Functional Medicine  is an approach to diagnosing and treating disease based on patterns of dysfunction and imbalance. Using the most current scientific knowledge of how genetics, environment and lifestyle interact as a whole system, functional medicine seeks to understand the root cause of illness rather than just treat the symptoms. It incorporates and integrates medical practices that are sometimes considered “alternative,” or “integrative.”

Most people seeking a functional medicine practitioner have been to traditional doctors and have exhausted all their options for treatment. Some are looking for a healthier alternative to their prescription drugs, while others want an understanding of their health history in order to prevent future disease and improve their quality of life.

Beyond Symptoms: How Functional Medicine Offers a Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness

Practitioners of Functional Medicine take the time to investigate all aspects of your health, including your emotional and spiritual well-being. They don’t think you are crazy when you tell them you have been eating kale and drinking a green smoothie every morning, or that you need to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. They also know that the old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is very true.

When a patient first comes to see a Functional Medicine practitioner, they typically receive 1 hour of one-on-one undivided attention. This is quite a bit different than the typical 7 minutes of interaction you might experience with a conventional physician and it allows for a much more in-depth conversation. From there, the practitioner will develop a customized wellness plan that may include combinations of pharmaceuticals and/or botanical medicines, nutritional supplements, therapeutic diets, exercise plans, detoxification programs and stress management techniques. The physician and patient become active partners.