How is Functional Medicine different from traditional medicine?

With Functional Medicine the focus is on the underlying factors that are causing symptoms and affecting your health. Then we determine your specific treatment plan which integrates Western medical practices, such as prescription medications, with what are sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” approaches like nutrition, botanical medicines, supplements, detoxification programs, stress-management techniques and exercise, among others. In Functional Medicine, there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment so even if you and a friend had the same symptoms or condition you won’t get the same treatment plan. In contrast, most traditional doctors take note of your symptoms and figure out what diagnosis they can bundle those symptoms into and this dictates your treatment. Therefore, if you and a friend have the same symptoms, you often get the same diagnosis and then the same treatment. Also, traditional medical testing can only measure or see cells that have died or are diseased. The testing done in Functional Medicine can show an underlying imbalance.