What is Functional Medicine?

You may or may not have noticed a rise in some of this terminology like "functional medicine," "integrative health," and "holistic health" in the last 5 years. While I'm hoping most people that find me are already interested in this style of healthcare, I know there are still some skeptics out there who might be imagining an older woman mixing her cauldron and giving you a scary potion that will "cure" your disease. Let me tell you, that is not the case!

So What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is a model of healthcare that is practiced by a wide variety of health

practitioners including traditional MDs/DOs, naturopathic doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dietitians, physical therapists, health coaches and so on.

This model seeks to address the root cause of disease or illness rather than targeting symptoms. The focus is on the partnership between the practitioner and patient allowing ample time to uncover the underlying issue(s). Functional medicine tends to prioritize non-pharmacological treatments (such as dietary and lifestyle changes) and, at times, alternative lab testing, but does not reject conventional treatments (even medications) when necessary. Like conventional medicine, functional medicine is rooted in scientific evidence.

Functional vs Conventional Medicine

Conventional medicine is essential for acute illnesses and injuries that could not, or were not, otherwise prevented. For example, a viral infection, a car crash, or a stroke. You'd need emergency care and medication rather than dietary interventions in those instances.

We need both systems to effectively address the short-term and long-term needs of the population. However, the U.S. healthcare system prioritizes damage control over prevention, which has led to a large prevalence of chronic disease. There is a very obvious need for more preventative and root-cause care.

Conventional Medicine	Functional Medicine
Emphasis on diagnosis. WHAT disease/disorder do you have?	Emphasis on WHY do you have the disease/disorder/imbalance?
Treatment	Prevention
Symptom management	Address root cause
Isolated systems	Whole body / Holistic approach
Medication first	Diet and lifestyle first
Lab ranges based on the averages of a majority-sick population. Ranges set for late-stage disease development.	Lab ranges based on optimal health and early detection for prevention.
Average length of doctor appointments is 17 minutes	30-60+ minute appointments
Doctor leads plan	Patient leads plan
​Harder to get lab testing, but usually covered by insurance.	More available lab testing and often more comprehensive. Usually paid out of pocket.
Evidence-based	Also evidence-based

Functional medicine is not a replacement for conventional care, rather an addition so we can take some of the burden off conventional medicine and address our country's health concerns from both ends.

Please note, we cannot blame the individuals in the conventional healthcare system for its shortcomings. Doctors (and nurses etc.) do what they are taught and demand is too high to give each patient hours of their time. Functional medicine has its shortcomings too! It can be costly given patients usually have to pay out of pocket because insurance has not caught up yet. Functional medicine needs more standardization of education to prevent cookie-cutter "protocols" and over-supplementation.

What Does "Integrative" and "Holistic" Mean Then? Are These The Same?

You'll find that that sometimes these labels are used interchangeably, but they are not technically the same. A holistic approach means the whole person is addressed. This allows the practitioner to address the problem with a wider lens and acknowledge the interconnectedness of one's body systems.

For example, in addition to dietary habits, a holistic dietitian may address other areas such as stress, sleep, physical activity, and so on. Integrative medicine is the discipline concerned with using the combination of conventional allopathic medicine and alternative/functional medicine. Both holistic and integrative approaches are often utilized within the functional medicine model.

Not All Functional Providers Are Created Equal!

It's very important to note that there is no standardized education or licensure to be a functional medicine practitioner. In other words, no one is regulating use of the label. There are a number of different functional medicine certifications that licensed or non-licensed practitioners can obtain that vary greatly in their duration and comprehensiveness. Unlike the regulation for someone calling themselves a doctor, anybody can just pick up one day and call themselves a functional medicine ______(fill in the blank). Remember, this is just a style of practice, not a credential.

Unfortunately, anything that gains popularity will be exploited. Be wary of those without credible experience or those who use these words as buzz terms to sell products and treatments. If you are interested in working with a functional medicine practitioner, please investigate the person's education, whether or not they have a license to practice what they offer, and their work history. A good practitioner will be very transparent about this!

If you have any remaining questions on whether or not a functional medicine approach is right for you, let me know!