Functional medicine vs conventional care: Where they fit together

On the surface, functional medicine might sound like a fleeting wellness trend, but the discipline is becoming increasingly mainstream.

Functional medicine aims to get to the root of chronic illnesses, taking a holistic approach to prevent, manage and treat them. Curious about how it works and how it combines with conventional medical care to deliver the best of both worlds?

Here’s what you should know.

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is a healthcare approach that aims to address the root causes of chronic health conditions. It assesses your genes, environment, medical history and lifestyle when investigating a health challenge, recognising that your body is an interconnected system and using symptoms to figure out the primary drivers of a dysfunction or imbalance.

Here’s what that could look like: Let’s say you’re dealing with chronic breakouts. Rather than simply prescribing a topical cream or antibiotic, functional medicine would look at factors like your gut health, hormones, stress levels and diet to see if they’re impacting your skin.

The functional medicine model also delivers a personalised style of care for managing and treating health issues (often referred to as a ‘patient-centred’ approach). It understands that your lifestyle, biology, medical history and needs are incredibly individual. 

Functional medicine treatments often combine a variety of therapies, including diet, exercise, sleep, stress and other lifestyle changes. Functional medicine is considered an alternative form of healthcare, but it’s becoming increasingly mainstream as health experts better understand the connection between lifestyle and chronic disease.

Conventional medicine, on the other hand, typically aims to manage and alleviate symptoms. If you’re experiencing anxiety, for instance, you may be prescribed medication to try and ease it. This isn’t a bad approach, necessarily – just a different one. In fact, conventional and functional medicine often work hand in hand to deliver more comprehensive care.

Who provides functional medicine?

Many health practitioners provide functional medicine, including:

• Medical doctors/GPs
• Naturopaths
• Chiropractors
• Nurses
• Nutritionists
• Health coaches
• Other allied health professionals, like Chinese medicine practitioners, Ayurvedic doctors and acupuncturists

Some formally trained GPs have a particular interest in functional medicine and use it alongside conventional medical treatments to address illnesses. Functional medicine doctors might look at the underlying causes of your illness while also prescribing conventional medications to relieve it. 

Other practitioners may be more specific. A functional medicine nutritionist, for instance, wouldn’t just deliver one-size-fits-all dietary advice, but instead look at all the different factors that impact your metabolism and wellbeing – such as your genes, environment, gut health and so on – to create a personalised nutrition plan.

How does the functional medicine model differ from other approaches?

Functional medicine is just one of many ways to approach healthcare. Here’s how it compares to other models of care.

Functional medicine vs integrative medicine

Where functional medicine aims to find the root cause of an illness and deliver a personalised plan to treat it, integrative medicine takes a more holistic view. 

Integrative medicine combines conventional and complementary healthcare to manage overall well-being, often with the support of multiple healthcare providers. For example, your doctor might prescribe prescription medicine to manage pain and refer you to an acupuncturist for additional care.

How the functional medicine approach sits alongside conventional medicine

Functional medicine and conventional medicine aren’t mutually exclusive; you don’t necessarily have to choose one or the other if you’re trying to manage a health condition. In fact, the two can work together quite seamlessly.

Conventional medicine often provides diagnostic care like lab work, medical imaging and screenings; emergency care for acute conditions; and medication to manage symptoms. Functional medicine can sit alongside it to figure out other underlying factors that may be impacting your health, and provide a personalised plan to help the body’s natural healing processes.

As an example, you might choose to undergo surgery for a back issue while also working with a physiotherapist or osteopath, or you might decide to take medication to help manage anxiety alongside diet changes and stress management techniques.

What conditions can functional medicine help with?

Functional medicine can help address a range of health conditions, ranging from everyday health concerns to complex chronic diseases. These include:

• Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and celiac disease
• Chronic fatigue
• Skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and acne
• Pre-diabetes and diabetes
• Chronic pain
• Thyroid problems like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hormonal imbalances
• Women’s health concerns like menopause, PCOS and endometriosis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Food intolerances, allergies and sensitivities
• Crohn’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• Migraines and headaches
• Anxiety and depression
• ADHD
• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Weight management
• Preventative care

It’s important to note that functional medicine is most effective when it comes to chronic disease management and preventative care, not treating acute and emergency health problems. In these cases, conventional care is generally the most appropriate approach in the immediate term, like if someone has had a heart attack or broken a bone. Functional medicine can then support longer-term recovery [1].

How does diagnosis work in functional medicine?

Because functional medicine aims to assess your entire body and lifestyle, you can expect a fairly comprehensive diagnosis process. 

Before your appointment

Your healthcare provider will likely want to know as much as possible about your overall health and lifestyle. You might be required to complete a questionnaire that assesses:

• Your personal and family health history, covering your physical and mental health
• Lifestyle factors, such as your diet, exercise habits, sleep, alcohol intake, whether you smoke and how you manage stress
• Your environment, which might cover your living situation, exposure to certain chemicals, pollutants or toxins, and anything else in your environment that could impact your health

During your appointment

When you first visit a functional medicine practitioner, they’ll do a deeper dive into your health to get the full picture. They may:

• Review your personal and family health history
• Chat to you about your symptoms and how long they’ve been occurring
• Establish your health goals
• Undertake a physical health exam, which could include blood pressure, weight measurements and body composition
• Perform a mental or emotional health assessment, looking at your stress levels, mood and coping mechanisms
• Order diagnostic tests like blood work, X-rays or stool analysis
• Recommend other tests that examine your immune function, gut health and hormonal balance

Processes vary between healthcare providers, so your experience may look different. 

After your appointment and beyond

After your first appointment, your practitioner may provide a foundational plan to kickstart your healing journey. Your personalised treatment plan will usually cover:

• Changes to your diet
• Sleep and stress management recommendations
• Exercise routines
• Supplementation if you have a nutritional deficiency
• Other lifestyle adjustments like routine planning and work–life balance
• Referrals to other healthcare providers if necessary

Once your test results come back, you can usually expect a follow-up appointment to discuss the results and refine your plan in line with new findings. In most cases, functional medicine providers deliver ongoing care to track your progress and adapt your plan as your needs and health status change.

Is functional medicine recognised in the UK?

Currently, the UK recognises functional medicine as ‘complementary and alternative medicine’. According to the NHS, this simply means that it’s a healthcare approach that sits outside mainstream (or conventional) healthcare [2]. Complementary practices are used alongside conventional medicine, while alternative methods are used instead of conventional medicine.

Despite not being officially recognised as a medical discipline, there is a regulatory body in the UK that oversees complementary healthcare practitioners like functional medicine providers. The CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) has a voluntary register that lists practitioners who have met stringent safety and service quality standards. You can find a practitioner that meets the CNHC’s standards by using its search tool.

Does insurance pay for functional medicine?

Whether you’re on a group health plan or pay for private health insurance yourself, you may be able to claim some of the costs associated with functional medicine. For example, if you’re receiving treatment to manage a diagnosed medical condition, your insurance may cover it. Although this does vary between insurance providers and policies. 

Many insurance companies also require that practitioners, including functional medicine providers, be registered with the CNHC to approve claims.

What are the downsides of functional medicine?

Functional medicine can be an effective way to treat chronic conditions. However, like any approach, it’s not without its potential drawbacks:

• Some therapies are lacking in scientific evidence: While some functional medicine therapies, like nutrition and exercise interventions, have a significant body of evidence supporting their effectiveness, others may not be as well researched. Keep this in mind when you’re exploring treatment options
• There’s a safety risk when it comes to acute, serious or emergency situations: Conditions like a heart attack, stroke, severe infection and trauma should always be treated urgently with conventional medicine. It may be dangerous to rely on functional medicine in these situations, as they require immediate medical attention with proven treatments
• There’s variability in practitioners: Because functional medicine isn’t as rigorously regulated as conventional medicine, not all practitioners have the training and qualifications to deliver safe, evidence-based care. It’s always important to research a potential provider and find out their experience and credentials. The CNHC’s search tool can be a helpful start, but you may also be more comfortable finding a formally trained GP who offers functional medicine as a complementary service
• It can be expensive: Unless your insurance covers some or all of the cost of functional medicine, you may find yourself facing significant out-of-pocket costs

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