A Root Cause Approach: Functional Medicine 101

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is a systems-based approach that examines how different factors—such as genetics, environment, and lifestyle—interact to influence health. By identifying and addressing the underlying causes of disease, functional medicine practitioners aim to restore balance and optimize the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Core Principles of Functional Medicine

1. Personalized Care Functional medicine recognizes that each person is unique. Treatments and recommendations are tailored to individual needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.

2. Root Cause Resolution Instead of merely managing symptoms, functional medicine seeks to identify and resolve the root causes of illness. As Dr. Thomas A. Sult states in his book, Just Be Well, "While other doctors ask what, we functional medicine doctors ask why. Why do you have this illness? How are you different?" (Sult, 2013, p. 1) This often involves digging into areas like gut health, inflammation, hormone imbalances, and nutrient deficiencies.

3. Whole-Person Perspective Functional medicine considers the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. It emphasizes how emotional well-being, sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management play crucial roles in overall health.

4. Prevention and Optimization By focusing on early detection and lifestyle adjustments, functional medicine helps prevent disease and supports overall health optimization.

How Functional Medicine Works

Functional medicine practitioners use a variety of tools and strategies to uncover and address health challenges:

• Comprehensive Lab Testing: Advanced tests reveal insights into gut microbiome health, hormone levels, nutrient deficiencies, and more. Although, labs are not a requirement for functional medicine, they do provide great insight as to why symptoms are arising and how to move forward in person's health journey.

•  Lifestyle and Diet Assessments: Reviewing habits like nutrition, sleep, stress, and physical activity to identify areas for improvement.

• Personalized Interventions: Tailored plans that may include dietary changes, exercise routines, stress management techniques, and targeted supplements if needed.

• Collaboration and Education: Empowering individuals to take an active role in their health through education and partnership.

Lifestyle Changes in Functional Medicine

Functional medicine emphasizes sustainable lifestyle changes to promote long-term wellness, including:

• Nutrition: Adopting a whole-food, nutrient-dense diet tailored to your individual needs. 

• Physical Activity: Incorporating regular movement that suits your fitness level and preferences. 

• Stress Management: Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or other relaxation techniques to reduce chronic stress. 

• Sleep Hygiene: Prioritizing quality sleep through consistent routines and a supportive sleep environment.

•  Environmental Awareness: Minimizing exposure to toxins and improving your home environment for better health. 

Conditions Addressed by Functional Medicine

Functional medicine can be effective in managing and preventing a wide range of health issues, such as:

• Autoimmune diseases

• Digestive disorders (e.g., IBS, leaky gut)

• Hormonal imbalances

• Chronic fatigue

• Skin conditions (e.g., eczema, acne)

• Mental health challenges like anxiety and depression

• Metabolic and weight management issues

Final Thoughts

Functional medicine offers a transformative approach to health by focusing on the root causes of illness and promoting holistic, sustainable wellness. By addressing the whole person and emphasizing lifestyle changes, functional medicine provides tools and insights for a healthier, more balanced life.

As a functional nurse and health coach, I help women to achieve their health goals through one of functional medicine's major pillars: lifestyle changes. I utilize functional nursing principles, along with principles from yoga to bring in the mind-body-spirit, and address the whole person. 

Want to learn more? Book your discovery call with me below!

_References

• _{Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Physical activity basics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/index.htm} 
• _{Miller F. W. (2025). Environment, Lifestyles, and Climate Change: The Many Nongenetic Contributors to The Long and Winding Road to Autoimmune Diseases. Arthritis care & research, 77(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25423}

• _{Sult, T. A. (2013). Just Be Well: A book for seekers of vibrant health. Balboa Press.}

•  _{The Institute for Functional Medicine. (n.d.). About functional medicine principles. Retrieved from https://www.ifm.org/about/functional-medicine/}

• _{The Institute for Functional Medicine. (n.d.). Power of functional nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.ifm.org/articles/power-functional-nutrition-2/}

• _{The Institute for Functional Medicine. (n.d.). Toxins and detoxification. Retrieved from https://www.ifm.org/toxins-detoxification/}

• _{The Institute for Functional Medicine. (n.d.). What is functional medicine? Retrieved from https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine/} 

•  _{WebMD. (n.d.). What is a functional medicine doctor? Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-functional-medicine-doctor}