What Is A Functional Medicine Practice?

Functional medicine is rooted in the belief that all of your organs work together for the good of the whole.  When all systems are working appropriately, peak wellness is achieved. 

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It 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.

There are 3 characteristics of a functional medicine practice:

·         Patient-centered care.  The physician partners with the patient in order to promote health and wellness, not simply to treat disease.  A key part of this plan is listening to the patient’s unique needs, and to tailor a treatment plan to meet those needs.

·         An integrative, science-based healthcare approach. Functional medicine practitioners consider the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that can lead to illness. The unique genetic makeup of each patient is considered, along with both internal (mind, body, and spirit) and external (physical and social environment) factors that affect total functioning.

·         Integrating best medical practices. Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what is sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” medicine, creating a focus on prevention through hormone balancing, nutrition, and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.

Contact Center for Anti-Aging Medicine and Hormone Wellness today!