"Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership." "By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual."

~ www.functionalmedicine.org

Often but not always Functional Medicine involves using lab tests (not included in the price of the consultation) to discern organic function, followed by recommendations for environmental management, lifestyle, including stress management, exercise, rest, diet, use of herbal medicine, and nutritional supplementation.