Functional Medicine in San Francisco
What is functional medicine?
Dr. Daniel Metzger, DACM, L.Ac. specializes in functional medicine and works closely with his patients to uncover and treat all the underlying causes of pain, illness, and disease.
Unlike conventional medicine, which diagnoses disease in isolated body systems, functional medicine looks at symptoms and all the aspects of your life that interact and contribute to symptoms, such as genetics, lifestyle, diet, nutrition, history, and environment.
When we practice functional medicine, we evaluate the whole person because every system in the body works together, and dysfunction in one system may lead to symptoms in another system. By treating only the obvious symptoms, the original dysfunction may be missed until health problems later arise. If you are experiencing unwanted symptoms of a condition and would like to see how functional medicine can help relieve symptoms, contact Dr. Daniel Metzger to schedule your online consultation. Dr. Metzger offers lab testing, diagnosis, and treatment for patients located in the San Francisco area, including Mission District, Noe Valley, SoMa, North Beach, and Pacific Heights.
What is functional nutritional therapy?
Wellness and disease prevention are rooted in nutrition. If you don’t consume enough calories, macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats), and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), your body cannot function properly. Childhood diets set the stage for health or disease in adulthood. Proper nutrition is the key to preventing or managing many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. A healthy diet will affect the outcome of your illness. People with cancer, for instance, have a lower chance of survival if they eat poorly.
Dr. Daniel Metzger, DACM, L.Ac. believes you should assess your nutritional status and incorporate functional nutritional therapy into your wellness plan. Micronutrients may be tested or food sensitivity tests may be conducted. Using a balanced diet and nutritional supplements as needed, we’ll create a plan to correct nutritional imbalances and improve health.
How does functional medicine treat patients?
You may receive multiple therapies as part of your functional medicine treatment, all of which are tailored to your overall health and medical condition.
A treatment plan may include dietary intervention, nutritional supplements, botanicals, stress management, sleep improvement, or mental health therapy. A diurnal saliva test, which measures levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, may be ordered by Daniel. Gut pathogens, a major cause of dysfunction, may need to be tested and eliminated. The detox pathways may be assessed and aided to reduce the body’s toxic load. A comprehensive treatment plan is always part of Daniel’s commitment to helping you heal from the inside out. Thus, he may recommend alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage.
When Will I See Results From Functional Medicine?
According to the general rule of thumb, the longer you’ve been ill, the longer it will take to feel better. That being said, it depends on the individual and their symptoms. Some people feel better after 4 weeks of treatment. Others need more time to see changes to their body. For each body system (HPA axis, gastrointestinal, liver), a six-month course of treatment is standard.
How Long Do Functional Medicine Consultations Last?
Consultations length depends on your needs at the time of the consult. It depends on the number of issues you are experiencing and if there are labs results to review. Starting visits take around 75 minutes. Follow-up visits take somewhere close to 30 and an hour.
How Much Do The Functional Medicine Programs Cost After Lab Work Is Done?
It depends on the number of tests ordered initially. We typically order 1-4 tests. The average cost of the functional medicine program is between $200 – $600 after lab tests are completed and depends on the complexity of the health issue being addressed.
How Long Are The Functional Medicine Programs?
Initial programs are around 6 months long but may be shorter depending on your health condition. Many cases require several programs depending on the number of issues being addressed.
What Should I Do If I Find It Hard To Stick To My Functional Medicine Program?
It’s understandable if you find it difficult to stick to a program. Many times it requires major lifestyle changes. Our advice is to start one product at a time and take it one day at a time. Often keeping a health journal allows one to stay on track and also shows the progression that we often forget when we need a little inspiration.
Schedule a Consultation with a Functional Medicine Specialist Today
Dr. Daniel Metzger, DACM, L.Ac. specializes in functional medicine and works closely with his patients to uncover and treat all the underlying causes of pain, illness, and disease. If you are seeking treatment for a symptom or condition and are considering functional medicine, contact Dr. Daniel Metzger to discuss your condition and the treatment options that will work best for you and your lifestyle. Book your consultation online to discuss your goals and start treatment now.