Healthcare should be personal, individualized, and thorough. However, often it feels like a one-size-fits-all industry treating you just like a number. If you’re looking for a better approach, functional medicine might be the solution. As opposed to traditional medicine, functional medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that emphasizes discovering and treating the underlying causes of chronic diseases and ailments rather than just treating symptoms.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of functional medicine, how it differs from conventional medicine, and how you can get started with Dr. John Staniland and the family care team at Finding the Root Cause.
Functional medicine: What is it?
The goal of a functional medicine doctor is to holistically comprehend how each patient’s particular physiological and biochemical makeup interacts with their environment, way of life, and heredity. Instead of only treating symptoms, this approach emphasizes discovering and dealing with the underlying causes of chronic diseases and ailments. Practitioners of functional medicine use a patient-centered mindset. This means they spend the necessary time getting to know their patients’ distinct needs and problems.
Advantages of Functional Medicine
In comparison to traditional medicine, functional medicine has a multitude of benefits, such as:
- Individual Care: Functional medicine doctors provide patients with individualized care that considers each patient’s unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle characteristics. This includes helping to reduce allergies with our low-dose immunotherapy.
- Prevention: To stop the onset of chronic illnesses, functional medicine practitioners seek to identify and treat possible health hazards early on. This strategy lowers the total cost of healthcare while simultaneously enhancing the health results for the patient.
- Results: Functional medicine providers may benefit patients’ general health and well-being by determining and addressing the underlying causes of their health problems.
Conventional vs Functional Medicine
Functional medicine, as opposed to conventional medicine, focuses on identifying and treating the underlying reasons for a patient’s health problems while traditional medicine may depend more heavily on medications and surgery. Functional medicine can also utilize a blend of a natural and conventional treatment strategy that targets the root causes of a patient’s health problems rather than only treating their symptoms.
Holistic Medicine vs Functional Medicine
Treating the complete person, not just their symptoms, is a shared objective of both functional medicine and holistic medicine. They take different approaches, however. Science-based functional medicine uses cutting-edge testing and diagnostics to determine the underlying cause of a patient’s disease. It then develops a customized treatment strategy that includes dietary adjustments, supplementation, and lifestyle modifications.
Holistic medicine uses a wider variety of therapies, such as complementary and alternative therapies like acupuncture and massage, to promote general well-being. Although each method has its advantages, Functional Medicine stands out as a cutting-edge medical field due to its focus on individualized, data-driven therapy. At our family office, we take both into account to provide you with the best care possible.
Questions & Answers About Functional Medicine
What conditions can functional medicine be used to treat?
A wide range of conditions, including autoimmune disorders, digestive problems, hormonal imbalances, chronic pain, and mental health conditions, among others, can be treated using functional medicine.
What distinguishes functional medicine from conventional medicine?
While functional medicine aims to find and treat the underlying causes of illness, traditional medicine frequently focuses on treating symptoms. A personalized, patient-centered approach is also used in functional medicine, which frequently combines natural and conventional therapies.
What can I anticipate from my initial appointment for functional medicine?
You can anticipate spending more time with the functional medicine practitioner during your initial consultation than you would with a conventional physician. To better understand your specific medical needs, the practitioner will take a thorough medical history and might request a range of lab tests. The practitioner will then collaborate with you to develop a specialized treatment plan.
Does functional medicine have insurance coverage?
Functional medicine is frequently not covered by insurance companies, but it is always a good idea to check with your insurance company to see what is covered. To help make their services more affordable, some functional medicine practitioners offer payment plans or package deals. We accept most major insurances here at Finding the Root Cause. Contact our office to see if your insurance will be allowed.
Contact Us Today
Dr. John Staniland and the staff at Finding the Root Cause are here to help if you’re looking for a more individualized and thorough treatment approach. We are happy to talk to you about the possibilities of functional medicine and are now accepting new patients. To make an appointment, please contact us at 817-346-5111 or visit our office in person.
