WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE?
Functional Medicine 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.
Dr. Mark Hyman explains functional medicine as the way of the future; and that we can only improve medicine if we understand the body's system, not just symptoms.
How did we get to where we are?
Illness and disease do not appear overnight. They develop over time. Yet our health care system is not set up to accommodate this obvious fact. We pool together a pattern of symptoms, put a name on it, and call it a disease. Then, a one-size-fits-all protocol is applied. When you come in with breathing problems and get a diagnosis of asthma, you get a prescription for an inhaler to help you breathe better. But what about the answers to questions “Why did I develop asthma?” or “What do I do to reduce my need for the medication?” It is the equivalent to putting duck tape over a fire alarm to try and stop the noise. The alarm is a warning that something is going on, we don’t want to try to mask or cover the symptoms, we want to find the root case. In this case, we want to put out the fire.
Why do we need Functional Medicine?
Our society is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward acute care, the diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness that is of short duration and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg.
Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease.
There’s a huge gap between research and the way doctors practice. The gap between emerging research in basic sciences and integration into medical practice is enormous—as long as 50 years—particularly in the area of complex, chronic illness.
Most physicians are not adequately trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet, and exercise to both treat and prevent these illnesses in their patients
How is functional medicine different?
Functional Medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks of a Functional Medicine approach include:
Patient-centered care. The focus of functional medicine is on patient-centered care, promoting health as a positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease.
An integrative, science-based healthcare approach. Functional Medicine practitioners look “upstream” to 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 preventing and reversing chronic disease. Cutting edge laboratory testing such as functional blood chemistry, salivary and urinary hormone testing, comprehensive stool testing, nutrition sensitivity testing, micronutrient deficiency testing, hair mineral analysis, and DNA testing are utilized as needed to find the root cause of the symptoms. Once the root cause is found; herbs, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, physical activity, or stress-management techniques are utilized to bring the body back into balance.
*Excerpts taken from The Institute of Functional Medicine
Dr. Robyn’s Foundations of Functional Medicine Healing:
Think Positive: Epigenetics shows that you have control above your genes and are designed to heal. “The moment you change your perception is the moment you rewrite the Chemistry of your body” -Bruce Lipton
Move: You are designed to move. We address cardiovascular health, strength training, and flexibility each as an integral part of healing.
De-Stress: Stress is a co-factor in all chronic conditions. We teach you techniques to help you manage stress including deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness.
Detoxify: Toxins are often at the root of chronic conditions. We help reduce the body’s toxic load by decreasing exposure to harmful chemicals you are taking in, while simultaneously implementing nutrition and lifestyle strategies to promote efficient elimination of toxins from the body.
Nourish: A body cannot heal unless it has the basic building blocks. We will help you determine what specific macronutrients, micronutrients, and minerals your body is missing. We also utilize Herbal and Glandular therapy where indicated.
Rest: Not getting enough rest can effect your mood, immune system, memory, stress levels, and your body’s ability to heal. We will help you obtain the goal of 7-8hrs of restful sleep/night.