“What exactly is Functional Medicine?”
Dr Patti Zub and Lisa Vasile, NP were trained and practiced in traditional medicine for a combined 40 years. Although traditional medicine helps many, finds abnormal conditions and saves lives, they found themselves frustrated with disconnect for patients whose tests were “normal” but were still symptomatic or those who dreamed of more energy, sleep, strength and clarity.
They found quickly that much of what they did was checklists:
- Did the patient get their physical (PE) – perform PE – little time spent asking about family, lifestyle, mood, bowels, energy, etc
- Was PE normal (blood pressure, pulse, exam, BMI, etc)
- Order labs, tests, vaccines need to be ordered for their age and/or symptoms
Referrals as needed to specialties
Referrals as needed to specialtiesSo they researched and studied Functional Medicine to offer a broader spectrum of medicine – a ‘deeper dive’ to above and beyond the checklists.
After years of training many of their friends and family will ask “What do you do at your office?” And more and more our patients will say “I was looking for this type of medicine, but didn’t even know it exhisted”.
Functional Medicine …
Is it “holistic” medicine? Is it herbs and vitamins? Is it Nutritionists? Is it Science-Based? YES
While traditional medicine focuses on dealing with the symptoms of illness (treat the ill with a pill or surgery or send for counseling), functional medicine aims to understand its causes, and then uses that knowledge to treat the roots (cause) of chronic disease.
What’s the difference between a ‘regular’ (traditional) provider and a Functional Medicine provider?
Quick answer: In Functional medicine
- They believe deeply that our symptoms are not deficiencies of a pill (ie: constipatoin = deficiency of miralax, high cholesterol = deficiency of statins, aches and pains are deficiencies of ibuprofen, etc)
- They have a deep belief system that the body can and will heal itself if it is given the optimal nutrients, appropriate lifestyle and reduction of exposure to what each unique body can’t handle
- Their approach starts with food; knowing wellness and disease are greatly shifted with nutrients we consume, absorb and assimilate
- They listen to the patient searching for the body’s interconnected clues
- They believe strongly that the body and brain shouldn’t deteriorate with age
- They respect and empower the concerns of a patient with normal BMI, normal labs and no symptoms and offer deeper dive testing to prevent a future concern (such as dementia or cancer)
This table offers a deeper comparison and explanation:
| Conventional (traditional) Medicine | Functional Medicine | |
| Appointments
Physicals:
Patient has symptom:
|
Limited Consultation with exam: Check for obvious disease (high blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol, excess weight or abnormal skin growths)
Limited Consultation with exam: Labs/testing ordered
“normal” testing = treat the symptom (ie: constipation – treat with Miralax) |
Extensive Consultations with limited and targeted physicals: Check to ensure the root causes of Dis-Ease in the body are not present – if they are we help the patient to improve and remove them
Extensive Consultations with limited and targeted physicals: Review all testing for optimal ranges (B12 ‘normal’ range is 200-900 but optimal range is 550-800) order further testing for a better view of the optimal levels (ie: RBC Magnesium instead of serum Mg).
Offer methods to remove the cause of the symptom (ie: Constipation is often from low hydration, lack of exercise and low Magnesium – not a deficiency of Miralax)
|
| Length of appointment | Average appt in U.S. is <15 (many are less than 10) | Average is 60-90 minutes for Initial and 30-60 for follow up |
| Treatment of Abnormality | Follow algorithm for diagnosis
(ie: Pain – start med and PT- if it doesn’t work trial another – perhaps a MRI – add more medication) |
Unique individualized plan
Consultation will typically offer insight as to what may be disordered within the body – further testing is often recommended- information from these unique results dictates the unique treatment plan for the patient (ie: Pain may be an inflammatory response to food intolerance or poor detoxification ability) |
| Approach | One PCP or Family medicine provider group who screens and follows the patient.
Referrals to ologists (oncologist,rheumatologist, gynecologist, etc) for symptoms that are unresolved with first line treatment.
Medications: High use of over the counter pills and prescriptions Not typical for discussion of the nutrient deficiencies caused by pills
Collaboration: Unpredictable support for Functional medicine collaboration |
Team approach with team of complementary providers: Acupuncture, massage therapy, reiki, yoga, meditation, DO’s
Work with symptom interconnected and all symptoms are red flags that something is not functioning optimally in the body. (*we also refer to specialists/ologists)
Belief that medications are often necessary, yet sometimes have ability to decrease dosing and number of pills. Deep discussion of nutrient shifts with prescriptions and symptomatology
Work with other providers in open communication |
| Diet | Touched on during visits with focus on BMI, Calories in/Calories out, no butter, no salt, no fats, low cholesterol diet
Often not proficient with food allergies/sensitivities Dietician referrals often only paid for by insurance with abnormal ICD10 code (Diabetes, obesity) |
70-80% of focus for optimal function in the body
Focus on foods not supporting the individual body, adequate absorption and assimilation.
Knowledgeable in food allergies and sensitivities. Offer specific plan to improve nutrients which optimize energy, detoxification, mood, sleep and digestion. |
| Education | Refer out to dietician, Physical therapist, counselor, etc
|
Detailed Programs, handouts, protocol to optimize the interconnected systems
(Low nutrient status, poor GI function with inflammatory reaction, poor detoxification, static energy function) (*may also refer out) |
| Chronic condition approach | Patients led to believe a chronic condition is one with a worsening trajectory and there with no chance of cure (diabetes, high cholesterol, etc) | Patients empowered to believe symptoms can be reduced and often resolve if all systems are approached consistently (yes Type II Diabetes can go away) |
For more on the tenets of functional medicine, the article “Functional Medicine: A Science Whose Time Has Come“ is a great one. At 4 Better Health we use a Functional Medicine “DINE” Approach for diving deep to find the root cause and work in collaboration with the patient (and their other providers) for Vibrant energetic low (or no) symptom living
