The functional medicine approach is a personalized, systems-oriented model that empowers patients and practitioners to understand the root cause of complex health issues. It focuses on identifying the underlying factors such as genetic, environmental, and lifestyle influences that contribute to disease. The goal of this approach is to promote optimal wellness by addressing the individual's unique physiological imbalances through a combination of dietary changes, nutritional supplementation, exercise, stress management, and other lifestyle interventions. This comprehensive method takes into account the whole person, rather than just treating symptoms or disease names, and emphasizes the importance of prevention and self-care in maintaining optimal health.