Is Functional Medicine Right For Me?
Raise your hand if you have ever been to the doctor with a list of symptoms that don’t seem to go away. Now raise your hand if your doctor sent you home with a list of prescriptions to treat those symptoms. If you are frustrated, at your wit's end, or simply looking for something different regarding your health care, you are in the right place.
Unfortunately, mainstream medicine seems to have built a culture of band-aids. This has many Americans suffering from chronic illness. In fact, according to the CDC, six in ten Americans suffer from chronic disease and four in ten suffer from more than one. Chronic disease is the leading cause of death in our country. What is a chronic illness? It is a disease that continues to persist or comes back for an extensive period of time.
Thankfully, at Good Medicine, we offer the solution. Our mission is to be the conduit for health and healing through functional medicine.
What is Functional Medicine?
Great question! Functional medicine is a holistic approach geared toward healing the body. According to the Institute for Functional Medicine, functional medicine takes a biological approach to finding the root cause of a disease.
For example, if you were to see us at Good Medicine for depression/anxiety we would examine several factors. We would inquire about your life, diet, and family history. Lab work, in its various forms, would also be of benefit. In this scenario, labs may reveal potential vitamin deficiencies, neurotransmission deficits, prediabetes, thyroid dysfunction, etc. While prescribing is, at times, necessary. This would unlikely be our first step. Rather, our focus would be to partner with you, unearth likely causes, address them, and help you feel your best. This more holistic approach offers the opportunity to be heard, to address the root cause of the issue, and potentially prevent future problems.
The beauty of functional medicine is that this approach is not limited to one particular problem type or presentation. It is multi-disciplinary and client specific; meaning, treatment approaches vary based on your unique needs, access, and health interests. Serving you with intention, this is what sets Good Medicine apart.
Functional Medicine Practitioners Listen.
I am sure you have sat in a doctor’s office desperate for answers only to be sent home with a bottle of pills and no viable solution. At Good Medicine, we are not bound by insurance policies so we have the freedom to spend time with you and really listen to your needs. Click here to read about Good Medicine’s Financial Stewardship + Transparency vision. Being listened to with kindness, compassion, and empathy is a priority.
One of our patients suffered from chronic inflammation, but many doctors shrugged off her symptoms and sent her away. She felt unheard and isolated.
This is how she describes her time with us, “Dr. Sarah and Dr. Tess listen intently. For the first time in years I felt validated and heard. At 24, I was overweight, sluggish, fatigued, and anxious. The doctors at Good Medicine did a comprehensive exam and created a holistic treatment plan. 9 months later I am down 30 pounds, my energy is back, and I feel like myself again!”
How is Functional Medicine different from conventional medicine?
Functional Medicine is a bit different from conventional approaches. In Functional Medicine, your healing is approached holistically - considering various aspects of your health and potential triggers for illness including (but not limited to): nourishment patterns, genetics + family history, habits, lifestyle, environment, etc. In a conventional setting, treatment modalities commonly include prescribing, surgical intervention, or other medical procedures. In Functional Medicine, we aim to unearth the root of the problem, addressing more than symptoms, aiding your healing from the inside out. Treatment modalities include an integration of multi-disciplinary approaches, nutrient balancing, carefully curated dietary/lifestyle adjustments, etc.
What is the cost?
The beauty of our approach is that it empowers you to be at the helm of your health…and not be dependent upon a broken health care system. WE WANT TO SEE YOU THRIVE!
Let’s discuss another scenario. Perhaps you struggle with extreme (and chronic) fatigue. Following your exam and testing, perhaps a few nutrient deficiencies and inflammation are identified. In this scenario, we may tackle these issues by decreasing your inflammation through short-term medicine, nourishment modification, and lifestyle change.
Six months later, your inflammation is abating and your vitamin levels are at a healthy level. Your energy is back and you are ready to conquer the world! Now you no longer need to pay for prescription meds or energy supplements. You are well enough to move forward in life – fatigue and inflammation-free!
Do you know what else that means? The cost of treatment goes away. Pharmaceuticals are often used as a long-term bandaid. Leaving you on pills for a lifetime without ever addressing the root problem. This is a lifetime expense. Functional medicine offers a long-term solution through health and wellness.
In the long run, you will save money because you will no longer need prescriptions and medical treatments. The benefits far outweigh the costs. To learn more about what we believe regarding financial stewardship click here. Additionally, click here to view our wellness plans.
How do I get started with Functional Medicine?
First, let me say thank you for taking your next steps to a healthier you. I am proud of you! It takes strength and courage to step into something new and we are here every step of the way. We believe that compassion is a universal language that can break down walls and create common ground. We also believe in a non-judgmental, inclusive, and open approach to the array of factors that trigger disease in those we serve.
We would be honored to meet with you about your health and wellness needs. To learn more about which conditions we treat click here. We are excited to share in your health and wellness journey. God bless you!
