Dr. Kriplani is a conventionally trained physician, but finds that functional medicine offers a perspective on wellness and health conditions. While conventional medicine focuses on addressing symptoms, functional medicine explores the underlying issues contributing to the presenting symptoms.
This comparison between symptoms and root cause focus is often presented as a tree. Conventional medicine treats the symptoms of distress such as wilting leaves, dead branches, and bark damage, while functional medicine looks at what is causing these issues, such as poor soil, pests, and environmental issues.
Dr. Kriplani understands the importance of conventional medicine, especially in acute and emergency situations. As care focus moves into wellness and underlying health issues, she finds that functional medicine can offer another very useful perspective.