What Is Functional Medicine?

When you are dealing with persistent symptoms, getting a diagnosis is often only the beginning. You may know what condition you have, but still wonder why you are experiencing it—and what may be contributing to the way you feel.

Functional medicine takes a different approach to this question. Rather than focusing exclusively on treating individual symptoms, functional medicine looks at how different systems within the body interact and explores factors that may contribute to chronic health concerns.

What Does Functional Medicine Mean?

Functional medicine is a personalized approach to healthcare that considers the relationships between genetics, environment, lifestyle, and the body's interconnected systems.

Instead of viewing symptoms in isolation, a functional medicine practitioner may look for patterns and potential contributing factors across areas such as:

• Digestive health
• Brain and cognitive health
• Immune function
• Hormonal and endocrine health
• Metabolic health
• Nutrition and lifestyle
• Genetics

The goal is to develop a more complete picture of an individual's health and use that information to guide appropriate care.

How Is Functional Medicine Different?

Conventional medicine and functional medicine can overlap in many ways, but they may approach chronic health concerns from different perspectives.

Conventional care often focuses on identifying and treating a specific disease or condition. Functional medicine may also consider the broader context surrounding that condition, including symptoms, health history, lifestyle, and interactions between body systems.

For someone experiencing fatigue, for example, the evaluation may go beyond the symptom itself and consider potential contributors such as sleep, thyroid function, nutritional status, metabolic health, medications, stress, and other relevant factors.

What Conditions Can Functional Medicine Address?

Functional medicine may be relevant for people dealing with a variety of chronic or complex health concerns.

These may include:

• Anxiety and mood concerns
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Insomnia
• Diabetes and metabolic concerns
• High cholesterol
• Thyroid disorders
• Autoimmune conditions
• Digestive problems
• Hormonal imbalances
• Recurrent or persistent infections

The appropriate evaluation and treatment depend on the individual. Similar symptoms can have very different causes, which is why personalized assessment is important.

The Importance of Looking at Connected Systems

The human body does not operate as a collection of completely separate systems.

The digestive system, brain, immune system, endocrine system, and other biological systems continuously interact. Changes in one area can influence processes elsewhere in the body.

This interconnected perspective is particularly important when symptoms are persistent, involve multiple systems, or do not fit neatly into a single diagnosis.

What Is the BIGGE Axis?

Dr. Anthony Serle's functional medicine approach places particular emphasis on the Brain-Immune-Gut-Genetics-Endocrine (BIGGE) axis.

The BIGGE framework considers five interconnected areas:

Brain — cognition, mood, sleep, and neurological function.

Immune — immune regulation, inflammation, and autoimmune processes.

Gut — digestion, intestinal health, nutrition, and the gut microbiome.

Genetics — individual genetic factors that may influence health and disease risk.

Endocrine — hormones, metabolism, thyroid function, and other endocrine processes.

Looking at these systems together can provide additional context when evaluating complex or chronic health concerns.

What Happens During a Functional Medicine Evaluation?

A functional medicine evaluation typically begins with understanding the individual rather than immediately focusing on a single symptom.

Depending on the situation, an evaluation may consider:

1. Your current symptoms and health concerns
2. Medical and family history
3. Lifestyle and environmental factors
4. Nutrition and physical activity
5. Sleep and stress
6. Current medications and supplements
7. Relevant laboratory testing or other clinical information

The information gathered can help a healthcare professional determine what additional evaluation or treatment may be appropriate.

Is Functional Medicine Right for Everyone?

Functional medicine is not necessarily the right approach for every person or every medical situation.

Urgent symptoms and medical emergencies require appropriate immediate medical care. Functional medicine should also not be viewed as a replacement for necessary conventional medical treatment.

For people with persistent or complex health concerns, however, a personalized evaluation may provide another perspective for understanding their health.

Understanding the Why Behind Your Health

Living with chronic symptoms can be frustrating, particularly when you feel that you are managing symptoms without understanding the factors contributing to them.

Functional medicine seeks to look beyond isolated symptoms and consider the bigger picture of an individual's health.

At Dr. Anthony Serle's practice, the BIGGE framework provides a way to explore the relationships between the brain, immune system, gut, genetics, and endocrine system as part of a personalized approach to functional medicine.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual health conditions and treatment options vary. Speak with a qual