Most health conditions rarely arise independently, nor can they be resolved by treating symptoms with prescription medications. A conventional healthcare approach, however, assumes just this. In a conventional setting, the first course of action to address a health concern is typically to prescribe a pill or procedure. Medications that mask symptoms may provide a patient with temporary relief but often do not resolve an issue at its root cause. Functional Medicine, rather, focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of a health issue and treats an individual from a “whole person” perspective. This approach affirms that health conditions are often the result of complex interactions between a range of factors, including lifestyle, genetics, and environment.
As a patient, shifting from conventional medicine to a functional medicine-based practice can feel daunting simply due to the unfamiliarity of the approach itself. Although conventional healthcare is commonplace, participating in a functional medicine philosophy of care can be transformative for restoring true health.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine focuses on alleviating the root cause of a health issue by treating the interconnected systems of the whole person. It is a personalized, patient-centered, and science-backed approach to care that emphasizes prevention and long-term wellbeing. Instead of a “quick fix” with a medication, functional medicine digs deeper into an individual’s specific biology and environment to understand a condition’s underlying cause. A treatment pathway, therefore, can include more than one modality, such as lifestyle changes, personalized supplementation, peptides, hormone balancing solutions, and if needed, supportive short-term medications (if a practice blends conventional and functional approaches). It also often includes advanced testing to investigate an individual’s unique health profile to inform an even further personalized approach to care.
Functional medicine as we see it today emerged in the late 20th century out of the concepts of systems biology, molecular medicine, and science-based natural medicine. However, the functionality of the human body has been a sensible consideration in medicine even prior to the founding of functional medicine as a field. In 1871, Sir Willoughby F. Wade, MD, professor of medicine at Queens College in Birmingham, England, published an editorial titled “Clinical Lecture on Functional Medicine,” where he phrased the following: “Whenever we come to treat a case, to prescribe drugs or particular diets, rest or action, we should first of all consider what function of the body it is that is improperly performed.” (PMID: 30962772) Through the last few decades of practice, functional medicine has grown into an effective form of care, though like any innovation that disrupts the norm, the field isn’t without its naysayers. Most critics of functional medicine assume the field is not based on scientific evidence or a valid form of care because it does not adhere to established, albeit limited, industry and regulatory standards. Unfortunately, these standards often don’t consider the body as able to heal if given the right environment and support. In terms of provider training, trusted functional medicine providers have undergone rigorous education, and often have obtained conventional medical degrees on top of the highest level of functional medicine certifications.
What Does a Functional Medicine Appointment Look Like?
An appointment with a functional medicine provider can look different than the typical conventional healthcare visit. Since many providers who practice functional medicine are able to implement a concierge-style practice, you can expect a more personalized experience with a provider who has more time to connect during an appointment. Taking primary care as an example, appointments with a functional medicine provider can often span upwards of 30-90 minutes with little wait time. You can expect not to be rushed through the appointment and be listened to thoroughly.
In any healthcare setting, speaking to your doctor about symptoms is important. However, the conversation with a provider who practices a functional medicine philosophy of care goes substantially deeper. Your provider may cover a range of topics related to your health and lifestyle that could be contributing to symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Nutritional habits, specifically your typical day of eating, how much whole foods you consume versus processed foods, how much water you typically consume, any allergies or known sensitivities, etc.
- Physical activity trends, including intensity, frequency, and any physical concerns with exercise.
- Sleep hygiene, specifically how much you sleep, the quality of your sleep, how rested you feel in the morning, etc.
- The amount of stress you may be under due to your job, family schedules, or other aspects of life.
- How you are (or are not) managing stress.
- If you feel connected to your community or are lacking a sense of belonging.
- How you feel mentally and emotionally and if these factors affect your everyday life.
- Physical symptoms, health concerns, an in-depth review of family medical history, and genetic information or other testing/diagnostic results.
Functional medicine providers understand all of this information is necessary to assess your current health and help contextualize your symptoms based on a “whole person” approach to care.
Testing, Personalized Plans, & Follow-up Appointments
During a functional medicine appointment, your provider assesses all aspects of your health from an integrative perspective and uses results from comprehensive blood panels and physical health assessments to capture a full picture of your current state of health. Based on your symptoms and blood panel results, a provider may recommend further testing to help uncover the root cause of your symptoms. Testing can include gut health assessments, food sensitivities, genetic testing, hormone levels, and other advanced panels.
Follow-up appointments with a functional medicine provider are necessary to review test results and check in on symptom progression. It is important to note that in many conventional settings, a healthcare provider may see testing results that fall within a “normal” range and therefore end a conversation with a patient despite them still experiencing symptoms. A functional medicine provider, on the other hand, realizes that even when a patient’s results fall within a predetermined range, it is still worthy to discuss their symptoms further, establish an optimal range for their health, and view test results through a comprehensive lens. A patient and their provider can then work together to create a personalized health action plan to begin the journey back to restored health by targeting the root cause of a health condition.
Over time, especially within a concierge primary care or direct primary care practice, you are likely to establish a longstanding relationship with your provider. In many conventional healthcare settings, patients and providers may meet once a year for a short preventative screening or sick visit and can miss the opportunity to build a more personal relationship. A functional medicine philosophy emphasizes the body as an ever-changing and interconnected web of systems, and that your health deserves more than one touchpoint per year. This is why many functional practices within a concierge medicine model establish membership programs and operate outside of insurance, so they are able to support their patients on a regular basis all year long, bringing continued value to their care.
When to Know You are Ready for a Functional Medicine Appointment
Considering a different type of healthcare practice can feel like a big decision. You may be ready to experience a new philosophy of care if the conventional healthcare model has left you without answers to your symptoms or a provider has dismissed your concerns. You may also feel exhausted by your list of medications and are ready to feel more in control of your health and longevity trajectory. Or you just feel “off” but don’t know where to start.
While most medical providers have no ill intentions, the system they operate within puts extreme constraints on how much time they are allotted with a patient due to high patient volumes. They are also often required to prescribe a singular pathway to address health concerns. Unfortunately, the term “sick care” has been coined to paint a picture of how the current healthcare system operates: managing illness through medications or procedures, not preventing or fully healing them from the condition at its root cause.
If you are experiencing health issues like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, a functional medicine approach to care can help effectively manage symptoms and work towards restored health to reverse chronic health conditions for better long-term health. Conversely, if you are a healthy individual, you have a higher chance of remaining healthy through preventative measures, and can even work towards your definition of optimal health.
How Can You Get Started with Functional Medicine?
Finding a medical provider who has your best interests at heart – and available appointments – takes time and energy. We have several options to help new patients begin their journey with functional medicine, including Wellness Consultations, Functional Medicine Consultations, or an introductory conversation with our experts through a free Meet & Greet.
We believe you deserve better healthcare. Speak to our team today if you are ready to consider a functional medicine approach to your care.