Functional Medicine Practitioners are the detectives of the healthcare world. These practitioners usually have some form of original doctorate degree, they can be Medical Physicians, Chiropractic Physicians, Psychiatrists, or Dentists who have chosen to further their education with a post-graduate certification in the practice of Functional Medicine. While these practitioners do not focus on disease symptoms, they do focus their attention on the various systems of the body and which system(s) have malfunctioned and allowed disease to manifest. Functional Medicine Practitioners are going to do something that most patients have probably never had done before, they are going to compile your complete medical history via your medical records going back 10 years from all providers and examine it very carefully, searching for trends that may have contributed to your current health status. They are going to have you complete an in depth history packet and food diary. Then they are going to do something else very unique, they are going to really listen to your story, what has brought you to this point in your health and use all this information to determine your testing needs. In many cases, Functional Medicine Practitioners are able to detect tendencies towards future disease development before it reaches a level that would produce symptoms and require medication.
Functional Medicine Practitioners are always searching for the WHY, looking for the root cause of disease. They will run extensive blood, urine, saliva, and stool lab tests that will provide information about nutrient deficiencies, chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, parasite infestations, toxic exposures, fungal and/or bacterial overgrowths, possible food allergens, stealth infections, and genetic predispositions that have contributed to a patient's current condition(s). They will then design an individualized protocol based upon these findings to address any imbalances and deficiencies and return the body to the highest level of functionality that is achievable for each patient.