Why do we need Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic diseases. Hallmarks of a functional medicine approach include:

Patient centered care. The focus of functional medicine is on patient centered care, promoting health as a positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease.

An Integrative, science-based healthcare approach. Functional medicine practitioners look upstream to consider the complex web of interactions in the patient's history, physiology, and lifestyle they can lead to illness. Do you need the genetic makeup of each patient is considered, along with both internal mind body and spirit and external physical and social environment factors that affect total functioning.

A combination of best medical practices. Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what are sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” medicine, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.

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