Functional Medicine Approach

Conventional medicine prescribes stimulants and other medications. Functional Medicine looks at genetics, nutritional deficiencies, and imbalances in the digestive system.

Conventional medicine prescribes antidepressants, sleeping pills, and therapy. Functional Medicine looks at genetics, nutritional deficiencies, imbalances in the digestive system, and lifestyle factors.

Conventional medicine uses prescription anti-inflammatory and steroid medications, as well as surgeries (all with myriad side effects and risks). Functional Medicine looks for causes of inflammation and tissue degradation with specialized lab testing (blood, saliva, urine, and/or stool), and a deep dive into correcting and optimizing nutrition, sleep, and stress, along with regenerative options like Stem Cell Therapy.

Conventional medicine uses prescription inhalers, antihistamines, mast-cell stabilizers and more. Functional Medicine looks for root causes like food allergies/sensitivities, environmental exposures like mold, digestive imbalances, underlying causes of inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and more.

Conventional medicine still really doesn’t quite know how to treat autism – we try many medications and therapies and hope something works. Functional Medicine takes each child as an individual, and tests and treats based on that child’s individual risk factors, including genetics, exposures, and general history.

Conventional medicine has a variety of medications that are used to treat different autoimmune conditions. Functional Medicine looks at digestive system imbalances, lifestyle factors (including nutrition, stress, sleep), environmental factors (like mold and heavy metals) and aims to resolve possible root causes to reverse autoimmunity.

Conventional medicine has a hard time treating brain fog – often it’s a combination of prescriptions that mask symptoms but don’t reverse the issue. Functional Medicine seeks to find the root causes of brain fog like nutritional deficiencies, food sensitivities/allergies, hormonal imbalances, heavy metal toxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and beyond.

Conventional medicine often does not recognize these to be an issue until an alarm level is reached. Functional Medicine providers will often screen for toxicity and be able to find and treat patients whose levels–while not yet sounding an alarm–are contributing to symptoms and will contribute to various problems in the future.

Conventional medicine uses prescription medications to lower cholesterol, sometimes also mentioning diet and exercise, but not really providing thorough guidance on what that actually means. Functional Medicine looks at a much more in-depth cholesterol panel and focuses on potential underlying issues like liver function, diet, and genetics in order to uncover and treat the root causes of high cholesterol.

Conventional medicine often shies away from testing for or treating hormone imbalances because of unfounded concerns that hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Often, women are just put on birth control for any kind of suspected reproductive or hormonal concerns. Men are often told their labs are “normal,” and no treatment is offered. Functional Medicine aims to optimize hormone levels for each individual and will be treated with a well-rounded approach, including diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, supplements, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Conventional medicine providers often will not acknowledge that this exists (even though there is plenty of peer-reviewed research on “increased intestinal permeability” (IIP)). Functional Medicine providers will more comprehensively understand and test for issues with IIP, and understand that leaky gut is likely a contributing factor to other symptoms and diseases, including eczema, ADHD, autism, headaches, brain fog, fatigue, food sensitivities, and more. A Functional Medicine approach works at healing leaky gut, which results in resolution of other symptoms and diseases.

Conventional medicine uses NSAIDs, steroids, injections, and surgery. Both Conventional medicine and Functional Medicine employ physical therapy and other manual therapy techniques. Unlike conventional medicine, Functional Medicine looks deeply at risk factors for why the injury may have happened, and aims to use the body’s resources to heal the injuries–this usually includes targeted nutritional guidance and supplements, and can also involve Stem Cell Therapy to enhance healing.

Conventional medicine typically will look for a root cause of inflammation and then use immune modifying drugs, NSAIDS, steroids, or other medications (depending on the cause) to decrease inflammation. Functional medicine takes a more thorough look at many possible root causes and then works to solve the root causes rather than just mask the symptoms of inflammation.

Conventional medicine uses synthetic hormones in non-individualizable dose forms (if they prescribe hormones at all). Often, women are told to just deal with the symptoms or are prescribed antidepressants and sleeping pills to pacify them. Functional Medicine replaces hormones with customized dosing and follows hormone levels and metabolites over time to ensure safe and effective hormone optimization therapy. Functional Medicne also guides patients on various lifestyle changes that will optimize hormone levels.