Functional Medicine

Beyond
Functional Medicine

It's a philosophy — not a treatment.

Why hormones, IVs, and peptides are parts of Functional Medicine, but never the whole of it.

By Dr. Neela Sandal

The short answer: Functional Medicine is a philosophy of root-cause medicine, not a single treatment. Hormone therapy, IV therapy, and peptides are part of the picture, not the whole of it.

I get asked all the time, "Where can I find a doctor who does what you do?"

Unfortunately, there's no easy answer. Anyone who's keeping up with the science knows that "Functional Medicine" is the term most likely to help you find a doctor who keeps up with the new science of medicine. That said, there are a lot of doctors who say they do Functional Medicine who really don't know what they're doing. Functional Medicine is not a regulated or brand-protected term, so anyone can say they do Functional Medicine, even if they only took a weekend seminar. One would think that searching "Best Functional Medicine Doctor Near Me" would give you a great list of doctors, but it just doesn't.

Part of the Picture, Not the Whole

•Hormone Therapy is a part of Functional Medicine, but it's not the whole of Functional Medicine.
•IV Therapy is a part of Functional Medicine, but it's not the whole of Functional Medicine.
•Peptides are a part of Functional Medicine, but they're not the whole of Functional Medicine.

These are the most commonly advertised services for "Functional Medicine" because they're popular. Unfortunately, this means that doctors who provide these services then advertise themselves as doing "Functional Medicine" even though they're only doing a very small slice of it.

It's hard to find a good Functional Medicine doctor.

At its best, in its full, most effective form, Functional Medicine is not a type of treatment. Functional Medicine is a way that a doctor thinks about health — a philosophy. It's "Big Picture Medicine." It's "Root Cause Medicine." It's "Regenerative Medicine." And these are concepts, not therapies that someone can learn in a weekend and start pitching to patients.

What Is the Next Revolution in Medicine?

It is when people realize that Functional Medicine means more than hormone therapy and weight loss, and that they deserve doctors who focus on fixing root problems.

The next revolution in medicine is when people realize that Functional Medicine means something beyond hormone therapy and weight loss.

The next revolution in medicine is when people realize that they deserve a better philosophy of health. People deserve doctors that think differently. People deserve doctors that focus on fixing root problems so they can get off medications — not just get off conventional medications and onto other medications by another name, like "hormone" or "peptide."

What Makes ATMA Clinic Different From Other Functional Medicine Practices?

ATMA leads with a root-cause health philosophy and treats hormones, peptides, and IVs as tools rather than the point. All providers are certified in Advanced Functional and Integrative Medicine.

At ATMA Clinic, we lead with the right health philosophy. Yes, we do hormones. Yes, we do peptides. Yes, we do IVs. But they're not the point — they're tools that fit for some people, to help us fix root cause problems. That's Functional Medicine at its best. That's what patients deserve.

Our providers are all certified in Advanced Functional and Integrative Medicine, having undergone extensive additional training beyond their first Board Certification. We refuse to compromise quality, because our goal is the best possible health care for patients. What we do at ATMA is beyond "Functional Medicine" — it's the real deal.

If you're interested in learning about the ATMA difference, and how we go beyond typical "Functional Medicine," give us a call. We also offer no-commitment intro visits with our providers so you can see for yourself the future of medicine.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Sandal

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