Root Cause Resources + FAQs
Find your answers to the most common questions that I get asked as a functional medicine practitioner. Quick, concise answers are categorized by main health topic below, but click into the “full answer” links for more detailed answers and helpful resources about functional medicine, gut health, hormones, stress physiology, and many more holistic topics. Healing starts with empowerment, and empowerment starts with evidence-based education. Submit your questions anytime!
Functional Medicine 101
Learn about what functional medicine is (and isn’t), root causes, and why it takes a systems-based approach to healing.
Should I see a functional medicine practitioner in Texas?
Yes, especially if you have stubborn health issues like fatigue, gut problems, hormone imbalances, insomnia, and weight loss, consider seeing a functional medicine practitioner in Texas. Read the full answer…
How do I find a good functional medicine practitioner near me?
Start by seeking practitioners with formal functional medicine training and vetted certifications. Read the full answer…
Why do I feel bad even though my doctor says my labs are “normal”?
Most routine labs are built for triage, catching clear, conventionally defined disease. Standard panels often miss early, subtle dysfunction… Read the full answer…
Is functional medicine worth it?
Yes, outcomes research shows people choosing functional medicine care report bigger improvements in quality of life including energy, mood, and daily function than those in conventional care. Read the full answer…
How does functional medicine actually find the root cause of symptoms?
Functional medicine looks at how your body’s systems work together, not as isolated parts. By taking a detailed health history, using targeted advanced labs, and mapping nutrition, stress, sleep, and environment, we uncover hidden imbalances in gut, hormones, and metabolism that conventional testing can miss. Then we build a clear, stepwise plan. Read the full answer…
How long does it usually take to feel better with functional medicine?
Treatment time varies based on your root causes and how long they have been present. Many patients notice meaningful changes within 4 to 8 weeks once the plan fits their biology. Deeper work like hormone recalibration or gut repair often takes 3 to 6 months, sometimes longer. The goal is durable results, not quick fixes. Read the full answer…
Nervous System, Hormones, & Stress 101
Learn how your brain, stress response, and hormones influence health and dysfunction throughout your whole body system.
What are the signs of adrenal fatigue?
Common signs include fatigue, trouble sleeping, brain fog, sugar or salt cravings, lower immune function, irritability, and feeling “tired but wired,” especially at night. Read the full answer…
What does high cortisol feel like?
High cortisol doesn’t always feel like boundless “power through” energy. It can be surprisingly draining. Read the full answer…
Can functional medicine help with long-COVID recovery?
Yes, functional medicine excels at long-COVID recovery by uncovering and addressing hidden drivers, including mitochondrial damage, lingering inflammation, stress-hormone dysregulation, gut-brain imbalance, and micronutrient gaps. Read the full answer…
How do I know if my fatigue is burnout, hormones, or something else?
Fatigue can come from burnout, hormone imbalance, poor sleep, gut dysfunction, blood sugar swings, or mitochondrial stress. In functional medicine we map patterns and, when helpful, use advanced labs to pinpoint what is actually driving your exhaustion, so you stop guessing, stop chasing symptoms, and start restoring steady energy. Read the full answer…
Can stress really mess up my hormones or thyroid?
Yes. Chronic stress can disrupt hormone balance and thyroid function. It flattens healthy cortisol rhythms, signals the body to slow metabolism, and can reduce how well thyroid hormones activate in your cells. In functional medicine we connect these systems, then restore balance with targeted nutrition, lifestyle, and root-cause care. Read the full answer…
Gut Health 101
Learn about obvious and hidden gut imbalances as a central player in digestion, immunity, inflammation, hormones, and more.
Why am I still bloated even when I eat healthy?
Bloating on a healthy diet often signals underlying gut and digestive dysfunction. It’s usually not the food’s fault. Read the full answer…
Can gut problems cause fatigue, anxiety, or brain fog?
Yes. Your gut and brain are closely connected through the gut-brain axis, a two-way communication system linking nerves, hormones, and immune signals. Read the full answer…
Are probiotics and gut supplements worth it or just marketing hype?
Probiotics and gut supplements can help, but they are not one-size-fits-all. Benefits depend on the right strain, dose, and timing for your specific gut pattern. They work best when paired with food, stress, and sleep upgrades. In my clinic we test, not guess, then use targeted tools in a smart sequence. Read the full answer…
What is leaky gut and how do I know if I have it?
Leaky gut, also called increased intestinal permeability, happens when the gut’s tight junctions loosen and let larger particles slip through, which can provoke immune reactions and inflammation. Clues include bloating, food reactions, skin flares, brain fog, and fatigue. Testing can help, yet a careful history and a targeted plan often guide next steps best. Read the full answer…
Can gut health problems cause acne, eczema, or psoriasis?
Yes, gut imbalances can contribute to skin issues including acne, eczema, and psoriasis. When the microbiome shifts or the gut lining becomes more permeable, immune and inflammatory signals increase and often show up on the skin. Rebalancing digestion, restoring barrier integrity, and addressing triggers from food, stress, and infections can improve skin clarity. Read the full answer…
Why can I suddenly not tolerate foods I used to eat?
Sudden reactions to familiar foods usually signal a shift in the gut and immune system. Common drivers include increased intestinal permeability, gut microbiome imbalance, digestive enzyme deficiency, and stress that slows or alters digestion. Infections, antibiotics, or hormone changes can also tip this balance. Read the full answer…
Detox, Heart, & Metabolism 101
Learn how your liver, heart, and mitochondria work to clear toxins, creates energy, and regulates blood sugar, bodyweight, and more.
Are there natural ways to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol without medication?
Yes. There are natural, evidence-based ways to improve high blood pressure and cholesterol. Functional medicine offers a clear framework that addresses their root causes like blood sugar imbalance, inflammation, and overwhelmed stress physiology. Read the full answer…
What are the earliest signs of blood sugar or insulin imbalance?
Early signs of blood sugar and insulin imbalance often show up long before diabetes and HbA1c shifts. Read the full answer…
How do I know if I have mold exposure?
Mold-related illness can mimic many conditions. Common signs are stuffy nose, cough, sinus pressure, itchy eyes, rashes, fatigue, and brain fog. Read the full answer…
What are signs I might have issues with histamine?
Common early clues include flushing, hives, or itch after wine or fermented foods, quick bloating or heartburn, loose stools, headaches or palpitations after meals, a stuffy nose, “tired but wired” sleep, and cyclical migraines around your period. If two or more show up within hours of high-histamine foods, histamine sensitivity may be at play. Read the full answer…
Why is my blood sugar high even if I barely eat sugar?
A high blood sugar result is not only about sugar in your diet. Stress hormones like cortisol, poor sleep, circadian shifts, illness, some medications, and insulin resistance can all push the liver to release glucose into the blood. Next steps are to investigate those drivers, then tailor food, movement, sleep, and other environmental factors to help create balance. Read the full answer…
Functional Labs & Supplements 101
Learn about advanced lab tests and supplements: what they show, when they’re helpful, and are they worth your time and money.
Should I get a functional medicine stool test for gut health?
Yes, a functional medicine stool test is helpful for anyone with gut-related symptoms like bloating, acid reflux, or irregular bowel habits. Read the full answer…
Why do I sometimes feel worse after taking new supplements?
Feeling worse after starting new supplements is common when the root causes aren’t addressed in the right order. Read the full answer…
How do I know if my supplements are actually working for me?
To know if supplements are working, give each one a clear job, a trial window, and a way to measure results. Track symptoms and functional metrics like sleep quality or heart-rate variability, confirm with functional labs when needed, and if nothing changes in 4 to 12 weeks, adjust, stop, or work with a well-trained practitioner. Read the full answer…
What does a DUTCH hormone test show that regular bloodwork can’t?
A DUTCH test or other functional hormone test shows how your body uses hormones over time, not just the amounts in your blood at a single moment. It maps production and breakdown steps, including whether you are clearing hormones well. It also charts your daily stress hormone patterns. Bloodwork alone can look “normal,” yet you still feel off. Read the full answer…
Should I buy supplements on Amazon?
Usually, no. For potency, purity, and safety, I recommend practitioner-grade supplements purchased directly from the manufacturer or an authorized dispensary. Large marketplaces mix third-party sellers, so chain-of-custody and storage standards are harder to verify. If you do buy there, choose third-party verified products and the brand’s own storefront to avoid counterfeits and poorly stored items. Read the full answer…