Many people who are in pain, or an undesired state of health do not have a clinically identifiable disease or pathology. Their problems are based in what can best referred to as “derangements or blockages in normal physiology”, or dysfunctions in one or more organ system that if left unchecked would ultimately lead to disease and pathology.
Typically these patients have been told that everything looks normal based on the standard tests routinely run by their doctor (physical examination, urinalysis, blood tests etc.).
Functional medicine practitioners know that level of discomfort and suffering our patients are experiencing are by no means “normal”. Medical attention is needed because there is an obvious sense of not being in optimal health.
So why rely on diagnostic techniques and standard
interpretations that are designed to identify extreme disease states and
pathology only?
I prefer to use interpretative and diagnostic methods that can
help assess a wide range of problems that are more suggestive of
sub-clinical or functional problems.
As a healthcare provider working in the realm of function and
dysfunction, many tools and perspectives are used to achieve greater health and well being:
Taking time to understand a patient's complete medical history
Consideration of past medical records and previous laboratory tests
Physical examination of the body itself
Blood, Saliva, urine or stool testing
Using treatment modalities, that are effective, from multiple disciplines
Careful observation over time
Open communication between practitioner and patient
Functional medicine is about offering the ultimate in medical detective services.
