Functional, Alternative, Integrative, Traditional Medicine - What’s the difference?

Medicine, like so many other practices and phenomena in today’s world has gotten complex, offering more choices and many alternatives. This is a good thing for many of us who have felt either disregarded or sidelined by conventional medical practices. That’s why we started Integrative Family Medicine. 

Integrative medicine focuses on the whole person and their total wellness, recognizing the interrelationship between all body and mind systems. Integrative medicine combines conventional standard therapies with complementary ones that are known to be safe so they can work together. An integrative practice is staffed by trained and qualified healthcare providers, such as Medical Doctors, Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses; and includes conventional methods like prescriptions (when necessary), surgery and lifestyle changes with therapies like chiropractic, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage, IV nutrition, herbal supplementation and more.

Alternative medicine is slightly different. It describes medical treatments other than, not combined with, conventional ones. Many times, the benefits of these therapies are developed through research and the colloquial experience of those who practice them, although they are not embraced by the medical establishment. They promote that healing takes place through diet, the self-healing mechanisms of the human body, various energies, herbal, or other supplements. Some of these healing techniques are thousands of years older than conventional medicines. These techniques include Acupuncture, Acupressure, Ayurveda, Aromatherapy, Reiki, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy.

Functional medicine is slightly different, too, and mostly in the way it looks at illness in general.  Functional medicine focuses on creating individualized therapies tailored to treat underlying causes of illness. Naturopaths take a similar outlook, but cannot prescribe or diagnose, but both address the whole person, not just the affected area. Functional medicine therapies include  acupuncture, naturopathy, massage, chiropractic medicine, osteopathic medicine, body movement therapies, tai chi, and yoga.

Traditional medicine is quite different. Practitioners employ plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises. Where modern medicine uses standardized dosages, traditional medicine is less rigorous, basing their dosages from symptoms through consultation. Their knowledge, skills, and practices are based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures.
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With so many healthcare options available, it is hard to decide which path is best; best for you, your time, your wallet, and the greater health you're looking to achieve. That’s why we’ve tried at IFM to offer you the best proven techniques and therapies available, and to combine them with trained and qualified healthcare providers who have the time to listen and to treat you like the unique human being you are.