{"id":35758,"date":"2023-05-12T17:17:22","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T17:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=35758"},"modified":"2025-01-24T00:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T00:12:09","slug":"what-is-functional-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/what-is-functional-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Functional Medicine And Is It Worth Trying for Yourself?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is functional medicine? Discover the basics including its key benefits, if it\u2019s a legitimate form of healthcare, and how to know if and when it\u2019s right for you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

Consistently dealing with wellness woes despite your best efforts to tackle them? Does your doc say things look A-okay on paper but you just *know* that something’s off? Or do you have the sense that your mind, mood, and body aren\u2019t as optimal as they can or should be? If these scenarios sound familiar, it may be time to look into functional medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n

Ahead, learn more about what functional medicine is exactly, what a personalized protocol might entail, and its most impressive benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n

What Is Functional Medicine?<\/h2>\n\n\n

According to the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), this modality focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease<\/a>. Functional medicine dietitian Sam Schleiger, MS, RDN, CD, CLT, IFNCP<\/a>, explains that it\u2019s highly personalized to each individual \u201cwith special attention to the unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that contribute to an individual’s overall health and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

As Elisa Angelone, LAc\u2014a licensed acupuncturist, board-certified herbalist, and co-founder of Den Mother<\/a> in Venice, California\u2014adds, functional medicine involves assessing and optimizing the function of the body, ideally before illness manifests. \u201cBy using symptoms and health history as clues to know where the body may be struggling, we provide personalized tools and remedies to help up-level function and healing,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Angelone likens adverse symptoms to flags that the body waves, attempting to get your attention to seek help. \u201cFunctional medicine looks at those flags as clues to help uncover underlying distress. It follows the clues like breadcrumbs that can lead us to the true root cause of dysfunction,\u201d she shares. \u201cIt is only from this place that we can truly help the body to heal and thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Types of Functional Protocols<\/h2>\n\n\n

Functional medicine employs alternative therapies to promote a state of wellness and help stave off serious health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n

Schleiger says that a functional medicine protocol may include the likes of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n