Functional Medicine Finally Hits Mainstream TV

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes 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 the healthcare needs of the
21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of
medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional
medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of
symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners spend 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.

• Our society is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
• The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward acute care, the
  diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness that is of short duration
  and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg.
  Physicians apply specific, prescribed treatments such as drugs or
  surgery that aim to treat the immediate problem or symptom.
• Unfortunately,
  the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and
  tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease. In most
  cases it does not take into account the unique genetic makeup of each
  individual or factors such as environmental exposures to toxins and the
  aspects of today’s lifestyle that have a direct influence on the rise in
  chronic disease in modern Western society.
• There’s a huge gap between research and the way doctors practice. The
  gap between emerging research in basic sciences and integration into
  medical practice is enormous–as long as 50 years–particularly in the
  area of complex, chronic illness.
• Most physicians are not adequately trained to assess the underlying causes
  of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition,
  diet, and exercise to both treat and prevent these illnesses in their
  patients.

Functional medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks of a functional medicine approach include:

• Patient-centered care. The
  focus of functional medicine is on patient-centered care, promoting
  health as a positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease. By
  listening to the patient and learning his or her story, the practitioner
  brings the patient into the discovery process and tailors treatments
  that address the individual’s unique needs.
• An integrative, science-based healthcare approach. Functional
  medicine practitioners look “upstream” to consider the complex web of
  interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that
  can lead to illness. The unique genetic makeup of each patient is
  considered, along with both internal (mind, body, and spirit) and
  external (physical and social environment) factors that affect total
  functioning.
• Integrating best medical practices. Functional
  medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what is
  sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” medicine, creating a
  focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise; use of the
  latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and
  prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines,
  supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or
  stress-management techniques.