What to Expect During Your Functional Medicine Consultation
- Huron Point Acupuncture
- Dec 26, 2025
- 3 min read
When you decide to explore functional medicine in Port Huron or from the comfort of your own home, you’re choosing a healthcare approach that looks beyond symptoms to understand the root causes of your health concerns. This type of consultation offers a personalized experience, focusing on your unique health history, lifestyle, and body chemistry. If you’re curious about what happens during a functional medicine visit, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
Dr Katie Kuhn is both a Doctor of Acupuncture and Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) practitioner. She combines both Eastern and Western medicine to approach each patient's health concerns. We offer both in person and telehealth visits.
A Deep Dive into Your Health History and Lifestyle
The first part of your functional medicine consultation is a thorough conversation about your health. Unlike a typical doctor’s visit that might focus on immediate symptoms, this session explores your entire health story. The practitioner will ask detailed questions about:
Past illnesses and surgeries
Family health history
Current symptoms and how they affect your daily life
Diet and nutrition habits
Exercise routines
Sleep patterns
Stress levels and emotional wellbeing
Environmental exposures such as toxins or allergens
This comprehensive discussion helps the practitioner understand how different factors might be interacting to affect your health. For example, if you have chronic fatigue, they might explore your sleep quality, diet, stress, and any past infections that could contribute to your condition.
The goal is to build a complete picture of your health, not just to treat symptoms but to find underlying causes that may have been overlooked.
The Role of Functional Lab Testing in Finding Root Causes
After gathering your health history, the next step often involves functional lab testing. These tests go beyond standard blood work to provide detailed insights into how your body is functioning. Common tests might include:
Hormone panels to assess adrenal, thyroid, or sex hormone balance
Gut microbiome analysis to check for imbalances or infections
Nutrient deficiency testing
Food sensitivity or allergy panels
Detoxification and toxin exposure screenings
Functional lab tests help identify hidden imbalances or dysfunctions that contribute to your symptoms. For instance, if you experience digestive issues, a gut microbiome test can reveal if you have an overgrowth of harmful bacteria or yeast, guiding targeted treatment.
These tests are usually non-invasive and can be done through blood, urine, stool, or saliva samples. The results provide a roadmap for creating a treatment plan tailored specifically to your body’s needs.
What Your Integrative Treatment Plan Might Include
Once your health history and lab results are reviewed, your functional medicine practitioner will design an integrative treatment plan. This plan aims to restore balance and improve your overall wellbeing using natural, evidence-based methods. Key components often include:
Herbal Medicine
Herbs have been used for centuries to support health. Your practitioner might recommend specific Chinese herbal supplements to address inflammation, support digestion, balance hormones, or boost immunity.
Nutritional Supplements
Based on your lab results, targeted supplements can fill nutrient gaps or support specific body systems. This might include vitamins, minerals, probiotics, or amino acids. For example, if you have low vitamin D levels, supplementation can improve bone health and immune function.
Dietary Adjustments
Food is a powerful tool in functional medicine. Your treatment plan will likely include personalized dietary recommendations to reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and support healing. This could mean eliminating processed foods, reducing sugar, or adding anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens and omega-3 rich fish.
Your practitioner may also suggest an elimination diet to identify food sensitivities or intolerances that could be contributing to symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
Beyond supplements and diet, your plan may include advice on improving sleep hygiene, managing stress through mindfulness or exercise, and avoiding environmental toxins.
What to Bring and How to Prepare
To make the most of your consultation, consider bringing:
A list of current medications and supplements
Recent lab results or medical records if available
Notes on your symptoms, including when they started and how they affect you
Questions or concerns you want to discuss
Arriving prepared helps your practitioner understand your situation quickly and tailor the session to your needs.
What Happens After Your Consultation
After your visit, you’ll receive your lab test results and a detailed treatment plan. Follow-up appointments are common to track your progress, adjust treatments, and support you through lifestyle changes. Functional medicine is a partnership, so ongoing communication with your practitioner is key to achieving lasting health improvements.
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