What is Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine is an evidence-based scientific model of care centered upon creating health by treating the whole person rather than isolated symptoms. This approach requires digging deeper and looking upstream to analyze the whole picture—the unique interactions between our genetics, environment, biochemistry, physiology, psychology and lifestyle that can either foster health or contribute to disease.
This is a form of personalized medicine that entails listening carefully to your concerns, identifying pertinent triggers that have impacted your health, and evaluating data from cutting edge lab tests, all of which can help further identify contributing factors to imbalances or illness. Interventions are tailored to meet each person’s unique needs using the most natural and least invasive methods possible. This model appreciates and fosters the brilliance of the patient-provider partnership and ultimately seeks to restore balance to the whole person–body, mind, and spirit.
Why do we need functional medicine?
The Current Health Care Model
Our traditional health care system is based on an acute care model that was originally designed to address acute and common issues of short duration, such as infections, injuries, traumas, and medical emergencies. Arguably, the U.S. has some of the best outcomes worldwide pertaining to emergency and trauma care. Our health care system has done an impeccable job creating world renown facilities and cutting-edge therapies to treat these conditions swiftly and effectively. Most Americans today, however, are not burdened with acute illness, but live with multiple complex chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disease, cancer or mental illness. Americans are now getting sick younger and are living longer with chronic illness. The acute care model of medicine has not adapted its treatment approach to accommodate the burden of chronic illness that exists today.
Creation of vibrant health
Creating health versus managing illness requires a different approach — one that is patient-centered and focuses on addressing the whole person (body, mind, spirit), not just an isolated set of symptoms. This approach reaches beyond the exam room and evaluates the interactions among genetics, environment, biochemistry, diet, lifestyle, social relationships, meaning and purpose, all of which influence long-term health. Additionally, this approach fosters the integrity of the patient-provider partnership and its role in equipping people with knowledge, tools, and resources to help them make the best educated decisions regarding the health of themselves and their families.
Ideal Clients for a Functional Medicine Approach:
Dedicated – You are willing to do what it takes to achieve health. We partner with you to find solutions, whatever your goals, challenges or health history. Motivated – You are ready for change. We support your desire for health, with the goal of empowering you to build your best self in every stage of life. Teachable – You want to learn and understand, not just band-aid your symptoms. We spend time equipping you with research-based knowledge and tools for lasting health. Proactive – You are ready to take action. We encourage you to think beyond what you see as possible for your health and long-term wellness. Discerning – You are seeking personalized guidance and expertise. We assist you in methodically applying a multitude of modalities at the right time, for the right reason, in the right manner to get the best results possible.
Feeling better is possible... let's dive in and transform your health.
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