Integrative vs. Functional Medicine: What’s the Difference?

For people struggling with chronic pain or other persistent health issues, conventional medicine is usually the first port of call. If a conventional doctor or specialist is unable to diagnose the issue or help you manage your condition, you may be wondering what other options are out there. Integrative medicine and functional medicine are two alternatives that can provide lifelines for many individuals.

Choosing between functional medicine vs. integrative medicine requires understanding each approach and what doctors trained in these methods can offer.

What Is Integrative Medicine?

Integrative medicine combines conventional health care with complementary medicine, aiming to offer the best of both worlds. The integrative medicine approach treats the “whole person,” combining multiple therapies and having multiple health care practitioners working together to help the patient achieve optimal health.

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine takes a systems-based approach to health care. It aims to identify the underlying cause of any health issues and takes into account everything from biochemistry to genetics. The functional medicine approach takes a long-term view, aiming to fully resolve a health issue, rather than simply treat the symptoms.

Integrative vs Functional Medicine: What’s the Difference?

Functional and integrative medicine are similar in that they both consider the whole person and involve some conventional treatments. One of the main differences is that integrative medicine uses complementary therapies to augment conventional methods. Functional medicine places greater emphasis on lifestyle and nutrition to address the underlying causes of health issues.

How Integrative and Functional Medicine Approach Your Health

Integrative and functional medicine providers take slightly different approaches to health care.

Integrative Medicine Providers:

• Focus on whole-person care
• Use complementary therapies to augment conventional medicine
• Tailor their mix of therapies to the individual
• Work with chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and other specialists

Functional Medicine Providers:

• Aim to find the root cause of an illness
• Focus on lifestyle and nutrition as augments to conventional medicine
• Engage in “systems thinking” and carry out detailed assessments
• Work with primary care physicians and other similar care providers

Understanding the Root Cause Approach in Functional Medicine

The idea of understanding the root cause is key in functional medicine. Practitioners examine a person’s lifestyle, nutrition, environment, and other factors to determine the underlying cause of their health issues.

For example, if you’re one of the 10-13% of women who experience polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a functional medicine practitioner would look at factors that might contribute to hormonal and metabolic imbalances. By addressing these causes as well as managing the symptoms, a functional medicine practitioner may help manage PCOS long-term.

How Integrative Medicine Combines Conventional and Complementary Care

Integrative medicine combines conventional Western medicine with complementary care, and can be helpful for individuals struggling with chronic pain or who need more support than conventional medicine can offer.

An integrative medicine practitioner will carry out a detailed, “whole person” assessment of your condition and your circumstances, and put together a plan that includes physical and mental support. They may work with several complementary health care providers to achieve this.

Functional Medicine Testing and Health Assessments

A functional medicine doctor may carry out several tests to determine the root cause of a health issue. These might include:

• Gut microbiome analysis
• Hormone testing
• Blood tests for cardiovascular or inflammatory markers
• SIBO breath testing
• Nutritional profiles

Common Treatments Used in Integrative Medicine

In addition to conventional medicine, treatments used as part of an integrative approach may include:

• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Chiropractic therapy
• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Reiki
• Holistic psychotherapy

Common Treatments Used in Functional Medicine

Functional medicine may combine conventional medicine with targeted lifestyle modifications, such as:

• Personalized nutrition plans
• Tailored physical activity plans
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Sleep optimization/circadian rhythm adjustment
• Supplementation
• Environmental changes
• Detoxification

In some cases, functional medicine practitioners may also suggest complementary therapies, although these aren’t emphasized in the same way they are with integrative medicine.

How Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Stress Management Fit Into Both Approaches

The impact of lifestyle on health is something that’s recognized even in conventional medicine. According to the World Health Organization, as many as 60% of factors related to individual health and quality of life have correlations with a person’s lifestyle.

Both integrative and functional medicine doctors know this and aim to help their patients understand how they can improve their health and manage their conditions by making lifestyle changes.

Integrative Medicine vs Functional Medicine for Chronic Conditions

Both of these practices can help a person living with a chronic health condition. Functional medicine focuses on whole-person care and looks to address the underlying hormonal, environmental, or other factors that might be exacerbating a chronic health condition.

Meanwhile, integrative medicine’s patient-centered approach emphasizes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, and brings together specialists in various areas of complementary medicine to promote optimal health.

The Benefits and Limitations of Integrative and Functional Medicine

Working with a physician qualified in integrative or functional medicine offers several benefits. By blending conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies or a root-cause approach, individuals can benefit from a wider view of health care.

When choosing these alternative approaches, however, there are some risks to be aware of:

• Up-front costs. Many insurance providers don’t cover integrative or functional medicine, so a person may have to pay out-of-pocket for treatment.
• Integrating care teams. If you’re working with an existing interdisciplinary care team, coordinating care across the teams can be challenging.
• Adherence to the care plan. Many of the treatments recommended by integrative and functional medicine practitioners require some time investment by the patient. Full adherence to the care plan is necessary for optimal results.

How to Choose Between Integrative and Functional Medicine

When deciding on which care practitioners to work with, you should consider your goals and preferences, as well as the type of health issues you’re experiencing. Integrative medicine can be a good choice for managing chronic pain, especially if you’ve found that conventional medicine can handle most of your needs, and you’re simply looking to explore additional evidence-backed holistic options.

Functional medicine is suited to those struggling with complex issues. If the standard lab tests used by Western doctors haven’t found answers to your health issues, the more in-depth tests used by functional medicine practitioners could be useful.

Functional medicine is a two-way street. The doctor will carry out in-depth analysis and provide a detailed plan including diet, sleep, exercise, and other lifestyle recommendations. To make the most of functional medicine, you must be willing to fully engage with that plan.

What to Expect During an Integrative or Functional Medicine Appointment

When working with a doctor who follows an integrative or functional approach, the first step will be to get a full understanding of your condition. In contrast to a traditional doctor’s appointment, which may be as short as 15 minutes, an integrative or functional doctor may spend an hour or longer with you on the first appointment.

After taking detailed notes about your medical history, lifestyle, current medical interventions, any supplements you’re taking, and the results of any recent lab tests, the doctor might order further advanced tests and recommend nutritional or lifestyle changes aimed at addressing the cause of the issue.

They will usually order follow-up appointments and review their approach over time, tracking changes in your symptoms and adjusting the interventions as required.

Does Insurance Cover Integrative and Functional Medicine?

Most health insurance providers cover only a limited range of treatments, and functional or integrative medicine providers will be out-of-network. Before booking a treatment, it’s a good idea to ask about costs and insurance options directly.

Can Integrative and Functional Medicine Be Used Together?

Yes, functional and integrative medicine can be used together to create a complete care plan. The approaches complement each other, and with communication between the practitioners, combining the two can yield good results.

Frequently Asked Questions About Integrative and Functional Medicine

Are functional medicine and integrative medicine the same thing?

Functional medicine and integrative medicine are not the same, and they take different approaches to health care. Integrative medicine combines Western health care and evidence-based complementary therapies, while functional medicine uses a systems-based approach to finding the root cause of illness.

Which is better, functional medicine or integrative medicine?

Both functional and integrative medicine have an important role to play in health care, and they serve different goals. Choosing between functional medicine vs integrative medicine is a personal decision, depending on which approach you prefer.

Are functional medicine doctors real doctors?

Functional medicine isn’t a distinct medical specialty, but it’s often practiced by licensed medical doctors. Before choosing a functional medicine practitioner, be sure to check their credentials for your peace of mind.

Choosing the Right Approach for Your Health Goals

If you’re struggling with your health and looking for a more holistic approach to health care that aims to address the underlying cause, functional medicine could provide the answer. Sarita Mahtani, MD, is a functional medicine doctor in Charlotte, NC, providing care for a variety of conditions. Contact the team at SouthPark Functional Medicine today to book a consultation with Dr. Mahtani.