Mind Body Medicine (415) 483-1149
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Functional and Integrative Medicine Practitioner?
Functional Medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness and disease, rather than just treating symptoms. It uses specialized lab testing and personalized treatment plans to address imbalances in the body, such as hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and gut health issues, to help restore balance and optimize health.
Integrative Medicine combines conventional medicine with complementary and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, and nutritional counseling, to promote wellness and prevention, and treat the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.
My doctor said my labs were "normal". Is he/she right?
In a functional medicine approach, lab results are evaluated in the context of optimal ranges for each marker, rather than just looking at whether the results fall within a normal range. While conventional lab reference ranges are designed to identify disease states, functional medicine practitioners use a more comprehensive approach to evaluate the results and look for potential imbalances or dysfunctions that may not yet be clinically significant.
Therefore, if your doctor said your labs were "normal" based solely on the conventional reference ranges, it is possible that there may still be imbalances or dysfunctions that need to be addressed from a functional medicine perspective. It may be worth seeking a second opinion from a functional medicine practitioner who can interpret your lab results in the context of your health history and symptoms, and evaluate for potential underlying issues that could be impacting your health.
Does Functional Medicine replace the need for medications?
Functional medicine does not necessarily replace the need for medications that you may be taking, but it can help optimize your health in a way that may reduce your reliance on medications over time. The ultimate goal of functional medicine is to identify and address the root causes of health issues, which may include lifestyle factors, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, gut health issues, and other underlying dysfunctions.
Functional medicine practitioners work with their patients to develop personalized treatment plans that may include lifestyle changes, targeted supplementation, and other therapies to help restore balance and optimize health. In some cases, these interventions may help reduce or eliminate the need for medications, but this should always be done under the guidance of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
It is important to note that functional medicine is not opposed to the use of medications when necessary, and in some cases, medications may be a critical part of a person's treatment plan. Functional medicine practitioners work collaboratively with their patients' medical doctors to ensure that all aspects of their care are coordinated and effective.
Can Functional Medicine help with my Stress, Anxiety, Joint Pain, Weightloss, Weight Gain, Depression, Brain Fog
Functional medicine can help address a wide range of health issues, including stress, anxiety, joint pain, weight loss, weight gain, depression, and brain fog. Functional medicine takes a holistic approach to health and seeks to identify and address the underlying root causes of health issues rather than just treating symptoms.
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