The Truth About Functional Medicine
The new scam
The Truth About Functional Medicine
Functional medicine is often marketed as a cutting-edge, patient-centered approach to healthcare, blending conventional medicine with alternative practices. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a murky, unregulated industry that often preys on patients seeking solutions outside the pharmaceutical-heavy medical system.
Functional Medicine: Unregulated and Overpriced
Functional medicine, in its current form, is not a formally recognized or regulated medical practice. There is no official medical school or standardized curriculum specifically dedicated to functional medicine. Instead, doctors often transition into this field after receiving limited additional training, which is primarily based on principles taken from naturopathic medicine. These practitioners then upcharge patients for tests, treatments, and supplements that are often overpriced, with little oversight or regulation.
What sets functional medicine apart from traditional medical practice is the lack of formal education and regulatory oversight. Unlike conventional MDs or NDs (naturopathic doctors), functional doctors are often charging patients premium prices for services and products that are not covered by insurance and may not be scientifically validated.
The Origins of Functional Medicine: A Reaction to the AMA’s Monopoly
The rise of functional medicine can be traced back to a larger conflict within the American healthcare system. Historically, the American Medical Association (AMA) played a central role in establishing the dominance of pharmaceutical-based, allopathic medicine. This dominance was not always based on patient care but rather a desire to control the market.
One of the most notable examples of the AMA’s unethical practices was the Wilk vs. AMA case, in which the AMA was found guilty of conspiring to block chiropractors from practicing and to prevent patients from seeking their services. The courts ruled that the AMA had engaged in anti-competitive behavior to undermine alternative health professions, which created a medical landscape heavily skewed toward pharmaceuticals and surgery at the expense of other healing practices. Functional medicine emerged as a way to fill the gap for patients seeking alternative, holistic care. However, it often mimics naturopathic practices while charging significantly more.
Naturopathic Medicine: The True Root Cause Approach
While functional medicine doctors claim to get to the root of health problems, this approach is not new. Naturopathic medicine has long been focused on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of disease, using natural therapies and lifestyle modifications. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) undergo formal medical training that includes conventional diagnostics and treatments, as well as extensive education in herbal medicine, nutrition, and other holistic modalities.
Unlike functional doctors, NDs are licensed healthcare providers in many states, trained to treat patients using both evidence-based natural therapies and conventional treatments when necessary. Their approach is inherently patient-centered, holistic, and focused on prevention, aligning with many of the goals that functional medicine claims to pursue. However, NDs offer this care without the hefty price tag or unregulated practices often seen in functional medicine.
Why Choose Naturopathic Medicine Over Functional Medicine?
Patients who are drawn to functional medicine are often seeking individualized care, but what they may not realize is that naturopathic doctors are the true experts in this type of healthcare. NDs are trained to:
Identify and treat the root causes of illness.
Use natural therapies that are supported by scientific evidence.
Provide personalized care with a focus on prevention and wellness.
Supporting naturopathic medicine means supporting a more regulated, ethical, and evidence-based approach to natural healthcare. By choosing NDs over functional doctors, patients can avoid being price-gouged while receiving high-quality, holistic care from practitioners who are fully trained in alternative medicine.
The Importance of Regulation and Accountability
Another major issue with functional medicine is the lack of accountability. When allopathic doctors adopt alternative methods, there is often little oversight in terms of pricing or treatment efficacy. The lack of licensing or standardization in functional medicine means that patients are often left vulnerable to overpriced treatments and unproven therapies. Supporting naturopathic doctors, who are regulated healthcare professionals, provides a layer of protection and assurance that functional medicine simply cannot offer.
Conclusion
While functional medicine presents itself as a revolutionary approach to healthcare, it is, in reality, an unregulated and overpriced industry that often leaves patients underserved. For those seeking a holistic, patient-centered approach to healthcare, naturopathic medicine offers a more ethical, regulated, and scientifically grounded alternative. Supporting naturopathic doctors, who are formally trained and licensed in natural therapies, is a far better option for patients seeking to address the root causes of their health issues.