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FAQs

Get Answers About Functional Medicine & Our Approach

Frequently Asked Questions

Functional Medicine takes a deeper look at why you’re experiencing your symptoms, not just what they are. Rather than focusing only on a diagnosis, it explores the underlying factors that may be impacting your health — such as detoxification, gut balance, hormones, inflammation, and nutrition — the areas that traditional medicine often overlooks.

Your care is highly personalized. Together, we create a plan designed specifically for you — one that may integrate conventional medicine (including prescription support, when appropriate) with advanced nutrition strategies, targeted supplements, botanical medicine, detoxification support, stress-management techniques, and lifestyle guidance to help your body restore balance and resilience.

Because no two people are alike, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Even if you and a friend share similar symptoms, your treatment plans will look different — because your root causes are unique to you.
Traditional medicine often stops at naming the condition and prescribing treatment. Functional Medicine goes further — uncovering the why behind your symptoms, so you can move beyond simply managing illness and toward achieving genuine, sustainable wellness.

Everyone. If you have a chronic illness or diagnosis, the goal is to improve your symptoms and resolve the illness. But Functional Medicine is also the best approach for preventing future health issues, helping you feel your best (optimal wellness) and for resolving less complicated lifestyle related issues like insomnia, fatigue, and digestive issues. It’s also the logical home of the anti-aging movement, as we all seek to function our best through our lifespan.

Because it’s a patient-centered approach where we address the whole person, not just your isolated set of symptoms, your program is personalized just for you, no matter your reason for joining us.

We see everyone, and can help everyone. People come to us with chronic health conditions; to prevent diseases they are concerned about (from their families for example); to achieve optimal energy, mood and/or cognitive function; to treat blood sugar imbalances or high cholesterol and to prevent heart disease; to balance hormones before, during or after menopause; and to create a holistic health plan for a condition they’ve been diagnosed with. And more!

Our Pediatric Functional Nutritionist sees children, otherwise our practice is focused on adults of all ages and genders.

You will meet with our New Patient Coordinator to decide together which provider is the best fit for you. 

As you begin your journey toward better health, you can expect a thoughtful, personalized, and unhurried experience. During your first appointment, you and your provider will take time to explore your story — your current symptoms, health concerns, and medical, family, and social history. You’ll also discuss your lifestyle, including nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress, as well as the emotional and psycho-spiritual factors that shape your wellbeing.

Your provider will review any lab results or medical records you’ve shared ahead of time to gain a complete understanding of your health picture. By the end of your visit, you’ll receive a personalized treatment plan that may include recommended testing, nutrition and lifestyle guidance, and, if appropriate, targeted supplementation to begin supporting your body while waiting for test results.
Your second appointment, usually scheduled about six to eight weeks after your initial visit, focuses on reviewing the results of your laboratory testing. With this deeper insight into your unique biochemistry, your provider will create a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs.

This plan may include a detailed lifestyle program—addressing stress, sleep, nutrition, and movement—along with targeted supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and herbs. When appropriate, prescription medications may also be used to help correct specific imbalances identified in your results.

Your care plan may also include referrals to other specialists or practitioners at the Blum Center for Health, as well as recommendations for classes or workshops that can further support your healing journey.
As a rule, we do not change prescriptions or programs prescribed by your other clinicians. Our integrative approach means we become part of your healthcare team, offering a Functional Medicine perspective that complements your current medical care. As licensed clinicians, we understand the medications you’re taking and can safely work with you while you continue them.

As you progress on your healing journey, we may suggest medication adjustments for you to review with your prescribing doctor. For example, if you’re taking medication for reflux, as you and your Blum Center provider support gut healing and improved digestion, we’ll guide you on when it might be appropriate to discuss tapering or stopping your prescription — always in close collaboration with your doctor, so you feel safe and supported every step of the way.
While Blum Center for Health doesn’t accept insurance, we are happy to provide you with the appropriate documentation and properly coded forms for you to submit to your insurance company. Most patients with out-of-network benefits, who satisfy their deductible, are reimbursed. Medicare patients will not be able to submit their visit as all clinicians at Blum Center for Health are opted out of Medicare.
Full payment is expected at each visit by cash, check or credit card.

Typically, we do our best to make sure that any routine blood work we order is from a lab that is on your insurance plan, such as Labcorp or Quest. However, we frequently recommend Functional Medicine testing such as stool analysis, toxin testing, advanced immune or Lyme testing, to name a few. These tests are often not covered by insurance and the prices vary widely. Your provider will discuss with you the cost of testing before ordering it, and you will decide together the best way to proceed.