What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. Using a ‘Why’ approach – why are these symptoms presenting, rather than a ‘What’ approach – what symptoms do you have?
It 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 person-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
What are the fundamentals of Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine considers core scientific imbalances arising from dysfunctions such as:
- Hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances;
- Oxidation-reduction imbalances and mitochondropathy;
- Detoxification and biotransformational imbalances;
- Immune imbalances;
- Inflammatory imbalances;
- Digestive, absorptive and microbiological imbalances;
- Structural imbalances from cellular membrane function to the musculoskeletal system.
Why is Functional Medicine such a new concept?
Modern day physicians are becoming increasingly frustrated with the limitations in both diagnostic and interventional options for the epidemic of chronic disease that is upon us.
The medical philosophies and curriculum physicians learn during their training is based upon a model of urgent or reactive care that is very important to address new symptoms patients present with of pain, illness or sickness. But there are obvious limitations to utilising this model in the attempt to reverse or cure chronic disease, which is increasing exponentially.
This new approach termed Functional medicine is the same approach that has been used for thousands of years in eastern medicines and so we have much to learn from the time-tested methodologies in these cultures. Many are excited to see the slow but certain shift towards a more integrated eastern and western approach.
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