Western modern medicine, or allopathic medicine, plays a crucial role in our health care system today. It is extremely valuable to have an MD and ND work in cooperation to address all aspects of health and to help educate and promote valuable lifestyle changes.

Functional medicine has evolved from the practice of modern medicine and is able to better address the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the ‘traditional and conventional’ disease-focused model to a more patient-focused approach, functional medicine then addresses the whole person, not just the isolated set of symptoms. functional medicine allows for MDs to address the underlying cause of disease, while supporting the relationship between patient and practitioner in a therapeutic and empowering partnership.

This model of medicine allows for functional medicine doctors to spend more time with their patients, listen to their histories, and assess the interactions between environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors that can influence chronic disease states. In this regard, functional medicine truly supports the unique individual expression of health and vitality.

The current system of healthcare practiced by most physicians is centered around “acute care,” or diagnosis and treatment of illness at the time that it presents. Most physicians are then prescribing drugs, treatment or surgery that aims to fix the immediate and urgent problem. Unfortunately, the “acute care” approach does not take into account people’s unique genetic makeup, individual lifestyle factors, or environmental influences that may have a direct effect on their current state of health. This is where functional medicine is different and bridges the gap between “acute care” and “patient-focused preventative care.” In the functional medicine model, the doctors are trained to understand the origins, prevention and treatment of chronic disease.

Hallmarks of an functional medicine approach include:

• Patient-centered care. The focus of functional medicine is on patient-centered care, which means promoting health as a state of positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease. By listening to the patient and learning his or her story, the practitioner brings the patient into the discovery process and tailors the treatments to address the individual’s unique needs.
• An integrative, science-based healthcare approach. functional medicine practitioners look “upstream” to consider the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology and lifestyle that can lead to illness. The unique genetic makeup of each patient is considered along with both internal (mind, body and spirit) and external (physical and social environment) factors that affect total functioning.
• Integrating best medical practices. functional medicine brings together traditional Western medical practices with what is sometimes considered “alternative” medicine. This creates a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise along with the use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques.

Bio-Identical Hormones, Lab Testing, Medical Aesthetics, Mesotherapy