Functional Medicine

If you’re living with a chronic condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure, functional medicine can prevent the issue from worsening and improve your quality of life. At Genesis Restorative Medicine, restorative medicine specialist Lindsay Hubsmith, PA-C, uses functional medicine and naturopathy to treat chronic disease from the inside out. To make an appointment, call the office in Twin Falls, Idaho, or book online today.

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine uses holistic and patient-centric treatments to manage chronic illnesses like diabetes, high cholesterol, and thyroid disease. 

Traditional Western medicine tends to focus on treating the symptoms of illness. Alternatively, functional medicine tries to identify the underlying cause, so you can receive personalized care. 

Functional medicine doesn’t rely as much on prescription medication. Instead, it incorporates healthy lifestyle changes and education to encourage optimal well-being.

What conditions can benefit from functional medicine?

Genesis Restorative Medicine uses functional medicine to treat various conditions, including:

• Adrenal disorders
• Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Autoimmune diseases
• Cancer prevention
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Digestive disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Allergies
• Thyroid disorders
• Metabolic syndrome

Genesis Restorative Medicine also treats hormonal imbalances in men and women.

What happens during a functional medicine visit?

At Genesis Restorative Medicine, a functional medicine visit begins with a review of your health history and a discussion of your symptoms. Next, your provider performs a physical exam and orders lab tests, including blood work and urinalysis.

Next, your Genesis Restorative Medicine provider introduces you to the “food as medicine” philosophy. Food as medicine encourages you to eat a nutritious and balanced diet. When you eat foods that are good for you, you’re less likely to experience poor health.

After analyzing the results of your lab tests, Genesis Restorative Medicine recommends a nutrition plan that helps you stay healthy while reducing the risk of complications.

Does functional medicine use prescription medication?

It depends. At Genesis Restorative Medicine, the functional medicine providers encourage naturopathy. Naturopathy is a philosophy that doesn’t use drugs. Instead, it uses diet, exercise, and alternative treatments, like massage, to reduce uncomfortable symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Certain conditions, like Type 1 diabetes, require prescription medication. If that’s the case, your provider can write you a prescription and suggest healthy lifestyle changes to complement it.

What should I bring to a functional medicine appointment?

Genesis Restorative Medicine recommends bringing the following items to your functional medicine appointment:

• Health insurance information
• Names of the medications, supplements, and vitamins you take
• Questions you have
• List of the symptoms you’re experiencing
• Results from recent lab tests or preventive screenings

To learn more about functional medicine, make an appointment at Genesis Restorative Medicine by calling the office or booking online today.