What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine enables physicians and other selective highly-trained health professionals to practice proactive, predictive, personalized medicine and empowers patients to take an active role in their own health.
Functional medicine addresses the underlying cause of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses health needs of the present age with 21st century healthcare. The traditional disease-centred focus of medical practice is shifted to a more holistic patient-centred approach, which addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Functional medicine practitioners are health professionals from various different disciplines, who share a common interest in utilising individualised lifestyle and nutrition protocols in the pursuit each patient's health. They spend time with their patients, listening to their histories, using targetted advanced laboratory testing and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, the unique expression of health and vitality of each individual may be supported.
Why Do We Need Functional Medicine?
How is Functional Medicine Different?
Functional medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks of a functional medicine approach include:
Please contact us if you wish to arrange a consultation with one of our practitioners trained by the Insititute for Functional Medicine.