Differences Between Conventional and Functional Medicine There has been a growing interest in alternative medicine lately in different parts of the world. Health-conscious people and other like-minded groups have been taking better steps to take responsibility for their health. One of its most popular topics today is functional medicine. What is it, and how does it differ from conventional medicine? Functional medicine is an alternative treatment that focuses on the root cause of disease through a systemsoriented approach. It examines the relationship between your mind, body, and spirit to treat your whole body and not just the symptoms.