Functional Medicine
Discover the Root Causes of Your Health Issues
At Lifespring Health Center, we believe that true healing involves understanding the root causes of your health concerns. Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing these underlying issues rather than merely treating symptoms. Our holistic approach aims to empower you to achieve optimal health and well-being.
What is Functional Medicine?
We understand that health is not merely the absence of disease but a dynamic balance of physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Functional medicine embodies this philosophy by focusing on the whole person rather than just isolated symptoms. We adopt a holistic medicine approach that emphasizes understanding and addressing the root causes of health issues. By investigating individual medical histories, lifestyles, and environmental influences, we uncover the underlying factors impacting our patients' health.
Our focus on integrative medicine allows us to combine traditional medical practices with alternative therapies, creating personalized treatment plans that resonate with each individual's unique health journey. Through detailed assessments and targeted evaluations, we empower our patients to take charge of their health, leading to long-lasting wellness.
Why Functional Medicine Matters
In today’s world, more and more people are struggling with complex, chronic health issues like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental health challenges, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, the conventional medical system is primarily designed to address acute health problems—those that require immediate attention, such as a broken bone or appendicitis.
While acute care is essential, it falls short when it comes to preventing and managing long-term, chronic diseases. There’s a significant gap between the latest research in health sciences and how it’s applied in medical practice—often taking as long as 50 years for new findings to be fully integrated into patient care. Most doctors aren't trained to address the root causes of chronic illness or to use tools like nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes to support long-term health.
How Functional Medicine is Different
Functional medicine takes a different approach, focusing on the causes, prevention, and treatment of chronic health issues. It’s not about just managing symptoms—it’s about restoring and maintaining overall wellness by understanding the deeper imbalances that lead to disease.
Conditions We Treat Using Functional Medicine Principles
- Hypothyroidism
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Graves’ Disease/Hyper-thyroidism
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Lupus/SLE
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth)
- GERD (chronic heartburn)
- Intestinal Permeability (Leaky Gut Syndrome)
- Intestinal Dysbiosis
- Candida/Yeast Overgrowth
- Obesity or Overweight
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Adrenal Fatigue/Stress
Key Principles of Functional Medicine at Lifespring Health Center:
Patient-Centered Care
Functional medicine puts the patient at the center of care, focusing on overall health and vitality—not just the absence of disease. The goal is to help patients thrive, not just survive.
Root Cause Approach
Instead of treating symptoms, functional medicine practitioners dig deeper into a patient’s health history, genetics, physiology, and lifestyle to uncover the root causes of illness. They consider how internal factors (mind, body, and spirit) and external factors (environment and social influences) interact to affect health.
Blending Science with Holistic Care
Functional medicine combines the best of traditional Western medicine with integrative and alternative approaches. This includes:
Nutrition, diet, and exercise plans tailored to the individual
Advanced diagnostic testing and lab work
A mix of prescription medications, botanical treatments, supplements, and therapeutic programs
Stress management and detoxification strategies
Functional medicine isn’t just about treating disease—it’s about creating a foundation for lifelong health and resilience.
Personalized Comprehensive Assessment
Our functional medicine journey begins with a thorough evaluation of your medical history, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may affect your health. We conduct detailed lab tests to gain insights into your unique biomarkers, helping us pinpoint areas that need attention. This comprehensive approach allows us to create tailored treatment plans designed specifically for your needs, focusing on nutrition, lifestyle changes, and integrative therapies.
Holistic Treatment Approaches
Functional medicine recognizes that every individual has a distinct health story. Our treatment plans may include dietary adjustments, supplements, stress management techniques, and lifestyle modifications aimed at restoring balance within your body. By addressing the root causes of conditions such as autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, and digestive issues, we work towards achieving long-lasting health improvements.
Why Functional Nutrition Matters
Chronic diseases are on the rise worldwide—conditions like heart disease, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, mental health issues, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. These health challenges are closely tied to diet and lifestyle, which means they require solutions rooted in nutrition and lifestyle changes.
At Lifespring Health Center, our functional nutrition approach focuses on the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms that drive disease. This targeted approach allows for innovative and personalized solutions to restore health by addressing the root causes rather than just managing symptoms.
Why Traditional Nutrition Falls Short
Conventional healthcare often overlooks the unique genetic makeup of each person and how environmental factors like food, toxins, and stress influence gene expression. This gene-environment interaction plays a key role in the development of chronic diseases and is central to the functional nutrition approach.
Most nutrition professionals lack training in how to integrate molecular-level nutrition assessments with emerging research in nutritional genomics. This advanced understanding is critical for effectively preventing and managing complex health issues.
What Sets Functional Nutrition Apart
Functional nutrition takes a deeper, more personalized approach to health by combining advanced assessment tools and targeted interventions:
ABCD Framework for Clinical Analysis
Functional nutrition uses a structured assessment model based on:
Anthropometrics – Identifying changes in body composition and vital signs.
Biomarkers – Functional lab tests to uncover nutritional deficiencies and imbalances.
Clinical Indicators – Physical signs that point to nutritional issues.
Diet and Lifestyle Journals – Tracking eating patterns, cravings, and stress-related habits.
PFC-MVP Model
Functional nutrition assesses key nutrient groups to identify imbalances:
Protein
Fat/Oils
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Vitamins
Phytonutrients
This model helps uncover how nutrient deficiencies and imbalances may be contributing to poor health and chronic symptoms.
Restoring Balance Through Functional Nutrition
Chronic diseases often stem from underlying imbalances in bodily processes such as:
Detoxification and toxin elimination
Hormone and neurotransmitter regulation
Immune function
Inflammatory response
By identifying and addressing these imbalances, functional nutrition helps restore the body’s natural function and resilience.
How Functional Nutrition Supports Health
Environmental Inputs
The air you breathe, the water you drink, the quality of your food, your level of physical activity, and exposure to toxins all impact your health.
Mind-Body Connection
Psychological, emotional, and social factors play a powerful role in overall well-being. Functional nutrition takes these into account when developing a health plan.
Genetic Makeup
While your genes may make you more susceptible to certain diseases, they are not your destiny. Your environment, experiences, and even your mindset can influence how genes are expressed.
A Personalized Approach to Health
Our functional nutrition practitioners develop tailored treatment plans that may include:
Targeted dietary changes and therapeutic diets
Nutritional supplements and botanical treatments
Stress management and lifestyle counseling
Detoxification programs and gut health support
Empowering the Patient
In functional nutrition, the patient becomes an active partner in their health journey. By understanding the underlying causes of health issues and making targeted changes, patients can take charge of their well-being and achieve long-term health improvements.
Our Functional Medicine Training
We continually draw from reputable resources to enhance our understanding and implementation of functional medicine. The Institute for Functional Medicine is a cornerstone of our knowledge base, offering guidance on the best practices to employ in our patient care. Additionally, our training through the Fellowship in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine with A4M Medicine Redefined helps us stay updated with the latest advancements and methodologies in the field.
By harnessing insights from these esteemed sources, we provide comprehensive care that addresses the diverse needs of our patients. Our commitment to ongoing education ensures we remain at the forefront of functional and integrative medicine, fostering a supportive environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
At Lifespring Health Center, we believe in the power of functional medicine to transform lives. Together, let’s embark on a journey that leads to health, vitality, and well-being!
Supportive Environment for Lasting Change
At Lifespring Health Center, we provide a supportive environment to help you implement your personalized health plan. Our compassionate team offers ongoing guidance and encouragement, ensuring you stay motivated throughout your journey. Regular follow-ups allow us to monitor your progress and adjust treatment as necessary, fostering sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to vibrant health.
See What Our patients Say
Cora was very patient and gave me some insights into my health that I never thought about before. I’d totally recommend her her if you’re looking for a good functional medicine doctor
- Goutham -
I began seeing Cora a few months ago. Since receiving treatment, she put me on a successful plan to improve my health. Her knowledge and “bed side manner” is very evident and refreshing to see with a medical professional.
- Shawn -
Cora Reynolds is very professional and knowledgeable. I have been pleased with the progress that we have made concerning my health. I would highly recommend her services.
- Debbie -
Start Your Journey to Wellness
If you’re ready to take a proactive approach to your health and uncover the underlying issues affecting your well-being, contact Lifespring Health Center today to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation. Together, we can embark on a path to vibrant health through functional medicine!