This question comes up a lot in the lectures and talks that I do on a variety of natural medicine topics. Functional medicine is not actually “new”, many of us innovative and cutting-edge doctors have been using the principles of functional medicine for decades, just the name is essentially what is new about it.
Doctors that utilize the principles of Functional Medicine look past just the symptoms that a patient may present with and strive to reach the underlying cause of disease. This is done through a systematic approach where the doctor and patient work together as a team to achieve an optimal outcome. Think of it this way, symptoms are really just the tip of the iceberg, the part we see or feel. Everyone recognizes that the biggest part of the iceberg and the most dangerous part (think of the sinking of the Titanic) lies below the surface and is largely unseen. The underlying factors in these below the surface areas include:
- Lifestyle: what we eat, drink, smoke or don’t smoke, what we put on our skin
- Environment: What we are exposed to, the air we breathe, the water we drink, toxins, poisons, chemicals, pesticides especially on the foods we consume
- Genetics: The underlying genetic variabilities or defects we inherited from our parents. We all have them, no one has perfect DNA but the question is are these genetic defects having a negative impact on our health.? This leads to the area of:
- Epigenetics: This is the impact that our lifestyle factors have on our genetic inheritance and epigenetics is largely responsible in determining if genes for certain diseases or afflictions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes etc. get turned on or stay turned off. The good news is that through epigenetics we have a great deal of control over what diseases we may or may not suffer with.
These factors are essentially the fundamentals of what healthcare should be built on by redirecting the focus from the symptoms alone, to the patient as a whole. Functional Medicine Doctors understand that every cell and organ system is integrative in the way the body functions rather than as isolated parts. It is patient centered not disease centered. “We treat patients that have symptoms, not symptoms that have patients.”
Why might YOU need Functional Medicine?
Contrary to the advances in western medicine- diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune conditions and cancer are on the rise. Our society is suffering an epidemic of chronic illness.
Most physicians practice medicine from an acute care standpoint; treating trauma and illnesses of a short duration such as a broken limb or heart attack that require this type of urgent care.
This approach lacks the foundation for proper prevention and treatment of chronic disease complexes. Individuality, genetic makeup and environmental factors are often overlooked for the “one size fits all” model.
Current research highlights the pitfalls in the way conventional doctors practice. With the use of pharmaceuticals treating symptoms rather than the patient we are seeing an overwhelming increase in adverse side effects. This has led to the prescription cascade where drugs are now prescribed to treat symptoms of other drugs rather than the patient’s underlying cause.
How is Functional Medicine Different?
Utilizing functional medicine and the principles of Patient Centered Care we understand the link between patient, genetics, environment and that the disease process is multi-faceted. As a Functional medicine doctor, by listening to the patient, we can learn the entire story and assemble the puzzle pieces to help them obtain optimal wellness, naturally!
This way of practicing is a science-based approach and staying current with research plays an integral part of this type of practice. An in-depth analysis of your nutritional, metabolic, physiologic, structural and psychosocial systems, along with the latest laboratory testing allows the doctor to help you achieve your health goals.
Treatments may include- acupuncture, botanicals, herbals, nutritional supplements, chiropractic medicine, detoxification programs, weight loss, stress-management and near- infrared therapy, LENS Neurofeedback therapy, Neuro Emotional Therapy.