Why Choose Functional Medicine Doctors in Washington?
There is a reason many people are making the switch from a general practitioner to a naturopathic medicine doctor in Washington. Naturopathic Physicians practice a functional approach to health and disease. A study published in a 2019 JAMA article proved what functional medicine doctors and their patients already know: functional medicine improves a patient’s quality of life, especially those with chronic illnesses.
The success of functional medicine lies in its holistic approach to wellness. Rather than treating the symptoms of an illness as they arise, naturopathic doctors find the root cause of the disease itself.
What is a Naturopath?
A naturopath, or functional medicine doctor, is a holistic physician who takes the time to understand every patient’s needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to medicine, and no two patients are the same.
Naturopathic medicine sees the big picture as it relates to each patient. Treatment plans can be effective only when a physician fully understands the patient's lifestyle, environment, family and medical history, and current health concerns.
How is Functional Medicine Different from Conventional Medicine?
In conventional medicine, physicians treat patients the same way. If you have high blood pressure, you are given the same medications as everyone else with high blood pressure.
Naturopaths don’t just treat the “What.” They also discover the underlying “Why.” High blood pressure, for instance, is a “What.” Identifying the underlying cause of your high blood pressure is the “Why.” If the “Why” can be corrected, the “What” will be resolved. That’s why more and more people are choosing functional medical doctors in Washington.
While naturopathic medicine doctors can prescribe the same medications as conventional physicians, naturopaths also create alternative wellness programs which include lifestyle and dietary changes, supplements, herbal medicines, and more.
Are Functional Medicine Doctors “Real” Doctors?
One of the most common misconceptions about naturopathic medicine practitioners is that they are not “real” doctors. A naturopathic medicine doctor in Washington completes a graduate degree program focusing on a holistic approach to illness, including botanical medicines, lifestyle, nutrition, and alternative forms of treatment such as acupuncture and homeopathy.
Naturopaths also study conventional medicine, such as pharmacology, neurology, biochemistry, immunology, and cardiology.
Functional medicine doctors can:
Order and interpret lab results
Resolve health issues
Suggest diet and lifestyle changes to benefit their patients
Supply supplements that work in tandem with your current medications
Plan a wellness program for preventative care
These reasons (and more) are why people are choosing Washington naturopathic physicians.
Effective Treatment Plans
You’ll find your first visit with a naturopathic medicine doctor is longer and more in-depth than a visit with a conventional general practitioner. Your naturopath looks at your complete medical picture, not just the symptoms or disease you present.
With such a heavy focus on person-focused individualized care, naturopaths find effective wellness plans that are minimally invasive and rely on the body’s natural healing abilities.
A Health Partner for Life
A naturopath respects the term “doctor,” which translates from Latin to mean “teacher.” That’s why functional medicine appointments take far longer than the routine 15 minutes (or less) spent in a conventional doctor’s office. Naturopaths take the time to listen to you and ensure you play an active role in your own health plan.
For a naturopathic physician, transparency and effective communication are critical factors in each patient’s success.
What Conditions Can Functional Medicine Help?
From gynecology to immunology, functional medical doctors in Washington treat many common illnesses that Washington citizens face. Some of these illnesses include:
Allergies
Inflammatory diseases
Autoimmune diseases
Diabetes
Cardiovascular conditions
Women’s health concerns
Metabolic disorders
Digestive disorders
No wonder Washington functional medicine doctors are popular among patients!
Naturopathic Medicine and Chronic Diseases
The CDC estimates that six out of every ten adults live with a chronic disease, and four out of ten have more than one.
Chronic illness isn’t just hard on the body; it’s hard on the mind and soul as well. Treating a chronic condition involves more than managing symptoms. An effective wellness program must examine how the disease affects the patient’s overall health. Chronic pain, for instance, is more than being uncomfortable. It often causes sleep disorders or causes symptoms like fatigue, mental fog, anxiety, and depression.
Functional medicine doesn’t just address the symptoms of chronic illness. It also uncovers the hidden physical and psychological effects of living with a debilitating disease and gives patients the tools and resources they need to overcome it.
Functional Medicine and Mental Illness
Naturopathic physicians address mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression. Just as chronic diseases affect the mind, mental illness affects the body. You can consider mental illness a symptom of a significant imbalance in the brain or body.
Psychotropic medicines may temporarily alleviate symptoms of mental illness, but the symptoms return if the patient stops using the medication. A better way to address mental illness is to uncover the root cause of the disorder.
A surprising link exists between diet, lifestyle, and mental illness. The path to better mental health starts with evaluating all the factors contributing to emotional imbalances. This is exactly what functional medicine doctors in Washington specialize in.
Finding Naturopathic Medicine Doctors in Washington
The biggest reason to turn to Washington functional medicine doctors is that holistic medicine works. At Resilience Wellness, our team of compassionate professionals understands the frustration of endless trips to the doctor’s office and never finding the answers you need, the money wasted on bottles of useless pills filling your medicine cabinet, and the feeling that no one really cares.
There is a better way. Join Dr. Camille Koontz, ND, RN, one of the leading naturopathic physicians in Washington, and her team of caring professionals at Resilience Wellness Programs to start your journey to whole-body wellness and healing. Call us at (360) 922-8692 or fill out our no-obligation form to watch our free webinar and learn more about our life-changing services.