Resources

Functional medicine is an approach to health that asks why an illness is happening, not just what to call it. Practitioners look at how genetics, environment, diet, stress, sleep, and lifestyle interact, then build a plan for the whole person. The aim is to address the root cause rather than only manage symptoms.

Conventional medicine is typically organized around diagnosing a disease and treating its symptoms, often with medication or surgery. Integrative medicine combines conventional care with evidence-based complementary approaches such as nutrition, mind-body practices, and acupuncture. Functional medicine focuses on finding and treating the underlying drivers of disease. The approaches often overlap, and many practitioners use all three.

No. Functional medicine usually works alongside conventional care. Always talk to your doctor before you change or stop any treatment.

It is most often used for chronic, complex conditions. Our films and interviews cover conditions such as autoimmune disease, chronic pain, cognition, cancer, gut (GI) conditions, liver disease, metabolic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, mold-related illness, vagus nerve health, thyroid health, and hair loss.

Patients seeking a functional or integrative medicine practitioner are encouraged to visit the practitioner directories at IFM.org (Institute for Functional Medicine), A4M.com (American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine), or AIHM.org (Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine). The Root Cause Project does not endorse, certify, or warrant the qualifications, services, or outcomes of individual practitioners. Patients are encouraged to verify credentials and select a practitioner who meets their individual healthcare needs.