Frequently Asked Questions
Straightforward thyroid answers so you can feel like yourself again.
Q: What is functional medicine for heartburn?
Most people assume heartburn means they're producing too much acid. The functional medicine question is different: why is your digestive system struggling to keep acid where it belongs? That answer varies from person to person — it might be a bacterial imbalance, a food your immune system is reacting to, or a stress response that's disrupting gut motility. The treatment follows the finding, which is why results tend to be more lasting than what you get from a daily pill.
Q: Is functional medicine the same as naturopathic medicine?
They share a common premise — that the body can heal when given the right conditions — but they're not the same thing. Naturopathic doctors complete a separate four-year graduate program and hold their own licensure. Functional medicine is a clinical methodology, not a credential; practitioners typically hold conventional medical, nursing, or clinical nutrition degrees and apply a root-cause framework on top of that training. The overlap is philosophical; the training and scope are distinct.
Q: Can functional medicine help with GERD specifically?
GERD responds particularly well to this approach because the drivers are measurable, not theoretical. Whether it's H. pylori disrupting the stomach lining, food sensitivities creating chronic gut inflammation, or a microbiome imbalance affecting the lower esophageal sphincter — these things show up on testing. Once you know what you're dealing with, the treatment path is specific and has a finish line. That's a very different experience than managing symptoms indefinitely.
Q: Will you work alongside my regular doctor?
Yes — and we think that relationship matters. We don't advise anyone to stop medications or skip follow-ups with their GI doctor or primary care provider. Where it makes sense, we share results and coordinate. Our role is to answer questions that conventional care doesn't have the bandwidth or tools to address, not to replace the care you already have.
Q: What tests do you use to diagnose heartburn?
Our core panels — comprehensive stool analysis, the Alletess 184 Food Sensitivity Panel, and where applicable the Adrenocortex Stress Profile — look at three of the most common functional drivers of heartburn: gut microbial imbalance, immune food reactions, and stress hormone patterns that affect gut function. Which tests we order depends on your specific symptoms, history, and what conventional workups have already ruled out. Some patients need all three; others need one targeted panel to find the answer.
Q: Are these tests the same as what my GI doctor ordered?
Standard GI testing is built to detect damage — it tells you whether something has gone wrong structurally. Our testing is built to detect dysfunction — it tells you why your gut environment isn't working correctly before or alongside that structural damage. An endoscopy won't tell you that your microbiome is overrun with opportunistic bacteria or that your immune system is reacting to gluten every day. That's the gap we fill.
Q: Do I have to come in person for testing?
Not for the majority of our testing. Most kits are collected at home and mailed back to the lab with prepaid shipping. If your protocol includes a blood draw, we'll direct you to a convenient local draw site rather than requiring a trip to our office. Consultations happen via telehealth for patients across North Carolina.
Q: How long does it take to get test results?
Labs typically return results within 7 business days of receiving your sample. Once everything is back, we schedule a dedicated results review — not a rushed 10-minute call, but enough time to walk through what the data means and what we're going to do about it. That conversation is where your treatment plan takes shape.
Q: What if my results are all normal?
Functional medicine reference ranges are calibrated for optimal function, which is a narrower window than what conventional labs flag as abnormal. A result that looks fine on a standard panel can still reveal meaningful patterns when you're looking for function, not just disease. That said, if your numbers are genuinely solid across the board, we'll tell you that directly and talk through what else might be driving your symptoms — structural, behavioral, or mechanical factors we can still help you address.
Q: What is the first step?
A free 15-minute discovery call. We use that time to understand your symptom history, what you've already tried, and whether our approach is a realistic fit for your situation. If it isn't, we'll say so. If it is, we'll map out exactly what testing and next steps look like for you.
Who is a good candidate for your program?
The strongest candidates are people who've been on acid-suppressing medication for three or more months and are either still symptomatic or don't want to stay on drugs long-term. We also regularly work with people who've had a "normal" endoscopy and are still struggling daily — that result tells you there's no structural damage, but it doesn't explain what's functionally wrong. If you're newly diagnosed and want to understand your options before defaulting to a prescription, that conversation is worth having too.
Do you see patients outside of Wilmington?
Yes. Telehealth allows us to work with patients anywhere in North Carolina, and because most of our testing is home-based, distance isn't a barrier. You collect your sample at home, ship it directly to the lab, and we meet virtually to review everything.
Do I have to stop my PPI or antacid to work with you?
No — and stopping abruptly without a plan is something we'd actively discourage. Acid-suppressing medications can trigger a rebound effect when discontinued suddenly, which makes symptoms temporarily worse and convinces patients they can't function without the drug. We build a gradual reduction timeline into your treatment plan from the start, calibrated to how your gut is responding to treatment. The goal is to make the medication unnecessary, not just inconvenient.
Can PPIs cause long-term problems?
They can, and this is a conversation worth having with anyone who's been on them for more than a few months. Sustained acid suppression disrupts the gut's microbial balance, reduces absorption of key nutrients like magnesium, B12, and iron, and lowers your natural defenses against ingested pathogens. These effects compound over time and can actually make it harder to address the root cause of your reflux. None of this means PPIs are never appropriate — but it does mean they're not a neutral long-term solution.
What if I've been on PPIs for years?
This describes a large portion of our patient population, and it shapes how we design your testing and treatment. Long-term acid suppression tends to alter gut microbiome composition in ways that perpetuate digestive dysfunction — so part of your protocol will involve restoring that balance before and during the medication step-down process. It takes longer than starting from scratch, but it's very manageable when the approach is sequenced correctly. Patients who've been on PPIs for five or ten years still achieve meaningful, lasting results.