Functional vs Western medicine
pros/cons of each and where I fall as a provider
“And if you consume a single crumb of a crouton, you WILL have pain for the next 6 weeks.”
This is a direct quote from one of the lectures of the Integrative Medicine Symposium, which I attended a few weeks ago. And while it isn’t entirely representative of the functional medicine community, its polarity and intensity is reflected in a lot of what I’ve seen in the space over the years.
In my decade long post-college educational journey, I’ve been exposed to various schools of thought when it comes to medicine, healthcare, nutrition, and wellbeing. Some in a very traditional allopathic medicine space (PA school), some in a functional medicine setting (Master’s in nutrition and functional medicine), and some too in a more integrative space (interning with Indigo to accumulate hours for the Certified Nutrition Specialist certification).
Where do I fit and fall in the world of healthcare with this accumulated background? If I’m being honest, I’m not quite sure, and it’s still a moving target.
This post is not a diatribe against any single provider or school of thought, as I so often see on social media. Though instead an exploration as to why I don’t feel like I entirely fit in the functional or allopathic medicine space, despite having a background in both.
We cover pros/cons of both functional and western medicine and accessibility/sustainability of eat, the bullet points of burnout, and what my current practice looks like.
It’s a windy journey of trying to find my way, which is a recurring theme and something I always kind of felt while in PA school and on social media.
Other newsletters referenced in this post:
Dissociation diaries: Re-learning how to tune in rather than zone out
What are you so angry about? Trying (and failing) to manage rage in healthcare
Birth control 101: An integrative approach to contraception counseling
Gulp! help with health anxiety. How I navigate this as a provider + reader submitted tips