With the growing interest in preventative healthcare, let’s take a look at the benefits of functional medicine. We break down why it’s increasing in popularity, who it is good for, the benefits and the downsides to equip you with the knowledge you need to make important decisions about your health.
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is an approach to medicine and healthcare that focuses on restoring healthy function by addressing the root cause of disease. This means taking into account all factors that affect your wellbeing. This is different to conventional medicine, where the focus is on treating the symptoms. The two approaches often complement each other. Many people report better outcomes and improved quality of life when functional medicine is used alongside conventional medicine.
The five pillars of functional medicine are:
- Nutrition and gut
- Sleep
- Exercise
- Community and connection
- Stress management
Feeling better is about more than just prescribing medication. Addressing each of these areas with a whole-body approach can lead to significant improvements in wellbeing.
Why is functional medicine increasing in popularity?
Many people are frustrated with traditional healthcare, especially when dealing with chronic illnesses or conditions without clear treatments. Functional medicine offers a more natural approach. It’s often called lifestyle medicine because it looks at everything from food and sleep to your environment. Functional medicine uses personalised testing to really drill down into your health and reveal where the issues are. Testing possibilities are endless and highly personalised – you aren’t limited to what’s available with traditional healthcare pathways so are able to really drill down into the underlying issues, whether that’s with SIBO testing, toxicity testing or microbiome testing. You should always do your research before paying for any tests. It’s also wise to seek advice from a reputable functional medicine expert, such as this functional medicine clinic in London.
Who can benefit from functional medicine?
Anyone can benefit from functional medicine and its holistic, whole-body approach to your health. However, individuals with chronic illnesses—such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or digestive issues like autoimmune diseases, Crohn’s, and ulcerative colitis—may benefit from this approach. It can also help those who have struggled to resolve their medical issues through other methods.
The benefits of functional medicine
Holistic and personalised care
Holistic approach: Functional medicine takes a holistic approach to healthcare. It looks at the entire body, not just the area causing problems or the symptoms in isolation. This can involve looking at sleep, nutrition, your environment, how you exercise, social connections and more. Why? Because they all contribute to your overall health in one way or another.
Personalised treatment: Unlike traditional healthcare, which follows a standardised pathway for each condition, functional medicine is highly personalised. Testing and treatment are tailored specifically to you and your body.
Patient empowerment: A large part of functional medicine is empowering patients to take control of their own health and wellbeing. After your appointment, you should feel informed, confident, and motivated to take steps that improve your health.
Health management and prevention
Prevention: You don’t have to be ill to benefit from functional medicine. Indeed, it is all about prevention and where possible, taking steps to stop you from getting ill in the first place.
Root cause resolution: Functional medicine doesn’t just cover up symptoms like a band-aid. Instead, it digs deep to find the real cause of your health issues. Through detailed testing, it identifies what’s driving your symptoms so it can be treated effectively and your quality of life can be restored. Traditional healthcare might prescribe hormones to treat unbalanced hormone levels. In contrast, functional medicine would investigate and address the root causes of the imbalance. For example, stress, nutritional deficiencies or even leaky gut.
Potential long-term advantages of functional medicine
Improved overall health: The majority of individuals using functional medicine notice better overall health, not just relief from their symptoms.
Reduced side effects: Many medications come with a long list of side effects and some people cannot tolerate certain meds as a result of this. Functional medicine can reduce the need for unnecessary medications, and as a result, the side effects associated with them.
The negative aspects of functional medicine
Cost: Functional medicine is usually available privately, which means consultations, tests and treatments are self-funded. For some, the cost can be prohibitive. However, the right clinic will work within your budget, prioritising and tailoring testing and treatment to what matters most. This ensures the biggest positive changes for you.
Inconsistent training: Finding the right clinic and specialist can feel a bit like taking a stroll in the wild west. It’s important to do your research on functional medicine practitioners and their qualifications for your own peace of mind. Experience is important in this area of medicine. However, you should also check your practitioner’s credentials. Ensure they hold a medical degree. Ideally, they should also have specialised training from reputable educators, such as the Institute for Functional Medicine.
A preventative approach to your health
Functional medicine is a holistic and personalised approach to healthcare. It complements traditional medicine and helps you take control of your wellbeing. By addressing the root causes of health issues instead of just the symptoms, it can create lasting improvements in your quality of life.
That being said, it’s important to go in with realistic expectations. Do your research, and choose a qualified and experienced practitioner. Functional medicine can be a powerful tool in your healthcare journey. If you’re considering a functional medicine consultation, start by talking with a reputable practitioner. They can help you decide if this approach suits your health goals.
