Integrative Medicine v Functional Medicine

A 45-minute consultation, quickly getting to the root cause of your problem. Having specialized in these areas for the past decade, I feel they are actually very similar. Both tend to help frustrated patients who may have normal Western Medical test results but who are told, ‘there is nothing wrong’. Alternatively, those who are tired of pharmaceutical solutions. These statements below  may help you understand these modern medical specialities:

The American Board of Physician Specialties:

‘Integrative medicine is designed to provide the patient with the best care possible, using all available means, including traditional and complementary techniques.’

A.H.A. (American Hospital Authority) Defines Integrative Healthcare:

‘Complementary medicine: a non-mainstream practice used in conjunction with conventional medicine.

Integrative medicine: Conventional and complementary approaches used together in a coordinated way.’

I am first and foremost a specialist in Integrative Medicine. Throughout my 30-year medical career, I have consistently strived to provide the best options for patients on multiple levels. Western medicine is essential; however, additional layers can be added through the managed integration of complementary therapies, including attention to diet, exercise, and, of course, mood. 

Western medicine tends to be very ‘reductionist’ – attempting to understand

 ‘dis-ease ‘ by breaking it down to its most basic molecules. However, doctors now accept that more than half of our consultations have at least some emotional basis. Added to this, I would not exclude the ‘soul’, or  ‘higher self’, including the influence on well-being of ‘being on the wrong path in life’. 

Integrated Medicine – The Power Of Three

Integrative doctors use therapies and techniques from both:

  • West and East;
  • Mind and body;
  • The best of nutritioin,  medicines, herbs and supplements.
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What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is a root cause medicine, where we go ‘upstream’ to identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and diseases. One thing out of balance may affect a whole cascade of symptom development and eventually manifest as a disease. Functional medicine often relies on fairly costly testing on a more subtle level, therefore revealing more, than the normal lab tests.

Usually, there will be  ‘treatment’ with supplements or herbs, such as a physician would treat with drugs.