Myth #1: A Functional Medicine Doctor Is Just Another Pill Pusher.
TRUTH: Functional Medicine doctors always strive to FIND the underlying cause of your health problem, and then FIX the cause with natural treatments, so you can feel normal again.
The goal is always to FIX…always.
This will take a certain amount of supplements for sure…I won’t mislead you about that. But, understand there is a fundamental difference between medications and supplements.
Medications for the most part only act as band aids – covering up your symptoms without fixing anything…and often create side effects that require more medications.
The difference is that supplements are NOT band aids – they’re work to promote healing and actually fix the underlying cause. And, once the cause is fixed, you won’t need those supplements anymore.
Myth #2: Functional Medicine Doctors Don’t Know Anything About Diet.
TRUTH: A doctor that ONLY pushes supplements but doesn’t talk to you about your diet is NOT actually doing Functional Medicine.
Functional Medicine doctors know that your diet is the foundation of your health…and usually your illness, too. A good Functional Medicine doctor will always prescribe dietary advice based on your particular case and your particular health goals.
Now, most health problems cannot be fixed with diet alone, so I’m warning you about that upfront.
By the time most patients see a Functional Medicine doctor their problem is chronic and long-standing…And this means multiple nutrient deficiencies and imbalances are going on.
Relying on diet alone to fix that mess is just NOT being realistic. Supplements must be used…while diet is being addressed…for the fastest road to health recovery.
And don’t worry – a good Functional Medicine doctor won’t have you eat a bunch of weird foods, either!
(To be perfectly honest, that’s a pet peeve of mine. I think it’s only fair that if I won’t eat it or drink it then I shouldn’t ask you to, either.)
Myth #3: ALL naturopaths are trained in Functional Medicine.
TRUTH: Most naturopathic doctors learn some Functional Medicine…and by some I’m being generous!
A recent review of the top naturopathic medical schools revealed that only about 0.8% of naturopathic training is devoted to Functional Medicine.
0.8%!
So, don’t fall for the trap that “all naturopaths are trained in Functional Medicine”.
To make sure your Functional Medicine doctor actually has proper training in Functional Medicine visit the website for the Institute for Functional Medicine at www.FunctionalMedicine.org.
A quick search will reveal if your doctor is properly trained in Functional Medicine or not, PLUS the year they did their training – this will give you an idea of their level of experience with practicing Functional Medicine.
(For example, if you search for my name you’ll see I started my Functional Medicine training back in 2004.)
Myth #4: Once you start treatment you’ll have to go forever.
TRUTH: Functional Medicine is NOT a quick fix solution.
Frankly, if that’s what you’re looking for…a quick fix…Then Functional Medicine is NOT for you.
There’s no such thing as a quick fix for chronic health problems.
Functional Medicine takes time. It will probably take longer than you expect…usually 2-3 years to really fix the underlying cause for most patients.
But, once you’re done you’re DONE!
Think of it like renovating an old house…it takes time…usually more than you expect…and patience…and a certain amount of expense…but once the renovation is done it’s done.
Now, you’ll still need to maintain the upkeep on the house…even after the renovations…or the house will start falling apart again…and faster than normal.
That only makes sense.
It’s the same with your body.
Once you get healthy…You should always maintain the upkeep on your body…Eating healthy…Exercising…Taking your basic supplements….Stress management…Or your health will start falling apart again.
Myth #5: Functional Medicine is expensive.
TRUTH: Although healthcare in Canada is free…free always comes with a tradeoff.
The tradeoff for free healthcare is…
- You have little to no control over your healthcare.
- You can only have one complaint per office visit.
- You can only get a physical exam every three
- You’re actually getting the barest of minimums when it comes to blood testing. (You may not know this dirty little secret…but I see what’s being tested and what ISN’T being tested on a routine basis!)
- A shortage of doctors means you cannot choose your doctor, or you’re stuck without a doctor and need to get your healthcare from a walk in clinic where you are just a number.
- You have to endure long wait times for testing and specialists.
- The government determines your healthcare based on the current budget…which is only getting WORSE as the Baby Boomers get older…and sicker.
If you bought a house would you be satisfied with it being built to the barest minimum structural standards?
If you bought a car would you be satisfied with the barest minimum of safety standards?
Now ask yourself…Are you satisfied with having the barest minimum in healthcare for your most precious and irreplaceable asset – your HEALTH?
Your health is your most precious asset…treat it that way.
Invest in yourself! Choosing to invest in a great Functional Medicine doctor will pay you unlimited dividends into the future!
Isn’t your health worth it? Aren’t YOU worth it?
Make a promise to yourself starting today:
Stop feeling lousy…rotten…awful…crummy…miserable…terrible…crappy.
Find a good Functional Medicine doctor to help you get to the root cause of your health problems.
Like I always say:
Find the cause.
Fix the cause.
Feel normal again!
Dr. Carri Drzyzga, DC, ND – The Functional Medicine Doc
Find the Cause. Fix the Cause. Feel Normal Again!