Nutrition, environment, and genes all contribute to our health and well-being. Although traditional treatments for chronic conditions and overall health have been used for years, many physicians have begun exploring alternative methods to treat diseases to reduce the number of prescription medications that patients take. These alternative methods can be described as functional medicine.
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a patient-based approach that aims to discover the root cause of chronic disease, rather than mask it. The idea behind functional medicine focuses on discovering each symptom and how they contribute to an individual’s illness. It is centered around the patient’s whole mind and body, to understand the underlying cause of illness.
For example, depression can stem from numerous symptoms, such as inflammation. Similarly, inflammation can lead to conditions like depression. ¹
Who can benefit from functional medicine?
Anyone can receive treatment or benefit from functional medicine, including healthy individuals. Those with long-lasting or complex conditions may find functional medicine especially helpful. Some of these conditions may include: ²
Autoimmune diseases
Acute and chronic pain
Breathing disorders
Headaches and migraines
Cancer
Chronic fatigue
Digestive disorders
Infertility
Insomnia
Menstrual issues
Mental and emotional health issues
What are some types of functional medicine?
Functional medicine encompasses a wide range of techniques and practices. Treatments include approaches for physical, emotional, and spiritual health to help achieve optimal health and healing. ²
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting tiny needles into specific points on the body to maintain flow and balance. The practice is commonly used to help relieve pain and has gained popularity in use for managing stress levels. ³ There have been different views of acupuncture around the world; for example, in traditional Chinese medicine, its use is known for balancing the flow of energy while in Western practice it is used to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissues. ³
Chinese Herbal Medicine
The herbs used in Chinese herbal medicine are classified into the five tastes – sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour – that correspond with the five earth elements to be used to help treat different areas of the body. These herbal medicines consist of plants, minerals, or animal products that are compounded into different forms such as powders, pastes, lotions, or tablets. Different herbs contain different properties to help balance different parts of the body. Many studies have shown Chinese herbal therapy to be successful in helping to treat disorders, especially gynecological and gastrointestinal disorders. ⁴
Chiropractic Therapy
Chiropractors are licensed health care professionals that use techniques to adjust and modify the spine and joints, emphasizing the body’s ability to health itself. ⁵ Chiropractic therapy can be useful for anyone, but specifically those that struggle with pain targeting the back, neck, pelvis, knees, hips, and other joints.
Culinary Medicine
Culinary medicine is a new, evidence-based technique that combines food and cooking with the science of medicine. ⁶ Food can have a big impact when it comes to chronic illness and every person’s diet will differ based on their diagnoses and symptoms. Culinary medicine attempts to relieve symptoms of chronic illness and improve patient health with a specifically curated diet. Some of these conditions include arthritis, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and much more. ⁶
Holistic Psychotherapy
Holistic psychotherapy combines traditional psychotherapy with less traditional methods of healing. These methods include: ⁷
Traditional talk therapy
Hypnosis
Hypnotherapy
Guided imagery
Breathing and relaxation
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy uses manipulation of the body’s soft tissue to help promote overall health and well-being. ⁷ Massage therapists use different techniques to relieve pain and tightness in the body, especially for those with muscle pain, muscular disorders, and digestive disorders.
What are the benefits of functional medicine?
Functional medicine enables the body to heal naturally, alongside any medication a patient may be taking. It allows the body to relax, reducing stress to help achieve optimal health for both body and mind. ⁷ If you are unsure if functional medicine is right for you, talk to your healthcare provider! Our pharmacist can also recommend various supplements to help improve overall health or target specific needs.
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