In Sarasota and throughout the United States, more people than ever are looking for healthcare solutions that go beyond quick prescriptions and symptom management. As a result, terms like functional medicine and integrative medicine have become more common — but many patients wonder: what’s the difference between them?
If you’re trying to choose the best path to support your health, this comprehensive guide will break down these two approaches, explain how they overlap, and help you decide which might be best for you.
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a patient-centered approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms. In functional medicine, practitioners see the body as one interconnected system, rather than a collection of independent organs divided by specialties.
Functional medicine typically includes:
- In-depth health histories
- Advanced diagnostic testing
- Consideration of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors
- A deep investigation into diet, stress, toxins, sleep, movement, and emotional health
The goal of functional medicine is to discover why a health problem exists and correct its source, which often leads to longer-lasting results and better overall health.
What is integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine combines conventional Western medical practices with evidence-based complementary therapies to treat the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. An integrative practitioner may use prescription drugs and surgery alongside complementary tools such as acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, nutritional counseling, herbal medicine, and more.
Integrative medicine focuses on:
- Healing-oriented care
- Incorporating lifestyle interventions
- Using the safest and most effective therapies from both modern science and traditional healing
- Emphasizing the doctor–patient relationship as a partnership
In integrative medicine, the goal is to support the body’s natural healing abilities while addressing all dimensions of health.
How are functional and integrative medicine similar?
Functional medicine and integrative medicine share many core beliefs:
- Treating the whole person, not just a diagnosis
- Using nutrition, lifestyle, stress management, and mind-body practices
- Emphasizing prevention and wellness
- Partnering with the patient in shared decision-making
- Respecting the importance of evidence and scientific validation
Both fields challenge the traditional “pill for every ill” approach and instead help patients actively participate in their own healing.
How are functional and integrative medicine different?
While these approaches overlap, there are some key differences:
- Functional medicine focuses specifically on identifying and correcting the root causes of disease through advanced testing and individualized treatment plans. It uses a systems-biology model that maps out how organs, hormones, and biochemical pathways work together.
- Integrative medicine is more about blending conventional and complementary approaches in a holistic way, without necessarily using functional lab testing or root-cause mapping. It focuses on offering the best of both worlds, combining therapies to support the whole person.
In simple terms, functional medicine is a subset of integrative medicine, zeroing in on the scientific and biological details of “why” disease happens, while integrative medicine is a broader umbrella blending traditional and alternative tools.
Which approach is best for me in Sarasota?
If you have a complex chronic illness or symptoms that no one has been able to explain, you may benefit from a functional medicine practitioner, who can dig deep into lab testing and biochemical pathways to identify root causes.
If you want to support general wellness, manage stress, or recover from illness in a holistic way — combining medical treatments with complementary therapies — an integrative medicine provider might be the best match.
Many Sarasota residents find that the best results come from a practitioner like Dr. Angela Jordan, who blends both functional and integrative medicine. That way, you get the deep root-cause work of functional medicine plus the healing lifestyle and mind-body practices of integrative medicine.
What can I expect during a functional medicine evaluation?
A functional medicine evaluation generally includes:
- A detailed timeline of your health history
- Analysis of lifestyle, nutrition, stress, and environmental exposures
- Comprehensive laboratory testing, including hormones, inflammation markers, gut microbiome analysis, nutrient status, and more
- A personalized plan that targets the identified imbalances
- Follow-up visits to track progress and adjust treatment as needed
Functional medicine visits are often longer than a typical 15-minute appointment because practitioners want to fully understand the interconnected patterns affecting your health.
What can I expect during an integrative medicine evaluation?
An integrative medicine evaluation generally includes:
- A thorough discussion of your symptoms and medical history
- A review of lifestyle, nutrition, emotional health, and stress
- Recommendations that may combine prescription treatments with complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or supplements
- Strategies to promote relaxation, resilience, and overall wellness
- Coordination with any specialists to deliver cohesive care
Like functional medicine, integrative medicine also values building a strong relationship between patient and practitioner.
What conditions can be treated with these approaches?
Both functional and integrative medicine can be applied to a wide range of conditions, such as:
- Thyroid disorders
- Autoimmune diseases
- Digestive problems (IBS, reflux, SIBO)
- Chronic fatigue
- Hormonal imbalances
- Metabolic issues and weight struggles
- Anxiety and depression
- Cardiovascular health concerns
- Allergies and asthma
Functional medicine is especially useful when standard testing fails to reveal the source of symptoms. Integrative medicine, meanwhile, helps patients who want to combine standard medical treatment with evidence-based complementary therapies.
What makes functional medicine appealing in Sarasota?
In Sarasota, many people value an active, healthy lifestyle and want to age well. Functional medicine fits perfectly with these goals because it aims to:
- Prevent chronic disease before it starts
- Slow or reverse disease processes
- Empower patients to make positive lifestyle changes
- Look for patterns and root causes, not just treat lab numbers
Patients often feel heard, respected, and supported in their journey toward wellness.
What makes integrative medicine appealing in Sarasota?
Sarasota residents often appreciate the mind-body-spirit focus of integrative medicine, which aligns with a holistic, wellness-driven community. Integrative medicine offers:
- Complementary therapies like acupuncture or yoga
- Counseling for stress and emotional well-being
- Natural approaches for pain relief
- Partnerships with practitioners of conventional medicine
- Gentle, personalized healing strategies
For people who want the best of both mainstream and traditional healing systems, integrative medicine is an excellent fit.
Why do practitioners sometimes combine both approaches?
Many functional medicine practitioners also practice integrative medicine, blending their tools so patients receive the broadest and most effective care. For example, Dr. Angela Jordan in Sarasota uses functional testing to find root causes, then combines this with nutrition plans, stress management, supplements, and other supportive therapies to address the mind and body as a whole.
This combination can be powerful because it:
- Targets disease causes
- Supports self-healing
- Offers natural therapies alongside advanced medical tools
- Provides patients with multiple ways to feel better and thrive
How can I get started with this type of care in Sarasota?
If you are ready to explore functional or integrative medicine, you can look for a qualified provider who:
- Is experienced in functional lab testing and root-cause investigation
- Understands both modern medical science and complementary therapies
- Will spend time listening to your history and goals
- Offers a partnership model where you are active in your health journey
Dr. Angela Jordan at Reveal Vitality is one such practitioner in Sarasota, offering an evidence-based, compassionate approach that blends the best of functional and integrative medicine to help patients achieve optimal health.
Dr. Angela Jordan: Professional Bio
Dr. Angela Jordan, DNP, FNP-BC, ACLM, RN, is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Florida State University, graduating summa cum laude, and is certified in Lifestyle Medicine through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Her career began in emergency and trauma medicine before evolving into a focus on functional and integrative medicine. At Reveal Vitality in Sarasota, Dr. Jordan helps patients overcome complex, chronic conditions by identifying root causes, developing personalized care plans, and providing compassionate, evidence-informed support.
She treats patients with thyroid conditions, autoimmune disorders, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, and more, using a holistic framework that combines advanced testing, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and stress resilience. Her mission is to empower people to achieve long-lasting wellness and a higher quality of life.
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Reveal Vitality was birthed out of a passion to change how you approach your health. Instead of just treating symptoms in isolation as they arise, we develop a comprehensive wellness plan for our patients and then help them implement it. Our goal is to help our patients be healthier and live longer.
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