Functional medicine is an evolutionary practice that takes into account the unique health needs of those in the 21st century.
Functional medicine, instead of treating only the symptoms of any disease, focuses on the underlying cause of the disease, using an approach that focuses on the body's systems and their main functions. Practitioners are working to engage the patient in a partnership that will lead to improved health and wellness.
Practitioners of practical medicine are focused on the whole person, and not just on an isolated constellation of symptoms. This shifts medicine from traditional hospital care to a more patient-centered approach. These practitioners spend a lot of time with their patients and listen to stories, as well as assess the environment, lifestyle and genetic factors that may play a role in long-term health and the development of chronic diseases. By doing this in this way, practitioners offer their patients a unique experience in the field of health, which will lead to more active participation and vitality of each person.
Why need functional medicine?
There are several reasons why functional medicine is becoming increasingly popular in our culture. Some of these reasons include the following:
Current medical practice is aimed at providing emergency care (or patient care), diagnosis and treatment of diseases or injuries, as well as conditions requiring urgent attention, such as broken bones or appendicitis. Medicine is not focused on human health, but on the treatment of an already ill person.
A sharp increase in the number of diagnoses of chronic diseases among people in our society. These diseases include heart disease, diabetes, mental illness, cancer, and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Acute medical approaches do not allow the application or prevention of complex chronic diseases. This is usually because it does not take into account the unique composition of individual or external factors that can play a certain role, especially in the environment, which puts us all in toxins. Lifestyle choices also play a major role in general health and can have a direct effect on the growth of chronic diseases in our Western culture.
There is a striking gap between the practice of doctors and research in selected areas. This gap is terrible, as much as 50 years, especially in the field of chronic diseases.
Unfortunately, most modern doctors are not trained to find the main causes of the disease. They are not taught to learn treatment strategies, such as diet, nutrition, and exercise, which can improve illness in patients.
Differentiation of functional medicine
The origins, prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, in particular, are a top priority for the practitioner. The principles of functional medicine that distinguish them from conservative approaches include the following:
Centralized Health: The focus is on the patient. This practice promotes positive vitality in the absence of disease and contributes to overall health. Really listening to patients. history and history, the practice of practical medicine is able to guide the patient to self-knowledge, and then further adapt to their individual needs.
Scientific and integrative approach to health care: This in itself is unique. Doctors are looking for the causes of the disease, evaluating the network of interactions in the patient’s history, lifestyle and physiology. Alone, the genetic makeup of a person can cause illness, so it is of paramount importance to the practitioner. In addition, both external (social and physical environment) and internal (body, mind, and spirit) factors influence the general state of the body.
Using the best medical practices that are integrative: The practice combines both alternative methods of medicine and traditional Western medical practices. They focus mainly on prevention through diet, nutrition and exercise. They use the latest and best laboratory tests and other diagnostic tests to help diagnose and treat each person. They prescribe a combination of pharmaceutical drugs, natural supplements, botanicals, detoxification programs, stress management strategies and therapeutic diets.
