Functional Medicine: A Deep Dive and How it Differs from Conventional Medicine
Functional Medicine (FM) is a medical model that is based on patient-centered, evidence-based, and individualized approaches to chronic diseases. With each patient, FM providers attempt to figure out the 'why' behind someone’s condition or symptoms, so they can receive personalized and effective care. Five people may present with the same condition, but each may have a unique reason as to why this manifested in their body. FM aims to answer the question of 'why'. FM is the medicine of the future because it better suits the needs of this century. With 6 in 10 adults in the US having some sort of chronic condition, and more than 1 in 3 adults having prediabetes, there is a huge demand for integrative care that focuses on factors that can not only treat symptoms but sometimes slow or reverse the condition altogether. Whereas Conventional Medicine (CM) aims to match symptoms to a diagnosis and then attach the diagnosis to a pharmaceutical treatment that may need to be taken indefinitely and only suppress symptoms, FM works towards finding the trigger of symptoms or dis-ease in that person’s body (poor nutrition, stress, toxins, pathogens, allergens, genetic vulnerabilities, and microbiome status) and correcting it to restore health. FM focuses on biochemical individuality to create personalized protocols whereas CM has a one-size-fits-all treatment approach. FM focuses on the interconnectedness of all physiological processes and recognizes the influence of different bodily systems on each other. CM has each organ split into a different specialty, requiring you to see separate providers who are likely hyper-focused on one organ without taking into account the bigger picture. For example, gut microbiome effects on mental health have been well established in the latest literature. Both dysbiosis and gut inflammation, which are two common issues due to many lifestyle factors, have been shown to cause mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Probiotics, if strain-specific, meaning the proper strains are used in the proper amounts, can restore microbial balance and have a profound role in the treatment of anxiety or depression. However, this information likely isn’t stressed when going to see a psychiatrist or therapist. Often, symptom suppression via pharmaceuticals can only work for so long until another symptom pops up that is being driven by the same underlying issue which is not being addressed. This creates an exhausting game of seemingly never-ending whack-a-mole, wherein you keep needing to take a different medication to suppress every symptom. Other times, the pharmaceuticals may be causing their own issues altogether, whether it be a nutrient deficiency, pesky new symptom, or creating risk factors for other conditions or issues later on. For example, oral contraceptives have been shown to cause a deficiency in folic acid, Vitamin B2, B6, B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Moreover, a 2016 study published in JAMA found a link between oral contraceptive usage and subsequent depression diagnosis and antidepressant usage. These are just a few examples of the countless potential effects of pharmaceutical drugs. While everyone should have a right to chose in how they deal with health issues for their own body, informed consent needs to be present at the time of prescribing these medications, which is often and sadly not the case. All in all, while CM is extremely helpful in an acute emergency situation such as if someone is hit by a car, it does not properly serve the needs of the 21st-century patient who has a chronic disease that is being expressed due to lifestyle factors. If you are interested in learning more about how your biochemical individuality, diet, and lifestyle are affecting your current and future health, looking into functional medicine is a worthwhile pursuit. For access to 15% off practitioner only professional-grade supplements, click here.
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The above content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individuals should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
References:1. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic- diseases.htm2.https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html#:~:text=Prediabetes%20is%20a%20serious%20health,t%20know%20they%20have%20it.3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/ 4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23852908/ 5.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2552796