Why we chose functional medicine

Our health journey has transformed our outlook on so many parts of our lives, and very much shifted our view on medicine. The more we learn about the core principles of Functional Medicine (FM), the more we realize just how different it is from the conventional, western approach. While there is certainly always a time and place for both within a wider medical system, we were incredibly drawn to study and practice FM not only because of its focus on figuring out the root cause of illness, but also because this approach is designed to help people achieve optimal vitality and health— not merely the absence of disease.

While FM has definitely gained more popularity in recent years (hurray!), there still seems to be some confusion around what it is and how it differs from the conventional, Western approach. So, we thought it might be helpful to break down some of these core differences for you!

Functional Medicine vs. Conventional, Western Medicine

FM:
• Patient Centered Approach
• Focused on finding the root cause
• Looks at the body and organ systems as interconnected
• Multi-factorial, individualized lifestyle focused interventions
• Goal is to achieve optimal health

Western:
• Disease centered approach
• Treats signs and symptoms
• Looks at the body and organ systems as separate parts
• Drug centered solutions
• Goal is to treat symptoms of disease