In today’s fast-paced world, healthcare can often feel rushed and impersonal. But what if your doctor could take the time to truly understand you, considering not just your symptoms but also your lifestyle, environment, and genetics? This is exactly what functional medicine offers.
So, what is a functional medicine doctor, and how can they provide the personalised care that so many patients are seeking? Let’s dive into this holistic approach to medicine that’s transforming patient care.
The Foundation of Functional Medicine
Functional medicine has its roots in traditional approaches to healthcare that emphasised preventative measures and natural remedies. Since then, it has evolved and has become more commonly practised, helping people on their journey to wellness across the world.
Unlike conventional medicine, which is focused on treating specific symptoms; functional medicine aims to treat the whole person, considering the complex interplay of genetics, environment, and lifestyle in determining health and disease.
But before diving deeper, it’s crucial to answer the question: what is a functional medicine doctor?
What Is A Functional Medicine Doctor?
A functional medicine doctor is a doctor that helps identify the root cause of an illness and creates personalised treatment plans that take into account a wide array of factors.
A functional medicine doctor is a licensed medical practitioner who specialises in this holistic approach to healthcare. Frequently, as with The Marion Gluck Clinic, these doctors often have backgrounds in conventional medicine but have received additional training in the functional medicine principles.
By combining their conventional medicine and functional medicine training, these doctors are able to provide you with the best possible solutions and outcomes.
What Does a Functional Medicine Doctor Do?
The functional medicine model offers a patient-centric approach to healthcare, seeking to answer the question “Why are you unwell?”, instead of simply treating the presenting symptoms.
This approach is particularly effective for people who have medically unexplained symptoms that do not fit the conventional diagnosis. This includes chronic and complex issues such as hormonal imbalances that involve multiple systems within the body.
- Personalised and Patient-Centric Care
There is no one-size fits all when it comes to functional medicine. The person, rather than the illness or disease, is the focus. The functional medicine model evaluates your health by taking various factors into account that include your medical conditions and value systems, distinct biological make-up involving genetics, family history, and environmental factors.
In-depth and personalised treatment plans are a critical part of functional medicine, emphasising that wellness is an ongoing process that requires active participation.
- Root Cause Analysis
Functional medicine adopts a systems-biology based approach, which is rooted in understanding the underlying cause of all illness. Functional medicine practitioners dig deeper to look for the reason behind the issue. This process often involves a combination of blood tests, hormone panels, genetic tests, and assessments of gut health, toxins, and nutrient levels, with the goal of identifying imbalances or dysfunctions that may be contributing to your health issues.
- Holistic and Collaborative Approach
Functional medicine takes an integrated and holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment. This involves a recognition that all the body’s systems are interconnected and influence each other. Illnesses and imbalances are therefore addressed using multiple treatment modalities including conventional medicine, psychological therapies, lifestyle medicine, and complementary medicine.
Collaboration between the doctor and patient is imperative with functional medicine. During this process, you are an active participant in your own wellness journey where you will need to make the necessary changes in your life and environment to support your healing.
- Focus on Prevention
While the majority of the time, treatment begins in order to solve a current issue or illness, functional medicine doctors also work with a preventative approach. This involves working to improve your overall health and wellbeing with the intention to prevent illness in the future.
What Can A Functional Medicine Doctor Treat?
To answer the question, “What is a functional medicine doctor”, it is important to understand what issues they are able to treat.
When it comes to hormone imbalances, due to its comprehensive and detailed nature, functional medicine is able to treat a wide range of issues that include, but are not limited to:
- Perimenopause and menopause
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Endometriosis
- Andropause
Your functional medicine doctor may use several different treatment modalities including BHRT, health coaching, nutritional therapy, and conventional medicine in a multidisciplinary and integrated way to achieve the best possible outcome for you as a patient. Treatment plans may also include wisdom from ancient healing systems such as Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine as well as sleep and active stress management.
“A functional medicine doctor doesn’t just treat symptoms; they empower patients with the knowledge and tools they need to take control of their health. By addressing the root causes of illness, we help patients understand their bodies, make informed decisions, and ultimately, feel more confident and in charge of their well-being.”
Now that you understand what a functional medicine doctor is, are you ready to get to the root cause of your hormonal issues? Our team of expert hormonal health and functional medicine doctors are here to help. Book an appointment today to begin your wellness journey.
