Functional Medicine Specialist

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is an approach to your health care that focuses on getting to the root of your problem, identifying the specific cause (or causes) of your symptoms. Getting to the true source of the problem means that the team at Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center takes extra time to explore the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of your life.

As you talk with your provider, they identify each factor that may contribute to your symptoms. Then they develop customized treatment that matches your unique needs.

Why does functional medicine emphasize the root cause?

You may have a headache, treat it with an over-the-counter medication, and get relief from the pain. That’s a classic example of treating a symptom, which is how most conventional medical practices operate.

But if your headache is caused by stress, a food allergy, a pinched nerve in your neck, a jaw disorder, or one of the many possible underlying causes, your headache will continue to return. The only way to stop your headache is to find the root cause rather than treating the symptom of pain.

The functional medicine specialists at Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center don’t simply ask, “What drug matches your disease and symptoms.” Instead, they take a holistic approach, exploring why you have the problem and what they can do to restore function.

Conventional medicine also determines a diagnosis and then treats it with the standard protocol. The problem with that approach is that everyone’s symptoms and their response to medications are different depending on their genes, environment, and lifestyle. Only treatments that address the right cause and take individual differences into consideration will have a lasting effect.

What types of treatment are used in functional medicine?

Although functional medicine physicians can and do prescribe medication, they also embrace holistic and integrative options. Your treatment may include many possible therapies drawn from conventional and/or alternative medicine, such as:

• Diet and nutrition
• Exercise
• Stress management
• Meditation
• Supplements

The team at Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center also offers specialized diagnostic testing that helps them accurately determine the physical source of your symptoms. For example, they perform nutritional genetic testing and gastrointestinal testing that reveals details such as the types of bacteria in your gut and how well they function.

To learn how functional medicine supports your optimal health, call Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center, or book an appointment online.