What makes a functional medicine doctor different?
Functional medicine doctors are different from other medical doctors you see every day in hospitals. Unlike conventional and western medicine, functional medicine believes that the human body can heal itself, which is called homeostasis. When we're healthy, our bodies can maintain homeostasis by using their resources to fight off any harmful bacteria or viruses present in our bodies. But when these systems break down due to chronic stress (weakened immunity), lifestyle choices (smoking), or even genetic predispositions (diabetes), our bodies may not be able to maintain homeostasis anymore—which can lead to an array of health problems depending on which system(s) are affected.
Functional doctors believe that there is a cause for diseases that can be addressed and treated effectively without surgery or expensive medicines. So what makes them different?
Functional medicine doctors work to address the underlying causes of disease. Rather than working from a conventional diagnosis and creating a treatment plan from there, functional medicine doctors near me work by addressing the triggers that cause chronic and often debilitating illnesses. Many functional medicine doctors prescribe supplements and are chiropractic-based, but the best ones draw from traditional medicine practices to develop truly functional medicine regimens for their patients.
Functional medicine takes into consideration the patient’s history, genetics, lifestyle, and the environment when determining how to treat them. They do not rely on unnecessary tests or procedures because they know that these can be harmful to a patient's health; instead, they focus on treating the root cause of their patients' issues rather than just symptoms of their conditions.
They also have advanced training in nutrition, clinical biochemistry (the study of chemicals within cells), exercise physiology, and environmental medicine (the effect of environmental factors on our health). For example, if someone lives in an area with high levels of pollution or stress from work or family issues, they may have higher levels of inflammation in their bodies than someone else who lives in a more rural area with lower levels of inflammation.
The use of functional medicine is on the rise, primarily due to the increased popularity of integrative and holistic health practices. This is an exciting development for both doctors and patients, as new findings are uncovering how many of our favorite foods and hormones can impact our health in positive ways.
A functional medicine doctor will not make a diagnosis based solely on lab work or symptoms; rather, he or she will use science to find the underlying problem (or problems) contributing to chronic illness. It is a treatment regimen that patients with chronic illnesses have come to rely upon when they are unable to find any relief from traditional medicines or other medical practices.
Once you are comfortable with the idea of functional medicine, you can find a functional medicine doctor to fit your needs. The most important thing is to do the research necessary to find the right one for you. In the end, you will likely be glad that you did.
Pro Health Center
Address: 500 Plaza Circle, Suite J, Clinton, SC, 29325, US
Phone Number: (864) 681-0555