have is the ability to treat the whole patient. 15 minute appointments dictated by insurance are not whole health care.
Find someone who will take the time to listen and the presence to see you.
In my practice I provide the following functional medicine testing and Treatment:
- Comprehensive Thyroid Panel
- SIBO breath testing
- Adrenal function/Cortisol testing
- Comprehensive Hormone testing via DUTCH and/or Saliva testing
- Mycotoxin – Mold toxicity testing
- Food Intolerance testing
- Comprehensive Gut and Digestion Profiles
- MTHFR Genetic testing
Want to experience the results functional medicine has to offer?