As your drug-less physician, I consult with patients who desire a different approach to their health problems. I believe good nutrition should be the cornerstone of any treatment plan. I can advise on how to use vitamins and herbs medicinally, and how to make changes to your diet in order to overcome a particular issue with your health. A Functional Medicine approach means less dependence on drugs and more patient oriented treatments that look at all the body systems of the patient to see how they are or aren’t working harmoniously. Functional Medicine focuses on food and nutrition as the medicinal tool, along with exercise, stress reduction and education. In some cases, a nutritional approach can be reductionist: swapping out a medication for an herbal supplement, for example (However, this approach doesn’t necessarily get to the root cause of the problem and really is just ‘green medicine’.). Other times it’s a matter of adding a nutrient, vitamin or mineral to treat a specific deficiency.
A functional medicine approach may be right for you if you are looking to:
- Improve energy, stamina and reduce fatigue
- Decrease inflammation and pain
- Decrease muscle tension and spasm
- Accelerate the repair of injured tissues; improve athletic performance and recovery time
- Prevent and treat colds and flu by stimulating immune system function
- Help your body better deal with stress, anxiety, and depression
- Lose weight
- Balance hormones
- Promote better quality sleep
- Improve allergies and sinus conditions
- Decrease heartburn, bloating, gas, and reflux, as well as, IBS & Chron’s disease
- Lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels
- Decrease liver toxicity associated with hepatitis or long-term use of prescription medication
- Decrease motion sickness, pregnancy-related morning sickness, and nausea
Most often, it’s necessary to investigate the patient’s lifestyle, stress levels, eating habits and exercise routines to really understand where an illness or deficiency is stemming from and what it will take to correct it. Functional medicine is more about cleaning up the internal environment of your body with a healthy diet, supplementing appropriately with specific nutrients, balancing hormones and managing stress.
Sometimes, laboratory tests are needed to help guide the treatment. Dr. Hoch can draw labs or offer test kits to test:
- Blood Glucose & A1C
- Cholesterol and Liver Enzymes
- Vit D
- Hormone Pannels
- Metabolic Pannels
- Much more
Frequently Asked Questions
Functional Medicine:
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine focuses on the optimal functioning of the entire body and its organs. Using a systems-oriented approach, it addresses the underlying causes of disease along with an understanding of the conditions and history in which the disease manifested. Genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors all have a direct influence on long-term health and chronic health issues.
How long does it take to get results?
Results vary with each person. Some people feel significant improvement within the first month. Others may take a bit longer. The average amount of time a functional medicine patient treats with for resolution of their complaints is 6-12 months. Most patients who follow through with all recommendations have dramatic changes and improvement within the first 3 months. Complete correction of imbalances that have been long standing will, however wonderful the patient feels at the 3 month mark, require a bit longer to correct imbalances for long term relief. Remember, your condition didn’t develop overnight. Years of stress and illness take their toll and a proper amount of time is necessary to restore function. On average it takes one month of repair for each year you’ve suffered from a specific problem.
Which laboratories does Dr. Hoch use and why?
Dr. Hoch has learned that the accuracy of lab findings and the quality of the professionals performing the lab tests are key to uncovering what’s going on. Quality is not equal across all lab companies. Many times we see “normal” test results from regular lab companies while our tests find many “functional” problems. The lab companies we use have the highest testing standards and the most consistent lab results year after year. These are not replacements for regular medical tests. These tests are used to detect “functional” issues, not medical problems, and are not meant to diagnose or recommend protocols for curing diseases. Their purpose is to detect problems in the functioning of organ systems prior to the onset of disease.
How much doe the lab tests cost?
Depending on the lab test, the cost is $200-500 per lab kit, and you can always start a program by ordering a single test.
How long are the consultations?
Initial new patient consultations are anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the issues. Follow-up lab consultations can be scheduled for 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of tests. Existing client follow-up consultations can be scheduled for 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
Can I purchase supplements from sources other than Dr. Hoch?
Dr. Hoch carries high quality supplements that are formulated to achieve the best results in the right specified dosages. If you want to do your own research on different supplements, you are welcome to do so, but we do not provide any other recommendations, nor advise on other specific blends or brands. If you purchase supplements from other manufacturers, please research carefully. *Not all ingredients are equal. Keep in mind, if you aren’t achieving the expected results and you have altered your nutritional program by swapping out supplements recommended by Dr. Hoch – they may be the very reason you aren’t getting the desired results.
Does my new patient consultation fee include follow ups, test kits and supplements?
The new patient consultation is an assessment of your health and recommendations on what tests are required to understand the state of your body systems. The new patient consultation fee does not include any follow ups, test kits or supplements.
What is your return policy on supplements and lab test kits?
Pre-approval is required on all returns. Refrigerated items cannot be returned. A refund will be provided on unopened and non-refrigerated items, minus a 15% restock fee of purchase price. No supplement returns will be accepted after 30 days on all regularly stocked items. Special orders cannot be returned. Prepaid lab test kits can be returned for credit within 30 days of purchase.
How much is a nutritional or functional medicine consultation?
Nutritional Counseling / Functional Medicine -> $75 – $175 (based on time)
During a nutritional consultation we will go over goals, objectives, and reasons for wanting to discuss your diet. We will review your medical history, including medications or supplements you’re currently taking. Then, I’ll take time to dive into your lifestyle in order to get a sense of stress and energy levels, sleep patterns, exercise, and gastrointestinal function. After discussing eating and cooking habits, and trouble spots like skipping meals, we will develop some initial pointers to help you start eating better, You will leave with a simple plan that you will be asked to follow for a period of time (usually 1 week) and then return to the office in order to review, change or add to your plan. Our goal is always to get you to better health safely and in the fastest time frame possible.