Are you suffering from a chronic illness and want to understand the underlying root causes of your condition? Consult a functional medicine doctor. Patients are often surprised when getting their diagnosis, leaving them unsure of what steps to take to manage their conditions.
The good news is that you are in safe hands with Finding the Root Cause. Here, we focus on providing services in functional medicine, such as consultation, lab work, traditional and alternative therapies, nutrition, and other personalized care services.
We will also offer the best advice on symptom management to achieve overall health and well-being. So, if you are in Fort Worth, Texas, keep reading to understand the role of a functional medicine doctor and more about their various services.
The Functional Medicine Approach
Functional medicine is an individualized health model that recognizes and addresses the root causes of multifaceted illnesses. It focuses on patient-centered care, which helps functional doctors figure out what is going on in the body, find the root causes of disease, and look for ways to get the body back to working properly.
With functional medicine, medical doctors can investigate multiple factors that cause a condition. They may also investigate whether other conditions contribute to a specific symptom or cause.
For example, a severe head injury can cause Alzheimer’s disease. Likewise, a cause such as head injury may lead to several diagnoses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and stroke.
The cause and conditions you experience rely on genetic makeup, lifestyle issues, and environmental factors. With that in mind, functional doctors strive to investigate further and develop personalized treatments that address the root causes of a condition.
What Is a Functional Medicine Doctor?
A functional medicine doctor is a health practitioner dedicated to discovering the original causes of most chronic ailments. They practice functional medicine soon after completing their medical training.
Since functional medicine focuses on patient-centered care, doctors use specialized training and techniques to determine the reasons behind the deteriorating body functions.
These doctors often consider certain factors when investigating chronic disease development. They include:
- Lifestyle factors such as alcoholism, drug abuse, diet, and stress.
- Family history, such as hereditary diseases (diabetes, liver disease, Huntington’s disease)
- Allergies (see allergy treatment)
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes
- Age
- Medications
They also hail from different medical fields. Thus, they work holistically to improve a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
With that in mind, anyone suffering from a chronic disease for which conventional medicines and treatments don’t work should consider consulting a functional medicine doctor.
What Does a Functional Medicine Doctor Do?
A functional medicine doctor collects personal information and looks at your patient history record to determine the underlying causes of your illness.
For example, they may want to know your:
- Personal stressors. Think about the stress you may be undergoing, such as financial strain, the death of a loved one, unemployment, divorce, illness, or imprisonment.
- Nutrition
- Sleeping patterns
- Exercising habits
- Mental well-being
Based on these factors, a functional medicine doctor in Fort Worth may develop appropriate treatment plans for symptom management for your chronic ailment.
Remember that functional medicine is not a quick fix but a process that takes effort and active participation to achieve an overall quality of life. If you want to improve, ensure you visit your doctor regularly and follow his instructions carefully.
With functional medicine, doctors tailor treatment plans based on a specific individual’s illness. So, no need to worry because you will be in great hands.
Education & Training
To become a licensed functional medicine practitioner, you must undergo medical training from a certified medical institution. You must also have a license in a primary specialty, including:
- Registered Nurse
- Registered Dietitian
- Naturopathic Doctor
- Doctor of Chiropractic
- Physician Assistant
- Dentist
- Acupuncturist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Osteopathy
Additionally, doctors in need of applying functional medicine can practice it by obtaining additional certification from the Institute for Functional Medicine.
What Conditions Does a Functional Medicine Doctor Treat?
The functional medicine approach focuses on understanding chronic ailments’ causes and treatment plans. Thus, most functional medicine doctors are licensed physicians who treat chronic diseases, including:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Cancer prevention and management
- Cardiovascular infections such as heart disease
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Thyroid disorders
- Adrenal diseases
- Food allergies
However, that does not mean a patient suffering from other diseases cannot seek a functional doctor’s services. They also provide preventive healthcare to those who need it.
4 Reasons to See a Functional Medicine Doctor
Functional medicine is slowly gaining popularity because of its focus on the root cause of an ailment. While conventional medicine doctors focus on treating the symptoms rather than the condition, functional doctors focus more on restoring overall health. They aim to dig deeper and understand why the body behaves as it is to provide more patient-centered care and support. Here are four reasons why you should visit a functional doctor today.
1. To Receive Treatment for Chronic Ailments
Consider consulting a functional medicine doctor if you suffer from any chronic disease. This is because functional medicine is best suited for chronic illness management; it seeks to find the root cause of diseases, not just treat the symptoms.
2. To Receive Personalized Care
Functional medicine health providers focus on offering personalized care. Thus, they ensure they get to know the patient better by asking about their personal and medical history background.
For instance, your doctor may want to understand if you are suffering from childhood trauma that may have contributed to your current depression.
A patient’s history and lifestyle choices make each patient unique and allow the doctor to offer specialized treatment plans tailored to each of their needs.
Note that if your doctor’s approach includes prescription drugs or surgeries, they are prescribed only when necessary.
3. To Receive More Treatment Options
Other than prescribed medications, functional medicine doctors can also prescribe other alternative methods of treatment to patients who want to try them. For example, you may resort to yoga, acupuncture, IV therapies, naturopathy, and herbal medicine.
4. To Get Empowered
Functional medicine often takes a holistic approach, allowing doctors to focus not only on the physical health of the patient but also on their mental, spiritual, and emotional health.
With that in mind, you should consider visiting a functional medicine doctor to help you feel more empowered about your ailment and improve your health.
They may educate you on the importance of a balanced diet, physical activity, and stress management to help you improve your quality of life.
Conditions We Treat with Functional Medicine
At Finding the Root Cause, pioneered by Dr. John Staniland, our goal is to apply treatment solutions that temporarily alleviate the pain and discomfort you may be experiencing.
We understand that most chronic diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, are incurable. Still, we help reset your body’s button to resume its functionality. Most chronic ailments result from lifestyle factors, including stress, poor nutrition, diet, and sedentarism.
With that in mind, here are some of the common conditions we treat:
- Arthritis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer prevention and management
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune diseases. This includes multiple sclerosis.
- Coronary artery disease
- Food and other allergies (see LDA treatment)
- GI tract infections
What To Expect
At Finding the Root Cause, our team of board-certified functional medicine health providers will ensure they use the functional medicine approach to finding the root cause of disease.
So, before your first visit, you can expect to complete a medical history questionnaire. They relay your medical history, lifestyle history, personal health, and symptoms.
On your first appointment, expect to:
- Have a face-to-face interaction with a medical provider.
- Join group sessions with other patients and functional medicine doctors such as a therapist or licensed nutritionist.
- Receive professional medical advice on your ailment.
- Get the provider’s suggestions on follow-up visits and treatment options needed to meet your long-term health goals.
Taking the Next Step
Understanding why you are sick and what you can do to get your life back on track, regardless of your ailment, is vital.
Take action and visit our center today. If you need to speak to our team of health practitioners, please give us a call at (817) 346-5111.
You can also visit our website to view our medical programs, make an appointment and get more information about functional medicine.
About Dr. John Staniland
Dr. John Staniland is a family doctor from Fort Worth, TX. He began as a mechanical engineer and worked at Messerschmitt, designing helicopters, before going to medical school in 1988.
Soon after graduating from the University of Calgary in 1991, he did his residency in Family Medicine at Memorial University of New Foundland until 1993. Dr. John Staniland embarked on his journey as a traveling doctor working in rural areas for Alberta Medical Association and spent years honing his skills. Later, he decided to relocate to Fort Worth, Texas.
Working as a team doctor at the University of Texas at Arlington, he developed an interest in natural medicines, homeopathic remedies, and treatments.
With the need to understand the root causes of most illnesses, he incorporated these ideas into his practice becoming a functional medicine doctor in Fort Worth.
Conclusion
Functional medicine is an efficient, holistic approach allowing patients suffering from chronic ailments to improve their overall health. Functional medicine doctors strive to determine the root causes of their patient’s conditions and offer the best treatment. Understanding that functional medicine is patient-centered and efficient, patients can once again find hope of living a better life.
One of the perks of seeing a functional medicine doctor is getting personalized care and treatment. When you get diagnosed with a chronic disease such as depression, it may deteriorate your emotional, behavioral, and physical health. Consider visiting a functional medicine doctor.
Fort Worth’s Finding the Root Cause has functional medicine doctors who can see you today to receive mental health treatment. Call our office today to set up an appointment at 817-346-5111.
