What is Functional Medicine and what does a Functional Medicine Pharmacist do ?
Functional Medicine is essentially a natural approach to medicine where we thoroughly investigate the patient's condition to find the cause of the problem instead of treating the symptoms.
This new approach shifts the focus of care to the individual needs of the patient instead of how to just treat a disease or condition. Every person is different and how each illness affects different patient's is not always the same due to different genetic variations.
Functional Medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease, integrating best medical practices, including traditional western medical practices with what are sometimes considered "alternative" or "integrative" medicine, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise.
The functional medicine paradigm does use prescription medications when necessary, but if its appropriate for your health conditions, we try to work with lifestyle modification and dietary supplements to correct any nutritional deficiencies that may be contributing to your health issues first before introducing a pharmacological intervention.
Beyond just advise about how to and how not to take a medication, a Functional Medicine Pharmacist can offer advice on foods and lifestyle factors that can help with a given condition.
Pharmacists know a "pill for every ill" isn't the answer to chronic disease epidemic. Functional Medicine is the solution, and pharmacists are perfectly positioned to help patients and practitioners treat the root causes of disease and restore patients health.
Pharmacists have always played the role of educator, taking the time during your pharmacy visit, that physicians don't have during brief office visits to describe the proper use of medications, side-effects, nutrition depletion caused by drugs... and etc. The role of pharmacist in functional medicine can be even more pivotal than their role in conventional medical practices.
As a pharmacist I know drugs play a crucial role in our health and treat many medical conditions, but, It is also important to know other factors contribute to our optimal health and wellness. As a functional medicine pharmacist I am in perfect position to offer patients seeking help a broader range of potential solutions than just a single pill.
Stay well and stay healthy. Dr. Naghmeh, Pharm.D.
