Functional vs Holistic and Longevity medicine

The Difference between Functional, Holistic, and Longevity Medicine

You may have heard of them, or they may be brand new to you, but there are a lot of new buzzwords going around in the health and wellness communities: functional, holistic, and longevity. But what exactly do these words mean and can they be used interchangeable? Let’s break it down.

Functional, holistic, and longevity medicine are all holistic approaches to healthcare that focus on treating the whole person, rather than just their symptoms. However, there are some key differences between the three.

Functional medicine is a systems-based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of disease. It involves a thorough examination of a patient's medical history, lifestyle, and environmental factors, as well as laboratory testing to identify imbalances in the body. Practitioners of functional medicine work closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that may include dietary changes, supplements, and other lifestyle interventions to address the root cause of the patient's health issues.

Holistic medicine, on the other hand, is an approach to healthcare that considers the whole person - body, mind, spirit, and emotions - in the quest for optimal health and wellness. Holistic medicine practitioners may use a variety of therapies, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and counseling, to treat the whole person and address the underlying causes of disease.

Longevity medicine, on the other hand, is an approach to healthcare that focuses on improving the quality and length of life by addressing the underlying causes of aging and age-related diseases. It aims to optimize health and prevent disease by addressing the key drivers of aging such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormone imbalances. Longevity medicine practitioners may use a variety of therapies, such as hormone replacement therapy, nutraceuticals, and lifestyle changes, to optimize health and prevent disease.

Functional, longevity, and holistic medicine share a common goal of treating the whole person and addressing the underlying causes of disease, but they differ in their specific approach and the therapies they use to achieve that goal. Longevity medicine is more focused on preventing age-related diseases and extending the lifespan, while functional and holistic medicine is more focused on treating chronic diseases and improving overall health.

It is not uncommon for practitioners to use the terms interchangeably, and in some cases, practitioners may consider themselves a functional, holistic and/or longevity medicine practitioner.

At WellcomeMD, we have physicians with certifications in both functional, integrative holistic and/or anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Our physicians and certified health coaches work individually with each of our patients to create personalized wellness plans that may include dietary, fitness and lifestyle changes as well as supplement recommendations, stress management techniques and/or hormone replacement therapies. When necessary our office will work as a liaison for referrals for additional specialists or complimentary practitioners like an acupuncturist or herbalist.