What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine determines how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual.

Source: Institute for Functional Medicine

Functional Medicine practitioners see the body as a collection of integrated systems. Rather than just diagnosing and managing disease, they also focus on removing barriers to health, supporting balance in the body, and optimizing wellness. They know that the deficiency of a key nutrient or an imbalance in any one system can impact many other systems and functions in the body. And that finding and addressing the root cause can be much more successful at restoring health over the long term than silencing those same symptoms with a pill.

That’s not to say there’s no place for medications in functional medicine. Medication has its place; it’s more of an order of operations thing. Most functional medicine practitioners are trained in conventional medicine. The difference is, they have also completed additional training in nutrition. They have advanced training on the microbiome. On genetics. On meditation & mindfulness, detoxification, and herbal remedies and supplements. And they often view the doctor-patient relationship differently. Functional medicine tends to be participatory medicine. The patient is encouraged (and expected) to take responsibility for their own health. To develop the healthy lifestyle behaviors that can reverse chronic disease and promote optimal wellness.

As a Functional Health Coach, I can support you in developing those healthy lifestyle behaviors to promote optimal wellness. I can help you implement the changes prescribed by your functional medicine practitioner. Or, if you’ve never worked with a functional medicine practitioner, I can help you find one that can get to the root of your health challenges.

Healthy doesn’t have to be hard. But simple doesn’t mean easy.

Enlist the support of a functional health coach!

Functional Medicine Resources

Want to learn more? Here are some resources to get you started:

• Mark Hyman, MD – A leader in Functional Medicine, best-selling author, Medical Director at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, and Founder of the UltraWellness Center in Lenox, MA. Creator of the successful BrokenBrain Docuseries.
• Chris Kresser – A leader in ancestral health, Paleo nutrition, and functional and integrative medicine, Chris is also an author, and publishes excellent articles and podcasts on the latest research and how it can help you improve your health. Chris is the Co-Director and a practitioner at the California Center for Functional Medicine. He also founded the Kresser Institute, an organization that offers functional medicine training for medical practitioners and functional health coaches (like me!). Find an ADAPT trained practitioner in your area.
• Institute for Functional Medicine – An organization that knows the value of Functional Medicine, advocates for it as the standard of care, and certifies practitioners that can help you restore health by addressing the root causes of disease in your body. Use their search tool to Find an IFM certified practitioner near you.

Prefer videos? Check out this classic TEDMED talk from Dr. Mark Hyman: