What is Functional Medicine?

In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and nurse educator Brigitte Sager answers the core question: "What is functional medicine?" She explains how functional medicine differs from traditional healthcare by focusing on root causes rather than symptom management. Brigitte breaks down how chronic health conditions are on the rise due to modern lifestyles and shares real-world examples of how functional medicine seeks to identify the unique causes of conditions like hypertension. This episode offers a comprehensive overview of why functional medicine is gaining popularity, what it truly entails, and debunks some common misconceptions, such as its reliance on expensive supplements and tests.

In this episode, Brigitte emphasizes how functional medicine helps nurses and healthcare practitioners become partners in their patients' healing journey. This approach goes beyond diagnosing and medicating, diving into lifestyle factors, biochemistry, and nutrient needs to empower patients to take charge of their own health. For nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse coaches looking to integrate functional medicine into their practice, this episode provides a valuable foundation on the essential differences between functional and conventional care, making it a must-listen for any healthcare professional.

 

Hosted by Brigitte Sager, NP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and an RN and NP FM educator.

For more information on the Functional Medicine for Nurses course offered through the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy in partnership with the Institute for Functional Medicine, click here.

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Be well!