Functional Medicine

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is a holistic approach to chronic illness that identifies and treats the root cause rather than treating the symptoms. It takes the patient’s diet, lifestyle, genetics, and environment into consideration when creating a treatment plan.

Another way to look at this is when the body has a problem/symptom, look at it as a fire. Traditional Western Medicine are like the firemen who are running around putting out all the little fires (symptoms). They usually do this through the “here’s a drug” mentality. Now while that sometimes puts out the fire for a short time, it usually does not fix or find the root cause of the fires (symptoms).

Whereas Functional medicine is the detectives that are trying to find the reason the fires keep popping up. This cause can be from many different root causes. So, finding the root cause is critical to keep the fires from popping up again and to reduce the number of fires you have.

How do you find the Root Cause?

There are many tools that are used to find and detect root causes. This can include a thorough in depth history, examinations, blood work analysis, hair and stool analysis, and even lifestyle analysis. Now through this, we will be able to see what the most likely causes are and then start treating these Root causes!

How do you treat the Root Causes?

Treating the Root Causes will vary greatly from person to person depending on what is found. Lifestyle modifications in the form of dietary changes, exercise and stress alleviation are key. In addition, depending on what we find in blood work, supplements that will help treat the root cause will be a big factor. Other tools may be recommended, including tools that help with sleep, relaxation and digestion may be a big factor.

JUST REMEMBER-EACH PERSON IS AN INDIVIDUAL AND TREATMENT NEEDS TO BE CUSTOMIZED!
Some common Functional Medicine Issues that Dr Robison Specializes in are