Functional Medicine Addresses Causes of Disease

Updated 7/27/08

How do you find the right medical professional to help you in your fight to take control of your chronic illness? Just looking at the list of physicians in the phone book can be intimidating.

Which type of doctor do you choose? Do you need a specialist? If so, do you need a referral from a primary care physician? Will your health insurance, if you have any, cover this doctor’s services? If not, how much will they cost? What about the cost of lab tests or procedures? Will any of these providers understand your concerns?

One of the best places to start your search is a local health food store. Many people with chronic illnesses have discovered that their problems respond to lifestyle changes, including proper nutrition. Because of this, owners of health food stores may have an idea of what you are facing and may know professionals in the region who can pinpoint the cause of your troubles. Get more than one name in case you are not satisfied after seeing your first choice.

Taking this step also could save you countless hours in personal research. The human body is very complex. A person who does not deal with health concerns for a living, no matter how intelligent or knowledgeable they may be, could literally spend years trying to put the pieces together.

Certain types of professionals, by training or experience, may better understand that chronic illnesses affect the body differently from acute illnesses. Functional Medicine is just one discipline gaining popularity among health care providers from a variety of backgrounds.

According to the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), it is based primarily on prevention and on finding the underlying causes of serious chronic diseases. It’s members can be found in all 50 states and several countries around the world.

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