FM is a science-based, natural way to become healthier. Today’s health care system is in trouble because it generally treats chronic diseases with drugs and neglects to look for the true cause of a condition. The healthcare system today is focused on disease care, not health care. With that said, if you have a heart attack, an accident or sudden acute infection, like pneumonia, you certainly want quick thinking, acute care doctors, to use every means necessary and all the resources of modern medicine, like surgery and antibiotics, to help resolve your medical condition.
However, jumping in with drugs, surgery, and other acute care treatments, does not and has not succeeded in helping those with a chronic, debilitating ailment, such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis. Another approach is needed.
Drugs interfere with function, while nutrition restores normal function.
Almost all causes of disease and dysfunctions and the resulting symptoms are caused by an underlying dysfunction and/or imbalance of bodily systems. Our current health care system rarely looks at or treats the underlying cause of a condition, that is why we are lucky to have an alternative medicine practice in Texas! Our Functional Medicine approach explores nutrition rather than drugs to treat your symptoms.
By identifying the root cause or causes, FM has a much better chance to successfully resolve a patient’s health challenges.
Optimizing your health
Our alternative medicine practice in Texas uses scientific principles and advanced diagnostic testing, Functional Medicine practitioners assist the body to restore balance in the body’s primary physiological processes. The Goal: The patient’s lifelong optimal health.
To battle chronic health conditions, Functional Medicine uses two scientifically grounded principles:
- Add what is lacking in the body to nudge its physiology back to a state of optimal function
- Remove anything that impedes the body from moving toward this optimal state of physiology.
For therapies, Functional Medicine practitioners use a combination of natural agents, like supplements, herbs, nutraceuticals, nutritional and lifestyle changes and spiritual/emotional counseling. In addition, educating the patient about their condition empowers the patient to take charge of their own health, ultimately leading to greater success in the management of conditions.
For most patients, it comes as a major surprise to learn that there is a different approach to their health issues and that they don’t have to live the rest of their lives with a chronic disease. But now that you know, the choice is yours.
Traditional practice grounded in modern medicine
It may also surprise you to learn that Functional Medicine is not a new concept. It actually has its roots in modern scientific medicine. Sir William Osler, MD, one of the first professors at John Hopkins University School of Medicine and later its Physician-In-Chief, once stated, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”
Dr. Osler is also credited with saying, “If you listen carefully to the patient, they will tell you the diagnosis.” This is Functional Medicine at its finest.
The “Four Steps”
There are four basic steps that a patient will experience with a Functional Medicine Practitioner.
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- A complete and thorough history – we have to know everything we can about you – you will probably tell us what your problem really is.
- Advanced Laboratory Testing – again, depending on what your doctor believes he or she needs in order to provide the most information about getting to the actual cause of dysfunction.
- Assess – we are always monitoring our patient’s response to therapy and determining how we can further improve optimal health.
- Therapy – NOT treatments – We don’t treat anything. As stated above, we assist the body in optimal balance; either by helping to remove blockages in pathways or providing nutritional deficiencies that have been found.
Resolution of symptoms is what brought you in to see the doctor; but, optimal health and balance of body systems, is our goal for you, the patient.