What Is a Functional Medicine?
Answering the question “What is functional medicine?” requires insight into how the body’s systems work together and the way a person’s lifestyle affects their health. For individuals battling with chronic symptoms and ongoing health conditions, functional medicine can be a whole-body solution that identifies underlying issues and provides a personalized approach to overall wellness. If the conventional medical approach to treating every symptom with a different medication has done little to restore your health, functional medicine could be the answer you’ve been searching for.
Adopting a Root Cause Medicine Approach
For decades, traditional medicine has focused on treating a single symptom with a specific medication. Yet, the “pill for every ill” approach does little to identify the underlying cause of chronic conditions and often fails to provide effective long-term solutions. Functional medicine doctors view symptoms as signals from the body rather than a singular diagnosis, allowing them to investigate the root cause of connected health conditions.
Consider how the tip of an iceberg is visible above water, yet hides a larger, more damaging mass beneath the surface. The investigative nature of functional medicine enables doctors to view your symptoms as the tip of the iceberg, or a starting point for examining the underlying physiological triggers that lie beneath the surface. This approach enables health professionals to seek a holistic solution that addresses multiple symptoms at once.
What is a Functional Medicine Doctor?
A functional medicine doctor is a diagnostic professional who looks at an individual’s entire personal story. They are health detectives who collaborate with patients to work as a partner in an individual’s healing journey. A functional medicine doctor will spend substantial time learning about your history, environment, and lifestyle to learn the contributors to your overall health.
The ongoing partnership between doctor and patient allows medical teams to understand the root cause of health issues and provide a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan, including dietary advice, lifestyle strategies, and the introduction of various specialty therapies to support a holistic approach to overall wellness.
The Functional Medicine Approach to Diagnostic Testing
The root causes of medical conditions are often complex. For instance, a combination of poor diet, environmental toxin overload, allergies, sensitivities, poor gut microbiome health, chronic stress, and other factors often causes an avalanche of symptoms that masquerade as chronic conditions. A panel of diagnostic tests is used to determine the unique factors that contribute to your overall well-being.
We understand that a battery of medical tests can be financially overwhelming. However, many of these tests are covered by medical insurance. While we don’t deal with insurance companies directly, our doctors provide detailed invoices and receipts to assist patients in seeking reimbursement from insurance companies.
Why Choose Functional Medicine in Atlanta?
Many people turn to functional medicine when conventional medicine fails to yield the expected results. However, functional medicine can be a positive addition to anyone’s health and wellness regimen to maximize their approach to good health. By focusing on personalized care plans rather than one-size-fits-all protocols, functional medicine goes beyond treating symptoms to restore vitality, metabolic health, and long-term wellness. Your personalized treatment plan works with your body’s natural healing capabilities to restore balance and optimize function without depending on multiple prescriptions or invasive treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is functional medicine different from conventional medicine?
Functional medicine is different from conventional medicine in that it focuses on holistic wellness by identifying and addressing underlying causes of multiple symptoms. Conventional medicine typically focuses on symptom management, while functional medicine addresses connections and causes of symptoms to eliminate the issue and related symptoms.
What kind of training does a functional medicine doctor have?
Not all functional medicine doctors have the same level of training. Many functional medicine doctors have traditional degrees, such as MD, DO, ND, and NP, while others are trained chiropractors, physical therapists, nutritionists, and acupuncturists. It’s important to seek a doctor trained and certified in functional medicine through reputable organizations such as the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Can I submit my visits to my insurance?
Yes! While we do not take insurance or deal directly with insurance companies, we provide patients with detailed receipts/invoices you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement of covered services.
*Note: Medicare patients cannot submit receipts to insurance, that is the requirement for opting out of Medicare.
Begin Your Path to Root-Cause Healing
Functional medicine is gaining popularity among people of all ages who are disappointed in modern medicine and those seeking a way to complement a more health-conscious lifestyle. Functional medicine doctors partner with patients to fully understand symptoms and health issues to address chronic conditions often overlooked by conventional medicine. If you’re looking for medical solutions that address your long-term health and overall well-being, consider visiting a functional medicine center. Take the first step toward a healthier life by scheduling an appointment with us today.
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