Look Beyond the Symptom and Understand the Bigger Picture
You can know that something doesn’t feel right even when the problem doesn’t fit neatly into one symptom.
Maybe your energy has changed. Your weight has become harder to manage. You’re dealing with digestive issues. Your thyroid health is a concern. Your blood sugar needs attention. Or you simply want to understand how your nutrition, lifestyle and overall health fit together.
At Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness in Los Angeles, our functional medicine approach looks at the individual as a connected system.
Instead of asking only, “What symptom do you have?” we also ask, “What factors may be contributing to the way you feel?”
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a patient-centered approach that examines health within the context of interconnected biological systems, lifestyle, nutrition, environment and individual history.
It doesn’t mean rejecting conventional medicine.
Nor does it mean that every chronic disease has one hidden “root cause.”
Instead, functional medicine can provide a framework for examining relevant contributors to health and creating personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies alongside appropriate medical care.
What Does a Functional Medicine Evaluation Look At?
Your health story matters.
Depending on your individual concerns, an assessment may consider factors such as:
- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Stress
- Physical activity
- Digestive health
- Metabolic health
- Blood sugar
- Hormonal health
- Thyroid concerns
- Medication and supplement history
- Previous laboratory results
- Family and personal health history
When clinically appropriate, additional testing may be recommended.
The purpose isn’t to order every possible test.
It’s to gather information that can help guide meaningful, individualized decisions.
Functional Medicine and Hashimoto’s
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid.
People with Hashimoto’s may experience symptoms such as fatigue, changes in weight, sensitivity to cold and other symptoms associated with impaired thyroid function, although symptoms vary.
Hashimoto’s requires appropriate medical diagnosis and management.
Functional-health strategies may complement that care by looking at nutrition, lifestyle, sleep, stress and other relevant health factors.
We do not claim that functional medicine can “cure” Hashimoto’s.
Our goal is to help you better understand and support your overall health while coordinating appropriately with necessary medical care.
Functional Medicine and Blood Sugar
Blood sugar regulation is an important part of metabolic health.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious medical condition that should be diagnosed and monitored appropriately.
Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, weight management and other lifestyle factors can play an important role in blood sugar management, but changes to medication or medical treatment should be made with the appropriate prescribing healthcare professional.
At Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness, our functional-health approach can help you examine lifestyle and nutritional factors relevant to your metabolic goals.
Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Reversed?
You’ll often see the phrase “reverse diabetes” online.
The reality deserves more careful language.
Some people with type 2 diabetes can achieve remission, meaning blood glucose remains below the diabetes threshold for a defined period without glucose-lowering medication. That is not the same thing as guaranteeing a permanent cure, and outcomes vary substantially between individuals.
Our approach therefore focuses on supporting metabolic health and sustainable lifestyle changes rather than promising to “reverse” diabetes.
If you take medication for diabetes, do not stop or change it without discussing the decision with the healthcare professional responsible for prescribing it.
Why Nutrition Is Individual
There isn’t one perfect diet for every person.
Your nutritional needs can be influenced by your goals, health conditions, preferences, culture, lifestyle and other factors.
A plan that looks ideal on paper is useless if it cannot realistically fit your life.
Our objective is to create practical recommendations that are personalized and sustainable.
Functional Medicine and Weight Management
Weight is influenced by multiple biological, behavioral and environmental factors.
That’s one reason Re-LAX combines its weight-management services with a broader functional-health perspective.
When appropriate, we can look beyond the scale and consider relevant aspects of nutrition, lifestyle and metabolic health.
The goal isn’t a quick fix.
It’s a better understanding of what your body and lifestyle may need for sustainable progress.
Dr. Christina Yang’s Comprehensive Approach
Dr. Christina Yang, DC, MAOM combines her chiropractic background with functional medicine training to approach health from both structural and functional perspectives.
Rather than treating every patient according to the same protocol, care is personalized based on health history, concerns, goals and relevant clinical information.
Depending on the individual, recommendations may involve:
- Nutrition strategies
- Lifestyle modification
- Functional-health assessment
- Laboratory testing when appropriate
- Evidence-informed supplementation when appropriate
- Weight-management support
- Chiropractic or other wellness services when relevant
Your plan is built around your needs rather than a generic checklist.
Functional Medicine Isn’t About Replacing Your Doctor
This distinction is important.
Functional medicine should not be used as a reason to ignore a diagnosis, discontinue necessary medication or avoid appropriate specialist care.
At Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness, the objective is to provide a more comprehensive view of your health and support informed, sustainable choices.
When another healthcare professional or specialist needs to be involved, appropriate collaboration and referral matter.
Who May Want to Explore Functional Medicine?
You may be interested in a functional-health consultation if you:
- Want a more comprehensive look at your health
- Have thyroid or hormonal concerns
- Want support for metabolic health
- Are working on weight management
- Have questions about nutrition
- Want to improve lifestyle habits
- Have ongoing wellness concerns that involve multiple factors
- Want to understand relevant lab findings in the context of your overall health
Functional Medicine FAQs
What is the difference between functional medicine and conventional medicine?
Conventional medicine is essential for diagnosing and treating disease. Functional medicine places additional emphasis on individualized lifestyle, nutrition and interconnected health factors. The two approaches do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Can functional medicine cure Hashimoto’s?
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune thyroid disease requiring appropriate medical management. We do not promise to cure it. Functional-health strategies may be used to support nutrition, lifestyle and overall wellness.
Can functional medicine reverse type 2 diabetes?
Some people with type 2 diabetes can achieve remission under appropriate circumstances, but no responsible practitioner should guarantee that outcome. Medical monitoring remains important.
Do you perform lab testing?
Laboratory testing may be recommended when clinically appropriate based on your health history and goals.
Do I need to stop my medication?
No. Never discontinue or change prescription medication without consulting the appropriate prescribing healthcare professional.
Is functional medicine only for people who are sick?
No. Some patients use a functional-health approach because they want to better understand nutrition, metabolic health and lifestyle factors before larger problems develop.
Are supplements always part of functional medicine?
No. Supplements should have a reason behind them. When used, recommendations should take your individual circumstances into account.
Your Health Is More Than One Symptom
If you want to better understand how nutrition, lifestyle, metabolic health and other factors may be affecting the way you feel, start with a conversation.
Schedule Your $39 Functional Health Consultation
Meet with Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness in Los Angeles to discuss your concerns, health goals and whether our personalized functional medicine approach may be appropriate for you.
Call (424) 800-2488 or schedule your $39 consultation today.