The Practice of Functional Medicine Requires Specific Training
Functional Medicine is the practice of treating illness by addressing its underlying causes, rather than just suppressing symptoms. Often, patients have been diagnosed with a condition that is simply symptomatic of a deeper issue that needs to be addressed before their symptoms can be resolved and their health restored.
Conventional doctors tend to focus on a patient’s current state of disease, which may involve drugs, surgery, and lifestyle changes. They can diagnose an issue like high blood pressure or a high cholesterol level and prescribe medication that will help the patient lower those levels. A Functional Medicine doctor takes a much more in-depth history of the patient’s symptoms, which is then mapped out to the various categories of root processes that are causing the problem.
Conventional doctors tend to focus on a patient’s current state of disease, which may involve drugs, surgery, and lifestyle changes. They can diagnose an issue like high blood pressure or a high cholesterol level and prescribe medication that will help the patient lower those levels. A Functional Medicine doctor takes a much more in-depth history of the patient’s symptoms, which is then mapped out to the various categories of root processes that are causing the problem.
This approach helps the practitioner understand why the patient is sick and how to treat the underlying issues to prevent future illnesses. The practice of The Center For Functional Medicine is based on the notion that each individual is a unique system with many overlapping functions. In addition, the body can self-regulate and heal itself, provided the right conditions are in place. However, when the systems are disrupted or inefficient, symptoms manifest and a person becomes ill. A Functional Medicine doctor looks to the underlying root causes of a person’s problems, including diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
Essentially, this practice uses a variety of laboratory tests that look deeper than the standard range to identify deficiencies at the cellular level. These include genetic testing, bloodwork, and digestive exams. They also assess immune function and hormone balance, as well as identify and address other factors that contribute to chronic disease.
Essentially, this practice uses a variety of laboratory tests that look deeper than the standard range to identify deficiencies at the cellular level. These include genetic testing, bloodwork, and digestive exams. They also assess immune function and hormone balance, as well as identify and address other factors that contribute to chronic disease.