top of page

Your Guide to Functional Medicine

  • Mainline Pharmacy
  • Nov 1, 2024
  • 3 min read
Spa supplies - hot stones, towels, candles, oil, scrub salts

Nutrition, environment, and genes all contribute to our health and well-being. Although traditional treatments for chronic conditions and overall health have been used for years, many physicians have begun exploring alternative methods to treat diseases to reduce the number of prescription medications that patients take. These alternative methods can be described as functional medicine.

 

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is a patient-based approach that aims to discover the root cause of chronic disease, rather than mask it. The idea behind functional medicine focuses on discovering each symptom and how they contribute to an individual’s illness. It is centered around the patient’s whole mind and body, to understand the underlying cause of illness. 


diagram of one condition with many causes and one cause with many conditions
One Condition, Many Causes vs One Cause, Many Conditions

 

For example, depression can stem from numerous symptoms, such as inflammation. Similarly, inflammation can lead to conditions like depression. ¹

 

Who can benefit from functional medicine? 

Anyone can receive treatment or benefit from functional medicine, including healthy individuals. Those with long-lasting or complex conditions may find functional medicine especially helpful. Some of these conditions may include: ²

  • Autoimmune diseases

  • Acute and chronic pain

  • Breathing disorders

  • Headaches and migraines

  • Cancer 

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Digestive disorders

  • Infertility 

  • Insomnia 

  • Menstrual issues

  • Mental and emotional health issues

 

What are some types of functional medicine? 

Functional medicine encompasses a wide range of techniques and practices. Treatments include approaches for physical, emotional, and spiritual health to help achieve optimal health and healing. ²

 

Acupuncture 

Acupuncture involves inserting tiny needles into specific points on the body to maintain flow and balance. The practice is commonly used to help relieve pain and has gained popularity in use for managing stress levels. ³ There have been different views of acupuncture around the world; for example, in traditional Chinese medicine, its use is known for balancing the flow of energy while in Western practice it is used to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissues. ³

 

Chinese Herbal Medicine

The herbs used in Chinese herbal medicine are classified into the five tastes – sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour – that correspond with the five earth elements to be used to help treat different areas of the body. These herbal medicines consist of plants, minerals, or animal products that are compounded into different forms such as powders, pastes, lotions, or tablets. Different herbs contain different properties to help balance different parts of the body. Many studies have shown Chinese herbal therapy to be successful in helping to treat disorders, especially gynecological and gastrointestinal disorders. ⁴

 

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractors are licensed health care professionals that use techniques to adjust and modify the spine and joints, emphasizing the body’s ability to health itself. ⁵ Chiropractic therapy can be useful for anyone, but specifically those that struggle with pain targeting the back, neck, pelvis, knees, hips, and other joints.

 

Culinary Medicine

Culinary medicine is a new, evidence-based technique that combines food and cooking with the science of medicine. ⁶ Food can have a big impact when it comes to chronic illness and every person’s diet will differ based on their diagnoses and symptoms. Culinary medicine attempts to relieve symptoms of chronic illness and improve patient health with a specifically curated diet. Some of these conditions include arthritis, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and much more. ⁶

 

Holistic Psychotherapy 

Holistic psychotherapy combines traditional psychotherapy with less traditional methods of healing. These methods include: ⁷

  • Traditional talk therapy

  • Hypnosis

  • Hypnotherapy

  • Guided imagery

  • Breathing and relaxation


Massage Therapy

Massage therapy uses manipulation of the body’s soft tissue to help promote overall health and well-being. ⁷ Massage therapists use different techniques to relieve pain and tightness in the body, especially for those with muscle pain, muscular disorders, and digestive disorders.

 

What are the benefits of functional medicine?

Functional medicine enables the body to heal naturally, alongside any medication a patient may be taking. It allows the body to relax, reducing stress to help achieve optimal health for both body and mind. ⁷ If you are unsure if functional medicine is right for you, talk to your healthcare provider! Our pharmacist can also recommend various supplements to help improve overall health or target specific needs.



Sources:

 

 
 
 

3 Comments


Carrie Blevins
Carrie Blevins
19 minutes ago

I was bedbound for years with chronic health issues. After switching to a nutrition-based lifestyle and using an herbal formula from World Rehabilitate Clinic, my health fully turned around—without relying on conventional medicine. This is just my personal experience, not medical advice. I understand it may not be for everyone, but it truly changed my life.

Like

Mr Peter
Mr Peter
May 25

Hello world people i wish to share my testimony on how i got cured from herpes few months back, i was looking at symptoms and at the same time looing for help on how to get rid of the virus because i was having frequent outbreaks which was very painful, all thanks to dr harry i came across his post i decided to contact him if he could help my situation, i explained everything to him and he said he have the cure i had no choice than to order the medicine from him after ordering the medicine it got here in 4 days through fedex it had prescription and diet plan attached to it which i was on for…

Like

Kajal Dongare
Kajal Dongare
Feb 03

This was very informative! for more information visit us on clinical research courses

Like
bottom of page