Functional medicine is a biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and then dealing with the root cause of illness and disease. Every symptom a person has could reflect a contributing cause of their illness. So, a functional medicine practitioner near Phoenix, AZ, will look beyond the apparent, look beyond the symptoms, and try to get to the root cause.
For example, a person might have depression because of several factors, including something that most people do not link to depression, like inflammation. The flip side is true as well. Something that a person might think is purely physical, like inflammation, could be affecting them mentally and emotionally. For this reason, a functional medicine practitioner near Phoenix, AZ is going to examine the whole person, including their environment, lifestyle, diet, their sleep patterns, as well as their genes to find a treatment that addresses the root cause of their illness and provide solutions that go way beyond just suppressing symptoms.
Functional medicine providers dedicate time to getting to know their patients. This includes finding out triggers, including stress, allergens, poor nutrition, as well as the patient’s microbiome that can be affecting their health. Once the doctor identifies the triggers, they work to create a customized living plan. This plan addresses several aspects of your life, including your physical, mental, and emotional needs. It may require removing yourself from stressors or making adjustments in other aspects of your life to achieve long-term health and well-being.