There is a big disconnect when it comes to healthcare and what is perceived to be available to people. But why this disconnect?  Why don’t more people actually know there can be a better solution to what ails them?  Quite simply, the reason for this disconnect is due to popularity.  What happens to receive the most visibility, press, and promotion wins every time.  Fortunately, with a little research one can find better and more reliable options when it comes to good health and wellness.

Kids today are raised in a much different society than older generations.  Social media dominates their source for information and means to connect with others.  Generations past chose the newspaper, handwritten letters, and the telephone.  They “Think Green” and recycle just about everything, quick to speak up if you accidentally throw something away that is recyclable.  Ten to twenty years ago, you were considered odd if you did recycle.  Today, organic is popular as is supporting local farmers and businesses.  A decade ago, we believed that what big business sold what was best for us.  Fortunately, we saw the “disconnect” and realized that there might just be a better way.

In terms of healthcare, functional medicine is gaining momentum and becoming more mainstream.  It is built on the premise that taking ownership of our health versus treating ailments symptomatically will improve it longterm.  According to the Institute of Function Medicine, functional medicine is defined as,

“A systems-oriented approach that engages both the patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership that addresses the underlying causes of diseases.”

This definition removes medication from the solution and instead utilizes alternative methods to cure ailments.  Granted, this is not to say that medicine does not have a place because it certainly does, especially in the treatment of infection, trauma, and acute diseases.  But what about the millions of people who suffer every day from chronic diseases for which medicine simply masks the symptoms?

Functional medicine offers a solution to chronic ailments like allergies, gastro-intestinal problems, inflammation, or structural imbalances.  Working in collaboration with a healthcare provider, such as a chiropractor, to help the body restore itself to the desired balance state is the goal.  It’s about taking time to uncover the root cause of a health problem, so that steps can be taken to remedy it and facilitate the healing process – naturally, if possible.  Our bodies are comprised of intricately woven systems – from digestive, neurological, muscular, and cardiovascular.  One system inevitably affects the other, especially if there is a deficiency.  Functional medicine allows our body to do what it was designed to do, heal itself – given the proper tools to do so.

Isn’t it time you allowed your body to function as it should?