A holistic and individual approach to medicine

The functional medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered and science-based approach that encourages patients and physicians to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and achieve optimal health and recovery. It requires a detailed understanding of each person's genetic, biochemical and lifestyle factors.

Functional medicine is not a different or different alternative medicine than the medicine we studied and knew in school. In chronic and complicated diseases that classical medicine cannot focus on due to both its intensity and perspective, the underlying causes of the problems, nutrition, lifestyle, emotional and genetic structure are evaluated together, the person regains his health by being supported for all, and most importantly, learns to maintain this health. .

In functional medicine, standard information about diseases is not used, but it is important to bring together the knowledge gained throughout the entire medical education and the connections established between them, and to look at the patient and the system as a whole. Biological, physiological, genetic and hormonal causes that disrupt the balance of the body are evaluated. In fact, what we call disease is the deterioration of the harmony and internal balance of the body due to internal or external reasons. And these too can often be prevented or corrected. Therefore, addressing the root causes is a different and important perspective in healing.

One of the two important different approaches is trying to reveal the deeper biological and physiopathological causes of diseases and diseases and applying treatments for this, and the other is trying to be individual in every evaluation and treatment approach. In this process, it is very important to understand the person who has these complaints and to determine what is missing or not working properly in this person's biological systems, without focusing on diagnosing the patient.

The 6 systems that we try to examine in each of our patients, which are in constant connection and interaction with each other, are as follows: Digestion and gastrointestinal system, cardiometabolic system, detoxification, energy production, immune system and hormones. Explaining how important it is for these systems to work properly, explaining the connections and unifying the relations is also an important source of education and motivation for the patient.

So, how do we evaluate these systems? Of course, first of all, clinical evaluation is very important. For this reason, it is one of the distinctive approaches of functional medicine that the detailed forms filled by the patients before their arrival are evaluated by the doctor and the other team and the patient interview is conducted in the most effective way. The systems mentioned here and the complaints and symptoms related to them are well evaluated. Testing the stress chemistry according to the nature of our long-standing problems, performing some more detailed tests on the digestive system, especially the evaluation of intestinal flora and functions, evaluation of detoxification pathways and metabolism are very supportive new approaches in the treatment plan, especially in unresolved and chronic problems.

Functional medicine takes a holistic and individual approach. In the holistic approach, in addition to considering all the systems in the body as a whole, the mental, emotional and spiritual health of the person is also approached holistically. Thus, while functional medicine evaluates the patient as a whole, it finds the underlying reasons especially for the prevention of chronic complex diseases and for healing at an early stage, and adapts this information to the person's life change.

It is a health approach that aims to return diseases from the way they came. Balancing basic physiological functions is one of the main approaches. Predisposing factors, triggers, disrupting factors and the whole lifestyle are evaluated together with the patient. The effects of abdominal fat on the hormonal system, the role of oral health in the digestive system, the hormone-disrupting effects of food, the excess of toxic load underlying fatigue, the effects of intestinal health on the immune system, the critical roles of vitamins and minerals in metabolism are some examples of the overall evaluation and improvement approach.

While improving the 6 interrelated systems we mentioned above, we are trying to rearrange the 5 lifestyles according to our own genetic structure and environmental conditions, as well as scientific data. Nutrition, sleep, stress management, physical activity and relationships are the most important parts of our lifestyle.

In order to live a long and healthy life, we need to keep the systems we mentioned healthy and to organize our way of life permanently according to ourselves. When we look at the secrets of long life, we come across chronic root causes that we need to prevent and correct: Insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases and prevention, inflammation, cancer and protective approaches, a good detoxification, hormones, an optimal immune system, a healthy brain and all. Again, lifestyle adjustments are required.

Finally; The practice that makes the most important difference in the functional medicine approach is the change of the relationship between the patient and the doctor or the return to the correct and effective one. Time devoted to the patient, listening, understanding, relating, empathy, love, hope, motivation and suggestion are stronger than many tests.