What is Integrative or Functional Medicine?

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To quote the Institute of Functional Medicine, "The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.

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By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions. As a result, Functional Medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual."

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So basically, Functional/Integrative Medicine understands that every system of the body is connected and interrelated. The body as a whole is tested, and root causes are searched for and treated. 

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Finding an Integrative or Functional Medicine Doctor

 

The following resources have comprehensive doctor lists, but I can't guarantee each doctor on these lists. However, many of these sites not only have doctor lists, they have suggested questions to ask doctors on the phone or during your visit to see if they meet basic criteria. 

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Taking the time to understand Functional Medicine and the types of doctors and practitioners that are trained in this field, will serve you well over your lifetime. They are not prescription hounds, but instead have incredible lab and blood tests that you never knew existed that help assess the internal terrain of the body, thereby causing your symptoms. Good luck! And if you need further help, don't hesitate to reach out for a consultation. I can save you 100's of hours of research time. ♥

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The Institute For Functional Medicine  

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Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine

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The Thyroid Pharmacist  (Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD is extremely knowledgeable on the thyroid. She gave me a lot of tools and knowledge on the thyroid. Since the thyroid affects every cell in your body, it's important to learn about it and have a doctor who knows about it as well.  

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Yahoo Natural Thyroid Hormones (NTH) Group (This group contains one of the best list of Good Doctors anywhere on the internet, both the US and Canada, plus one for all other countries. I have used and recommended this list many times over the years. Because it is a patient to patient private group, you get good honest feedback on these doctors. Like I said above, having a doctor that at the very least knows how to properly test the thyroid and is willing to prescribe natural desiccated thyroid medication if needed, is a good place to start.)

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Other ways to find a good doctor:

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**Word of Mouth

**Compounding Pharmacies

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Note: Dr. Josh Axe also put together a Top 50 Functional Integrative Medical Doctor List. Although some don't still see patients, they educate on a lot of pertinent health subjects so a lot of information can be gained from them.  

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