What Conditions Does Functional Medicine Treat?

Last Updated: November 2025

TL;DR

Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease, not just treating symptoms. It can be used to manage a wide range of chronic conditions—from fatigue, digestive issues, and hormonal imbalances to autoimmune, metabolic, and cognitive disorders. At Insight Functional Health in Silver Spring, MD, Dr. Anna Sattah, MD, IFMCP, blends critical-care precision with functional medicine’s investigative model to help patients understand what’s driving their health challenges and create lasting change.

Key Points

• Functional medicine is effective for chronic, complex, or unexplained symptoms that conventional care often overlooks.
  
• It focuses on systems, not just symptoms—looking at how digestion, hormones, inflammation, and metabolism interact.
  
• Commonly treated conditions include autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, gut dysfunction, metabolic issues, and brain fog.
  
• Functional medicine complements—not replaces—conventional care.
  
• Dr. Sattah uses careful testing and structured follow-ups to identify causes, track progress, and ensure safe, evidence-based care.
  
• Each treatment plan is personalized, balancing science with empathy and practicality.
  

What This Means in Plain English

Functional medicine looks beyond your diagnosis to uncover why you developed symptoms in the first place. Instead of focusing on one organ or lab result, it views the body as a connected system—where stress, nutrition, gut health, and inflammation all play a role.

If you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but you still don’t feel well, functional medicine can help uncover hidden imbalances. It’s not about replacing your primary care—it’s about filling in the gaps between normal labs and optimal health.

Common Conditions Treated with Functional Medicine

While every patient is unique, functional medicine commonly supports people with:

Hormonal and Metabolic Health

• Thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s)
• Adrenal fatigue and stress-related issues
• Perimenopause, menopause, and low testosterone
• Insulin resistance, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome
  

Gut and Digestive Disorders

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or SIBO
• Leaky gut and food sensitivities
• Chronic bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
• Acid reflux or indigestion
  

Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions

• Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus
• Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
  

Brain and Mood Health

• Brain fog, memory issues, and early cognitive decline
• Anxiety, depression, and stress-related burnout
• Sleep disturbances or insomnia
  

Cardiometabolic and Chronic Disease Prevention

• High cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure
• Weight loss resistance or unexplained weight gain
• Chronic inflammation and fatigue syndromes
  

Environmental and Toxicity Concerns

• Heavy metal or mold exposure
• Chemical sensitivities
• Chronic infections (Lyme, viral reactivation)
  

How Functional Medicine Works

Functional medicine doesn’t just look at your symptoms—it looks at patterns and interactions. A typical process includes:

1. Comprehensive history: Understanding your medical, lifestyle, and environmental background.
   
2. Targeted testing: Labs focused on inflammation, gut health, metabolism, hormones, and nutrient deficiencies.
   
3. Personalized plan: Nutrition, sleep, movement, mindset, and evidence-based supplements.
   
4. Follow-up and adjustments: Regular check-ins to track biomarkers and progress.
   

At Insight Functional Health, Dr. Sattah uses her background in critical care to structure plans that are safe, efficient, and realistic for everyday life.

Who Benefits Most

Functional medicine is ideal for people who:

• Have persistent symptoms despite normal lab results.
  
• Feel stuck between multiple specialists without clear answers.
  
• Want to reduce medication dependency safely.
  
• Prefer an active role in improving their health.
  

Even those with no diagnosis can benefit by identifying early warning signs and preventing chronic disease.

When to Seek Urgent Care

While functional medicine focuses on prevention and chronic health, it is not for emergencies. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or sudden weakness.
  
• Severe abdominal pain, bleeding, or vomiting.
  
• Confusion, slurred speech, or vision changes.
  

Functional medicine can complement emergency and specialty care, but it does not replace it.

Sources

• Institute for Functional Medicine — https://info.ifm.org/
  
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) — https://www.nccih.nih.gov/
  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/about/index.html
  
• JAMA Network Open — https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2753520
  
• Harvard Health — https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/functional-medicine-an-approach-to-consider
  

Medically reviewed by Dr. Anna Sattah, MD, IFMCP
 Insight Functional Health — serving patients in Silver Spring, MD
 Ready to explore root-cause care for your symptoms? Book your visit here.
 Learn more about our Functional Medicine approach or explore Cognitive Decline support.
 About Dr. Sattah

This content is for educational purposes only and does not substitute personalized medical advice.