Functional medicine is an approach based on systems biology that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of disease. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may contribute to an individual's illness in various ways.

A diagnosis can have multiple causes. For example, depression can be triggered by several factors, including inflammation. Conversely, a single cause, such as inflammation, can lead to various diagnoses, including depression. The specific manifestation of each cause depends on an individual's genes, environment, and lifestyle. Only treatments that address the underlying cause will provide lasting benefits beyond merely suppressing symptoms.

The functional medicine model developed from the insights of a small group of influential thought leaders who recognized the significance of an individualized approach to disease, based on emerging research in nutritional science, genomics, and epigenetics. These pioneers applied these advances in clinical settings, addressing root causes with low-risk interventions that modify molecular and cellular systems to reverse disease drivers.

These early practitioners of functional medicine utilized new research to achieve dramatic results for patients who had previously received unsuccessful treatments. This approach marked a return to scientific principles, exploring unifying factors at the cellular and systems levels that underlie organism-wide issues.

These functional medicine pioneers utilized new research to achieve dramatic results for patients previously receiving unsuccessful treatments. This approach marked a return to scientific principles, exploring unifying factors at the cellular and systems levels that underlie organism-wide issues.