Decoding Functional Medicine Terms

Key concepts for a Personalized Path to Health and Wellness

Functional medicine has been getting a lot more press lately, but because it’s just coming on many people’s radar, some of the terms might be confusing or sound like jargon. This blog post will explore the essential terms in functional medicine, such as root cause, bio-individuality, and epigenetics, and discuss how they contribute to a personalized, holistic approach to healthcare.

Functional Medicine: Functional medicine is a therapeutic approach that focuses on restoring the optimum function of the body and its organs by addressing the root causes of any signs, symptoms, or diagnoses. This method emphasizes the importance of diet and lifestyle modifications as part of the healing process. Chronic disease often stems from a period of declining function in one or more of the body's systems, making it crucial to improve specific dysfunctions to restore overall health.

Phenotype: The phenotype refers to the observable physical properties of an organism, including its appearance, development, and behavior. Essentially, it is the expressed version of your genes.

Genome: The genome is the complete set of genes you possess, carrying the genetic information that determines your unique characteristics and traits.

Epigenetics: Epigenetics are the factors that influence how our genes express themselves, either negatively or positively. By modifying epigenetic factors such as diet and lifestyle habits, we can have a significant impact on the genetic and cellular expressions that manifest as signs, symptoms, and disease states. Understanding and leveraging epigenetics can help us take charge of our internal and external environments to promote better health.

Precision Medicine: Precision medicine is a form of healthcare that uses information about a person's genes or proteins to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases. It focuses on identifying unique disease risks and determining the most effective treatments for each individual.

Root Cause: In functional medicine, the root cause approach emphasizes asking "why" instead of "what" when investigating health issues. This method seeks to identify and address the underlying reasons for illness, rather than just treating symptoms.

Bio-individuality: Bio-individuality is the concept that no two people are the same. Each person has unique biological and genetic traits, as well as diverse life experiences and exposures. Therefore, individuals with the same symptoms or diagnoses may require different remedies because they arrived at their illness through distinct pathways.

Bringing Bio-individuality into Practice: To incorporate bio-individuality into healthcare practice, practitioners must determine the context of each person's situation, which includes factors such as:

• Familial history of similar patterns

• Birth context and childhood memories of diet, digestion, and elimination

• History and environment in which signs and symptoms arose

• Presence of other current signs, symptoms, diagnoses, or medications

• Factors that cause symptoms to flare

• Interventions that have helped in the past or present

Personal Evidence:

Understanding these key concepts in functional medicine can help us embrace a more personalized and holistic approach to healthcare. By addressing root causes, acknowledging bio-individuality, and utilizing epigenetics and precision medicine, we can work towards a healthier, more vibrant future.