Dealing with chronic or autoimmune illness? There is a new approach: Functional Medicine. Asking the question “why?”, it investigates the root cause of disease.
The Institute of Functional Medicine explains that “It is an evolution in the practice of medicine… shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, addressing theh 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.”
How is Functional Medicine different?
Functional Medicine investigates the prevention as well as the origin and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks include:
- Focusing on patient-centered care – every one has individual needs, every body is unique
- Utilizing a “whole body systems” approach – looking “upstream” to consider the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that have led to the illness. Asking “why” the illness, not just “what is the illness”. This includes genetic factors, the internal factors of mind, body and spirit, and the external factors of the physical and social environment
- Integrating best medical practices from all branches of health care: traditional Western medical practices, integrative medicine modalities, advanced nutrition and diet strategies, exercise, advanced laboratory and diagnostic techniques, and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, detoxification programs, and stress-management techniques
Who practices Functional Medicine? MDs and DOs who have completed advanced educational programs as well as NDs (naturopathic physicians) who are taught this in their medical school programs. RN Patient Advocates are knowledgeable about Functional Medicine and can teach you as well as guide you to physicians who practice Functoinal Medicine.
Sound intriguing? Want to learn more about preventing diseases?
The Institute of Functional Medicine explains that “It is an evolution in the practice of medicine… shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, addressing theh 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.”
How is Functional Medicine different?
Functional Medicine investigates the prevention as well as the origin and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks include:
- Focusing on patient-centered care – every one has individual needs, every body is unique
- Utilizing a “whole body systems” approach – looking “upstream” to consider the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that have led to the illness. Asking “why” the illness, not just “what is the illness”. This includes genetic factors, the internal factors of mind, body and spirit, and the external factors of the physical and social environment
- Integrating best medical practices from all branches of health care: traditional Western medical practices, integrative medicine modalities, advanced nutrition and diet strategies, exercise, advanced laboratory and diagnostic techniques, and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, detoxification programs, and stress-management techniques
Who practices Functional Medicine? MDs and DOs who have completed advanced educational programs as well as NDs (naturopathic physicians) who are taught this in their medical school programs. RN Patient Advocates are knowledgeable about Functional Medicine and can teach you as well as guide you to physicians who practice Functoinal Medicine.
Sound intriguing? Want to learn more about preventing diseases?
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