About Functional Medicine

According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, the Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.

By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions. As a result, Functional Medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual.

Functional Medicine differs from traditional medicine in that it is about finding the root cause of your illness, and giving your body the tools it needs to heal itself vs. using prescriptions to address symptoms. It is a whole-body approach that involves optimizing the gut microbiome, blood sugar processing, vitamin absorption and hormone levels, and reducing toxicity.  ​