integrative & functional medicine

Here you’ll find articles that are about or related to the fields of integrative and functional medicine. Integrative medicine takes the point of view that your health is influenced by every aspect of your life, including physical, mental, environmental, and social factors. The goal of integrative medicine is to get the root cause of health issues, rather than treating symptoms, and this is done by drawing on a variety of different medical approaches, often bringing together conventional and alternative medicine.

Functional medicine is a science-based system of medicine that focuses on finding the underlying cause of disease with a systems-oriented approach that addresses the whole person. Functional medicine doctors use specific lab tests to identify issues, and work in partnership with patients to develop a course of treatment that takes a holistic view of each unique individual. Like integrative medicine, functional medicine often combines conventional and alternative modes of treatment. 

Read these articles to hear insights and stories about integrative and functional medicine. 

2022’s Ten Most Important Health & Wellness Stories

2022’s Ten Most Important Health & Wellness Stories

In lieu of our normal Q4 wellness and health news wrap-up, we’re ending the year with a different sort of news roundup. In the spirit of end-of-year reflection, we’ve put together a list of the most important stories related to health and wellness from all of 2022, rather than just the last three months. Some of these stories are brand new, some were highlighted in past wrap-ups — and all of them have implications for the health of you and your loved ones.
Dr. Jess Peatross On the Challenges of Testing for Mold Toxicity

Dr. Jess Peatross On the Challenges of Testing for Mold Toxicity

Dr. Jess Peatross — aka Dr. Jess — was working at a hospital in Portland, Oregon when she began to have inklings that something wasn’t right with the conventional medical system. She saw her colleagues using a cookie-cutter approach for every problem and sending patients away with laundry lists of prescriptions, and she knew there must be a better way. She left her job in the hospital and launched her own practice, where she now focuses primarily on stealth infections and environmental toxicity, in particular mold. Read on to learn her advice on professional mold testing, why it’s so difficult to do accurate testing for mold toxicity, and more.
Valencia Porter, MD, MPH on How Exposure to Chemicals Affects Your Health, and What to Do About It

Valencia Porter, MD, MPH on How Exposure to Chemicals Affects Your Health, and What to Do About It

Growing up interested in science and medicine, Dr. Valencia Porter always knew she’d become a doctor. What she didn't know was that, after working for several years working as a conventional physician, she would pivot to a completely new approach. Today, the double-board certified doctor is also a functional medicine practitioner and an author with a masters in public health focusing on environmental health. She has spent years working as the lead physician and educator at The Chopra Center, and much of her work centers around the health impacts of exposure to chemicals. Read on to learn about the risks of environmental toxicity, the different types of toxins, how to remove toxins from the body, and more. 
James Maskell on Founding “Evolution of Medicine” and the Role of a Functional Medical Doctor

James Maskell on Founding “Evolution of Medicine” and the Role of a Functional Medical Doctor

James Maskell didn’t realize his upbringing was a little unusual until he got to school and was the only kid who not only knew what a chiropractor was, but had his own, and a naturopath. He was also the only student whose mother had to be called before he could be given antibiotics. Though she wasn’t a medical professional, she somehow knew that antibiotic resistance was going to be problem and wanted to protect her son.
Integrative Dentistry 101: Alkalizing Foods, Chronic Bad Breath, and More

Integrative Dentistry 101: Alkalizing Foods, Chronic Bad Breath, and More

Going to the dentist doesn’t just have to be focused on your teeth, gums, and oral health. Dr. Reid L. Winick, D.D.S., founder of Dentistry for Health New York in New York City, talks to WellBe about integrative dentistry and how our oral health gives us vital clues into the health of our entire bodies. Winick started as a conventional dentist and changed course after curing his Crohn’s disease. For the past 20 years, he has practiced integrative dentistry, helping his patients with a variety of oral and non-oral health issues.
Dr. Gerard Mullin on Prebiotics for Gut Health, Weight Gain from Antibiotics, and More

Dr. Gerard Mullin on Prebiotics for Gut Health, Weight Gain from Antibiotics, and More

The gut microbiome is a dynamic living ecosystem made up of 100 trillion microbes in the intestinal tract. This complex system of viruses, bacteria, and fungi protects against foreign pathogens, helps regulate the immune system and control inflammation, and may even affect your mood— among its many other functions. In this clip from our full interview, we talked to Dr. Gerard Mullin, associate associate professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and renowned integrative gastroenterology and nutrition expert, about the importance of probiotics and prebiotics for the health of the gut microbiome.