Introduction
It's frustrating when you keep going to the same provider, but your symptoms just won't go away. You're starting to feel like no one really understands what you're going through. It can be discouraging and overwhelming, but don't give up hope just yet. There are other options out there for finding relief and getting back on track to feeling your best. Let's explore some of those possibilities together. Functional medicine is a new approach to medicine that is focused on finding the root cause of diseases. This approach is different from traditional medicine, which is focused on treating symptoms. Functional medicine is still relatively new, but it is growing in popularity. Many experts believe that it is the answer to the problems that traditional medicine has failed to solve. If you are interested in learning more about functional medicine, this blog is for you!
You want to feel better, but what else is there to try?
Functional medicine isn't just about finding the root cause of a condition, it's also about addressing the whole person. It takes into account the person's lifestyle, diet, environmental exposure, genetic history, and more when creating a treatment plan. Functional medicine can also be looked at as preventative health and wellness, rather than treating a disease after it has occurred. It uses more than just medications, but also lifestyle modifications like physical activity, diet, supplements and lifestyle modifications. Some people find that adding acupuncture and herbs to their treatment plan works better than taking supplements and medicines alone. Others may find that herbal solutions or nutritional counseling help target the root cause of a condition. No matter what combination of treatments you decide to try, the main goal of functional medicine is to address the cause of a condition, rather than just putting a band-aid on the symptoms. This helps ensure that a person isn't merely masking their symptoms, but addressing the root cause of their problem.
Functional medicine is worth considering
Functional medicine is about providing treatments tailored to the individual. Because every person is unique, individualized plans are necessary to address their underlying health issues. If you have tried treatments such as for IBS, GERD, auto-immune disease, joint pain, skin conditions, weight loss, fatigue, low libido, mental health and you just don’t feel better; it’s time to consider Functional Medicine.
Here's how it works
Functional medicine uses an integrative approach to pinpointing the root causes of each person’s health issues. This is done by taking into consideration a person’s complete health history from birth, including psychosocial impacts and/or any past traumas, lifestyle, diet, medications, environmental exposures, and genetic history. All past lab work and/or imaging reports are reviewed. An exam centered around your individual history will take place. Lastly, advanced bio-marker testing will be ordered and conventional testing history reviewed and recommendations made to bridge the gaps in your healthcare. Once the root cause(s) is identified and understood, the provider will put together an individualized treatment plan that may include dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, counseling, and/or supplements. These interventions are designed to restore balance to the body and create better physiological functioning. The treatment plan may also be accompanied by regular lab testing to ensure that the desired results are being achieved. In addition, functional medicine achieves lasting health results by focusing on the person’s overall well-being, not just an illness or condition. This means that people can take proactive steps to reduce the risk of illness and improve their overall health by making lifestyle changes that can be maintained in the long term. Overall, functional medicine is an effective way of treating chronic illnesses at their root cause while helping to promote long-term wellness.
What you can expect
When seeking treatment through functional medicine, individuals can expect the following:
1. Ongoing and Comprehensive Evaluation - Unlike the traditional healthcare system, functional medicine considers the whole person-not just the disease. This means that you can expect your practitioner to ask a lot of questions-about your overall lifestyle, diet, work habits, physical activity, mental health and more.
2. Personalized Treatment Plan - After taking into account all of the above factors, your provider will likely recommend specialized lab testing (these are not test that can be done at traditional labs like Quest or LabCorp). Appropriate lifestyle changes and possible supplement protocols will be recommended . In certain cases, medications may be prescribed as well. As research and developments progress, new treatments or supplements may be suggested that better address the root cause of your condition.
3. Regular Monitoring- You and your providers should be in close contact through your program to determine if follow-up testing may be needed or recommended; every patient is unique.
By being proactive and making certain lifestyle and dietary changes, individuals can expect to see improved symptoms and better overall health over time. For some this will be sooner, for others it may be longer depending on your case (symptoms, testing, goals). We cannot guarantee a specific time frame for you and/or a “cure” as we are medical providers and three is no guarantee when practicing in health care. We assure you we will do our very best to work every angle of your particular case.
Keep in mind
While functional medicine is a great alternative to traditional treatments, it’s important to keep a few things in mind to ensure the best possible outcome:
1. Do Your Research - Before selecting a functional medicine practitioner, it is important to do your research. Researching different practitioners and the treatments they specialize in can help you find the best practitioner for your needs.
2. Ask Questions - It is important to ask any questions you may have before beginning a treatment plan. Speaking to the practitioner can help you get to the bottom of any issues or concerns you may have.
3. Be Honest - To successfully treat illness, it is important to provide accurate information to your practitioner. If you’re not being honest about your current health and lifestyle habits, it can be difficult for your practitioner to determine the best course of action.
4. Take Note - Keep records of treatments, test results and any changes in symptoms. This will help your practitioner better evaluate the effectiveness of treatment in the long term.
By taking note of these tips, you can be sure you are taking full advantage of the benefits of functional medicine.
Conclusion
Functional medicine is a great alternative to traditional treatments and is becoming more widely accepted in the medical world. It provides a holistic approach to the treatment of chronic illnesses, that can help to alleviate symptoms in those that have already tried traditional methods and have seen limited success.
The key to successful functional medicine treatment is finding the right practitioner and having realistic expectations about results. It can provide dramatic improvements in quality of life and long-term health.
