Integrative Health Blog

by Chas Gant MD, PhD

Functional Medicine, which is neither Conventional nor Alternative Medicine

I have practiced functional medicine since it was invented over 30 years ago and during these decades I have reluctantly tolerated and overlooked being mislabeled as an “alternative medicine[1]” doctor.  Healthcare consumers and practitioners alike often fail to recognize that functional medicine has virtually nothing to do with alternative medicine practices such as homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine or hands-on-healing. Functional medicine is also not conventional medicine.  Functional medicine is a third and completely different discipline.  Functional medicine’s uniqueness stems from its heavy reliance on certain basic sciences - toxicology, biochemistry, physiology, anatomy and genetics - which in widely varying degrees are part of the educational curricula of all licensed healthcare professionals. These basic sciences are also referred to as “pure sciences” because they conform more rigorously to scientific method. 

Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.  Once a hypothesis has been proven, it can provide a predictable model which can then be used to formulate further hypotheses and experimentation.  

Mindfulness is a separate faculty of consciousness totally distinct from cognition (thinking), emotion (feelings), intuition or sensory awareness (the 5 senses).

Mindfulness is not about Mystical Religions, awareness or meditation, although many religious and spiritual paths make use of mindfulness techniques.  Many therapies and psychotherapies are becoming “mindfulness-based” as it is discovered that all healing methodologies get better results if mindfulness is adjunctively applied. 

Mindfulness techniques are primarily taught to improve emotional stability, to manage stress, to expand ones intelligence, to become more productive and to lead a more joyful and meaningful life.

Scientific studies have proven that mindfulness involves about 1/5^th of the brain, the frontal lobes, as well as other associated structures.  Like other skills, such as intellectual, musical or athletic, which are associated with the development of other brain regions, mindfulness can be practiced and improved over time.  Educational psychologists are studying mindfulness and devising methods to teach children how to practice and develop this skill. Mindfulness training is being introduced into school curricula around the USA. Future generations will someday be trained to use their whole brain and not just 80% of it.

Lowell Weiner DDS, FAGD