The emergence of Functional medicine represented a historic change in our approach to medicine and overall health. First introduced by Dr. Jeffrey Bland through his establishment of the Institute for Functional Medicine in the 1990s, functional medicine sought to move away from a drug-based approach to disease to a focus on reversing the growing epidemic of chronic conditions. It was really the first significant acknowledgement that many health conditions are tied to diet, lifestyle, environmental elements, as well as genetics. Unlike conventional medicine, where doctors specialize and focus on one particular system, functional medicine looks at the interactions and interconnectedness of biological systems, resulting in a whole-body approach to care.
Functional medicine focuses on treating the root causes of illness, rather than just managing symptoms. It considers the interconnectedness of various bodily systems and how they affect health. Dr. Kellman has been at the forefront of functional medicine, however his medical philosophy, and as such his practice, has evolved beyond that…to Foundational Medicine.
What is Foundational Medicine?
Although not unrelated to functional medicine, foundational medicine goes even further. Foundational medicine looks at the key, foundational elements of health. It goes deeper than looking at systems or even their interconnectedness, but rather what are the foundational processes and cellular pathways that underlie our health. Moreover, it takes into consideration all aspects of health, not just physical, but rather psychological, emotional, social, and even spiritual components of health. The quest for true healing must go beyond physical health – it is much bigger than that. We also have a spiritual self, an emotional self. What is the point of living as a healthy physical body, if the inner self has no life or vitality? True healing cannot happen in isolation.
This philosophy also led to Dr. Kellman’s fascination and interest in the microbiome. Our gut microbiome contains trillions of tiny microbes that work in tandem to keep us healthy. There is an entire ecosystem living within us and it is involved in the regulation of nearly every physiological and metabolic function within the body. The microbiome is foundational to our health and therefore, the central component of Foundational Medicine.
Which is what foundational medicine always starts with the “Microbiome First!”
Despite the trillions of dollars spent on healthcare and the tremendous amount of medical advances that have been made in the last century, as a society we seem to be sicker than ever! Over 40% of the US population is considered obese, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that likely another 30% are considered overweight. A significant portion of the population suffer some type of chronic illness and most estimates show that nearly 50% of the US adult population is taking at least one prescription medication. We are sicker than ever and more medicated than ever. What are we missing?
We need to take an entirely different approach to healthcare, and this is where Foundational Medicine comes in.
The microbiome is critical to life, and it demonstrates a unity which is expressed throughout nature, but often missed by humans. The microbiome exemplifies how nature functions, and it serves as an important role model for humans. Unfortunately, this tiny microbes are often seen as the enemy, despite the fact that there would be no life on Earth without bacteria.
Similarly, our gut microbiome is integral to the regulation of nearly every physiological and metabolic process in the body. It is home to the majority of our immune system, it produces many of the neurotransmitters which communicate and regulate brain function, it controls digestion, metabolism, our mental health and so much more. It is the body’s true “command center.” Our health and vitality are directly tied to this tiny little ecosystem. When our microbiome is imbalanced or impaired, our health suffers. Bacteria work together as an integrated, balanced ecosystem, where each unique microbe uses its power and uniqueness to improve the state of the whole. The whole is greater for it. This is the approach we need to take when it comes to our health.
The microbiome is like the foundation of a house. You can paint that house a beautiful color, have a fancy state of the art kitchen, a luxurious bathroom, and lavish furnishings, however if there are cracks in the foundation, the entire house stands at risk of collapse.
The soaring numbers of Americans who are suffering everyday from chronic illness demonstrates that the current approach is not working. And it is not just physical ailments. Mental health in this country is at an all-time low. Social isolation and lack of meaning and purpose in life only further contribute to lack of happiness, decreased life satisfaction and lack of unity – all of which impact our physical health. We need to go deeper than treating systems or treating individual systems in the body. We need to get to heart of healing.
This new approach to healthcare, which focuses on healing the microbiome and healing our entire being, will not only improve our overall health as individuals and as a society, but will dramatically cut healthcare costs.
We have to get back the foundation of health and healing, which also focuses on healing on all levels. This is not to say that modern medicine has nothing to offer, as we have made tremendous medical advances, which have provided life-saving medicines, procedures, and technologies. However, medicine can and should offer more than it does. We need to rethink our approach. When we build a house, no matter how fancy or pretty it may be, if we build it on a faulty foundation, it will not last very long. Similar, we need a good foundation in order to really heal – this is why Foundational Medicine needs to be the new paradigm for the medicine of the future.