Integrative Medicine v Functional Medicine
Dr. Susan Jamieson
Having specialized in these areas for the past decade, I feel they are actually very similar. Both tend to be desired frustrated patients with problems receiving normal Western Medical tests and being told ‘there is nothing wrong’. These statements below may help you understand these modern medical specialties:
American Hospital Association:
‘When it comes to complementary and alternative medicine gaining favor in the healthcare industry, the driving force behind the movement is largely the patients themselves’
The American Board of Physician Specialties:
‘Integrative medicine is designed to provide the patient with the best care possible, using all available means, including traditional and complementary techniques.’
AHA Defines Integrative Healthcare:
‘Complementary medicine: a non-mainstream practice used in conjunction with conventional medicine.
Integrative medicine: Conventional and complementary approaches used together in a coordinated way.’
I am first and foremost a specialist in Integrative Medicine, as from the beginning of my medical career, in the past 30 years, have always strive to provide the best options for patients, on a number of levels. Western medicine is fabulous, however extra layers can be added by managed integration of complementary therapies; attention to diet, exercise and of course mood.
Integrated Medicine – The Power Of Three
I integrate techniques and therapies from both:
- West and East;
- Mind and body;
- The best of Western medicines, herbs and supplements.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a root cause medicine, where we go ‘upstream’ to identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and diseases. We look at the person as a whole – not just the physical body, but also your mind and spirit. One thing out of balance may affect a whole cascade of symptom development and eventually manifest as a disease. This is also Integrative Medicine, using a multi-disciplinary approach.
Haruko Katsuie,
Functional Medical Specialist
Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Hawaii, Pacific University, U.S.A.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Minor in Business, Speech
Member of: Institute of Functional Medicine, International Honor Society of Nursing
More about Haruko: please visit her page here
Nobin K.John,
Functional Health & Fitness Coach
National Board Certified (USA) – Holistic Health & Wellness.
Institute of Functional Medicine (FMCA, USA)- Certified Functional Med. Health Specialist
The Whals Academy (USA) – Certified Whals Protocol Practioner (Autoimmunity)
More about Nobin: please visit his page here
Sara Jefferson,
Naturopath and Homeopath
B.Sc (Hons) Monash University – Biochemistry, Psychology, Microbiology
Dip. App. Sci (Naturopathy) – Southern School of Natural Therapies
Post Grad. Dip. Homoeopathy – Homoeopathic Education and Research Association (HERA) Australia
More about Sara: please visit her page here
Patient-Centered Approach
We aim to understand your whole life history on a timeline starting from when you were in your mother’s womb up until now. We’ll spend a good hour painting your whole life story to identify the trigger and how your symptom/disease developed overtime. We dig deeper than your typical medical history to find out more about you and your overall life.
Root Cause Medicine
Once we get a good grasp of your timeline, we explore the suspected root cause through labs and specialized tests most practitioners don’t perform. These may include testing for gastrointestinal microbiome, food sensitivities, environmental toxins, genetics, hormones and its metabolites – we dig deeper than your regular blood panel tests. Investigating our body chemistry at a biochemical level allows us to pinpoint where in the process things are malfunctioning.
How Is Functional Medicine Different From Traditional Western Medicine?
Traditional Western medicine identifies the end result, or ‘downstream’ symptoms, makes a diagnosis and treats accordingly through pharmaceutical medications, which often come with a whole list of unwanted side effects. Many people take these medications for life. The Functional Medicine approach is that it’s an accumulation of our everyday choices (e.g. in diet) that leads us to the point of no return. Traditional Western Medicine is the solid basis, often better for acute cases. However in Functional Medicine, we’ll tell you is that your disease may be reversible, and that maximizing your quality of life is possible with a lifestyle change.
Multi-Disciplinary Approach
We are a team of practitioners aiming to help you achieve your optimal health. Just like how a community builds its strength from each other, we too, can build a good body – mind, body, spirit – through diverse approach such as, nutrition, yoga, acupuncture, biophotomodulation therapy, to optimize your health. We treat the person as a whole using personalized plan that is right for you. Using this Integrative Medicine approach, on top of Western Medical knowledge, just adds more to your wellness plan.
Specialized Tests:
Often we do more complex tests than the standard blood tests. For instance, neurotransmitters can be assessed by studying the urine, as breakdown by-products will be excreted here. We are interested in digestive enzymes, as well as, the more normal stool tests that look for bacteria or parasites. Candida syndrome, Mould syndrome, Chronic fatigue and Weight loss are also in this realm.