Functional medicine is the future of how we approach healing. Treat the whole person; not just the symptom …
Treating symptoms is the biggest problem with medicine today. The symptom should be considered the proverbial tip of the iceberg; the part we can see. But what has created it? What is truly responsible for that symptom and how can we prevent it occurring again?
That’s the core of functional medicine—developing a deeper understanding of health in order to get at the root of the problem and prevent health issues well into the future. But to really understand what functional medicine is, we need to compare it to its conventional counterpart …
Treat the Individual, Not The Disease
Regular medicine works by identifying the disease or condition and treating the resulting symptoms with the appropriate medication. The symptoms are zapped, you receive medicine for the pain or the “flare ups,” and then you get back to work.
Until the next time, of course. Because failing to unearth the reason for the problem in the first place means that there will be a next time.
What About More Serious Problems?
When the low-level ailments that we all get from time to time – coughs, colds, fever and so on, give way to more serious health issues like diabetes and obesity, simply treating the symptom is not enough. A short-term fix is no substitute for eradicating the root cause, and the most affordable, most effective solution (prevention) … well, it’s already too late for that.
Maintain Equilibrium
Functional Medicine takes each of the body’s key systems into account. No part of our bodies operates independently of the other parts. Our systems, organs, muscles, and motor skills are all connected. There is no subordinate element; everything matters.
Our bodies are incredibly good at maintaining equilibrium, which in medicine is referred to as “homeostasis,” with myriad systems and functions achieving perfect balance most of the time. So when you’re presented with a complaint or ailment, it is vital to consider the affected part’s relationship with the rest of your body.
Mind, Body, Spirit & Community
While integrative medicine is most certainly an alternative approach to medicine, it should be noted that it is not “Alternative Medicine.”
Integrative medicine uses proven medical solutions—from prescription to diet and even psychotherapy—to maximize wellness and ensure you get the most out of each and every day.
That means going beyond merely preventing disease to examining behaviors and habits, helping patients to develop improved self-care regimens to live more fulfilling, more satisfying lives on all fronts. Integrative medicine favors more natural and less invasive alternatives wherever possible, and developing healthy preventive measures goes a long way in achieving that end.
We Need an Answer to Conventional Medicine
Does that sound like “Alternative medicine?” Well frankly, we need an alternative.
We’re taking more medication than ever before. 7 out of 10 Americans take at least one daily prescription drug and 1 in 6 people rely on anti-depressants just to make it through their day.
And is all of this making us better? No. Our health is still in decline. We’re getting heavier, slower and less happy. Heart disease, cancer, stroke and other health issues are as prevalent as ever.
We’re all taking more medicine and yet America’s health is getting worse.
We’re doing the same things over and over—but expecting the results to change? They won’t, until we change our approach, and change the way we think about getting better and living healthier lives.
Here at NuLife Institute, we practice functional medicine; treating the whole patient with a fully customized Aging Strategy designed to help minimize and prevent future health issues while maximizing your freedom, focus, energy and fitness from day to day.
Stay tuned for my next e-mail to learn more about the cutting-edge science we use for our Functional approach … and how it could potentially change your life forever …
We’ll talk soon!
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