What Is a Functional Medicine Doctor—and How Are They Different from Conventional Doctors?

Melissa Nichols
Jul 14
5 min read

Updated: Aug 13

By Melissa Nichols, NBC-HWC

If you’ve ever been told “your labs are normal” but you still feel anything but normal as you’re tired, bloated, anxious, inflamed, or just “off”. You’re not alone. Many women have years of frustration, seeing multiple specialists, and have a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions.

This is where functional medicine steps in.

Functional medicine physicians — Functional Medicine Physicians

What Is Functional Medicine?

In 1990 a small group of clinicians, researchers and health educators met to explore a more ideal healthcare system that focused not only on the management of disease, but more importantly the prevention of it. The earliest signs of disease are associated with altered function at the physical, metabolic, cognitive, and behavior levels. From this meeting a system of thinking emerged, and in 1991 they established The Institute for Functional Medicine¹ to develop a clinical model that could apply this concept of function to patient-centered health care.

The 7 core concepts of functional medicine¹ are:

1. A person’s health is shaped by how their genes and environment work together.

2. The body works as a whole, with different organ systems affecting each other.

3. Diet, lifestyle, the environment and relationships all influence a person’s physical, biochemical, and behavioral traits (a.k.a. health).

4. To understand a person’s symptoms, it’s important to look at his/her history, what may have triggered their concerns, and what keeps them going.

5. Treating complex health problems usually requires using several different approaches at once.

6. Every person is unique, so care should be personalized to the individual.

7. To truly understand someone’s health, we need to consider their life over time and their relationships.

In the clinical assessment and management of patients, these core concepts focus on the evaluation of six core physiological processes¹:

1. Assimilation - How the body digests food, absorbs nutrients, and works with gut bacteria.

2. Defense and Repair - How the body fights off illness, controls inflammation, and heals itself.

3. Energy Production - How cells make and use energy to power the body.

4. Transport - How blood, oxygen, and nutrients move through the body.

5. Communication - How the body sends signals using hormones and brain chemicals.

6. Structural Integrity - How cells, muscles, and bones stay strong and work properly.

Functional medicine is a science-based, root-cause approach to healthcare. Instead of just treating symptoms, it looks at why those symptoms are happening in the first place.

Functional medicine doctors view the body as a connected system and not a collection of separate parts. Your digestion, hormones, brain, immune system, and lifestyle are all interconnected. When one is out of balance, it can create a ripple effect through the rest of your health.

Think of it like this: If someone is standing on your foot and it is causing pain, you could take a pain med to treat the symptom or get the person to stop standing on your foot (root cause).

How Are Functional Medicine Doctors Trained?

There are 2 types of certifications² through the Institute of Functional Medicine:

® Functional Medicine Certified Professional- Medical (FMCP-M) for licensed physicians:

· MDs (Medical Doctors)

· DOs (Doctors of Osteopathy)

· NDs (Naturopathic Doctors)

· PAs (Physician Assistant)

· NPs (Nurse Practitioners)

® Functional Medicine Certified Professional (FMCP)- licensed health practitioners

· DCs (Chiropractors)

· Lac, DOM, DACM (Acupuncturist)

· DN (Doctor of Naprapathy)

· Mental Health professionals

· Nutrition professionals

· Physical therapist

· Registered nurse

They pursue 100 hours of training in functional medicine education plus an exam. The training is rigorous and ongoing, requiring in-depth knowledge of how the body functions as a whole system.

Functional vs. Conventional Medicine: What’s the Difference?

Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you understand how functional medicine differs from the traditional model:

Category	Conventional Medicine	Functional Medicine
Focus	Disease diagnosis and symptom control	Prevention, root cause of concerns and optimal health
Approach	Reactive (treats after symptoms appear)	Proactive (identifies imbalances early)
Labs	Within normal range	Within optimal range
Treatment	Medications, surgery	Nutrition, lifestyle, supplements, targeted therapies when needed
Time with Patient	10–15 minutes	60–90 minutes (initial), with follow-ups
Goal	Manage/cure disease	Restore optimal health, prevent illness, treat disease

Conventional doctors are great at handling acute issues, emergencies, and advanced diagnostics. Functional medicine excels in managing chronic conditions and optimizing wellness over the long term.

One example of how conventional doctors differ from functional medicine doctors is in the evaluation of laboratory values. Normal ranges define the population average. Optimal defines values needed for optimal health. Here are just a few examples or normal vs. optimal ranges for labs. (Check out my blog for Understanding your Lab Results that’s coming soon).

Lab	Normal Range	Optimal Range³
TSH	0.45-4.5	0.5 – 2mIU/mL
Ferritin	13-150	30-100
ALT	5-33	<26

Note: Lab ranges can vary from one lab to another.

What Conditions Does Functional Medicine Treat?

Functional medicine physicians are especially helpful for chronic, complex, or unexplained symptoms, such as:

Autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
Digestive disorders (IBS, SIBO, leaky gut)
Hormone imbalances (thyroid, estrogen dominance, PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, fertility)
Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders
Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis
Insulin resistance and metabolic issues
Migraines and chronic pain

It’s also used to optimize health, prevent disease, and support graceful aging.

What Happens at a Functional Medicine Appointment?

Your first session is different from anything you’ve experienced in a typical doctor’s office. Here's what to expect:

A deep dive into your story: health history, diet, stress, medications, sleep, environment, and lifestyle
Advanced lab testing: beyond the basics, looking at nutrients, inflammation, gut health, hormones, and toxins
Personalized plan: tailored nutrition, supplements, stress support, sleep strategies, movement, and mindset work

Many functional medicine doctors have nutritionists or health coaches in their offices to help with follow-through on the diet or lifestyle changes that are recommended. You’re not just a patient; you’re an active participant in your healing.

Is Functional Medicine Right for You?

Functional medicine may be a great fit if:

You’re experiencing ongoing symptoms that don’t have clear answers
You want to avoid long-term medication use if possible
You’re ready to take a proactive role in your wellness
You’re interested in a whole-person approach that includes mind, body, and lifestyle
You have multiple symptoms that would require multiple specialist

At Reforming You, I tend to refer my clients to functional medicine physicians when they need answers that they aren't getting from their conventional doctors. Most functional medicine physicians don’t accept insurance, but if the first visit is thorough enough, you may find that it’s worth it.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are working with a functional medicine doctor and want some guidance on how to make the recommended changes, contact me today. The first visit is free!

👉 Contact Melissa at Reforming You

📧 Melissa@ReformingYou.com

🌐 www.ReformingYou.com