What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease. It uses a systems-oriented approach and engages both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centred focus of medical practice to a more patient-centred approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.

Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can also influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.