Traditionally, our medical system focuses on a specific disease or illness. Functional medicine offers an alternative medical model using natural methods to treat the underlying or root cause as opposed to a subset of symptoms. Dr. Cordie works together with her patients, spending significant time listening to their histories to better enable them to assess the interactions of genetics, environment, and lifestyle to determine what the contributing factors or illnesses are.
By integrating state-of-the-art genetic sciences and systems, functional medicine can better understand how we live and how we live can influence disease onset and progression. This information allows Dr. Cordie to be proactive with her approach allowing the patient to have an active role in their health and health care.
More and more, we are seeing numbers increase for those suffering from chronic illnesses and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders such as ALS and rheumatoid arthritis. Most doctors focus on diagnosing and treating short-term or urgent situations like a stroke, heart attack, or broken bone. Drugs or surgical procedures are prescribed to address the immediate need.
Unfortunately, this version of care cannot handle chronic illnesses and disease complexity. This way of practicing medicine doesn’t allow time to fully investigate how everyday life components or unique genetics contribute to the increase in chronic disease. Certain factors of our environment like stress, anxiety, diet, and exposure to toxins play a crucial part in our health and our susceptibility to illness.
Benefits of Functional Medicine
With functional medicine, treatments can not be a one-size fits all model because every patient is unique; the treatment plan must be specific to their individual needs.
Functional medicine can offer patients natural remedies for a variety of conditions with many additional benefits that include:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Less risk of infection or sickness
- Increased sex drive
- Weight loss
- Clearer skin
- Stronger nail and hair
- A strengthened immune system
- More energy
- Wider range of motion
- Increased mobility
- Better moods and fewer mood swings
- And many more
More often than not, it may only require small changes in diet, lifestyle, and activity to start to see an increase in health. Patients who have more severe conditions may require more adjustments. The good news is, that no matter what you and Dr. Cordie decide is the right course of action for your particular situation, medications are not part of the plan. Masking pain or symptoms with drugs is counterproductive to getting your body in a healthier state.
Functional medicine can offer patients a natural way to get back to feeling like themselves again and possibly even better. With a custom treatment plan, you are part of the process.