Prevention and Treatment
Nutraceuticals and Botanicals
Practitioner
The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Virus-Specific Nutraceutical and Botanical Agents
In this context of insufficient evidence regarding the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, the scope of this document is to assess the scientific plausibility of promising prevention approaches and therapeutic (nutraceutical and botanical) interventions and then to offer clinical recommendations.
Patient
Boosting Immunity: Functional Medicine Tips on Prevention & Optimizing Immune Function During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak
With the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease in the news, The Institute for Functional Medicine would like to remind you that there are several steps you can take to reduce your chances of being exposed to respiratory viruses and to boost your immunity in the event of exposure. The following information outlines what you can do to help keep yourself and your family safe.
Practitioner
The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Additional Research on Nutraceuticals and Botanicals
This document assesses the scientific plausibility of additional nutraceutical and botanical agents that may be considered for prevention or treatment of COVID-19, including beta glucans, mushrooms, Chinese skullcap, and licorice.
Resilience and Lifestyle
Patient
Good Sleep Hygiene May Help Protect Against Infectious Diseases
Public health concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in local communities is causing anxiety on a global scale. It may even be affecting your sleep at night. Anxiety is a leading cause of sleep dysfunction, and not getting enough rest may have negative effects on your health.
Practitioner
The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Nutrition and Lifestyle Practices for Strengthening Host Defense
This document outlines research on how modifiable lifestyle factors can help prevent infection and reduce the effect of infection if and when it may occur. It also includes a link to patient education tools.
PRACTITIONER
Free Lecture on Social Determinants of Health and Vulnerability
A free-access lecture by subject matter and functional medicine experts from the Veterans Administration explains how social determinants of health impact viral exposure and COVID-19 severity.
Practice Considerations
Practitioner
The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Helping Functional Medicine Practices Achieve Their Duty to Serve
This resource presents a menu of the most essential tools to maintaining or reinvigorating your functional medicine practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, including: implementing telehealth tools, providing functional medicine episodes of care, making the back office work, and communicating with patients and the public.
Treatments & Testing
Practitioner
Assessment of Accuracy, Analytical and Clinical Validity of Lab Testing
In order to ensure clinical validity, one must ask a number of questions about the validation process of lab testing. View and download the laboratory request for information one sheet.
Practitioner
The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Primer on SARS-CoV-2 Testing
This document includes a deep dive into the biology of SARS-CoV-2 testing and will serve as a resource for important testing related information, including identification of the best test for your patient, clinical review of what the test results actually mean, and much more.
Vaccines
PATIENTS AND PRACTITIONERS
IFM’s COVID-19 Vaccines Statement
IFM’s updated statement regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and the functional medicine approach to optimizing immune resilience.
PRACTITIONERS
IFM’s COVID-19 Pre-vaccine Protocol
This tool provides guidance on interventions for patients waiting to receive vaccination that may improve the resulting immune response.
PatientS
How do COVID-19 Vaccines Work?
This brief educational activity designed for patients illustrates the basic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the immune system response to that infection, and the ways in which COVID-19 vaccines can potentially lead to immunity against future infection.
