Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership.
It is guided by six core principles:
1) An understanding of the biochemical individuality of each human being, based on the concepts of genetic and environmental uniqueness
2) Awareness of the evidence that supports a patient-centered rather than a disease centered approach to treatment
3) Search for a dynamic balance among the internal and external body, mind, and spirit
4) Familiarity with the web-like interconnections of internal physiological factors
5) Identification of health as a positive vitality not merely the absence of disease, emphasizing those factors that encourage the enhancement of a vigorous physiology
6) Enhancing the health span, not just the life span, of each patient
For more information, check out the Institute for Functional Medicine.
