Functional Diagnostic Medicine has a single goal: Promote health as a positive vitality, beyond the absence of disease. But how is this goal accomplished?
Functional Diagnostic Medicine recognizes that your body naturally wants to be healthy. But the things that your body needs to function at its best might be missing, or something might be standing in the way of its best functioning. Functional Diagnostic Medicine considers the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that can lead up to illness. The factors that affect proper function include a patient’s unique genetic makeup and history, physiology (physical and chemical processes), internal factors (mind, body, and spirit), and external factors (physical and social environment). Functional Medicine practitioners are trained on how to unravel and make sense of a complicated history through a rigorous science-based methodology.
Functional Medicine practitioners take a patient-centered, instead of a disease-centered approach to resolve health challenges. The patient-centered approach looks for the underlying factors that are the root cause of the dysfunction. The disease-centered approach applies specific, prescribed treatments to correct an immediate problem or symptom.
Functional Medicine practitioners examine a wide array of available interventions, and customize a treatment plan to address underlying functionality. Interventions may include diet, supplements, detoxification programs, stress-management techniques, lifestyle counseling, and exercise.
Functional Diagnostic Medicine brings the patient into the discovery process, and tailors integrative treatments that address the individual’s unique needs. The patient becomes an active partner with the Functional Medicine practitioner, thus allowing the patient to be in charge of improving their own health and changing the outcome of disease.
Functional Diagnostic Medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of the root cause of complex, chronic disease. Functional Medicine practitioners support the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.
Changing the direction of your own health begins with a conversation. Contact Dr. Sherri Zaffrin, certified Functional Diagnostic Medicine practitioner, with your questions.
