7 Impressive Benefits of Functional Medicine
There are over 150 million Americans who are currently struggling with one or more chronic illnesses. Treatments and medications for these illnesses sometimes just mask the problem rather than healing the person. Functional medicine aims to change the narrative of what it means to treat a disease or an illness.
We are going to take an in-depth look at the top 7 benefits of functional medicine and why you should consider it for yourself. Let’s get started!
What Is Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine is a science-based approach to treating and healing illnesses and diseases. The practice treats each person individually and focuses on identifying the root cause of the problems that a person is having.
An example of this is when someone says they are suffering from depression. The person may also have a myriad of other symptoms such as arthritis or diabetes. Functional medicine practices look for what is causing these problems and might come to the conclusion that inflammation is the culprit and treat that problem accordingly.
Functional medicine will treat problems based on a person’s medical history, lifestyle, genes, etc. The idea is not to suppress the conditions but rather to find the root and address the cause. Functional medicine can be beneficial for a variety of reasons let’s take a look at some of the benefits.
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1. Personal Focus
Many mainstream treatments focus on the disease or the illness rather than the individual aspects of the patient. Functional medicine creates a partnership that is unique between the physician and the patient.
The physician works diligently to understand all of the components that make up the patient’s life such as environment and genetics. This individual focus is one of the most important benefits of functional medicine as it creates a one of a kind treatment plan for the patient.
2. True Healing
Functional medicine aims to heal the patient from within. Traditional medicinal practices just put a bandaid on the problem by prescribing pill after pill rather than fixing the root problem. When using functional medicine practices a physician will work to start treating a disease from the inside out.
A patient will be given strict dietary and lifestyle changes to treat the issues at hand. Certain foods and drinks will be banned to cure the disease from within. Stress reduction and sleep adjustments are also common in functional medicine treatment plans.
3. Root-Cause Focus
Functional medicine doctors are less focused on what the disease is and more focused on the underlying causes. They search for disturbances and imbalances in the patient that need attention first. In a conventional medicine setting a doctor will focus on making a diagnosis and then recommending treatment.
This style of medicine slows down patient care and healing. Functional medicine doctors take a special approach in identifying underlying causes that in the end lead to long-term healing rather than a quick fix solution.
4. Unique Approach
Functional medicine uses multiple different techniques to heal and cure a patient. Conventional medicine is often used in conjunction with alternative healing techniques to ensure the patient is receiving the best care possible. Functional medicine is not bound by the traditional approach.
The use of these practices allows the physician to create a unique healing plan for the patient. Eastern healing techniques such as acupuncture and meditation are often applied to the patient’s healing plan. This creates a well-rounded healthcare plan for the patient.
5. Unexpected Benefits
A patient might come to a functional medicine physician for one cause and end up healing other issues that they had not thought of before. For example, if a patient is suffering from headaches their physician will likely recommend dietary changes such as eliminating gluten and sugar. In turn, the patient could see significant weight loss and an increase in energy in addition to healing the headaches.
Functional medicine is about whole health healing rather than focusing on merely assessing the ailment and relieving pain. The approach treats healing as something that should affect the entire person not just one area of focus. Because of this approach patients treat their whole body and heal in ways they never expected.
6. Science-Based
Functional medicine does apply some alternative technique, however, the practice is science-based in its roots. Functional medicine focuses on the patient’s biology and lifestyle. The approach focuses on relationships between the many systems in the patient’s body.
Functional medicine also addresses the science behind systems in the body such as the gut microbiome and electrolytes in the body. Focusing on the science behind why a patient is ill helps the physician create a healthcare plan that is based on science and fact rather than conjecture.
7. Stress Reduction
55% of people report being stressed daily. Stress reduction plays a major role in functional medicine. The practice focuses on techniques that help the patient to relax and de-stress. Reducing stress can help lower blood pressure, improve libido, help sleep issues, and more.
Reducing stress is a bonus to practicing functional medicine that everyone benefits from. Meditation alongside other stress management techniques are applied based on the patient’s lifestyle and environment.
Making the Best Choice
Choosing functional medicine is the best choice for a well-rounded healing plan. The practices are based in science and the body’s natural systems. The root-cause approach of functional medicine helps to heal a person from within and provides long-lasting results.
We would love to connect further with you. If you would like to learn more about our practice and how we can help you click here today!
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