Functional medicine blends traditional and modern practices

Have you ever thought about the difference between functional and standard traditional medicine? There is, in fact, quite a big difference and it’s one you need to know about if you’re going to find the right treatment for what ails you. Here’s how they contrast with each other: One focuses on prevention, the other on the actual treatment of that problem. What sets functional medicine apart is its laser-like focus on addressing the root cause of diseases.

Even better, functional medicine doesn’t eschew traditional medicine, in fact, it combines the two. The knowledge gleaned through traditional medical school training is filtered through a different approach to treating disease.

For example, Jack is suffering from eczema, of which the standard treatment is a moisturizing skin cream and steroid cream. While this will calm the rash for a time, it doesn’t address whatever is causing the rash in the first place.

Something is going on within Jack’s body that is causing inflammation on the surface of his skin. Rather than simply treat it, forcing Jack to buy yet ever more creams, the functional medicine approach is to both treat it and cure it.

Doctors who practice functional medicine are like private investigators. Our job is to look at the body as a whole system as we try and pinpoint the factors causing an ailment.

Jack’s eczema is what we would call a “downstream” symptom. The functional approach looks “upstream” in an attempt to uncover where the symptoms originate and what may be causing them.

A functional approach to treatment represents a holistic approach, combining the best of traditional medicine with the best investigative, functional treatments available. Whether it’s nutrition, environment or something internal, we take a big picture view.

Now the question is, why would you ever put all your eggs in one basket? Attack your ailment from all angles with a functional approach.