The functional medicine approach is a restorative, root-cause, whole person approach to chronic health problems that goes beyond symptom management into care that is truly dedicated to health and thriving, not managing illness.

 

The functional medicine model of problem-solving takes into consideration a person's genetics, current and past lifestyle, and the triggering events that likely contributed to the development of imbalance and symptom development.  Lab tests, some conventional and some specialized, supplements, and lifestyle interventions are common functional medicine tools, and conventional medications are also sometimes used.  But what really makes functional medicine different is the understanding of the interrelatedness of body systems.

 

Functional medicine practitioners understand that the cause of one person's migraines, for example, may be very different from the cause of another person's; and the solution lies in understanding the different causes and addressing them appropriately, not in simply selecting a drug from the migraine treatment category.  This one-size fits all bandaid approach may help manage symptoms for a time, and may be necessary for a time in order to continue meeting the demands of life, but the ultimate solution is something deeper.  One person's migraine may be diet related, or nutrient-deficiency related; another person's may be hormone related; another's toxin related, or stress related. The functional medicine practitioner is a partner in helping the person discover what needs to change in order resolve the underlying cause.  Connecting the dots in this way helps the patient and practitioner see patterns and solutions and determine effective next steps for addressing the root causes of chronic, complex problems.

 

Monica began her journey into functional medicine in 2012, completed her functional medicine certification through the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2017, and maintains active membership in the Institute for Functional Medicine.

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