Functional medicine is one of the most exciting innovations in healthcare. Every year, millions of patients go to conventional doctors for chronic health conditions and find little to no solutions. Functional medicine was created specifically to address this issue. If you’re suffering from something conventional medicine considers “incurable” like digestive disease, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression, or an autoimmune condition, functional medicine is a great alternative to conventional healthcare.
Seattle has a wide variety of functional medicine services. Our team has hand-selected this list of functional medicine centers that provide innovative, alternative approaches for chronic conditions.
What is Functional Medicine?
A functional medicine doctor will support you as you change the underlying lifestyle habits that cause your disease in the first place. A good functional medicine doctor is like having a teacher and guide with you as you get healthy. Typically, functional medicine doctors use lab testing to get data on what’s going on in your body and natural tools to help you address it. Functional medicine doctors can also write prescriptions, but they typically treat this as a last resort. Most patients find it a refreshing change of pace from conventional doctors.
Functional medicine is a patient-centered model of care designed specifically for chronic conditions. Functional doctors ass “why”? By understanding why a patient is struggling with a particular disease process or illness, practitioners can provide individualized care focused on the patient’s specific needs. Functional medicine encourages patients to work closely with practitioners to discover the root causes of illness, promoting optimal treatment and outcomes.
The Importance of Patient and Provider Communication
Functional medicine prescribes to the theory that optimal wellness can be achieved by addressing the root cause of illness rather than merely managing symptoms. Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of functional medicine is that practitioners spend time listening to their patients. You will sit down with your provider and discuss (in-depth) your medical history from the very beginning. This allows your provider to learn about lifestyle factors, genetic history, underlying health history, and other factors that may have led to new or worsening illnesses. As part of your first meeting with a functional medicine specialist, you will explore triggers such as stress, allergens, and poor diet, that further contribute to poor health.
Once an understanding of the root causes behind your medical condition is developed, it is possible to create an individualized treatment program. Your program will address many aspects of your life, including nutrition, sleep, exercise, mental and emotional health, and physical health. One of the first line therapists in functional medicine plans is food. Food is essential because, with proper nutrition combined with a healthy lifestyle, patients can take active charge of their health and make meaningful change audio journey to lasting wellness.
Functional Medicine vs. Conventional Treatment
It can be difficult for patients to understand the differences between conventional medicine and functional medicine. After all, traditional medicine helps patients “function,” Therefore, it is often considered the best or most effective treatment. Conventional therapies are indeed some of the most cutting-edge medical procedures available. However, traditional medicine only addresses the surface of your health. You discuss your concerns or symptoms with a conventional medicine practitioner; they will order tests and sometimes prescribe medications. Medication may reduce your symptoms or eliminate the illness depending on the disease. However, some conditions are not effectively addressed through conventional models.
Functional medicine addresses patient care on a holistic level. A functional medicine specialist digs deeper than just the surface of your symptoms. They consider crucial factors such as lifestyle, diet, heredity, genetics, etc. All contribute to disease development and the process of healing. As a result, patients who seek out medical care from the functional medicine provider often feel better overall.
The Best Functional Medicine Doctors in Seattle
Several functional medicine providers in the Seattle area provide various services to meet your specific healthcare needs. Below is a guide to the top functional medicine doctors and clinics in Seattle, Washington.
1) Vida Integrated Health, Ravenna
Vida Integrated Health provides an integrated approach to collaborative care. Offering a wide range of specialties, including physical therapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and functional medicine physicians, you can find what you need to address your care needs at Vida Integrated Health.
The Vida team uses a team approach to ensure you have access to all the specialties you need; in one place.
Specialties provided at the Ravenna location include:
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Chiropractic Care
- Physical therapy
- Functional Medicine
- Functional Nutrition
- Regenerative Medicine
- Sexual Health Services
Insurances Accepted: Vida accepts all major insurance providers (except Medicaid) and motor vehicle insurance. Their website offers an online form to quickly and easily check your benefits before scheduling an appointment.
Neighborhood: University District
Website: https://thinkvida.com/contact/#insurance
2) Holistic Health Seattle
Camelia Ades is the founder of Holistic Health Seattle and a board-certified family practitioner. At Holistic Health Seattle, patients experience a holistic approach to treatment that focuses on achieving sustainable wellness by addressing the underlying cause of medical challenges rather than just the symptoms of an illness or disease process. At the roots of the treatment philosophy at Holistic Health, Seattle likes to believe that well-being comes from the body’s natural ability to heal.
Services provided at Holistic Health Seattle include:
- Functional Medicine Services
- Naturopathy
- Health and Wellness Group sessions
- Cosmetic Dermatology Services
Neighborhood: Adams/Ballard
Website: https://www.aimforgreathealth.com/contact-us
3) Functional Medicine Northwest
Practitioners at Functional Medicine Northwest have used functional medicine practices to address a range of conditions from fibromyalgia and Lyme Disease to Hormonal Imbalances and Detoxification needs. At Functional Medicine Northwest, Dr. Kim Iller combines functional and integrative medicine to help her patients address modern health concerns. Dr. iller will work with your primary provider as part of a well-rounded, holistic care team to ensure your medical needs are cared for.
Services provided include:
- Naturopathic Medicine
- Peptide Therapy
- Ordering IV Nutrient Therapy
- Nutrition
- Chelation Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Medication Prescriptions
- Supplement Prescriptions
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Ordering Lab: Standard and Specialty
- Ordering imaging
- Referrals to Other Specialists
Providers at Functional Medicine Northwest are contracted with several insurance companies, including Premera Blue Cross, Lifewise of Washington, Regence Blue Shield, Other Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance companies, and First Choice.
Neighborhood: Woodland Park/Green Lake
Website: https://www.functionalmedicinenw.com/home.html
4) Apollo Health Clinic
Apollo Health Clinic focuses on patient participation. Dr. Madiera and his team at Apollo will work with you to develop a patient-focused, integrated approach to your health care needs. Using both modern diagnostic tools and functional medicine practices, the providers at Apollo Health Clinic are focused on helping you heal using personalized, holistic care.
Specialized provided include:
Naturopathic Medicine
Regenerative Medicine
Functional Medicine
Apollo Health Clinic does not appear to accept insurance, so most of the cost for treatments will be out of pocket. This may be restrictive for some patients, however, the clinic’s reviews indicate the tools and techniques used at the practice offer overwhelming success rates.
Neighborhood: Belltown/Downtown
Website: https://www.apollohealthclinic.com
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