Functional Medicine FAQs

Functional medicine differs from conventional medicine by focusing on identifying and treating the root causes of health issues rather than just managing symptoms. It involves detailed medical histories and considers factors like genetics, mind-body connections, and environmental impacts. This comprehensive approach allows for personalised care emphasises prevention and holistic treatment.

For example, if you have high blood pressure, a conventional doctor may prescribe medication to lower it. In contrast, a functional medicine doctor would investigate the underlying causes of your high blood pressure and create a treatment plan to address these causes directly.

Absolutely! Functional Medicine is based on scientific research demonstrating the significant impact of lifestyle factors on health. By focusing on diet, sleep, exercise, stress, and relationships, Functional Medicine has shown long-term improvements in various conditions.

Most illnesses are triggered by lifestyle factors, and clinical research shows that targeting these five areas has a broad impact on health. Patients who address these factors often see lasting improvements.

While conventional medicine is effective for short-term issues like surgery or acute infections, Functional Medicine offers a holistic and personalised approach that many patients prefer.

See a functional medicine doctor for prevention, chronic symptoms, or when you want to avoid lifelong medications. It’s also helpful when conventional doctors can’t provide answers or if you want to improve your overall health and well-being.

Yes, we can help with your health problem. Whether you have a chronic condition, frequent illness, fatigue, chronic pain, or want to improve your health, we offer support. We provide guidance if you want to reduce prescription medications or need advice on supplements.

Unlike conventional medicine, we focus on finding the root causes of illness. Our comprehensive evaluations include tests for food sensitivities, hidden infections, environmental toxins, mould exposure, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, and genetic testing. Identifying these factors allows us to recommend changes in diet, lifestyle, supplements, or medications to improve your health.

Functional medicine effectively treats a wide range of chronic conditions, including:

• • Gut problems (IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease)
  • Women’s health issues (PCOS, Endometriosis, menstrual disorders)
  • Chronic pain
  • Brain fog
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Allergies
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Digestive disorders
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Mental health conditions

We focus on identifying root causes and providing personalised treatment plans to help you overcome these challenges and improve your health.

Certainly! Many patients find that integrating Functional Medicine with conventional treatments, such as medication or surgery, helps to improve their overall health and well-being. We are not saying there is no place for conventional medicine and we can support your existing treatment plans with alternative therapies and approaches.

Healing is a journey, and how soon you’ll start feeling better can vary from person to person. Chronic illnesses take time to develop, so it’s important to be patient with your body as it heals. Some patients notice significant improvements within the first month, while others may need more time. Our standard treatment programs typically last 3 to 6 months, providing ample time to restore your body’s function.

It’s helpful to remember that your condition didn’t develop overnight. Years of stress and illness have taken their toll, and it takes a proper amount of time to restore function. There are many factors to consider, such as your specific diagnosis, how long you have been unwell, and how well you are able to follow the treatment plan. On average, it takes about one month of repair for each year you have suffered from a problem or symptom.

While we can’t give an exact timeframe, focusing on the root cause of your illness ensures that the healing process unfolds naturally, leading to long-lasting results. Patience and dedication to your treatment plan are key to your journey toward better health.