Explaining Functional Medicine Approaches to Family & Friends

Happy New Year!! I just spent the last 10 days hosting family in Denver, CO. It was definitely a treat to see everyone, though stressful in those ways being with family can create. We laughed, we cried. We made merry. We became grouchy. We were sad when it was time to part.

Over the holidays I found myself trying to explain some of what I do as a functional medicine provider—detailing the philosophies of functional health, integrative medicine and holistic healthcare. During the visit, my relatives described varying symptoms of dysfunction but seemed resistant to exploring their root causes, bewildered that one would even ask the question, or dismissive of ideas to help address their problems.  For example, a relative might have complained of persistent allergies, nasal congestion and difficulty breathing, but seemed surprised that there might be any other explanation than the fact that they “lived in a valley,” (which, to be clear, probably does have a large role, but not the only one).  Or another might have recognized that they have a sensitivity to dairy, tomatoes and shrimp only to say they would continue to eat those things—“just a little”—and not be interested in making change.

This all got me thinking and it struck me that a lot of people are not so aware of the impact their exposures have on health or that they can make their lives better through functional medicine approaches.  People may experience dysfunction, but not appreciate it because they perceive it as “normal.”  Or maybe they are not at a level of discomfort yet which propels them to pursue change.  My relatives have told me things like—“I had that checked when I was 12” or “it was done 10-15 years ago.”  Or, they say that because their conventional MD has not suggested changes to their lives, there is nothing to see here. 

Functional medicine doctors and NPs take a different approach.  We recognize that modern humans are complicated organisms living in a chemical soup of exposures.  We take a full-scope view of the whole human being, not just a checklist of symptoms and data points.  We recognize that by addressing lifestyle, environment, food choices, personal healthcare product choices, and toxic exposures in air, water and foods, patients can reduce the load their bodies have to process, tipping them back in the direction of health, fewer symptoms, less inflammation and better life experiences.

Remember, you don’t have to go big with these changes. Take it one step at a time as you address each piece of the puzzle. Starting small can help create long-lasting changes. This is a great reminder for me as I ruminate over the recent holiday visit with relatives. My parents were quite certain that the air purifier I had recommended last year was making a huge difference for them in their bedroom. “Why not get one for every room?” I suggested. My parents looked thoughtful. “Yes, that might be worthwhile,” they conceded.

A step in the right direction 😊