Being familiar with holistic healthcare that encompasses integrative and functional medicine is advantageous. Many individuals today feel that it is not enough to decrease the symptoms of a disease. Instead, hospitals and clinics should focus on what causes the illnesses itself. With this mindset, doctors and medical research specialists came up with a better way to manage and eliminate sickness.
Today, many people enjoy the benefits of having integrative and functional medicine in a hospital setting. However, are the two terms different? What should patients choose when looking for a perfect solution?
Are Integrative And Functional Medicine The Same?
There are many experts from integrative and functional medicine, along with other professionals that confuse these terms. However, there are similarities and differences that people can get from integrative and functional medicine.
The goals of both integrative and functional medicine are the same. Patients can achieve holistic health and wellness by treating the symptoms’ source and addressing underlying health problems. Moreover, practitioners of this healthcare approach focus on nutritional supplementation rather than pharmaceutical drugs.
Furthermore, integrative and functional medicine also helps the individual rather than the disease. For this reason, prevention is one of the initial procedures for treating a person.
Integrative Vs. Functional Medicine: Which Is Better?
Since the start of the 21st century, there are various medicine approaches to incorporate all that is related to improving oneself. With the rising trend of alternative medicine nowadays, it may be hard to choose which is genuine and only takes your money away. So, if you want to select between integrative or functional medicine, know its differences below.
Integrative Medicine
According to integral medical experts, integrative medicine looks at a person’s lifestyle, history, habits, and spiritual aspects of a health condition. In this case, ideas like meditation, yoga, and acupuncture are integrated. But, it also includes the patient-doctor healing relationship, as well as emphasizes the mind-body-spirit technique. Integrative medicine aims to fix the person rather than the symptoms of a disease that the patient has.
Moreover, integrative medicine also is a collaboration between many healthcare techniques. Meaning, there is more than one doctor that can cure you of your sickness. Treatment involves complementary and conventional ways to manage a person’s life.
Functional Medicine
Like integrative medicine, functional medicine also looks within a person and not just at the disease itself. However, functional medicine is systems-based, meaning it also incorporates what our body’s condition is experiencing. From gastrointestinal to immunity and cardiovascular systems, functional medicine evaluates a person’s biochemical individuality. Furthermore, functional medicine only needs one specialist with years of training for a one-on-one solo analysis.
Which Practice Should A Patient Consider For Their Treatment?
Since you already know the difference between integrative and functional medicine, it may be best to start investing in either the healthcare approach. Our suggestion is not to neglect one or the other for its various benefits in healthy living. Notably, both integrative and functional medicine complements each other when it comes to eliminating the source of all the diseases. Hence, the medical practice that the patient should consider is incorporating these treatments in holistic healthcare.
For more information regarding integrative and functional medicine, visit your nearest integrative or functional medicine doctor.
