How to Find the Real Cause of Your Disease and How to Fix It

Root Causes

Functional Medicine emphasizes identifying and treating the root causes of diseases through personalized care and comprehensive analysis. Mark Hyman explains that traditional medicine often uses a "sledgehammer" approach, while Functional Medicine looks at underlying factors and tests for relevant chemical reactions that others might overlook 1. Dr. Boham shares a case of a patient with gastrointestinal issues, highlighting how Functional Medicine's detective work revealed parietal cell antibodies as the root cause of her symptoms 2. This approach allows practitioners to connect the dots that most doctors miss, treating the body as one interconnected system 2.

Functional medicine is all about being a medical detective and asking questions that most doctors don't ask and connecting the dots that most doctors don't connect.

--- Mark Hyman

Dr. Boham also discusses how her own experience with breast cancer led her to Functional Medicine, which helped her understand the unique reasons behind her illness and tailor her recovery plan accordingly 3.

   

Holistic Strategy

The holistic health strategy in Functional Medicine involves an integrated approach that considers various bodily systems and lifestyle factors together. Dr. Boham emphasizes the importance of addressing inflammation and nutritional deficiencies, which can lead to abnormal function and poor health 4. Mark Hyman shares a case of a child with autism, where a comprehensive approach involving dietary changes and detoxification led to significant improvements 5. This method allows practitioners to personalize care and focus on the most critical areas for each patient.

Functional medicine gives us that map to do things, to think differently, to personalize the care.

--- Dr. Boham

The discussion also highlights the role of methylation and the need for proper nutrient intake, as many people suffer from insufficiencies that are not yet classified as diseases but still impact well-being 6.