Functional medicine
- A specialized approach to medicine that incorporates a person’s history in the form of antecedents (a person's history, often long before the dysfunctional state arose), triggers (things that appeared to occur just before the dysfunction), and mediators (things that contribute to the perpetuation of the dysfunction) and considers this history within a matrix of body systems and their functions to tailor treatment toward root causes. It frequently incorporates lifestyle and dietary approaches to care, as well as the use of objective testing such as blood/saliva/urine laboratory analyses. "A systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing to an individual’s illness...The precise manifestation of each cause depends on the individual’s genes, environment, and lifestyle, and only treatments that address the right cause will have lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression." (courtesy of The Institute for Functional Medicine)
Integrative medicine
- "an approach to care that puts the patient at the center and addresses the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect a person’s health. Employing a personalized strategy that considers the patient’s unique conditions, needs and circumstances, it uses the most appropriate interventions from an array of scientific disciplines to heal illness and disease and help people regain and maintain optimum health." (courtesy of Duke Integrative Medicine)
Holistic (adj.)
- "characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease" (courtesy of Oxford Languages)
Conventional medicine
- "the type of medicine that is generally used in the US and Europe which uses drugs and surgery as a form of treatment" (courtesy of Collins dictionary)
Optimize (v.)
- "to make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible" (courtesy of Merriam-Webster dictionary)
Evidence-based medicine (EBM)
- "the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research." (courtesy of Sackett DL, Rosenberg WMC, Gray JAM, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ 1996; 312: 71-2 via Florida State University)"
Self-actualization (n.)
- "a concept regarding the process by which an individual reaches his or her full potential...the ultimate goal of all organisms. He saw all behaviors and drives as manifestations of this overarching motivation. [Popularized by] Abraham H. Maslow [who] defined it more narrowly...In his discussions of self-actualization, however, he was referring solely to people, rather than all organisms. In addition, his theory asserts that the drive to self-actualize will only emerge as a motivator once a variety of more basic needs are met." (courtesy of Britannica dictionary)
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
- The American Psychiatric Association publishes this title, which they describe as "the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. DSM contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders."
Eclectic (adj.)
- "composed of elements drawn from various sources also...selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles" (courtesy of Merriam-Webster dictionary)
Nutraceutical (n.)
- supplemented vitamins, minerals, food or plant derived phytonutrients or "a foodstuff (such as a fortified food or dietary supplement) that provides health benefits in addition to its basic nutritional value" (courtesy of Merriam-Webster dictionary)
Botanical (n.)
- a substance used for healing which is made of whole plant or its constituents or "a drug made from part of a plant, as from roots, leaves, bark, or berries" (courtesy of Collins dictionary)
