4 Compelling Benefits of Functional Medicine

Functional medicine is an alternate approach to conventional medicine for the prevention and management of complex or chronic diseases. Instead of simply addressing symptoms as they emerge, which is the common practice in conventional medicine, this approach aims to uncover the root causes of disease. This allows practitioners to determine the best means for prevention or treatment. Here are some unique benefits to consider.

Personalization

Every patient is different. Each individual has a unique set of lifestyle and environmental factors, along with a distinct family history. With functional medicine, the practitioner takes into account all of these considerations, and both the provider and patient work together to explore potential causes or contributing factors for illness.

A Broad-Based Approach

Functional medicine may employ some of the methods of conventional medicine, along with other alternative treatments. While traditional medicine has its strengths, it may not be as effective for treating a chronic disease or an underlying illness on its own. Oftentimes, medicines with challenging side effects are prescribed to treat the symptoms of chronic illness but may not address the condition itself. Functional medicine practitioners, therefore, explore a broad range of therapies to promote better overall wellness. For instance, they may recommend lifestyle changes such as nutritional and supplemental enhancements as well as exercise to promote ongoing wellness.

Overall Healthcare

Practitioners of functional medicine look beyond a disease and its specific symptoms to find comprehensive improvements to overall health. For instance, introducing supplements and focusing on mental health could be a means of reducing flare-ups in certain chronic conditions, but these methods could also promote better bodily functioning for prevention against other conditions.

A Focus on Underlying Causes

With the traditional approach to healthcare, practitioners aim to diagnose the patient and then offer medicine for that specific condition. In functional medicine, however, the process is reversed. Instead of trying to see how symptoms fit into a certain diagnosis, practitioners analyze what’s going on with the patient, including any underlying imbalances.

Functional medicine professionals put more focus on underlying factors that may be the mechanisms of disease. Treating these underlying issues with an effective, sustainable solution may ultimately yield lasting improvements and potentially help manage the condition itself, not just its symptoms.

If you would like to learn more about a comprehensive nutritional and molecular test that may help your overall wellness and symptoms, please call a Care Coordinator at 800-531-0831. You may also visit www.stemedix.com/blog  for helpful health awareness blogs.

This post was written by Becky Palmer, a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for multiple sclerosis, also known as stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.