Functional medicine is an individualized approach to wellness in which providers aim to understand, prevent, and manage the root causes of illness. The overarching goal of this approach is to promote overall wellness and heal conditions wherever possible. It doesn’t reject conventional medicine, which addresses symptoms after they’re presented, but instead builds on it and incorporates innovative ways to diagnose, manage, and prevent illness. There are several key benefits of functional medicine:
Individualized Care
Functional medicine doctors work closely with their patients to develop a comprehensive understanding of their health. They’ll ask about your complete health history, previous conditions, current symptoms, and general lifestyle considerations which could influence your level of health. In doing so, they can create a patient-centered management plan to address each person’s individual needs.
Evidence-Based Medicine
Functional medicine practitioners combine evidence-based approaches with experience, medical expertise, and patient preferences. They apply their knowledge and current clinical best practices to find a treatment approach that considers each patient’s specific qualities, including gens, history, lifestyle, and physiology. The overarching goal is to identify and treat physiological imbalances, which will thus also address any relating symptoms.
An Integrated Approach
In addition to traditional Western medicine, functional medicine doctors may also use alternative medicine where applicable. This integrated approach emphasizes prevention instead of just treatment, using strategies such as exercise, lifestyle modifications, and nutrition to promote wellness. For instance, they may suggest supplements, stress management techniques, and therapeutic dietary modifications either alongside or in place of traditional medications.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.