What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine (FM) is evidence based, personalized medicine. In FM we look for the underlying pathologies that contribute to disease.  Our biography becomes our biology, and by listening to our patients’ life stories and health histories we begin to uncover the clues that lead us to the root sources that are contributing to the imbalance or disease they are experiencing.

The core difference between allopathic and functional medicine is that, FM treats the person, the whole person. FM doctors look for and treat the root cause of disease and not just the symptoms.  Though I feel that there have been incredible advancements in the allopathic realm, and if a bus hits me please take me to a hospital - I strongly believe that FM is the correct path when it comes to the management of chronic diseases and sub-acute conditions.  I feel that there is more that can be offered to our patients, beyond another prescription that can help them restore optimal health.

In the current mode, we have chronic diseases diagnosed when the problem is already at an advanced stage.  In FM the goal is to catch abnormalities more upstream so that we can prevent and even reverse the development of so many chronic diseases that are so prevalent today. 

Hili Ben David, MD