The Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine :: Cambridge, Massachusetts

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is personalized medicine that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of symptoms for serious chronic disease. It is a science-based field of health care that is grounded in the following principles:

Biochemical individuality describes the importance of individual variations in metabolic function that derive from genetic and environmental differences among individuals.
Health as a positive vitality—not merely the absence of disease.
Patient-centered medicine emphasizes “patient care,” rather than “disease care”.
Dynamic balance of internal and external factors.
Web-like interconnections of physiological factors - an abundance of research now supports the view that the human body functions as an orchestrated network of interconnected systems, rather that individual systems functioning autonomously and without effect on each other.
Promotion of organ reserve as the means to enhance health span.

Functional Medicine

Helps balance your biochemistry
Integrates physical, mental and emotional
Uses challenge tests rather than diagnostic tests
Encourages you to take an active role in your program
Is interested in outcomes rather than controlling symptoms
Is used by all disciplines of medicine: medical, chiropractic, osteopathic, nutrition, etc.

How does functional medicine differ from conventional medicine?

In a functional medicine approach the absence of disease is not health. FM is concerned with how you function on many levels, including physical, mental, and emotional. Optimal wellness is the ultimate goal.

In conventional medicine making a diagnosis is often the endpoint of therapy. Just treat the symptoms and send the patient home. FM looks deeper to find the cause. Often when we have pain, discomfort, or reoccurring health complaints, it is our body’s way of getting our attention. Functional medicine looks to see if you are missing something you may need - it may be a special need for vitamins, minerals, probiotics, or amino acids. It also looks to see if you have something you don’t need such as environmental contaminants, bacteria, fungus, parasites, or heavy metals.

Common Categories of Functional Imbalance:

Nutritional Imbalances
Oxidative Stress
Intestinal Dysfunction
Impaired Detoxification
Immune/Inflammatory Imbalances
Endocrine Imbalances
Structural Imbalances

Common Lab Tests

Blood testing for food allergies and sensitivities
Organic acid testing for urine metabolites
Stool testing for digestive function
Saliva testing for hormone status
Urine/saliva testing for intestinal permeability
Urine testing for impaired detoxification
Hair analysis for mineral levels

With this approach no specific disease is being looked for, rather why the body is out of balance and what steps can be taken to help one feel better and improve overall health.