Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions about our services and care. We hope you find this information helpful. Our team is always here to assist you with any inquiries or concerns. Reach out to us at 907-373-3420.

If you have a question that isn’t listed here, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Functional Medicine, and how is it different from conventional or mainstream medicine?

Functional Medicine asks how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing each person’s root cause of disease. In conventional medicine, there’s a doctor for every part of your body: cardiologists for the heart, gastroenterologists for the digestive system, neurologists for the brain and nervous system, podiatrists for your feet, and ophthalmologists for your eyes. But in functional medicine, we see the body as an interconnected whole within a larger environment. We recognize that all other parts must also be considered to treat one part of the body.

Functional medicine is neither conventional nor alternative medicine. It’s a combination of the best elements of both, representing the future of medicine. Deep and lasting healing is only possible when the root causes of illness are addressed. By understanding the core systems of the body, how they are related, and how their function can be restored, many chronic diseases can be prevented and even reversed.

What type of training is required to become a functional medicine practitioner?

Sabrina Yoder received her training through the Functional Medicine University. FMU is an accredited program that consists of 10 separate modules and a 2 part final exam. This took 3 years to complete.

What made you want to practice functional medicine?

“As a child and into adulthood, I was a healthy, active young woman with minimal symptoms and no health concerns. My First pregnancy went smoothly with only the typical complaints. I had an emergency cesarean at age 26 with my second and all of that changed. Recovery from the actual c-section was long and painful, but in the proceeding months and years I realized the symptoms I was experiencing were not just post-partum or post c-section related. I experienced such extreme fatigue and body pains that even just making my bed felt insurmountable. My legs burned and ached just pushing a stroller up the driveway. My abdomen protruded to the point that people thought I was pregnant again.

As a nurse-practitioner with an investigational drive, I started searching for answers rather than prescription medications to bandaid/cover up my symptoms. I found functional medicine and started diving into learning about SIBO, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fungal Overgrowth and Chronic Lyme. I saw a functional medicine provider myself who did a series of detailed tests followed by a very specific personalized treatment plan. This helped immensely with my health! 

With this experience I fell like my eyes were opened to a whole new world of finding answers for the new mothers I was seeing in my nurse-midwife practice with chronic symptoms. I enrolled in the FMU course to help these women get more than the simple non-individualized responses that I had been giving. 

My health journey is not over, and I am more fully aware now that a truly healthy life involves ongoing adjustments and support for the vitality of EACH area of our body, mind and soul. I endeavor to help each women I see to become the BEST friend, wife, mother and woman that she can be without limitations of chronic unexplained symptoms as I did!”
— Sabrina Yoder

What kind of person will benefit from functional medicine?

The best clients for functional medicine include those who don’t want to rely on unnecessary drugs and medical intervention for the rest of their lives and are interested in discovering the underlying cause of their problems rather than just suppressing symptoms.

They are motivated to play an active role in their healing process and are willing to make the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to support health and well-being.

What can patients expect when they come to see you?

Like all detectives, we use various tools in my investigations, including detailed questionnaires, a thorough medical history and examination, and comprehensive laboratory tests (blood, urine, stool, and saliva testing). We then use nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, supplements, stress management, detoxification, lifestyle changes, and in some cases and only when necessary, prescription medications to eliminate triggers and restore proper function and balance.

What do you love most about what you do?

We love the relationships we develop with my patients and learning about their stories. We love witnessing the sense of empowerment as they slowly start to take their health. We think of it as the ultimate in personalized, one-on-one, therapeutic relationships. We’re happy and deeply grateful that we have found our place in medicine.
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Meet Our Providers!

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Call us at 907-373-3420.