You’ve heard-of the phrase “functional medicine” more than likely if you’ve been looking for answers your regular doctor simply couldn’t help you with. Perhaps the doctor you know and trusted refers you to a functional medicine practitioner or you see an ad in the media for a functional medicine consultation and wonder just what goes on there. This guide tells it like it is – from a patient’s point of view, not a textbook’s.
By the end, you’ll know what functional medicine is, how it’s different from the type of care you’re familiar with and know if it’s for you.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a kind of health care where the health issue at hand is viewed as a symptom of a primary health concern, and not treated directly. Questions exist on a deeper level with a functional doctor: What is this? Not “what drug fits this diagnosis?
View the body as a system with your gut, hormones, immune system, sleep, stress and nutrition communicating with one another. Traditional medicine typically deals with the disease’s individual symptoms. In functional medicine, the practitioner examines the total environment, and attempts to make sense of all the elements and determines their appropriate treatment precautions prior to recommendations.
For instance, if, as in the case of chronic fatigue, a person’s treatment typically culminates in a prescription to the sick to take care of the tiredness. A working doctor, however, could be moved to look into your thyroid function, your gut health, your blood sugar control, your sleep quality and your stress hormones to determine what is really causing the fatigue.
How Is Functional Medicine Different From Conventional Medicine?
This is typically the first question any patient poses, and it’s a very reasonable one to ask. Let’s make a comparison here:
- In conventional medicine, the emphasis is usually put on diagnosis and the prescription of a cure in the form of a medicine or a procedure.
- Functional medicine is about identifying the imbalance at and causes underlying the disease, whether nutritional, hormonal, environmental, or lifestyle.
- Typical visits are brief, deficit oriented and response oriented.
- Typical functional medicine services Include longer sessions, extensive history-taking, and a more proactive personalized healthcare approach.
It’s important to note that when it comes to a functional medicine approach, it is not expected to entirely replace traditional medicine. Most patients see their conventional doctor for acute or emergency conditions and their functional medicine doctor when they have completed unexplained or chronic conditions.
What Happens During a Functional Medicine Consultation?
For those who have never had a functional medicine consultation, this can be a breath of fresh air to having a 10 minute appointment. The following are some general expectations of patients:
- An in-depth intake process
At your initial visit, there are detailed questionnaires that you’ll complete related to medical history, diet, sleep, amount of stress, family history, lifestyle and more. This is not a routine but an essential part of your complete treatment regime.
- A longer, unhurried first appointment
An initial consultation is usually between two hours and an hour and a half in length. Your functional medicine doctor will want to discuss details of all that you have, not only the symptoms that you are present with.
- Comprehensive lab testing
A common step in functional medicine is the employment of a more comprehensive set of lab markers than one would find in a traditional checkup, such as blood markers for hormones, gut microbiome and the full spectrum of nutrition markers, markers for inflammation and food sensitivity.
- A personalized treatment plan
Rather than a standard prescription, you will most likely have a plan which can consist of dietary modification, targeted supplements, stress management techniques, sleep improvement techniques, and perhaps medication – but all based on your results.
- Ongoing follow-up
A single visit is very rare in functional medicine. Typically, functional medicine therapies will include periodic check-ins to monitor progress and modify your treatment plan based on how your body reacts to the treatment.
Who Might Benefit From Seeing a Functional Doctor?
In functional medicine, people who feel they have reached the end of the road with traditional treatment are the ones who seek the treatment. If you have the following symptoms, you may want to consult a functional medicine practitioner:
- Long-term fatigue for which no reason has been found
- Digestive problems such as bloating, IBS or food sensitivities
- Hormonal imbalance (thyroid problems, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause symptoms)
- Autoimmune conditions
- Unexplained weight changes
- Ongoing mental fogginess or trouble focusing
- These may be due to chronic stress, anxiety or sleep problems
- A vague sensation of the wrongness of a seemingly normal test result
Over the years many people have suffered from the same experience, feeling unwell although their blood tests “look fine” and ending up seeing a functional doctor. Now, functional medicine sometimes explores beyond the norm, going beyond the boundaries of what’s “normal.”
What Qualifications Does a Functional Medicine Practitioner Have?
It’s a significant query for any new addition to the profession. A functional medicine doctor could be an MD, a DO, a licensed health care professional who has gained extra schooling and certification in functional medicine and as an example, might originate from an institute such as the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).
As you’re deciding on a provider, you have the right to inquire about their:
- A medical license and background check
- Functional medicine certifications
- A history of time in practice with your particular health problem
- Applying the evidence and logic to the decision-making process regarding lab testing and treatment planning
A good functional doctor will tell you what they’ve learned and be willing to share what they would like to do before you make a decision to follow a course.
What to Expect in Your First Few Months
One common question patients ask has to do with how fast they will improve. The truth: it depends on the nature of your case but functional medicine is more of a process than a quick solution.
During the first few months, it’s generally acceptable to anticipate:
- A full diagnostic evaluation and an initial consultation
- A post-treatment evaluation to see how things are going and conclude your treatment
- Life style and dietary changes made step by step
- Regular progress checks are undertaken
- Adjusting supplements, medication or intervention based on your response
Unlike traditional care, where you may receive a prescription but not follow up for several months. Functional medicine services are centered on constant measurement, modification and correction.
Common Misconceptions About Functional Medicine
There are a few common myths, so let’s put their issues to bed:
“It’s not real medicine.”
Whereas medical doctors do not abandon the use of lab evidence and physiology to practice functional medicine, they do practice medicine with a different lens.
“It’s only about supplements.”
Sometimes supplements will be included as part of an approach but getting the diet, sleep, stress and lifestyle changes right is the priority of a good functional medicine practitioner.
“It’s only for people with chronic illness.”
However, functional medicine is useful for anyone with chronic or unexplained disease, and it’s often used as a preventative measure for general wellness.
How to Choose the Right Functional Medicine Provider
When it’s time for your first functional medicine appointment here are a few things you should be thinking about:
- Accurate credentials and effective medicine qualification
- Get a first-hand look to what it’s like to treat your concern
- A clear, cooperative manner mode of communication
- Clear charges for consultation and tests
- Positive reviews and testimonials from patients
Spend the time here – the relationship is as important as their credentials and functional medicine is a partnership formed through communication.
Final Thoughts
Treatment in functional medicine is quite a bit different; it’s about looking at the whole person and not just an individual symptom of the large picture. Chronic disease or a more unique look at your health? Hiring a competent functional doctor or functional medicine practitioner can help you become a part of the solution to the “why,” instead of the “what.
When making your initial functional medicine appointment, ask your provider for a checklist of your personal health history and current symptoms, including any previous lab work they have – this will help them get the most complete picture of your health from the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions What Is Functional Medicine
1. What does a functional medicine practitioner actually do?
The functional medicine practitioner looks at all of your health information, lifestyle and lab of course and then designs a personalized treatment plan, consisting of diet routines, lifestyle changes and or targeted treatments.
2. How is a functional medical doctor different from a regular doctor?
A medical doctor who has specialized in functional medicine may take the time to get to know your entire health history and would look for a cause of your symptoms, while the standard doctor will probably tend to diagnose and treat symptoms faster.
3. What should I expect at my first functional medicine consultation?
You’ll get a thorough intake process, a thorough discussion of health history and lifestyle and perhaps a suggestion to have comprehensive laboratory work in order to follow proper treatment.
4. Are functional medicine services covered by insurance?
Health insurers and health plans offer a wide range of coverage. Some functional medicine treatments, such as routine blood tests, might be partially eligible for reimbursement, and consultation and additional testing might not be covered. It’s best to check directly with your provider and insurer.
5. How do I find a qualified functional medicine provider near me?
Seek out a medical expert with the proper credentials, the appropriate medical license and the appropriate certifications (like those offered by the Institute for Functional Medicine) and experience with your specific health problems. You can also find how happy your patients are by reading their reviews, or by booking an initial appointment to get a feel for how good or bad they are.
6. Is functional medicine effective, or is it just alternative medicine?
In functional medicine a gut check approach combines traditional lab testing and evidence-based medical treatment with lifestyle and nutrition care. It is best used in a complimentary way, which is to seek to know the root cause and not as a substitute for standard care.