The functional medicine model of treatment uses a patient-centered strategy to approach persistent disease management. It seeks to address the concern, “Why are you ill?” so you can get tailored, reliable care for the needs of your body, and maintain its health. Functional medicine providers spend time listening to you as well as collecting your medical history. The functional doctors and providers utilize this information to determine the root cause or root causes of the illness, including triggers such as bad nutrition, stress, toxins, allergens, genetics, and your microbiome (the bacteria living in and also on the surface of your body).