Chronic diseases affect approximately 40% of the population in the United States, but traditional disease-based medicine is not very effective at treating chronic conditions. Dr. John Heary reports that many of his patients ask how functional medicine can be used to heal the body of chronic disease?
Functional medicine is helpful for treating chronic illness for two reasons: it identifies the root cause of chronic and comorbid conditions and provides a whole-body solution to resolve them. Functional medicine will integrate nutrition, exercise, sleep patterns, stress management, mental health, and any necessary medications to treat the individual, not just the symptoms.
Below, more details on how a functional treatment approach to chronic disease can help heal the body.
Functional Medicine to Heal Chronic Disease
The integrative and holistic approach of functional medicine is the most effective course of action for individuals suffering from chronic diseases. Most chronic illnesses present with a variety of comorbid conditions, and the identification of the root cause of those conditions in combination with a whole-system approach to treating them is the hallmark of effective functional medicine.
Identify the Root Cause
Functional medicine’s ability to heal people suffering from chronic disease lies in part in its focus on identifying the root cause of the disease and not just treating the symptoms of it.
For example, chronic diseases can be caused by toxin exposure, poor diet, obesity, infections, and more. Rather than just (ineffectively) treating the symptoms of the disease, functional medicine practitioners will work to identify the root cause, correct it, and alleviate at least some of the disease severity to give patients a better quality of life.
Practitioners will consider countless factors as they get to know a patient: stress levels, nutrition, activity level, sleep habits, mental health, social influences, genetics, and more. This whole-body approach with relevance placed on both internal and external factors allows for a fuller understanding of the disease processes and individualized treatment.
Treat the Individual, Not the Symptoms
With a systems approach to treatment, functional medicine practitioners are able to design an effective treatment program that works for the individual. By targeting the entire person, and not just the symptoms of disease, healing can begin and the patient can find relief from the illness that has been affecting them.
To heal the body with functional medicine, there will be many strategies used. They will be pulled from alternative medicine practices as well as traditional Western medicine. Functional medicine practitioners will look at the following:
- Testing for food sensitivities
- Providing methods for stress management
- Assessing nutrition
- Examining sleep habits
- Improving activity levels
- Conducting lab analysis and/or diagnostic imaging
- Recommending acupuncture
- Encouraging therapy and health coaching
- Evaluating genetic influences
- And more
A well-rounded, full-patient approach to chronic disease is the best way to produce effective results that not only alleviate symptoms but treat the cause of the disease as well.
Final Thoughts
With a combination of traditional medicine and alternative/holistic approaches, functional medicine practitioners can do more for individuals afflicted by chronic disease. This integrative branch of science-based medicine may be the way of the future for much more than just chronic disease.
