Functional medicine is a health practice that treats the body as a whole, not in parts. They believe the entire body works together to create a healthy, balanced, and properly functioning system.
They spend significant time examining a patient’s health history and lifestyle factors to recognize the root cause of their symptoms, such as nutrient deficiencies, genetics, sleep, stress, and toxins. They also utilize specialized lab work.
Personalized Treatment Plans
As health issues become more complex, it’s necessary to use a personalized approach. Denver functional medicine practitioners are well suited to do this, as they consider your unique genetics, environment, lifestyle, and functional lab results to design the best natural plan for you.
They can help you “reset” your body, mind, and spirit with acupuncture, dietary or lifestyle interventions, herbal therapies, and meditation techniques. These are often incorporated into your health plan alongside the medications you may need to manage symptoms.
This approach is particularly valuable for individuals with chronic conditions, like autoimmune disorders or digestive problems. Functional medicine specialists can produce long-lasting results by going to the root cause of the issue instead of simply suppressing symptoms. Moreover, they can prevent more serious health issues from developing “downstream” in the future. This is why it’s crucial to seek out this specialty.
Nutritional Guidance
When a person with a chronic condition is struggling to manage symptoms, the role of a functional medicine specialist is to help them discover how their health problems are connected. This means they can use various methods to address underlying imbalances in the body, such as nutrient testing, gut microbiome analysis, and environmental toxin testing.
They can also teach their patients how to make healthy lifestyle choices that promote vitality and a positive quality of life. As a result, individuals with chronic conditions are often better able to cope and heal with this approach.
It’s not hard to see why more and more individuals are turning to functional medicine. They want true healthcare, not just disease management. It’s no wonder that this integrative approach is revolutionizing modern medicine as we know it. There are a few top essential skills to pursue a career in functional medicine. These include an in-depth knowledge of human biology and systems, a deep understanding of the body’s workings, and excellent interpersonal communication skills.
Lifestyle Counseling
Personalized treatment plans address the underlying imbalances contributing to your symptoms. During this process, a functional medicine practitioner also helps you incorporate lifestyle changes into your daily routine to support the body’s healing processes and promote optimal wellness.
For instance, many chronic conditions can be addressed by addressing hormonal imbalances. This can be done by assessing and correcting imbalances through diet, targeted supplementation, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy when necessary.
A functional medicine specialist will also discuss other lifestyle factors affecting your health, such as sleep habits, stress levels, and physical fitness practices. They will help you develop strategies to overcome barriers preventing you from adopting these healthy habits. This is key in promoting your self-efficacy and making lasting behavioral changes. Research shows that patients with high self-efficacy are more likely to follow through with their health goals and sustain long-term healthy behaviors.
Stress Management
Stress can cause some health issues and often leads to more stress, creating a vicious cycle. A functional medicine practitioner will help you identify the sources of your stress and recommend ways to minimize or eliminate it.
Unlike traditional medical providers, functional medicine practitioners spend at least 1 hour on the initial consultation and give their patients undivided attention. This is a great way to build relationships and develop personalized solutions for patients’ health concerns.
Functional medicine practitioners also consider the patient’s health timeline from birth instead of merely looking at a lab test to see if it falls within the normal range. They are also trained to help patients achieve optimal lab values indicative of vibrant health.
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