Functional Medicine: What is It? How Does It Work?

Functional medicine is a relatively new field of medicine that takes a holistic approach to health and wellness. Rather than treating symptoms, functional medicine practitioners focus on identifying and addressing the root cause of the disease. It has been shown to be an effective approach for many chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. So, without further ado, let's take a closer look at functional medicine and how it can help you achieve optimal health.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of disease. It is a systems biology-based approach. Rather than simply treating symptoms, functional medicine practitioners aim to get to the bottom of what is causing a person's illness or condition. In order to do this, they take a comprehensive look at a person's medical history, lifestyle, diet, and environment. By taking all of these factors into account, they can develop a personalized treatment plan that will address the underlying cause of the disease.

Functional medicine is based on the belief that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. When this ability is compromised, the disease can occur. The practitioners work to support the body's natural ability to heal by identifying and addressing the underlying causes of disease. Functional medicine is an evidence-based approach to medicine that is constantly evolving as new research is published. While it is a relatively new field, there is a growing body of evidence that supports its efficacy and safety.

How Does Functional Medicine Work?

Now that you know a little bit about what functional medicine is, you might be wondering how it works. As we mentioned before, functional medicine practitioners take a comprehensive look at a person's complete medical history, lifestyle, diet, and environment and use this information to develop a treatment plan. This approach enables them to get to the root cause of a person's illness or condition like no other approach can. The functioning of each system in the body is interconnected, so by addressing the root cause of disease, practitioners can effectively treat a wide variety of conditions.

The conditions that can be effectively treated with functional medicine are numerous and varied. Some of the most common conditions that functional medicine practitioners treat include heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Practitioners have also seen success in treating conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety, and many more. So, if you are struggling with a chronic condition, functional medicine may be the answer you are looking for. Additionally, knowing whether functional medicine is covered by insurance will help you determine and plan your budget. Remember that in order to find the best functional medicine practitioner for you, it is important to do your research and find one that you feel comfortable with and who has experience treating your particular condition.

The Bottom Line

With the help of a functional medicine practitioner, you can finally get to the bottom of what is causing your illness or condition. So if you are thinking about pursuing this type of treatment, you may get in touch with us for functional medicine in Davie. Our team can help you understand this unique approach to medicine and how it can benefit you. Contact us today to learn more!