Functional and Integrative Medicine Differences: Which is the Right Fit?

You’ve probably heard of 'functional medicine' or 'integrative health and wellness' but what do they really mean? And how are these specialists different from your regular practitioner? Integrative and functional medicine are holistic approaches that encompass the mind, body, and spirit, aiming to uncover and address the root causes of symptoms or chronic conditions.

In stark contrast to conventional medicine, which focuses on treating symptoms and injuries, functional and integrative health and wellness use a combination of lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management, along with holistic modalities to improve your well-being from the inside out.

However, there are some differences you should know about before you choose an approach.

Functional Health and Wellness: A Clear Definition

Functional medicine, pioneered by Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D, views health in an unconventional way, seeking out the root causes of health problems. practitioners use tests to pinpoint these causes. They may look into your:

The Functional Medicine Plan – GOTOIT

In functional medicine, there's a widely used plan called' GOTOIT,' which stands for

• Gather

• Organize

• Tell

• Order

• Initiate

• Track

In following this plan, your functional medicine practitioner will gather information about you and organize this information to decide which tests you need. These tests go beyond typical medical labs, and might highlight issues with your nutrient levels, allergies, or something else entirely. Once tests are done, your practitioner can then initiate treatment and work closely with you in tracking your health progress. The overarching goal is to find out what your body needs to improve.

This mode of care focuses entirely on you as an individual – no cookie-cutter care. Your treatment plan may include diet changes or other lifestyle adjustments based on your test results.

The aim is to get down to the root cause of your health issue, not just treat your symptoms.

Integrative Health and Wellness Defined

Integrative medicine is a care model that combines modern mainstream medical treatments with holistic and complementary approaches. Andrew Weil, MD, popularized it. This approach pays special attention to the mind-body connection.

Your integrative medicine practitioner may utilize several treatment options, such as:

Just like functional medicine practitioners, integrative medicine practitioners strive to treat all parts of you - not isolated symptoms or ailments.

In integrative health and wellness, you and your practitioner work as equal partners. Practitioners use an evidence-based approach, looking at the body as an integrated system rather than focusing on individual parts.

Dr. Weil says, 'Conventional medicine’s focus on the physical body is deficient because humans are more than physical beings'

The Key Differences Between Functional and Integrative Medicine

After reading the previous information, you might think that integrative and functional medicine are one and the same. That’s not the case. Though functional and Integrative medicine both embrace a holistic, whole-person approach to health and wellness, they differ in certain ways.

This type of care brings natural remedies, mind-body medicine, and conventional methods together. It treats common issues like pain or stress and more complex conditions too. By focusing on personalized medicine, integrative health aims to improve how well treatments work for each person.

Here are a few other differentiators that everyone should consider:

Approach to Care

Functional Medicine

In functional medicine, practitioners are on the hunt for the root cause of your health issues to address symptoms and manage health conditions. To achieve that goal, they examine how your body systems interact with each other. They tailor your care to your personal health history, among other things.

Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine, on the other hand, treats the whole person rather than just addressing symptoms. It aims to harmonize the following areas for overall well-being:

Mental

Emotional

Physical

Spiritual health

Treatment Options

Functional Medicine

Functional medicine utilizes scientific testing for micronutrients, environmental and food sensitivities, hormone levels, and gastrointestinal assessments to tackle the underlying causes of health problems. This personalized approach seeks to address individual needs through tailored treatments informed by test results.

Integrative medicine combines evidence-based conventional and holistic therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care, prioritizing natural, less invasive interventions when possible.

Which is Best? Functional or Integrative Medicine?

Neither functional nor integrative medicine will be best for everyone. So, when you’re deciding between these types of approaches, it’s critical to assess your personal health needs. Consider your treatment goals and how they align with each practice’s approach.

Assessing Your Personal Health Needs

Assessing your personal health needs requires you to develop a strong understanding of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual requirements.

Find a Functional or Integrative Medicine practitioner to Get Started

Ready to take your next step toward better health with functional or integrative medicine? Explore your practitioner options with by browsing our practitioner community.

We can connect you with vetted holistic practitioners and flexible payment options to make care more accessible and affordable. Get started today!