Functional Medicine
Your Personalized Health Journey
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a thorough investigation into the root cause of disease and disorder.
It’s a natural, science-based approach to health that uses conventional testing and data collection to determine the root cause of a disease or disorder. Part of the data collection is an exhaustive medical review of a patient’s medical history, including examining a patient’s genetic, biochemical, lifestyle, and physiological factors.
Core to this approach is the belief that patients have distinct body chemistries, living conditions, work environments, diets, and stressors. As such, each gets a personalized treatment plan to restore and optimize their health.
It’s a whole system approach to your health and wellness.
How is functional medicine different from conventional (allopathic) medicine?
In functional medicine, doctors see diseased leaves as a sign of disease or dysfunction within the tree or at its roots. Not only do the treatment plans from a functional medicine doctor provide relief from symptoms, but they also address the source of the disease, fortifying patients against continued health decline.
Functional Medicine for Better Health
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What does a functional doctor do?
A functional medicine doctor takes a holistic approach to healthcare by focusing on the underlying causes of a patient’s health issues.
They spend more time with patients to gather detailed information about their medical history, lifestyle habits, and environment to create a personalized treatment plan that may include lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, and stress management techniques.
Rather than just treating symptoms, the goal of a functional doctor is to identify the root cause of a patient’s health issues and provide targeted treatment that promotes overall wellness.
This approach helps patients achieve better health outcomes and improve their quality of life.
Why should I see a functional medicine doctor?
A functional medicine doctor takes a personalized approach to healthcare, focusing on the underlying causes of your health issues and creating a tailored treatment plan to address them. By addressing the root cause, you may experience more significant and long-lasting improvements to your health.
Additionally, functional medicine doctors can provide support for overall wellness, including nutrition, exercise, and stress management, to help you feel your best.
Is a functional doctor the same as a holistic doctor?
Both approaches consider a patient’s lifestyle, environment, and emotional well-being to develop a personalized treatment plan.
However, functional medicine doctors use evidence-based medicine and diagnostic testing to identify the root cause of a patient’s health issues. They then use a combination of conventional medicine and integrative therapies to treat the underlying cause.
Let’s tailor your path to better health using functional medicine.
SuMa Medicine’s holistic approach gets to the root cause of your health problems.
Can functional medicine doctors write prescriptions?
While functional medicine doctors tend to take a more holistic approach to healthcare, they are also trained in conventional medicine and can prescribe medications as needed.
However, functional medicine doctors may also recommend alternative therapies, lifestyle changes, and nutritional supplements to address underlying health issues, which may reduce the need for prescription medications over time.
Do functional medicine doctors work with primary care physicians and specialists?
They may refer patients to specialists for further evaluation or collaborate with primary care providers to manage a patient’s overall health. Functional medicine doctors also use a patient-centered approach that emphasizes communication and collaboration among all members of a patient’s healthcare team.
Is functional medicine covered by health insurance?
Functional medicine is not yet widely accepted by insurance providers because it takes a personalized, patient-centered approach to healthcare, which can involve more time-consuming consultations and specialized testing.
Additionally, insurance providers typically only cover treatments that are deemed medically necessary, and functional medicine may not fit into this traditional definition of healthcare.
Because of this, SuMa accepts direct billing and payment options. Please note that we do not currently accept third-party health insurance.
However, certain medical tests may be covered by insurance providers. It is the responsibility of the patient to contact their insurance company to determine what is and is not covered under their specific plan.
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