Functional medicine is evidence-informed and results-focused, particularly for patients who have not found answers through conventional care alone. Outcomes depend on identifying root causes, patient engagement, and consistency over time.

Healing is a process—not a quick fix—but many patients experience meaningful, lasting improvements. While some symptoms may take a little bit of time to go away, functional medicine aims to target the underlying cause to make sure further damage doesn't happen to the body.

When you chase symptoms and only treat them, the underlying cause is still present and will usually find a way to come out in the form of a different symptom.

So, yes, Functional Medicine works!

Functional medicine is especially effective for chronic and complex health conditions, including:

• Chronic fatigue and low energy

• Digestive disorders (bloating, IBS, reflux, food sensitivities)

• Hormonal imbalances (thyroid, adrenal, perimenopause/menopause)

• Weight resistance and metabolic dysfunction

• Autoimmune conditions

• Brain fog, anxiety, and mood concerns

• Chronic inflammation and pain

• Blood sugar imbalance and insulin resistance

• Sleep disturbances
  

Functional medicine is also used for preventive care and long-term health optimization.

Conventional medicine is often diagnosis- and symptom-focused, while functional medicine is cause- and systems-focused.

Functional medicine emphasizes:

• Longer visits

• Comprehensive health history

• Advanced lab testing

• Personalized treatment plans

• Prevention and restoration of function
  

Telehealth allows this model to work seamlessly without geographic limitations.

Functional medicine is a root-cause–based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of chronic symptoms and disease. Rather than treating isolated symptoms, functional medicine looks at how systems such as the gut, hormones, immune system, metabolism, and nervous system interact.

At Inner Balance, all care is delivered via secure telehealth, allowing patients to receive personalized, in-depth care from the comfort of their home. Lab tests kits are sent directly to your home, with prepaid mailing packages to send your samples back to the lab. 

Functional medicine emerged in the 1990s as clinicians sought better solutions for chronic disease that were not responding to conventional care. The field has a holistic approach and design similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine, combined with a science-informed/lab-based model, that integrates lifestyle, nutrition, and advanced diagnostics.

Functional medicine is guided by these core principles:

• Root-cause resolution, not symptom suppression

• Personalized, patient-centered care

• A systems biology approach to health

• Food and lifestyle as foundational medicine

• Evidence-based testing and treatment

• Collaborative, educational patient–provider relationships

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Telehealth functional medicine offers several advantages:

• Access to care regardless of location (within limitations. The practitioner must have a license in your state, or you must have established in-person care in the state the practitioner is licensed)

• No travel time or waiting rooms

• Labs shipped directly to your home

• Secure video visits and ongoing support

• Continuity of care even if you move or travel
  

This model allows for deep, consistent, and convenient care.

Most functional medicine services are not covered by insurance, as they involve extended visits, comprehensive testing, and personalized treatment planning that fall outside traditional insurance models.

Some lab testing may be partially reimbursable depending on your plan. Providers can provide you with a superbill you can use for reimbursement.

Inner Balance does offer a payment plan to help spread the cost out.

Functional medicine providers are licensed healthcare professionals (MD, DO, LAc, DC, ND, NP, PA) with advanced post-graduate training in functional medicine.

Training includes:

• Systems biology

• Advanced lab interpretation

• Clinical nutrition

• Gut, hormone, and metabolic health

• Lifestyle and behavioral medicine

Dr Bret has a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Certified in Functional Medicine, and Certified in Applied Clinical Nutrition.

Your care experience typically includes:

• A comprehensive online intake and health history review

• Functional lab testing shipped directly to your home

• In-depth video visits to review results

• A personalized treatment plan (nutrition, supplements, lifestyle, stress support)

• Ongoing telehealth follow-ups to refine and optimize care
  

All visits are conducted via secure video conferencing.

In many cases, FSA and HSA funds can be used to pay for functional medicine visits, lab testing, and supplements. Eligibility varies by plan, so we recommend confirming with your FSA/HSA administrator.

• Integrative medicine combines conventional care (MD visit with normal bloodwork) with complementary therapies (Acupuncture, Chiro, PT, Massage, etc…).
  

• Functional medicine is a structured, investigative model focused on identifying and correcting root causes using systems biology and personalized data gained from in depth labs, getting a detailed look at the functioning of the body as a whole.
  

Absolutely! Functional medicine uses state-of-the-art lab testings to help see what's really going on in the body. Too often patients go to their doctor not feeling well, only to hear "everything is normal" when it comes to their lab work. Meanwhile the patient has a list of health complaints and leaves with no answers. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), which is my background, we always look for the root cause. However, there's no lab testing in TCM, which makes everything subjective. Questions about pain levels, stress, levels, sleep quality, energy, and digestion all become subjective. Functional medicine allows us to combine precise lab work along with what the patient is telling us to get a clear picture. Treatments can then be tailored with supplements, Chinese herbs, diet, stress reduction techniques and exercise to bring the vitality back to the patients life!