Many people wonder what functional medicine is, especially those not healthcare professionals who have never heard the term. To put it simply, functional medicine is an alternative method of natural treatment that covers various often-unproven and rarely-tried approaches to diseases that most people are familiar with. Common examples include traditional Chinese medicine and massage therapy, naturopathy, homeopathy, and various forms of hydrotherapy. These techniques often involve applying treatment to a physical form or effect, such as acupuncture, acupressure, or physical therapy, which is the foundation for most Western medical practices.
Critics of functional medicine point out that these treatments offer no new insights or treatment for any disease and that their main benefit is that they don’t rely on the use of pharmaceuticals. While critics of conventional medicine state that the current treatment options are usually more effective than those offered by alternative treatments, they also point out that the conventional approach can sometimes be harmful.