FAQ

Functional medicine is a patient-centered approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease, rather than just treating symptoms.  Functional Medicine practitioners are equally concerned with addressing current conditions, as well as preventing new issues through a healthy lifestyle, diet, exercise, and supplementation.

Chiropractic practice, since its beginnings, has stood apart in health care in our focus on identifying root causes of pain and dysfunction in patients. Chiropractic physicians are trained to take a holistic approach to patients, making Functional Medicine a natural fit.  

Although there is no specific licensure, Functional Medicine (FM) is practiced by a small contingent of chiropractic, medical, osteopathic, and naturopathic doctors, as well as other types of providers.  FM providers should undergo advanced training in FM concepts and strategies, including clinical nutrition, before claiming the title of FM practitioner.   

Functional Medicine officially started in 1991, founded by a biochemist by the name of Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., and his wife, Susan.  However, the concept of holistic, natural care had been around since the late 1800's.  Chiropractic, Osteopathic and Naturopathic doctors were among the first practitioners of holistic care in the western hemisphere, out of which sprang Functional Medicine.  

DCs are educated in nationally accredited, four-year doctoral graduate school programs through a curriculum that includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical internship,  with the average DC program equivalent in classroom hours to allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools. 

Chiropractors are designated as physician-level providers in the vast majority of states and the federal Medicare program. The essential services provided by DCs are also available in federal health delivery systems, including those administered by Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Federal Workers’ Compensation, and all state workers’ compensation programs. 

In some areas, such as anatomy, physiology, rehabilitation, nutrition and public health, they receive more intensive education than their MD counterparts. Like other primary health care doctors, chiropractic students spend a significant portion of their curriculum studying clinical subjects related to evaluating and caring for patients. Typically, as part of their professional training, they must complete a minimum of a one-year clinical-based program dealing with actual patient care. 

https://handsdownbetter.org/about-chiropractic/certification-and-licensure/