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Why More Patients Are Turning to Functional and Holistic Wellness

Written by Dr. Marina Yuabova
June 25, 2025
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Turning to Functional and Holistic Wellness
In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in how people approach their health. More patients are moving beyond conventional care and seeking integrative approaches that emphasize long-term wellness, prevention, and personalized support. This trend reflects growing dissatisfaction with symptom-focused treatments and rushed appointments, especially for those managing chronic conditions. At National Wellness Group, this shift is met with a holistic wellness and functional approach that addresses root causes, strengthens the mind-body connection, and empowers individuals to take an active role in their health journey.
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What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is a patient-centered, science-based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness, rather than simply managing symptoms. It views the body as an interconnected system, where dysfunction in one area can affect others. Instead of applying a one-size-fits-all solution, functional medicine practitioners develop personalized treatment plans based on an individual’s genetics, lifestyle, environment, and health history.
A core principle of functional medicine is the patient-practitioner partnership. Rather than acting as a distant authority, the practitioner works collaboratively with the patient, empowering them to take an active role in their healing process. This partnership fosters trust, accountability, and long-term results.
Functional medicine also relies on advanced tools to uncover hidden imbalances, including:

  • Comprehensive lab testing for hormones, nutrient levels, inflammation, and gut health
  • Lifestyle assessments that consider stress, sleep, movement, and relationships
  • Systems biology to map out how various organs and processes interact
Treatment plans often include:
 

  • Targeted nutrition and dietary changes
  • Natural supplements and herbal support
  • Stress reduction techniques
  • Detoxification protocols
  • Exercise and movement therapy
By addressing the underlying causes of disease, functional medicine aims to restore optimal function and support lasting health improvements.
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The Holistic Approach to Health

The holistic approach to health is rooted in the belief that true wellness comes from treating the whole person—not just isolated symptoms or conditions. This philosophy considers how every aspect of a person’s life affects their well-being, including the body, mind, emotions, relationships, and spirit. Rather than focusing solely on eliminating disease, holistic care seeks to restore balance, promote healing, and support long-term vitality.
A holistic health plan typically addresses:

  • Physical health, through nutrition, movement, and natural therapies
  • Emotional health, by managing stress and addressing unresolved trauma
  • Mental well-being, with mindfulness, cognitive support, and mental clarity practices
  • Social health, by encouraging strong personal connections and community support
  • Spiritual wellness, which may include meditation, prayer, or finding purpose and meaning in life

Importantly, holistic care doesn’t reject conventional medicine. Instead, it integrates traditional medical treatments with complementary therapies to create a more comprehensive, individualized plan. For example, a person with chronic migraines might combine neurological care with acupuncture, stress management, and dietary changes. This integrative model helps patients take control of their health while benefiting from both modern science and time-tested natural approaches.

Holistic Medicine in Practice

Holistic medicine puts theory into action by offering a wide range of therapies that support healing across all dimensions of health. These treatments are designed to restore balance, strengthen the body’s natural defenses, and prevent future illness by addressing underlying imbalances. Many of these practices have been used for centuries and are now supported by growing scientific research.
Common examples of holistic therapies include:
  • Acupuncture, which stimulates specific points on the body to promote energy flow and reduce pain or tension
  • Herbal remedies, using plant-based medicine to support digestion, immunity, hormonal balance, and more
  • Energy healing, such as Reiki or healing touch, which focuses on balancing the body’s subtle energy fields
  • Naturopathy, a comprehensive system that combines nutrition, lifestyle counseling, herbal medicine, and homeopathy

While holistic therapies are natural and generally low-risk, working with licensed and qualified practitioners is essential. A trained professional can properly assess your needs, recommend safe treatment options, and coordinate care with your primary physician when necessary. Credentials such as licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.), naturopathic doctor (ND), or board-certified herbalist help ensure that care is both effective and responsible.

Ultimately, these therapies support long-term wellness by:

  • Reducing chronic inflammation
  • Improving stress resilience
  • Supporting detoxification and organ function
  • Encouraging healthier lifestyle habits
  • Preventing recurrence of illness

Rather than offering a quick fix, holistic medicine fosters gradual, sustainable improvement—helping patients feel better not just temporarily, but for the long haul.

Addressing Chronic Diseases with Functional and Holistic Care

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are increasingly common—and notoriously difficult to manage with conventional medicine alone. Traditional care often relies on medications to suppress symptoms without addressing the root causes. While this can provide temporary relief, it rarely leads to true healing or long-term improvement. Patients are often left feeling frustrated as their conditions persist or worsen over time.
Functional and holistic care offer a different path. These approaches seek to understand and correct the underlying imbalances that contribute to chronic illness—whether they stem from inflammation, gut dysfunction, hormonal issues, environmental toxins, or poor lifestyle habits. Rather than simply masking symptoms, the goal is to restore the body’s natural ability to heal.
Common methods for managing chronic conditions include:

  • Comprehensive lab testing to uncover hidden triggers
  • Anti-inflammatory diets tailored to individual needs
  • Targeted supplements and herbal medicine to support immune and organ function
  • Mind-body practices such as meditation, breathwork, and yoga for stress reduction
  • Detoxification protocols to eliminate environmental or dietary toxins

What sets these approaches apart is their emphasis on long-term lifestyle changes and patient empowerment. Patients are encouraged to take an active role in their recovery by making sustainable changes to their nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress levels. This not only helps manage existing conditions but also reduces the risk of future disease—creating a foundation for lasting health and vitality.

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Emotional Well-Being as a Pillar of Health

Emotional well-being plays a vital role in overall health, yet it’s often overlooked in conventional care. Holistic and functional medicine recognize that mental and emotional states are deeply connected to physical health. Chronic stress, unresolved trauma, and emotional imbalances can weaken the immune system, disrupt hormones, and contribute to conditions like high blood pressure, fatigue, and digestive disorders. Supporting emotional wellness isn’t just about feeling better mentally—it’s a key component of physical healing and disease prevention.
Holistic care offers a variety of stress management techniques to support emotional balance, including:

  • Mindfulness practices to reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation
  • Breathwork and meditation to calm the nervous system and reduce cortisol levels
  • Talk therapy and counseling for deeper emotional healing and coping skills
  • Body-based therapies, like yoga or somatic release, to process stored tension

Functional medicine also addresses the biological contributors to emotional health. Instead of relying solely on psychiatric medications, practitioners often evaluate underlying factors that affect mood and cognition, such as:

  • Hormonal imbalances (e.g., thyroid dysfunction, estrogen/progesterone shifts)
  • Nutrient deficiencies (such as B vitamins, magnesium, and omega-3s)
  • Gut health issues, including dysbiosis or leaky gut, which can influence neurotransmitter production

By combining emotional support with physical diagnostics, both functional and holistic care help patients achieve a more stable, resilient sense of well-being—mentally and physically.

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The Role of a Balanced Diet in Wellness

A balanced diet is foundational to both functional and holistic wellness. Food is more than fuel—it acts as medicine when chosen intentionally. The right nutrition can reduce inflammation, support gut health, regulate hormones, and provide sustained energy. Conversely, poor dietary choices can trigger chronic illness, fatigue, digestive problems, and mood disorders. Functional and holistic practitioners view the diet as one of the most powerful tools for healing and prevention.
Functional medicine emphasizes personalized nutrition plans based on an individual’s unique biology, health concerns, and goals. These plans may be shaped by food sensitivity testing, microbiome analysis, or metabolic assessments. For example, someone struggling with autoimmune issues might benefit from an elimination diet to identify inflammatory triggers, while someone with low energy could be guided toward blood sugar-balancing meals.
Common dietary strategies used in wellness care include:

  • Anti-inflammatory diets rich in leafy greens, berries, turmeric, and omega-3 fats
  • Gut-healing protocols, such as bone broth, fermented foods, and fiber-rich vegetables
  • Energy-boosting foods, including healthy fats, clean proteins, and complex carbs

Holistic health also stresses the importance of eating whole, unprocessed foods and maintaining proper hydration. Equally important is the practice of mindful eating, which encourages individuals to slow down, chew thoroughly, and tune in to hunger cues and digestion.

By focusing on quality nutrition, patients can often reduce or eliminate their reliance on medications, improve their energy levels, and strengthen their immune systems—all by making food a consistent and supportive part of their wellness journey.

Why Patients Are Making the Switch

More patients are seeking out functional and holistic wellness not just as an alternative, but as a more effective and fulfilling path to health. A major driver behind this shift is frustration with conventional, prescription-based care that often treats symptoms without resolving the root problem. Many individuals feel that they’re stuck in a cycle of medications, side effects, and temporary fixes—with little emphasis on long-term healing or prevention.
Instead, patients are looking for solutions that offer:

  • Sustainable, long-term health outcomes
  • Deeper understanding of their unique body and health history
  • Preventive strategies that reduce the risk of future disease
  • Active participation in their wellness journey

As more people share their success stories—from reversing chronic conditions to reclaiming energy and quality of life—the appeal of integrative care continues to grow. Patient testimonials, combined with an expanding base of clinical research, are helping validate the effectiveness of functional and holistic approaches.

Accessibility has also improved significantly. With the rise of telehealth, online wellness programs, and community-based holistic clinics, it’s easier than ever for patients to access these services—whether they live in a large city or a rural area. This convenience, paired with a more personalized experience, is leading more individuals to take control of their health and explore alternatives that focus on healing the whole person.

Functional and holistic wellness approaches are gaining traction for good reason—they offer comprehensive, individualized care that prioritizes long-term healing over short-term symptom relief. At National Wellness Group, this means addressing the root causes of illness, supporting emotional well-being, and guiding sustainable lifestyle changes that empower you to take control of your health. As more people seek patient-centered, preventive solutions, the shift toward integrative care continues to grow. If you’re looking for a path that aligns with your values, supports your whole self, and delivers lasting results, functional or holistic wellness may be the next step in your journey.

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