Last Updated on January 22, 2025
Functional medicine is a patient-centered, science-based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than simply treating symptoms. It integrates conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies and lifestyle interventions to promote optimal health and well-being.
Key Principles of Functional Medicine:
Individualized Care: Each person is unique, and treatment plans are tailored to their specific genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
Root Cause Focus: Functional medicine practitioners aim to uncover and address the underlying causes of illness, which may include imbalances in hormones, nutrition, gut health, or immune function.
Systems Biology Approach: The body is seen as an interconnected system where disruptions in one area can affect others. Practitioners consider how different systems (e.g., digestive, nervous, immune) interact.
Holistic View: It incorporates physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of health, recognizing the role of lifestyle, diet, stress, and environment.
Patient-Practitioner Partnership: Emphasizes collaboration between the patient and practitioner, empowering the patient to take an active role in their health.
Learn More about Functional Medicine at Inner Gate Health & Wellness
Common Tools and Methods:
Comprehensive Assessments: Detailed health histories, questionnaires, and advanced lab testing.
Lifestyle Interventions: Nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep optimization.
Nutritional Supplementation: Use of vitamins, minerals, and other supplements to correct deficiencies or imbalances.
Integrative Therapies: May include acupuncture, herbal medicine, or other complementary practices.
Conditions Often Addressed by Functional Medicine:
Chronic conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and thyroid issues.
Digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or leaky gut.
Hormonal imbalances, including adrenal fatigue or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, or brain fog.
Metabolic syndrome and weight management challenges.
Functional medicine aims to restore balance and support the body’s natural ability to heal, providing a comprehensive and sustainable approach to health and wellness.
The naturopathic physicians at Inner Gate Health & Wellness are both functional medicine physicians. By combining the practices of functional medicine with their many years of practice experience they are able to provide outstanding care in the safest and most holistic way.