1. What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is an approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and treating the root causes of health complaints, rather than just treating symptoms. It considers the individual as a whole, taking into account their genetics, lifestyle, environment and other factors.
2. How is functional medicine different from conventional medicine?
Traditional medicine is amazing at dealing with acute care patients; accidents, broken bones, bleeds, burns etc. When it comes to chronic conditions, conventional medicine often focuses on diagnosing disease and prescribing medicine to suppress symptoms. If you are diagnosed with a inflammatory disease – take an anti inflammatory, autoimmune condition – take an immune suppressant, depression – take an anti-depressant etc.
Functional medicine, on the other hand, addresses the underlying causes of symptoms and disease, and identifies which system(s) are failing. Once identified, instead of suppressing these systems, they will be supported, to help increase the function of the affected systems, to give the body the best chance to restore its function back to normal.
Functional medicine understands the connection of different parts of the body and how they influence one another. For example, a thyroid issue, dementia or brain issue, can commonly be caused by imbalances in the gut.
3. What can I expect from a functional medicine consultation?
The initial case history consultation will generally be longer, more in-depth and comprehensive to gather as many clues as possible to uncover the root cause of your symptoms. Your medical history, previous tests, lifestyle, environment, and genetic factors, will all be taken into account.
After the initial assessment, the practitioner will proceed with advanced laboratory testing if required. Once the results come back, the practitioner will devise a treatment protocol and take you through the treatment plan step by step at your follow up appointments.
4. What conditions can functional medicine treat?
Functional medicine can address a wide range of health conditions, including:
- Cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory disease: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, risk factors, environmental toxin exposure, inflammation.
- Infections: chronic fatigue, ME, fibromyalgia, long covid, mold and other recurring infections.
- Chronic diseases: Nutritional deficiencies, adrenal fatigue, kidney disease/ stones liver/gallbladder issues, blood sugar dysregulation, anemia, fatigue, brain fog, inflammation,
- Autoimmune disorders: Immune system dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid issues, food sensitives/ intolerances, diabetes, arthropathies.
- Gastrointestinal disorders: Digestive enzyme insufficiency, GERD (reflux), IBS, IBD, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities/ intolerances
- Hormonal imbalances: Thyroid issues, fertility, libido, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis.
- Neurological: Parkinson’s, dementia, MS, brain health.
It is particularly effective for complex and chronic conditions that may not have clear-cut solutions in conventional medicine.
5. Is functional medicine evidence-based?
Yes, functional medicine has evolved from medicine and is based on scientific principles and evidence. Practitioners often incorporate the latest research from various fields, including genetics, nutrition, and biochemistry, into their approach to create effective treatment plans.
6. How long does it take to see results with functional medicine?
The timeline for results varies based on the individual’s condition, the severity of the issue, and how closely the patient follows the prescribed treatment plan. Some people may experience improvements within a few weeks, while others might take longer to see significant changes. For example, if you have been diagnosed with a disease for 20 years and its been progressing, you may require more treatment, compared to someone that consults a functional medicine practitioner for pre disease state. This way, the disease state can be prevented in the first place with functional medicine treatment.
7. Can functional medicine be used alongside conventional treatments?
Yes, functional medicine can complement conventional treatments. Here at Healhub we work along side conventional medicine practitioners in a collaboration fashion to ensure a comprehensive and well-rounded treatment approach.
8. Is functional medicine only for treating illness, or can it be used for preventive care?
Functional medicine is not only for treating illness but is also used for preventive care. It focuses on identifying and addressing health imbalances before they develop into full-blown diseases.
9. Is functional medicine covered by insurance?
Coverage for functional medicine servic
