You may have heard the terms, but what do they actually mean for your health? Here's a simple guide to Functional and Integrative Medicine, and how they work alongside your everyday GP care.
Perhaps you've had a health concern that keeps coming back. Or you've been told your test results are "normal", yet you still don't feel like yourself. Many people in this situation start looking for an approach that looks at the bigger picture. Two terms come up often: Integrative Medicine and Functional Medicine. So what do they mean?
Integrative Medicine combines conventional general practice with evidence-informed complementary approaches, such as nutrition, Lifestyle Medicine and mind-body care. It doesn't replace conventional medicine. It works alongside it.
To provide a comprehensive management plan, Integrative Medicine also considers other modalities, such as chiropractic care and acupuncture, where they suit the individual.
An integrative GP is a fully qualified doctor. They can diagnose, prescribe, order tests and refer you to specialists, just like any other GP. The difference is that they may also consider how your diet, sleep, stress, movement and relationships affect your health, and include these in your care plan where it's appropriate.
Functional Medicine focuses on finding the underlying drivers of a health issue, not just managing the symptoms. If you're experiencing fatigue, for example, a functional approach asks why. Is it your sleep, your iron levels, your thyroid, your gut health, your stress, or a combination?
To answer that, a practitioner will usually take a detailed history covering your medical background, family history, lifestyle and environment. They may also recommend pathology testing to build a fuller picture.
Functional and Integrative Medicine are complementary. Functional Medicine helps uncover why a health issue is happening, while Integrative Medicine brings together the right combination of care to address it. Together, they are at the core of preventative and longevity medicine, helping you stay well, not just get well.
Doctors who practise Functional and Integrative Medicine have undertaken further training in these fields on top of their medical qualifications. They always apply evidence-based principles, backed by scientific research, when recommending care.
At Next Practice Norwood, our practitioners use a Functional and Integrative framework alongside evidence-based general medicine. For you, that may mean:
Many people look for an integrative approach when they're managing an ongoing or complex condition, when they feel "not quite right" without a clear answer, or when they simply want a more proactive, whole-person approach to their health. It also suits everyday care. You can see an integrative GP for a script, a check-up or a cold, too.
