As a functional medicine doctor, I specialize in individualized medical care that recognizes the interactions between genetic and internal and external environmental factors, and between the body’s interconnected systems.
Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease in a therapeutic partnership between doctor and patient. Being a functional medicine doctor means that I shift the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more preventive and patient-centered approach. Functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
A functional medicine doctor spends time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.
When you work with a functional medicine doctor you’re working with someone who can better address the healthcare needs of the 21st century. Functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.
Functional Medicine Removes Outdated Clinical Models
Even though there have been notable advance in treating and preventing infectious disease and trauma, the acute-care model is not as effective as functional medicine when it comes to treating and preventing chronic disease. The reason for that is because the primary driver of chronic disease is the interaction among genes, lifestyle choices, and the environment.
Chronic disease is influenced by personal and individual factors such as food, lifestyle, genetics, and environment. Chronic disease t won’t be conquered with drugs and surgery, nor will it be conquered by adding new or unconventional tools to a failing model.
Chronic disease can be conquered by integrating what we know about how the human body works with individualized, patient-centered, science-based care that addresses the causes of complex, chronic disease, which are rooted in lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and genetic influences.
How A Functional Medicine Doctor Works With Medicine Differently
- A functional medicine doctor replaces the outdated and ineffective acute-care models carried forward from the 20th century with a powerful new clinical model for assessment, treatment, and prevention of chronic disease.
- A functional medicine doctor focuses on optimal functioning of the body and its organs, usually involving systems of holistic or alternative medicine as well as traditional medicine.
- A functional medicine doctor focuses on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise. It uses of the latest diagnostic techniques; and combinations of drugs herbs, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, and/or stress-management techniques.
- A functional medicine doctor develops an understanding of how internal and external environmental and lifestyle factors influence the development and progression of disease by incorporating the latest in genetic science, systems biology and mind/body medicine.
- A functional medicine doctor practices proactive, predictive, personalized medicine and encourages patients to take an active role in their own health.
Functional Medicine exemplifies just the kind of systems-oriented, personalized medicine that is needed to transform health and wellness. The Functional Medicine model of comprehensive care and primary prevention for complex, chronic illnesses is grounded in both science (evidence about common underlying mechanisms and pathways of disease; evidence about the contributions of environmental and lifestyle factors to disease) and art (the healing partnership and the search for insight in the therapeutic consultations).
The time to get healthy and stay healthy is NOW. Get a functional medicine consultation. Call 973 218-1199
