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Integrative verses Functional Medicine:

Jacki Meinhardt


Integrative and functional medicine are two approaches to healthcare that have some similarities but also key differences:


Integrative Medicine:

  • Integrative medicine focuses on combining conventional Western medicine with complementary and alternative therapies in order to treat the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.

  • It emphasizes the importance of the patient-provider relationship and often involves a team of healthcare professionals working together to address all aspects of a patient's health.

  • Integrative medicine often includes modalities such as acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal medicine, mind-body techniques like meditation and yoga, nutritional counseling, and more.

  • The goal of integrative medicine is to use the most appropriate, evidence-based therapies from both conventional and alternative medicine to promote health and healing.

Functional Medicine:

  • Functional medicine is a systems-oriented approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms.

  • It views the body as an interconnected system and seeks to understand how imbalances in one area can lead to dysfunction elsewhere.

  • Functional medicine practitioners often use advanced testing, such as comprehensive blood panels, genetic testing, and assessments of gut health, to identify underlying imbalances and deficiencies.

  • Treatment in functional medicine often involves personalized lifestyle interventions, including changes to diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and supplementation, aimed at restoring balance and optimizing function.




In summary, while both integrative and functional medicine take a holistic approach to healthcare and emphasize personalized treatment plans, integrative medicine focuses on combining conventional and alternative therapies, while functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease through a systems-oriented approach.

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©2025 by Jacki Meinhardt
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