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Functional Medicine
Summary:

Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease.

Description:

The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) is the official body that offer the Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner programme and describes Functional Medicine as addressing the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease.(1)

Functional Medicine is a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing to an individual’s illness. (1) Functional medicine embraces much of the philosophy of Integrative Medicine but also employs a systems-oriented medical approach that works to identify and understand the underlying or root causes of a disease. Although integrative medicine and functional medicine have similarities, there is one important distinction. Functional medicine strives to determine the root cause of each and every disease. Rather than simply making a diagnosis and then determining which drugs or surgery will best treat the condition, Functional Medicine practitioners dive deep into the patient’s history and biochemistry and ask why this patient is ill. (2)

When you visit a Functional Medicine practitioner, you can expect to spend a lot more time with them than you would with a conventional provider. You can also expect to do a lot of talking, as a large part of Functional Medicine is exploring your detailed personal and family history, the circumstances around your first symptoms, and the experiences you may have had with other healthcare providers. (1)

The system of medicine practised by most physicians is oriented toward acute care, the diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness that is of short duration and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg. Physicians apply specific, prescribed treatments such as drugs or surgery that aim to treat the immediate problem or symptom.

Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the methodology and tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease. In most cases it does not take into account the unique genetic makeup of each individual or factors such as environmental exposures to toxins and the aspects of today’s lifestyle that have a direct influence on the rise in chronic disease in modern Western society.

Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with “alternative” or “integrative” medicine, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques. (3)

History:

In 1991, the Institute for Functional Medicine was founded with seven defining characteristics of functional medicine. These included:

  • Patient centered versus disease centered
  • Systems biology approach: web-like interconnections of physiological factors
  • Dynamic balance of gene-environment interactions
  • Personalised based on biochemical individuality
  • Promotion of organ reserve and sustained health span
  • Health as a positive vitality—not merely the absence of disease
  • Function versus pathology focused

It was the recognition in 1991 that the definition of functional in medicine was changing from a singular focus on psychosomatic to an integrated focus including the whole biological system that led to the founding of the Institute for Functional Medicine. (4)

The information that emerged over several decades revolutionised medicine by creating a framework for the understanding that the origin of disease in the individual resulted from the interaction of their unique genome/epigenome with their environment, diet, and lifestyle.(5)

Learning about functional medicine and the history and origins of the work takes us back to the 50s, 60s and 70s. During that era certain progressive healers were starting to look at “natural medicine” or “alternative medicine”. Discoveries were being made about the nature of our bodies and the nutrients we need. A small and dedicated group of health care professionals started to use nutrients in the form of supplements, combined with herbal treatments that have for the most part been around for thousands of years and they wrapped all that into the new technology of the day – lab based data. (6)

The founding of the Institute for Functional Medicine marked the start of the formalisation of an approach to healing that had taken several decades to develop though the largely unacknowledged initiatives of physicians in many countries, and the inception of training courses that resulted was to go on to create a recognised and established path to the acquisition of the necessary skills and understanding to practise in this manner. As the principle of identifying disease processes upstream and correcting causative factors of disease has become increasingly established as a more useful approach to the prevalent chronic conditions of our time, many other parallel initiatives are gaining recognition for their contributions to this revolution in healthcare.

Science:

Published Sources:

(4) The National Center for Biotechnology Information , US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bland J. Defining Function in the Functional Medicine Model. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2017;16(1):22‐25.
(5) Bland JS. The Natural Roots of Functional Medicine. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2018;17(1):12‐17 The Natural Roots of Functional Medicine

Other Sources:

(1) The Institute for Functional Medicine IFM
(2) Functional Medicine vs Integrative Medicine, Patronus Medical Blog
(3) Dr. Mark Hyman, Why do we need Functional Medicine?
(6) Kalish Institute, The History Of Functional Medicine



Last Updated:28/05/2020
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Practitioners
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Ms Catherine Arnold
Peckham , England

Catherine Arnold is a Registered Nutritional Therapist with a special interest in gut health, fertility and cancer. ...
Leonie Ash
Leonie Ash qualified in nutritional therapy, trained in Reflexology and more recently qualified as a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner ...
Dr Mehmet Mahir Atasoy
Turkey

Prof Dr Mehmet Mahir Atasoy’s Functional Medicine Programme starts with a detailed examination and routine imaging and various measurements ...
Dr Leah Austin
Dr Leah Austin is a GP and Nutritional Therapist, and is the Director of London Nutrition Doctor ...
Mark Bennett
Brimpton/Reading, UK - England (South East)

Mark Bennett has numerous qualifications including a BSc Hons in Nutritional Therapy, BA Hons in Business Finance, certified Gluten Practitioner ...
Gillian Bertram
UK

Gillian Bertram is a Registered Nutritional Therapist, Functional Medicine Practitioner and Integrative Health Coach, as well as a survivor of Grade 3 brain cancer. ...
Dr Nick Bodi
Saint Louis , USA

Nick Bodi is a functional medicine Family Nurse Practitioner. He has worked in functional medicine for many years ...
Evan Brand
USA

Evan Brand is a Podcast Host, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and Nutritional Therapist. He is passionate about healing the chronic fatigue, obesity, and depression epidemics after solving his own IBS and depression issues. ...
Carolina Brooks
London, UK

Carolina Brooks is a fully certified functional medicine practitioner (IFMCP) and has also studied Naturopathy, Nutritional Therapy, Herbal Medicine, Auricular Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine ...
Ms Sarah Stagg Carson
Dallas, USA

Utilizing Functional Medicine principles Carpathia Collaborative, have created a compassionate, 360 degree, science-based, leading-edge approach to health ...
Dr Stacy D'Andre
Sacramento, USA

Dr Stacy D’Andre is an oncologist who brings functional medicine into oncology practice to help patients deal with side effects of treatment ...
Dr Sarah Davies
Stockport, UK

Dr Sarah Davies is an NHS doctor and GP, and completed her training in Functional Medicine at the Institute for Functional Medicine in the US. ...
Dr Damien Downing
Dr Damien Downing MBBS, MRSB practises Ecological Medicine, allergy (or immune dysfunction), the identification and treatment of damaged or disordered immunity ...
Victoria Fenton


Victoria Fenton is a naturopath, nutrition expert and functional medicine practitioner whose journey in healthcare began with her own health crisis which occurred at age 17. ...
Katrina Foe
USA

Katrina Foe is a Cancer Specialised Functional Nutritionist and Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist and offers a unique Cancer Freedom programme and Nutritional Pilates ...
Jo Gamble
Coventry, UK - England (Midlands)

Jo Gamble trained at The Institute for Functional Medicine and become the first UK trained Functional Medicine Practitioner in 2013 ...
Ms Kate Garden
Kate Garden is a clinical nutritionist skilled in a systems biology approach to health, nutrition education, coaching and health optimisation ...
Dr Dani Gordon
London, UK

Dr Dani Gordon MD ABOIM ABIHM is a London based double board certified medical doctor and world leading authority in Integrative and Cannabinoid Medicine ...
Dr Andrew David Greenland
Twickenham, England

Dr Andrew Greenland is a fully qualified medical doctor, and specialist in Integrated Medicine, Functional Medicine, Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine and the Bredesen Protocol ...
Dr Silvia Grisendi
UK - England (South East)

Dr Silvia Grisendi is a qualified Nutritional Therapy and Lifestyle Medicine practitioner ...
Ms Nathalie Gudgeon
Wetherby, England

Nathalie Gudgeon adopts a functional medicine approach to understand the patient’s story and the clinical imbalances at the root of their symptoms ...
Dr Suman Gupta
London, UK

Dr Suman Gupta trained with the Institute of Functional Medicine (AFMCP) and has worked in excess of 15 years as a GP within the NHS ...
Juliet Hayward
London, UK - England (South East)

Juliet received her diploma in Nutrition from the College of Natural Nutrition, worked for the Nutri-Centre specialising in nutritional supplements. ...
Dr Easter Ho
Seattle , USA

Dr Easter Ho uses diet and lifestyle medicine, botanical medicine, intravenous vitamin C (IV vitamin C), IV glutathione, and mistletoe therapy for patients of all cancers and stages, and has a special interest in relapse prevention ...
Jayne Hooper
Brighton, UK - England (South East)

Jayne Hooper gained her Diploma in Nutrition from College of Naturopathic Medicine and also qualified as a Nutritional Therapist ...
Robert Jacobs
London, UK - England (South East)

Robert Jacobs is a naturopath with decades of experience in natural medicine in the UK and US, and a qualified homeopath ...
Ms Haruko Katsuie
Hong Kong

Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional Medicine practitioners spend more time with their patients ...
Dr Jeffery B Kreher
USA

Dr Jeffrey B Kreher is a functional medicine doctor focusing on solving the root cause of illness and proactive healthcare ...
Vicki Lee
London, UK - England (South East)

Vicki Lee uses a functional medicine approach, recognising the biochemical uniqueness of each client and works to tailor individual dietary and lifestyle changes ...
Dr Olivia Lesslar
Dr Olivia Lesslar works with innovative clinics and organisations in LA, London and Sydney, curating personalised programs ...
Dr Jen Levin
South Africa

Dr Levin offers integrative oncology private sessions with clients online globally and in person in South Africa ...
Charlotte Lucas
UK

Charlotte Lucas is a pharmacist, nutritionist, health coach and a functional medicine practitioner ...
Bonnie Mackey
USA

Bonnie Mackey is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, who combines her diagnostic abilities with her clinical knowledge of body-mind systems ...
Dr. Patrick Magovern
Dublin, Ireland

Dr Patrick Magoven owns Drummartin Clinic which is a small, independent, self-funded, medical clinic, he wants to help the patients ...
Dr Dipnarine Maharaj
Boynton Beach, USA

Dr Dipnarine Maharaj practices Immune Regenerative Medicine at the Maharaj Institute to treat and prevent aggressive conditions such as cancer ...
Alex Manos
UK

Alex Manos is a certified functional medicine practitioner with an MSc in Personalised Nutrition, specialising in SIBO and gut related disorders ...
Emma Marshall
Emma Marshall is a registered Nutritional Therapist and Certified Oncology Nutrition Consultant, as well as an experienced chef who specialises in working with breast cancer patients ...
Dr Asiya Maula
Leicester, UK

Dr Asiya Maula is accredited by the Institute of Functional Medicine USA, and trained and mentored by Dr Nasha Winters ...
Dr. Daniela Mo
Dr Daniela Mo MD MRCGP is a GP and Functional Medicine Practitioner based in Wimbledon, offering Functional Medicine services in London. ...
Dr Sally Moorcroft
Dr Sally Moorcroft is one of the most highly trained Integrative and Functional Medicine doctors in the UK and the co-founder of the Northern Centre of Integrative and Functional Medicine (NCIFM) ...
Ms Heather Mountney
Nottingham, England

Heather Mountney is a BANT registered nutritional therapist with a teaching qualification in nutrition. She has more than 9 year’s experience in her field. ...
Anne Pemberton
UK

Anne Pemberton uses an approach that encompasses physical, energetic, mental, intuitive and spiritual bodies (Klinghardt 5 Levels of healing) ...
Dr Ariel Perez
Tijuana, Mexico

Dr Ariel Perez is a functional/integrative physician, specialising in the treatment of chronic illnesses, with additional training and certification at the Institute for Functional Medicine ...
Prof Ben Pfeifer
Lucerne, Switzerland

Professor Ben Pfeifer, MD, PhD is the Director for Research Aeskulap-International and founder of Integrative Cancer Care, a platform providing second opinions to cancer patients ...
Jenny Phillips
Bourne End, UK - England (South East)

Jenny Phillips has degrees in Chemistry, Nutritional Medicine, and is a registered Nutritional Therapist, as well as a cancer survivor ...
Dr ND Rod Santos
Burnaby, Canada

Dr Rod Santos ND practices Naturopathic medicine to provide quality modern naturopathic medical care ...
Edna Batschewa Schur
Switzerland

Edna Schur, with her experience in Functional Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Genetics, Epigenetics and Psychosomatic Work, strives to improve overall wellbeing and health ...
Toral Shah
UK

Toral Shah is a Nutritional Scientist (MSc Nutr Med), integrative medicine practitioner and functional medicine practitioner working with nutrigenomics ...
Dr Rajendra Sharma
Dr Rajendra Sharma is an Integrated Medical Doctor utilising conventional, complementary and functional medicine ...
Maki Takashima
Monterey, USA

Dr Maki Takashima is a Certified Functional Medicine practitioner, a licensed naturopathic doctor and the founder of Natural Holistic Wellness Center ...
Dr Aryan Tavakkoli
Lewes, UK - England (South East)

Dr Tavakkoli provides integrative support for adult patients with previous or current cancer in her clinic Quantum Clinic ...
Dr Siegfried Trefzer
Uckfield, UK - England (South East)

Started by Dr Siegfried Trefzer in 2007, Hightree Medical clinic offers an integrated approach to healthcare, combining conventional medicine with complementary therapies. ...
Dawn Waldron
UK England (South East)

After twenty years of clinical practice, Dawn Waldron has decided to step back from one-to-one clinical work ...
Dr Kirsten West
Wichita, USA

Dr Kirsten West is a Naturopathic Doctor with a Fellowship on the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians and specialises in integrative oncology ...
Dr Lincoln Westall
Rawlins , USA

Dr Lincoln Westfall practices broad-scope family medicine with a functional medicine approach ...
Clinics
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A New Leaf Naturopathic
Canada

A New Leaf offers Naturopathic Treatmentswith naturopathic doctors that are trained to provide primary and integrative medicine to patients ...
AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center
Johnson City, USA

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center offers traditional, integrative, alternative, complementary, herbal, nutritional, stem cell, hormone, holistic and diagnostic medical methods and technologies ...
Aware Clinic
Giza, Egypt

Aware clinic is a Functional Medicine practice operated by Dr Wafaa Abdel-Hadi, the First Certified Functional Medicine Doctor in Egypt and the Middle East ...
Blackheath Complementary Health Centre
London, UK - England (South East)

Blackheath Complementary Health Centre is a multi-disciplinary practice providing complementary and alternative approaches to health care ...
Care Oncology Clinic
The Care Oncology Clinic offers affordable, complementary treatments that can be taken at home with their patented COC Protocol™ ...
Functional Medical Associates
London, UK

Functional Medicine Associates is a team of IFM certified practitioners founded by Pete Williams, who was the first IFM certified practitioner in the UK ...
IV Boost UK
London, UK - England (South East)

At IV Boost clinic, all factors that affect your health and wellbeing will be assessed and then a lifetime treatment plan is devised ...
ImunoMedica
Bucharest, Romania

ImunoMedica provides oncology patients a multi-disciplinary and personalised approach that follows the principle that each patient is entirely unique and must be treated holistically, body-mind-soul ...
Kotsanis Institute of Functional Medicine
USA

The Kotsanis Institute of Functional Medicine was founded by Constantine A. Kotsanis, MD, and provides personalised care, drawing from Dr Kotsanis’ three-decade clinical experience ...
LaValley MD Protocols
Canada

LaValley MD Protocols enable people diagnosed with cancer to optimise anti-cancer treatment and live significantly better, stronger and longer lives ...
London Clinic of Nutrition (The)
London, UK

The London Clinic of Nutrition is a multi-disciplined health practice offering personalised nutritional medicine and naturopathy using the functional medicine approach ...
Lukas Clinic
Arlesheim, Switzerland

In April 2013, Lucas Clinic and the neighbouring anthroposophic Ita Wegman Klinik merged to form the Arlesheim Clinic ...
Main Street Naturopathic Clinic
Moose Jaw, Canada

Main Street Naturopathic Clinic team we look through the symptoms to find the root cause and then create a personalised treatment plan that will be manageable for you and your lifestyle ...
Meditrine Naturopathic Medical Clinic
Langley, Canada

Meditrine Naturopathic Medical Clinic provides naturopathic care for the entire family with a focus in women’s health ...
Miami Beach Comprehensive Wellness Center
Miami Beach, USA

Miami Beach Comprehensive Wellness Center utilises a customised, patient-focused approach, and digs deep into the root causes of symptoms ...
Napiers Herbal Medicine Clinics
Napiers the Herbalists provides original herbal remedies, natural therapeutic skincare, botanical beauty and herbal food supplements and teas, an operates four herbal medicine clinics ...
National Centre for Integrative Medicine
Bristol, UK - England (South West)

The National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM) champions an Integrative Medicine Model, combining conventional, lifestyle and holistic approaches ...
Natural Doctor (The)
London, UK - England (South East)

The Natural Doctor clinic aims to strengthen the body against disease, illness and ageing in the most natural, non-invasive and safe ways possible and using pioneering treatments ...
Nature Works Best Cancer Clinic
Tempe, USA

Nature Works Best is a natural integrative cancer clinic in Arizona, that focuses on natural, holistic, integrative and alternative cancer treatments ...
New Hope Unlimited
Phoenix, United States

The New Hope Unlimited cancer treatment protocols include building the immune system, implementing anti-tumour protocols and detoxification and focusing on restoring the powerful immune system ...
Oasis of Hope (Contreras Clinic)
Playas de Tijuana, Mexico

The C-ACT is a multifaceted approach to attack cancer cells from a physical, emotional and spiritual level while stimulating the immune system ...
Optimum Wellness Integrated Clinic
Edmonton, Canada

The Optimum Wellness Clinic team integrates non-conventional treatments with established evidence for safety and efficacy, alongside conventional treatments to improve patient outcomes ...
Oxford Recovery Centre
Oxford Recovery Centre was founded by Tami Peterson at two separate sites in Michigan offering Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Functional Medicine ...
Peak Health
Greenwood, USA

Peak Health, co-founded by Dr Pamela Peak and Dr Dallas Peak, apply functional medicine, using in-depth testing, and develop a custom, actionable plan for patients ...
Positive IV
UK

Positive IV is a medical clinic providing IV therapy and integrative care services offering a full range of functional medicine to support your health and wellbeing ...
Private GP
Private GP is run by Dr Julia Piper, a GP for 34 years with 12 years experience in functional medicine, having been trained at the Institute of Functional Medicine in the US. ...
Serafin Naturheilpraxis AG
Wolfhalden, Switzerland

Serafin Naturheilpraxis AG is a center for microimmunotherapy, specialising in holistic diagnostics and treatment of chronic diseases ...
The Genomic Clinic
Edmonton, Canada

The Genomic Clinic founded by Dr Harvey Rao MD, specialises in identifying and treating physiological imbalances, diagnosing and treating conditions that are rooted in inflammation ...
The Natural Practice
Dr David Owen, founder of The Natural Practice, provides alternative medicine in a variety of therapies via twelve alternative medical practitioners ...
The Ozone Clinic
Winchester, UK

The Ozone Clinic specialises in functional medicine and techniques to harness the natural power of oxygen and ozone for long-term health benefits ...
The Wellness Lab
London, UK - England (South East)

The Wellness Lab is a clinic in the heart of London, providing Hyperbaric oxygen and Ozone therapy ...
TruMed IV Therapy & Naturopath Clinic
Edmonton, Canada

TruMed Clinic offers complementary and alternative cancer care. Dr Muradov has been working with Cancer patients as part of his Naturopath practice since 2009 ...
Upper Room Clinic
Toronto, Canada

The Upper Room Clinic is a functional medicine clinic that focuses on understanding the fundamental needs of the body ...
Verita Life
Bangkok, Thailand

Verita Life’s individualised alternative treatment approach ensures that the treatment you receive is entirely tailoured to your individual condition ...
Information & Advice
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Cancer Information and Support Society (CISS)
St Leonards, Global (ie: web based)

CISS promotes non-toxic holistic medicine. The educational organisation promotes prevention, self-help and freedom of choice in therapies for cancer...
Cancer Options Ltd
Nottingham, Global (ie: web based)

Led by Patricia Peat, an experienced oncology nurse, Cancer Options offers support and information on orthodox treatments, clinical trials and developments worldwide. ...
Canhelp Inc
Livingstone, United States

CANHELP serves patients and/or family members who wish to take an active part in the healing process and are willing to think outside the conventional medical box. ...
Ellis, Robert (Dr)
USA

Dr Robert B Ellis, is a board certified medical oncologist, integrative and lifestyle medicine expert and certified culinary medicine specialist ...
Institute for Functional Medicine (The)
United States

The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) is building a scalable and robust educational platform using innovative technologies and teaching methods ...
Yes to Life
London, UK - England (South East)

Yes to Life is a charity that offers support to people with cancer in the UK who want to take a proactive role in their treatment ...
Organisations
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Dr Nasha Winters Practitioner Training
USA

Dr Nasha Winters offers doctor-to-doctor consultations and intensive mentorships for clinicians who want to more deeply understand metabolic and integrative approaches to cancer ...