What is Functional Medicine?
Have you ever left a doctor’s office feeling frustrated because they couldn’t pinpoint what’s wrong? Or maybe you’ve been prescribed a medication that feels like a gamble—it might help, or it might make things worse, possibly even causing new issues. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Enter Functional Medicine, a holistic, science-based approach to understanding your health that focuses on identifying the root causes of your symptoms and conditions.
Functional Medicine prioritizes an individualized, patient-centered approach that empowers both patients and practitioners to work together toward optimal wellness. Instead of simply managing symptoms, it takes a deep dive into your genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors to create a personalized treatment plan designed to relieve symptoms and, often, foster true recovery.
Unlike conventional medicine, Functional Medicine looks at the big picture. Practitioners recognize that one condition may have multiple causes—or that one root cause may lead to various symptoms. This complexity requires a deeper understanding of your unique health story, from your genetics and early life experiences to your daily habits and environment.
Why Functional Medicine Matters
Struggling with persistent symptoms or chronic conditions can be overwhelming, exhausting, and confusing. Searching the internet for quick fixes often wastes time, money, and sometimes harm. Unfortunately, many general practitioners don’t have the time or resources to dig deep into your health concerns or explore alternative explanations. Functional Medicine fills that gap, offering a more thorough and collaborative approach to care.
There are two main reasons people visit a doctor:
They’re sick.
They want to stay healthy and prevent illness.
Prevention is always better than cure. Functional Medicine focuses on staying above the wellness line, reducing the impact of triggers, and minimizing symptoms. It’s about seeing the whole person, not just a diagnosis or protocol.
What to Expect from Functional Medicine
As a Functional Medicine practitioner, my approach is all about you. I take the time to listen to your story, collecting detailed information about your genetics, health history, lifestyle, and more. Together, we explore key areas like:
Nutrition and meal timing
Supplements
Environmental exposures
Stress levels and mindset
Relationships and social connections
Sleep patterns
Physical activity
Digestive health (yes, even your poop!)
During our consultation (typically virtual), I leave no stone unturned. You know your body better than anyone, and I’m here to listen. From this, I create a comprehensive timeline and functional health matrix that outlines your unique health journey. This serves as the foundation for your personalized action plan, covering healing diets, sleep habits, stress management, and next steps tailored to your lifestyle.
Tools for Insight and Healing
In addition to a detailed health history, I incorporate foundational testing strategies such as Bioresonance Testing and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. These tools provide valuable insights into your body’s current state and help identify imbalances. After just 3-4 weeks of working together, you’ll clearly understand your health “roots” and “branches”—why you’re struggling, when it all started, and how to begin healing.
With this clarity, you’ll be equipped to optimize your time with other healthcare providers, knowing what to ask for and why. Most importantly, you’ll have a healthcare team that truly supports you—a team committed to helping you heal, regain balance, and thrive at your body’s optimal health.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’re ready to uncover the root causes of your health challenges and take control of your well-being, schedule your free Health Strategy Call today. Let’s start building the path to your healthiest self.
Wishing you vibrant health and balance on your healing journey. Remember, your body holds the wisdom to heal—sometimes, it just needs the proper support. If you’re ready to take the next step toward restoring your minerals, brain, and gut health, let’s connect. Your health transformation starts here!
Tessa