Functional Medicine Consultation.

It's a difference of scope and time, not a difference in legitimacy. Your primary care doctor's job is to keep you well, screen for disease, and manage acute issues — usually in a 15-minute visit. Functional medicine is built around a longer, broader conversation: how your symptoms connect, what your labs show across systems, and what a personalized plan looks like when nutrition, sleep, stress, hormones, and lifestyle are all part of the picture. We are not a replacement for primary care, and we'd rather work alongside your existing doctor than around them.

A comprehensive panel — the exact components depend on your symptoms and what we're investigating, but typically include a CBC and metabolic panel, thyroid markers (TSH, free T3, free T4), sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA), markers of insulin resistance and inflammation (fasting glucose, HbA1c, hs-CRP), iron studies, vitamin D, and B12. We may add markers based on your history. We'll explain each one and why it's on your panel.

No referral required — you can book the consultation directly. On insurance: most functional medicine services, including this consultation, are not insurance-covered. We say this clearly so it's not a surprise. Many clients use HSA or FSA funds toward visits, and we can provide superbills for you to submit to your insurance on your own — coverage when you do depends on your plan. Lab work that's run through a standard outside laboratory may be processed through your insurance if that route fits your situation; we can talk through options at booking.

The honest answer is: it depends on what your history, symptoms, and labs actually show. Common pieces include hormone therapy (BHRT), medical weight management, IV nutrient support, B12 and wellness injections, supplements, and lifestyle work around nutrition, sleep, stress, and movement. Sometimes the right call is a referral — to a specialist we trust, a therapist, a pelvic floor PT, or back to your primary doctor for something we've flagged. Your plan is built from what you need, not from a fixed menu.

It depends entirely on what we find and what plan you follow. Many clients notice initial changes within 4 to 8 weeks of starting their plan — often in sleep, energy, or mood first, with other markers shifting over the following months. Hormonal recalibration and metabolic changes generally need a longer runway, two to three months at least, before we can fairly judge response. We re-check labs at planned intervals so we're not guessing about whether something is working.

Yes — and we strongly prefer it. Functional medicine works best as a complement to primary care, not a replacement. We don't manage your acute illnesses, your chronic disease screenings, your specialist referrals, or your prescriptions outside the scope of what we treat. We'll happily share notes, lab results, and our plan with your other providers so everyone stays on the same page. If we ever see something on your labs that belongs in your primary doctor's lane, we'll tell you and route it there.