The term "functional medicine" was coined
in 1993 to describe the integrated medicine of the future.
Functional medicine links research in basic sciences with
emerging options in clinical care to create safe and effective
treatment of complex, chronic medical conditions. It is
a patient-centered approach that goes beyond a typical holistic
model to balance core functional processes in the body such
as cellular metabolism, digestive function, detoxification,
and control of oxidative stress. A combination of elements
comes together in the functional medicine model:
- A thorough understanding of physiological and biochemical
function, from cellular to organ levels;
- Knowledge of well-established interventions for altering
gene expression; and
- An intensive study of the fundamental biological processes
that can cut across organ systems and medical specialties.
This model produces a unique approach to health care that
focuses on achieving health through optimizing physiological
function.
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