Why Functional Medicine?
How is Functional Medicine different than conventional medicine?
While conventional medicine does a good job of treating acute and urgent medical situations, “functional medicine” does that and more. It is a science-based approach that views the body as an integrative whole and focuses on preventing and even reversing chronic disease.
In the typical disease-centered medical practice, medication is used to get rid of people’s specific symptoms. If the patient stops taking the medication, symptoms generally return. Functional Medicine integrates the best of conventional medicine, but approaches health problems differently and addresses the whole person. Instead of masking the problem, Functional medicine tackles the underlying cause to manage, prevent, and even reverse chronic disease.
This approach to medicine supports our body’s innate ability to heal through nutrition and lifestyle changes, stress management, spiritual/emotional counseling, removing toxins, and supplementing our body’s unique requirements.
Conventional Medicine
…plus Functional Medicine
- Disease-oriented
- Doctor-centered
- Everyone treated the same way
- Most effective in dealing with acute illness
- Specialized
- Very expensive long term
- Diagnosis is based on symptoms
- Early detection of disease
- Health-oriented
- Patient-centered
- Biochemical individuality
- Most effective in dealing with chronic illness
- Holistic
- Cost-effective long term
- Seeks root cause of disease
- Primary prevention of disease
Conventional Medicine
- Disease-oriented
- Doctor-centered
- Everyone treated the same way
- Most effective in dealing with acute illness
- Specialized
- Very expensive long term
- Diagnosis is based on symptoms
- Early detection of disease
…plus Functional Medicine
- Health-oriented
- Patient-centered
- Biochemical individuality
- Most effective in dealing with chronic illness
- Holistic
- Cost-effective long term
- Seeks root cause of disease
- Primary prevention of disease
Our personalized, integrated approach empowers you to take an active role in your own health — so you can live not just longer, but healthier and happier.
How do I help you optimize your health?
Functional medicine is a very personalized and integrative approach to the practice of medicine.
I spend the necessary time to carefully listen to you to understand your unique story. We’ll start with a Functional Wellness Consultation & Evaluation, the catalyst for achieving your best wellness. We’ll do this personalized lifestyle/medical assessment each year.
I use advanced diagnostic lab testing to see how your body is functioning, and look at the interactions of internal and external health factors.
We will review your labs, advanced diagnostic testing results, nutritional-supplement-medication strategies, and wellness goals.
Together, we problem-solve and work to uncover root causes of your symptoms.
We will create a personalized health plan based on your lifestyle, diet, stressors, environment and genetics to help you get your health back in control.
We’ll have the time to address any questions or concerns you have. Educating you about your condition and treatment plan empowers you to take charge of your own health. I find this ultimately leads to greater treatment success.
We work together in an active, therapeutic partnership to develop a personalized healing plan to restore your balance and wellness, and help you prevent chronic disease in the future.
Whereas life span is focused on the length of life, health span is concerned with the quality of life.
