Functional Medicine

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is a holistic approach to medicine that focuses on identifying the root causes of chronic diseases and addressing these underlying issues. Rather than organ-focused, it takes a system-focused approach, aiming to improve the underlying problem rather than merely treating the symptoms of disease.

The systems focused on are the energy (mitochondrial) system, the immune system, the integrative structure and musculoskeletal system, the circulatory system, the biotransformation-detoxification systems, the cellular communication (endocrine) system, the digestive-excretory system, and the mental/emotional/spiritual systems.

Each system contains many organs. The examinations performed go much deeper than routine tests, even down to the cellular level.

Under the holistic health perspective, functional medicine evaluates individuals not only as bodies but as body/mind/spirit and focuses on achieving health through the integration of these three areas. This approach, which demonstrates that the body can heal itself if the root cause is eliminated, emphasises lifestyle changes, nutrition and nutritional supplements, management of environmental toxic load, and stress management in its treatment applications, alongside conventional treatments.

Gut microbiota imbalances and food intolerances, which are the root causes of many diseases, are key focal points within the system. The most distinctive feature of Functional Medicine is that, rather than following generally established treatment protocols, it strives to provide treatments tailored to the individual characteristics of each person based on a holistic evaluation.

In order to implement this personalised medical practice, every aspect of the individual's life is examined in detail, and efforts are made to gather all possible data through discussions with patients that go beyond routine physical examinations. A detailed medical history is taken to ensure patients play an active role in their treatment, and the process is managed through necessary awareness-raising and a strict follow-up programme.

Patients are included in the process after completing a questionnaire sent to them prior to their visit to the clinic, which contains detailed information about their lives. A Functional Medicine Check-up package, which includes detailed examinations and an initial consultation, is also available.

Misconceptions About Functional Medicine

Functional Medicine is not an alternative approach to conventional medicine. Adjustments made without interrupting ongoing treatments for chronic diseases are reevaluated as needs change. It is not a non-medical perspective; on the contrary, it is much more comprehensive and detailed than the conventional approach, allowing patients to be considered from a broader perspective.

Functional Medicine Treatment and Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases are increasing like an epidemic due to the increasingly stressful environment of our age, the shift away from active lifestyles, the increasing environmental toxic load, the shift away from natural eating habits, and the increasing individualisation of the social structure.

As a result of this increasing burden, the share of chronic diseases in countries' healthcare expenditures is also multiplying. While the current approach in medicine can successfully treat acute diseases, chronic diseases are monitored, flare-ups are managed, and efforts are made to prevent undesirable outcomes.

Functional Medicine, which aims to eliminate the root causes underlying these diseases rather than just diagnosing them, is effective in achieving significant improvement and increased quality of life in chronic diseases. Since a patient-centred treatment approach is adopted, patients focus on healing and strive for change in all areas of their lives, preventing additional problems from arising in the long term.

Which treatment protocols are applied in Functional Medicine?

Based on the root causes identified through data collected from the patient, examinations, and laboratory tests, the first step is to correct any lifestyle mistakes. Diet programmes aimed at improving the problem, stress management, necessary vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, and herbal support are adapted to the patient's life. During this process, life coaching is also provided to increase patient compliance and ensure that patients feel supported in their recovery.

Which Diseases Does Functional Medicine Treat?

Functional Medicine adopts a personalised, predictive, preventive and proactive approach. All chronic diseases can benefit from this perspective.

Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, depression, autism, attention disorders, digestive system disorders and inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgias, macular degeneration, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological diseases, thyroid diseases and other endocrine system diseases, infertility and cancer.