What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine takes a root cause (rather than a symptom-based) approach to medicine. Like Eastern Medicine, Functional Medicine looks at the structural body, internal organ system, emotional body, and mental wellness as working interdependently with one another, creating your overall sense of wellbeing. In order to achieve wellness, prevent disease, or to treat chronic disease we must read and interpret our body as a whole. 

One of the ways Functional Medicine aims to uncover the root cause of symptoms is through a wider variety of testing than conventional medicine offers. Combining Functional Medicine with Eastern Medicine, I am able to formulate a treatment successfully with minimal lab testing, experienced herbal medicine training, and comprehensive lifestyle modifications. This combination reduces the need of excessive supplements and lab testing, and accelerates healing. 

While conventional medicine is essential and has its place, it often neglects preventive and restorative strategies. Instead, it focuses on managing illness once it has occurred, primarily by suppressing symptoms with prescriptions or surgery while neglecting the root cause. Symptom focused medicine increases side effects and deteriorates health and often does not address the cause of illness. When we do not focus on what is causing the problem, the problem only gets worse.

While Functional and Integrative medicine embraces prescription medications when needed, it takes a holistic approach to health by addressing the root cause while the symptoms are being safely manage and monitored. 

By leveraging a wide range of personalized tools and strategies this often leads to complete restoration of health and wellness.