What is functional medicine?

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Think of Functional Medicine as a "Root Cause" approach to health. While conventional medicine often focuses on diagnosing a disease and treating its symptoms (the leaves and branches of the tree), functional Medicine looks at the entire system to find out why the problem started in the first place.

Conventional medicine is typically "siloed" into different medical specialties, such as cardiology or endocrinology. This is where physicians name a disease, such as high blood pressure or Type 2 Diabetes, and then treat the specific symptoms associated with that diagnosis.

In this model, there is rarely collaboration between these siloed entities to look further down the tree. A functional approach doesn’t ignore the symptoms (leaves) but it views them as the result of a deeper issue rather than the starting point.

As the branches converge into the trunk, we find an exhaustive look at symptoms. While each siloed leaf may represent a specific symptom, our bodies work as a single, integrated system. This means one organ system inevitably affects the others.

By looking at the trunk, the collection of all signs and symptoms, we can understand the relationships between them. For instance, poor digestion can lead to an imbalanced microbiome, decreased energy, mood swings, poor hormone and immune system regulation. By evaluating the symptoms as a whole, core imbalances can be identified.

These are life events or environmental factors such as a car accident, mold exposure, or toxic burdens that dictate how your body responds to stress and disease. This is where your unique genetic predisposition meets your environment. Functional medicine combines these variables with advanced testing to find the "weakest link" in the chain.

The core of the functional approach is the root system. A tree’s root system is the foundation for the tree to garner nutrients to thrive producing healthy leaves instead of sickly ones. So too, we need a healthy root system similar to a tree. The functional approach is to coachon these 7 essential roots:

• Sleep & Relaxation
• Exercise & Movement
• Nutrition
• Stress Management
• Healthy Relationships
• Mental disposition (attitude & outlook)
• Spirituality

Functional medicine doesn't just live in the branches; it digs down to the roots. By identifying the core issue and supporting the foundation, we help you move beyond symptom management toward a thriving, abundant life.