How to Become a Functional Medicine Pharmacist

Functional pharmacy is defined as a pharmacy that practices Functional Medicine. Functional medicine is a culmination of alternative therapies that are designed to help an individual achieve optimum health in the physical and metaphysical realm. 

Functional medicine analyses the root cause of a health condition rather than only treating one symptom of a health condition that is typical to traditional or western medicine. As per functional medicine the differential diagnosis is just one of many factors affecting an individual’s body and mind. So, the key is to identify the other causes that may be contributing to a particular health condition. 

Functional medicine offers customized treatment plans based on an individual approach for patients to heal from long-term health conditions. 

Functional medicine is extremely effective in treating a wide spectrum of conditions such as:

• Skin disorders

• Hormonal issues

• Cardiometabolic conditions

• Neurological conditions

• Digestive disorders

• Psychiatric conditions

Over the years, seasoned and skilled experts have started practicing integrative medicine which is a combination of Functional medicine (explained above) and Traditional medicine (western medicine) to effectively help individuals achieve optimal health and a healthier lifestyle. 

Types of Functional Medicine

This section hovers around the theory behind some of the most popular types of functional medicine practiced and originated across the globe. Different traditions, cultures, and schools of thought incepted different types of functional medicine depending on techniques, focus areas and approach. 

Functional medicine can be broadly classified into five types:

• Energy therapies

• Mind-body techniques

• Biological based practices

• Whole medical systems

• Manipulative and body-based therapies

Energy Therapies focus on energy fields and help the life energy flow optimally across the body so that individuals feel more of life and less of health issues. There are many types of energy therapies about which we would focus in the latter section of this article. 

Mind-body techniques help to address the mental and emotional factors that affect the physical health of an individual. In mind-body techniques the mind and body are not considered as separate entities, rather the physical body is a tangible expression of the mental realm. 

Biological based practices are designed around curating customized dietary plans using natural products, supplements, and plant-based medicines.

Whole medical systems are century-old schools or studies around Traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Naturopathy. 

Manipulative and body-based therapies are based on bodily manipulation through application or insertion of external devices or touch-therapy (massage and reflexology) that helps the body release toxins stored due to unfavorable emotional or physical conditions. 

Why do pharmacists prefer Functional medicine over Traditional medicine?

The term alternative medicine took two decades to graduate to the term Functional medicine when practitioners felt the need to declare it as an effective way to treat physical and mental health conditions. 

Practitioners declared it to be more personalised, accurate and self-sustaining. 

Functional medicine offers a wide spectrum of diagnosis for a particular symptom rather than treating a condition for just one symptom.

As an effective illustration, let us take the example of depression.

Clinical depression when approached by a western medicine practitioner would be treated by administering OTC medicine content like Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine etc. 

When we approach this condition through Functional medicine the approach would include contributing factors like:

• Omega-3 deficiency

• Emotional abuse

• Vitamin Deficiency

• Traumatic events & Stress

• Certain side-effects of antibiotics

• Hormonal changes

An individual gets to address multiple conditions associated with the symptom and can lead a better life when measures are taken to effectively heal from the root cause. Dependency solely on medicines is also avoided through functional medicine. 

Today, 88% of countries globally practice functional medicine to achieve a better mind-body optimal health condition. Gone are the days when the world was led or mislead by only western medicine because individuals want to rely on lifestyle changes and their experiences rather than mere instructions by an allopathic doctor. 

A deeper insight into some of the most popular functional medicine therapies. 

Reiki: Reiki is a type of energy therapy that involves movement of hand over the body (with or without touching) and passing on healing vibrations to the various life-energy centres in the body also known as chakras. 

Yoga, Qigong and Tai-chi: Through bodily postures and changing postures gracefully and seamlessly, these techniques focus on maintaining an equilibrium in the poses and the breath. These belong to the category of Energy Therapies. 

Meditation and hypnotherapy belong to the mind-body medicine category and involve the use of breath and deep relaxation to move focus away from the chattering mind and an anxious energy-body.

Cupping therapy is a type of manipulative body-based practice in which cups are placed on various parts of the body and are heated using a rubber pump. The vacuum thereby created sucks the skin and the technique enable blood flow to the area under the cup.

Functional Wellness Network consists of a team of functional pharmacists who excel at healing individuals through many therapies including functional medicine

Call us today for an expert consultation.