Functional Medicine

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the
healthcare needs of the 21st century. 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. Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their
patients, listening to their histories and evaluating the interactions among genetic, environmental,
and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way,
functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.

Copy provided by The Institute for Functional Medicine

The Institute for Functional Medicine is a nonprofit educational organization
Visit us at www.functionalmedicine.org or call us at 1-800-228-0622