---
title: Functional Medicine
date: 2024-06-12T21:21:37Z
modified: 2024-06-12T21:21:37Z
permalink: "https://elizabethyarnell.com/glossary/functional-medicine/"
type: glossary
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 8325
author: Elizabeth
---

In Functional Medicine, doctors look to the root causes of disease and work to heal the body by supporting weakened biological systems. Functional Medicine practitioners frequently order specialized laboratory testing to identify deficiencies and dysfunction, and then prescribe specific supplementation or actions to reverse the problem. They often subscribe to a “test, don’t guess” mentality and tailor therapies to the individual patient.

There are 4 pillars of functional medicine:

1. Nutrition
2. Stress Management
3. Exercise
4. Sleep

In my practice as a traditional naturopath, I employ many of the precepts of functional medicine, including specialized testing to show me exactly what is going on in the body of someone who is suffering.