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It is important that we take responsibility for our own health but sometimes we need help beyond ourselves and our own research on the internet.
Of course alternative doctors are always a possibility. There are homeopaths, naturopaths, chiropractors, and others. As in any other field there are some incredibly good alternative practitioners and some terrible ones and some “quacks”. If you are inclined to go in this direction check out anyone you may visit carefully, asking for recommendations from people you trust and reading reviews.
But if you determine you would like a regular medical doctor, there is a fairly decent option to pursue at this point, a functional medicine doctor.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is all about promoting health and preventing disease. It seems our modern health system is mostly about treating disease, often with lots and lots of pharmaceuticals, ie drugs. At the Institute for Functional Medicine, they say that “Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership…functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. ” (Institute for Functional Medicine)
The strength of functional medicine is that it is patient centered, rather than disease centered. It is also integrative medicine and most doctors of this sort do not hesitant to include homeopathy, essential oils, herbs and other disciplines as they are able to help treat specific issues.
How do You Find A Functional Medicine Doctor?
I actually think is going to become much easier in the next 10 years. For now there is a very limited supply especially if you live in a rural area, like I do. To search for one in your area, the Institute of Functional Medicine offers a search tool for those registered with their organization.
I was able to take my mother in law to a functional medicine doctor for several years while she lived with us and found the hour trip worthwhile for addressing her many health issues. We were able to keep her off many meds because of having a doctor who was not quick to prescribe and who really looked at the whole picture.
For the rest of my family we have a small town family practitioner who is not a functional medicine doctor. She is wonderful though because she works with me. She really listens to me and respects the research I have done. We have worked out a great working relationship and as she was also the medical director at the nursing home where my mother-in-law spent her last months she oversaw her care for awhile too. Our doctor is a D.O., a doctor of osteopathy. I have found that often D.O.’s are more open to alternative approaches to healing and more knowledgeable about the role of nutrition in healing and health.
So do you have a doctor who works with you? How did you find that doctor? Or are you still looking for someone?
See more at: https://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatisfm/#sthash.fhlqj5a0.dpuf
Shared at Wildcrafting Wednesday.
Hi Jennifer,
I see a Functional Dr that practices Integrative Medicine and he has used homeopathic, supplements, and many other alternative treatments on me. I am chemically sensitivities, have many allergies, and health issues. I wouldn’t even think about seeing a conventional medicine doctor. Your are certainly right about that in the last 10 years it has been much easier to find such doctors. I think many people are waking up to the many down falls of conventional medicine and their drug and surgery therapy in really not in answer in many cases. Pinned.
Thanks for commenting. It is great that you have found a doctor who can really help you. The more people who wake up to these options the more we will need good doctors in this area and our new doctors will gravitate toward this, I hope.