[My daughter passed, and now practices, the rigorous certification process. Often uses computerized scans which cut across conventional med disciplines/tests/referrals.
Major issue is cost. Conventional insurance will not cover a lot of it, though surgery, etc. still covered. Spotting issues below clinical level, can be more easily and cheaply this way, as we found in my ranging pancreatic issues. We have the largest deductible in our medicare plan saving there, still have a conventional general practitioner MD for simpler things, but rely on functional for our good health. Like any profession finding the best is not straightforward or easy].]
Functional Medicine determines how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual.
The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.
By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions. As a result, Functional Medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual.
IFM Board President of Clinical Affairs Mark Hyman, MD, describes why one condition can have many different causes and how one cause can lead to many different conditions.' [key]
https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine/
https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine/
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