Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Functional Medicine refers to something completely different than what you have come to know as conventional medicine (i.e., the current standard model of care), and to fully understand what functional medicine is, I find it helpful to compare the two.
The standard model of care is generally the same for every person who has various conditions like low thyroid, diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and so on. Your PCP can treat you, or could refer you to a specialist, and they both have access to the same basic tools: medications and surgeries. The old “pill for an ill” model does work well for acute diseases, trauma, infection, and emergencies.
However, in the case of chronic disease (that affects over 130 million Americans!!), this model is failing miserably. They suppress symptoms with a pill, but the underlying disease continues to progress, and you become sicker or get put on even more pills. Conventional medicine is also heavily influenced by parties with a vested interest (Big Pharma, insurance companies, profit hospitals, etc). It is a system designed to manage symptoms – not to restore health and maximize function.
Yet these same chronic conditions, such as allergic, mental, digestive, hormonal, metabolic, and neurological problems, are finally finding long term solutions through Functional Medicine. The reason is that so many of these conditions stem from similar root causes, such as inflammation, toxicity, hormone imbalance, permeable gut issues, stress, etc.. So what exactly is Functional Medicine and how can it help you??
The main difference between Big Medicine and Functional Medicine is the belief that health is not just the absence of disease, but a state of immense vitality.
Functional Medicine views us all as being different; genetically and biochemically unique. This personalized health care treats the individual, not the disease. It supports the normal healing mechanisms of the body, naturally, rather than attacking disease directly. Your body is intelligent and has the capacity for self-regulation, which expresses itself through a dynamic balance of all your body systems. Functional Medicine helps you find and treat your imbalances, so your body can get back to healing itself. It is focused on resolving the root cause of illness to reverse and prevent disease, and to optimize your health.
It is also evidence based. Treatments are based on the latest research from around the world, and on clinical observations of hundreds of Functional Medicine physicians. Real healing does not alway fit neatly in the confines of a costly, randomized double-blinded placebo controlled study.
Another important truth addressed in FM, is that our body has the ability to heal and prevent nearly all the diseases of aging. Yup, the sooner you embrace Functional Medicine, the younger and healthier you will stay as you embrace, and fully live, your years to come.
Where Does Your Golden Road Take You??
Maybe you have some questions you’d like to ask before you make a decision on becoming a patient. Please make sure you have fully read the FAQ section! If you are ready to make the investment in yourself, Dr. Courtney would be happy to answer any additional questions about whether or not Golden Road Integrative and Functional Medicine is right for you.
