In an era where modern medicine often focuses on treating symptoms rather than causes, functional medicine emerges as a holistic approach that seeks to address the root of health issues. This form of medicine is not just about suppressing symptoms but about understanding and correcting the underlying imbalances that lead to disease. Functional medicine offers a comprehensive, patient-centered form of healthcare that emphasizes “health optimization”, moving beyond the traditional ailment-centric approach.
Exploring the Benefits of Functional Medicine in Healing
We are increasingly aware of the impact of our habits and lifestyle on our health, as well as the importance of protecting our emotional balance, so it is not surprising that functional medicine is gaining ground, offering a way to take better care of ourselves in a comprehensive way.
Personalized Care
One of the core tenets of functional medicine is its highly personalized care approach. Unlike conventional medicine, which often applies the same treatment protocols to all patients with similar symptoms, functional medicine practitioners focus on the individual.
They consider a wide range of factors, including genetics, environmental influences, and lifestyle choices. This personalized approach not only helps in identifying the specific health challenges of each patient but also tailors interventions that are most likely to be effective for that individual, enhancing the healing process.
Closer doctor-patient relationship
More and more people are expressing frustration with the current healthcare system as appointments take time and when they are finally able to see the doctor, the meeting lasts just 10 minutes. Precisely, one of the main benefits of functional medicine is that doctors usually establish a closer relationship with patients, so they finally feel listened to and understood.
Functional medicine assumes that to provide the best possible treatment, it is necessary for the doctor to understand the symptoms, but also the concerns, fears and lifestyle of the patient. For this reason, appointments with these professionals are usually longer and it is possible to establish a closer connection.
Root cause resolution
Instead of merely managing symptoms, functional medicine strives to explore and resolve the root causes of illness. Regenerative medicine experts in Brandon, Florida, for example, spend significant time with their patients, gathering detailed histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. This method allows practitioners to work on the underlying causes of illness, potentially leading to more significant and enduring health benefits.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Testing
Functional medicine often utilizes advanced diagnostic testing to obtain a more in-depth understanding of a patient’s physiological landscape. These tests can be more comprehensive than those typically ordered in conventional settings, covering aspects like nutrient status, metabolic profiling or even psychological analysis. This thorough evaluation helps to pinpoint specific imbalances that might not be apparent in standard screenings, enabling a more accurate and focused treatment plan.
Promotes more conscious health care
Therapeutic adherence is essential for healing, but many times in traditional medicine the patient assumes a passive role, limiting themselves to consuming the prescribed drugs. On the other hand, functional medicine emphasizes educating patients so that they understand what is happening to them and what they can do to relieve their symptoms.
Thanks to this approach, we are more aware of the decisions we make and the habits we create, so we can take a more proactive attitude that helps us feel better. In a way, it provides a roadmap to improve overall health, both physically and mentally.
Focus on prevention
By concentrating on the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease, functional medicine supports a health-oriented rather than a disease-oriented approach to medical practice. This shift not only helps in healing but also in preventing diseases from developing in the first place. Patients are educated on diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors that impact their physical and mental health, empowering them to take charge of their well-being.
Integration of best medical practices
Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what are sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” medicine approaches, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise. It uses the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques, and prescribes combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.
Interdisciplinary care
Functional medicine typically includes a team of health professionals such as nutritionists, physical therapists, psychologists, and even coaches to provide comprehensive care that can address the whole person. These treatments may include natural supplements, detox programs, and health recommendations to improve nutrition, lifestyle, sleep and stress management.
It is effective?
Functional medicine is not the panacea for all ills, but more and more studies prove its effectiveness, especially for treating conditions related to chronic pain. Research carried out at Cleveland Clinic with more than 300 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, for example, found that those who were treated with functional medicine reported less pain than those who received conventional treatment.
Without a doubt, this way of practicing medicine can improve our physical and mental health, help us reduce drug use, and allow us to regain control to make better decisions regarding our health.
References:
Bland, J. S. (2022) Functional Medicine Past, Present, and Future.Integr Med; 21(2): 22–26.
Droz, N. et. Al. (2020) The impact of functional medicine on patient-reported outcomes in inflammatory arthritis: A retrospective study. PlosOne; 10.1371.
Beidelschies, M. et. Al. (2019) Association of the Functional Medicine Model of Care With Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes. JAMA Netw Open;2(10):e1914017.
