Understanding the Functional Medicine Approach to Health
- Emily Jensen
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Although it has been around for decades, functional medicine has recently been gaining more public attention and transforming the way we think about health and wellness. As a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, I love educating people about the benefits and practices of functional medicine, as well as how anyone can incorporate it into their life for better health outcomes.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is best understood as a type of integrative medicine. It is a holistic approach to wellness, meaning it addresses the whole person, including the interconnectedness of their body's systems, along with their unique physical, mental, and social needs.
Furthermore, functional medicine blends conventional (Western) medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies. As such, a functional medicine practitioner generally uses many different treatment modalities, starting with the least invasive first.
However, unlike traditional healthcare, which often focuses on treating symptoms of disease, functional medicine looks at the root causes of illness and prioritizes lifestyle factors as a crucial component to improving health. Functional medicine also emphasizes prevention, healing, and wellness, rather than just managing illness or relying on temporary fixes.
This approach invites collaboration between healthcare providers and patients to create personalized care plans. These plans may include nutrition, physical activity, stress management, mindfulness, social connection and adjunct therapies, such as massage or acupuncture. The goal is to support the body's natural healing processes and improve quality of life.
Key Principles of Functional Medicine
Patient-centered care: Focus on individual needs, preferences, and values.
Holistic perspective: Address physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects as they pertain to a person's health.
Evidence-informed therapies: Use treatments supported by scientific research.
Partnership: Encourage active participation and shared decision-making.
Prevention and wellness: Promote healthy lifestyle choices to prevent disease.
Root cause medicine: Aim to uncover the root cause of illness for a more comprehensive approach to treatment. This includes obtaining a detailed health history to understand factors throughout a person's entire lifetime that may have contributed to illness.
Benefits of Using a Functional Medicine Framework
Functional medicine offers numerous benefits that can enhance overall well-being. Here are some of the most significant advantages:
Improved Symptom Management
Many people with chronic conditions find relief through functional medicine. For example, adopting certain dietary changes and supporting gut health may help improve autoimmune conditions or depression. Combining these with conventional treatments often leads to better symptom control and healing.
Highly Personalized Care
Functional medicine respects that each person is unique. Care plans are tailored to individual lifestyles, genetics, and health goals. Furthermore, a typical visit with a functional medicine practitioner will entail a much more detailed and comprehensive discussion about a person's health history, lifestyle and road blocks to health. This personalized approach increases the likelihood of successful outcomes.
Prevention and Long-Term Wellness
By focusing on lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress reduction, functional medicine helps prevent illness before it starts. One key aspect to this is the use of functional lab testing, which provides an in-depth view of the body by assessing biomarkers that are not routinely measured by conventional lab tests. This proactive approach supports long-term health and vitality.
Greater Patient Satisfaction
Patients often feel more empowered and supported when their healthcare providers consider all aspects of their health. This leads to higher satisfaction and better adherence to treatment plans.
Common Functional Medicine Practices
Functional medicine incorporates a wide range of therapies. Here are some of the most utilized and effective ones:
Nutrition and Dietary Counseling
Proper nutrition is foundational to health. Functional medicine practitioners often provide guidance on how to choose nutrient-dense whole foods, anti-inflammatory or other individualized diets, and supplements tailored to individual needs. For example, while a patient with high cholesterol may be advised to take a statin drug, they would also be counseled on the powerful benefits of fiber and liver support for improving their condition.
Lifestyle Techniques
Everything we do in our daily routine affects our health. Functional medicine practitioners help connect the dots between a person's habits and their state of well-being. This may include strategies to lose weight, reduce stress, improve sleep, increase physical activity and support gut health, amongst other things.
Herbal Medicine and Supplements
Many integrative practitioners use herbs and natural supplements to support immune function, reduce inflammation, and improve overall health. More importantly, because it can be difficult to know which supplements are safe and effective, a knowledgeable functional medicine practitioner can help patients supplement strategically.
Adjunct Therapies
Just as in conventional medicine, every functional medicine provider will have different types of knowledge and skills they can offer clients. In addition to being a Registered Nurse for the past 20 years, I am certified in Reiki and licensed to give vitamin IVs and injections. However, if I believe there is an adjunct therapy that I cannot offer and which could improve my client's state of health, I will refer them to a reputable provider who is qualified to do so.
Functional medicine is not about replacing conventional medicine, but enhancing it. Moreover, not every therapy is right for every person. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new therapy.
Embracing a Holistic Path to Wellness
Adopting functional medicine can be simple and rewarding. Here are some actionable steps to get started:
Assess Your Current Health
Reflect on your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Identify areas where you want to improve.
Find Qualified Practitioners
Look for licensed professionals trained in functional medicine. I founded Jensen Wellness after decades of working in the conventional healthcare system and realizing there was a great need for functional care. I am certified through The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), which offers many helpful resources for both patients and medical providers.
Start Small
Lasting transformation begins with manageable changes and incremental steps. Be patient with yourself, and set realistic goals and expectations.
Functional medicine offers a more comprehensive framework to achieve and maintain optimal wellness. By combining the best of conventional medicine with complementary therapies, it addresses the whole person. This approach empowers individuals to take charge of their health through personalized, evidence-based strategies.
Whether you are managing a chronic condition or simply want to enhance your quality of life, I am here to support your health journey. Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to learn more and get started.
xo
Emily Jensen, RN IFMCP
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