Functional Medicine is a holistic medical practice that seeks to find and address the root causes of illness. This is in contrast to traditional medicine, which focuses on masking symptoms with drugs and ignoring the underlying cause of the problem. Using a comprehensive approach that integrates both conventional and alternative therapies, a functional medicine practitioner looks for the specific factors in each patient’s health profile that may be contributing to their condition.
Many patients see functional medicine practitioners for longstanding unexplained and debilitating symptoms and illnesses that have eluded them for years, often after having tried traditional treatments that have not given them the relief they sought. These patients are intrigued by the idea of getting to the root causes of their health problems instead of simply treating the symptoms.
A recent study looked at the association between functional medicine and patient-reported measures of global health. The research found that patients seen by a functional medicine doctor experienced greater improvements in their Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) global physical health score at both 6 and 12 months than propensity-matched patients treated at a family health center.
The researchers note that this study was limited by a small sample size and the short duration of follow-up. However, they also point out that it is possible that improvements in PROMIS GPH scores at 6 and 12 months for functional medicine patients could be attributed to ascertainment bias, with those who are adherent to the model of care experiencing more improvement in their health-related quality of life than those not following the model of care.
In addition to taking a thorough medical history, functional medicine practitioners use a variety of diagnostic tools to get to the bottom of complex and chronic conditions. These include laboratory tests that can identify nutritional imbalances, pH levels, stress hormones, and more. They also take into account genetic and environmental influences that can affect your health.
Finally, a functional medicine practitioner will also explore your diet and lifestyle to determine the best course of action to help you achieve optimal health. This may involve suggesting specific dietary changes, herbal supplements, or other alternative therapies. In some cases, functional medicine can even involve acupuncture and other modalities that can provide relief from your health concerns.
If you are interested in learning more about functional medicine austin, we recommend scheduling a free consultation with Dr. Daniel. He works with all of his functional medicine patients virtually via phone and video, which allows him to spend as much time as he needs to understand your health challenges and how best to address them. To get started, click on the button below and fill out a simple health assessment form. Then, you will be given access to a private patient portal where you can begin sharing your story with Dr. Daniel and starting the journey to a better you..