By Richmond Natural Medicine

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July 5, 2018

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What is Functional Medicine and how does it differ from Naturopathic medicine? Below is a review of the similarities and differences between Functional Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. ¹

The Seven basic principles are underlying Functional Medicine:

1. Science-based medicine that connects the emerging research base to clinical practice
2. Biochemical individuality based on genetic and environmental uniqueness
3. Patient-centered care rather than disease-focused treatment
4. Dynamic balance of internal and external factors that affect total functioning
5. Web-like interconnections among the body’s physiological processes also affect every aspect of functionality
6. Health as a positive vitality, not merely the absence of disease
7. Promotion of organ reserve as a means to enhance the health span

How was Functional Medicine developed?

Dr. Jeffery Bland and his wife established the Institute of Functional Medicine in 1991.  Dr. Bland is a nutritional biochemist and registered clinical laboratory director.  He is a former professor of biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound, and a former Director of Nutritional Research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine. He was the first member of the Board of Trustees of Bastyr University, the first federally accredited university in the United States offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in natural medicine, and contributed significantly to its founding and accreditation.  ²

Dr. Bland was involved with Bastyr University, one of the accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools in Seattle, Washington before the development of functional medicine.  It is also known that the Institute of Functional Medicine has many Naturopathic Doctors on their staff holding positions such as educators, curriculum creation, and even on the board of directors.³

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process through the use of natural therapies. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) blend centuries-old knowledge and a philosophy that nature is the most effective healer with current research on health and human systems.

Naturopathic diagnosis focuses on identifying the underlying causes of disease, while naturopathic therapies are supported by research drawn from peer-reviewed journals from many disciplines, including naturopathic medicine, conventional medicine, European complementary medicine, clinical nutrition, phytotherapy, pharmacognosy, homeopathy, psychology, and spirituality.

The therapeutic modalities used in naturopathic medicine (including physical manipulation, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy) integrate conventional, scientific and empirical methodology with the ancient laws of nature. ⁴

The philosophy and the therapies of naturopathic medicine, which have their origins in Hippocrates and the traditional and indigenous medicines of the world, first became a distinct profession in Germany in the mid-1800s. In 1896, Dr. Benedict Lust, MD, brought naturopathy to America and established the first naturopathic college, the Yungborn Health Institute in New Jersey. Naturopathic medicine has since been present in the US for over a century. ⁶

The following principles are the foundation of naturopathic medical practice: 5

• The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
• Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
• First Do No Harm (Primum NonNocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient:
  • Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat
  • Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms
  • Acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process
• Doctor as Teacher (Docere): Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
• Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
• Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity, and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. ⁵

What are the similarities? And differences?

As you can tell, the two fields of medicine are similar in many ways including the incorporation of evidence-based medicine, patient centered care, a whole person approach, and treating the cause rather than just the symptoms.

What I believe has happened is that there has been an increase in demand for holistic, patient-centered care. This has lead MDs and DOs to further their education with functional medicine to broaden their scope of practice to incorporate nutrition and natural therapies as well as to perform functional testing.  All of which are part of the curriculum of accredited naturopathic medical programs.

The MDs and DOs obtain functional medical education after graduation to learn a more natural approach to medicine, whereas NDs are taught this natural approach throughout their medical training.

One of the major differences I have taken away from comparing the two fields of medicine is the naturopathic vitalistic principle, the healing power of nature.  This principle is what sets NDs apart.  NDs trust in and support the bodies’ innate ability to heal itself.  All naturopathic therapies work in concert with this vital force to enhance and support the healing capacity.  As naturopathic doctors, we simply facilitate this healing ability by removing obstacles to cure and giving the body what it needs.

Another difference lies within a similarity. While both fields aim to treat the cause, they have different ideas of the said cause.  From a functional medical standpoint, they are educated on eradication of the microbe leading to disease.  Whereas from a naturopathic standpoint, our education is based upon the evaluation of the terrain.  Terrain being the unique susceptibility of the individual based on lifestyle, environment, and constitutional aspects of the person.  This is the basis of why some people become ill while other do not have when exposed to the same microbe. ⁷

I hope this has been helpful in answering some of your questions regarding functional medicine and naturopathic medicine.  Overall, we do similar functional testing and have a similar approach to patients, with some differences in philosophy.  If you have more questions about what a naturopathic medical doctor can do for you, give us a call at (804) 977-2634.