Draft, awaiting review. Not yet shown to search engines.
The short version
Functional medicine is an approach to care that spends extra time on a person's history, habits and environment to look for factors that may be contributing to their symptoms. It is not a separate license or medical specialty. Practitioners who use the term come from many backgrounds, including medical doctors (MD), osteopathic doctors (DO), naturopathic physicians (NMD), nurse practitioners (NP) and chiropractors (DC).
What a first visit often involves
First appointments are commonly longer than a typical primary care visit. Expect detailed questions about diet, sleep, stress, activity, past illnesses and medications. Some practitioners order lab tests; ask why each test is recommended and what it costs before agreeing to it.
How it relates to conventional care
Functional medicine is best used alongside, not instead of, your regular doctors. A good practitioner will tell you when a symptom needs urgent or specialist care and will share information with your other clinicians when you ask.
What it can't promise
No approach guarantees results. Be cautious of anyone who promises a cure, discourages you from seeing other doctors, or requires large upfront purchases of supplements.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation.