Functional medicine is often marketed as the future of personalised healthcare: a holistic, root-cause approach that finally listens to your body, digs deeper, and connects all the dots. For anyone who’s ever felt dismissed by conventional medicine, it can sound like a breath of fresh air.
But here’s the part that rarely gets mentioned: functional medicine isn’t always as “root-cause” or science-based as it claims to be.
While some practitioners do brilliant work (which is a rarity in this field to be frank), others rely on fear-based marketing, non-validated diagnostics, and supplement-heavy protocols that overwhelm more than they heal. Let’s break down what’s really going on behind the scenes.
It Sounds Holistic But Often Feels Like a Hustle
There’s no denying the appeal of functional medicine: personalised care, longer appointments, and someone finally taking your symptoms seriously. But too often, this care translates into $500 stool tests, 10+ daily supplements, and zero real answers. The promise of “root-cause healing” is powerful but without scientific grounding, it can easily become a cycle of over-testing, over-treatment, and under-delivery. And the cost, both financial and emotional, can be high.
Most of the Testing Isn’t Evidence-Based
Functional medicine loves a test. From food sensitivity panels to hormone mapping and microbiome reports, these diagnostics are presented as cutting-edge. But many of them simply aren’t backed by robust science.
Take IgG food sensitivity tests, for example. These are widely used in functional clinics, yet major allergy and immunology societies have consistently stated they do not indicate food intolerance. Instead, they reflect exposure, leading many patients to eliminate a long list of foods unnecessarily.
Other popular tools, such as non-standardised stool tests or salivary hormone panels, suffer from similar issues. These tests may look scientific but are often unvalidated and unhelpful in guiding effective treatment.
Supplement Stacks: Too Much of a Questionable Thing
Another hallmark of functional medicine? The supplement protocol. Many patients are prescribed between 5 and 15 supplements per day, ranging from probiotics and adaptogens to detox powders and glandular extracts.
Here’s the problem: many of these interventions lack strong evidence. While some supplements have a place in care, others are poorly regulated, contaminated, or unnecessary. There’s also the risk of side effects, interactions, and more commonly, wasted money. In many cases, supplements are used to “treat” issues identified by questionable tests, creating a loop of diagnosis and prescription that feels more like a sales funnel than science-based care.
Qualifications Vary A Lot
One of the most significant problems with functional medicine is the lack of regulation around who can call themselves a practitioner. The term “functional medicine practitioner” isn’t legally protected, so it can be used by:
Training programs, such as those offered by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), are not equivalent to medical degrees or dietetic qualifications. While some individuals are highly trained and evidence-informed, others are not. There’s no consistent standard, which leaves patients vulnerable to misinformation and poor care.
Complex Doesn’t Mean Correct
Functional medicine often uses language that sounds deeply scientific such as “adrenal fatigue,” “leaky gut,” “toxin overload,” “candida overgrowth.” These terms are emotionally powerful, but many of them lack a strong foundation in medical science or are grossly oversimplified.
In some cases, these buzzwords distract from the real issue, whether it's stress, poor sleep, undernourishment, or a need for medical care. Healing becomes wrapped in wellness theatre, with protocols that are complex, expensive, and unsustainable rather than practical and effective.
The Bottom Line: You Deserve Better
Functional medicine can be fabulous when it's grounded in science, delivered by qualified professionals, and integrated with a patient’s overall health picture. But when it becomes fear-driven, test-heavy, and supplement-obsessed, it risks becoming yet another version of the system it claims to reject.
You deserve care that’s:
So ask the hard questions. Check credentials. Be wary of jargon. And remember: complex isn’t always correct, and expensive doesn’t always mean effective.
Are you looking for evidence-based guidance without the wellness wankery? Book an appointment with a Nutrition A-Z specialist today.
Most of the Testing Isn’t Evidence-Based
Functional medicine loves a test. From food sensitivity panels to hormone mapping and microbiome reports, these diagnostics are presented as cutting-edge. But many of them simply aren’t backed by robust science.
Take IgG food sensitivity tests, for example. These are widely used in functional clinics, yet major allergy and immunology societies have consistently stated they do not indicate food intolerance. Instead, they reflect exposure, leading many patients to eliminate a long list of foods unnecessarily.
Other popular tools, such as non-standardised stool tests or salivary hormone panels, suffer from similar issues. These tests may look scientific but are often unvalidated and unhelpful in guiding effective treatment.
Supplement Stacks: Too Much of a Questionable Thing
Another hallmark of functional medicine? The supplement protocol. Many patients are prescribed between 5 and 15 supplements per day, ranging from probiotics and adaptogens to detox powders and glandular extracts.
Here’s the problem: many of these interventions lack strong evidence. While some supplements have a place in care, others are poorly regulated, contaminated, or unnecessary. There’s also the risk of side effects, interactions, and more commonly, wasted money. In many cases, supplements are used to “treat” issues identified by questionable tests, creating a loop of diagnosis and prescription that feels more like a sales funnel than science-based care.
Qualifications Vary A Lot
One of the most significant problems with functional medicine is the lack of regulation around who can call themselves a practitioner. The term “functional medicine practitioner” isn’t legally protected, so it can be used by:
- Health coaches
- Chiropractors
- Nutritionists
- Influencers
- And yes, some doctors and dietitians too
Training programs, such as those offered by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), are not equivalent to medical degrees or dietetic qualifications. While some individuals are highly trained and evidence-informed, others are not. There’s no consistent standard, which leaves patients vulnerable to misinformation and poor care.
Complex Doesn’t Mean Correct
Functional medicine often uses language that sounds deeply scientific such as “adrenal fatigue,” “leaky gut,” “toxin overload,” “candida overgrowth.” These terms are emotionally powerful, but many of them lack a strong foundation in medical science or are grossly oversimplified.
In some cases, these buzzwords distract from the real issue, whether it's stress, poor sleep, undernourishment, or a need for medical care. Healing becomes wrapped in wellness theatre, with protocols that are complex, expensive, and unsustainable rather than practical and effective.
The Bottom Line: You Deserve Better
Functional medicine can be fabulous when it's grounded in science, delivered by qualified professionals, and integrated with a patient’s overall health picture. But when it becomes fear-driven, test-heavy, and supplement-obsessed, it risks becoming yet another version of the system it claims to reject.
You deserve care that’s:
- Personal: tailored to you, not a protocol template
- Practical: focused on what really helps, not what sounds good
- Professional: delivered by someone with evidence-based training and accountability
So ask the hard questions. Check credentials. Be wary of jargon. And remember: complex isn’t always correct, and expensive doesn’t always mean effective.
Are you looking for evidence-based guidance without the wellness wankery? Book an appointment with a Nutrition A-Z specialist today.
