What is Functional Medicine anyway? It is often referred to as 21st-century medicine. Functional medicine is a holistic approach to health that goes beyond merely treating symptoms; it aims to identify and address the root causes of a problem. Think of it as detective work. Functional medicine examines symptoms but goes deeper to discover why a patient has those symptoms in the first place, and that is where intervention comes in.
When I was diagnosed, I felt like I was running around in circles. I’d experience lupus flares, visit my rheumatologist, and if I was unlucky, I’d end up hospitalized. I took both oral and intravenous medications, felt better, stabilized for a while, and then fell ill again. This cycle repeated for over a decade. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful for all the love and care I’ve received from my conventional doctors, especially my rheumatologist. But when another major organ began to show signs of damage, I couldn’t help but question what was happening.
I questioned not because I was unhappy with the medical care I received but because I knew I was 101% compliant. I never missed my routine blood tests, saw my doctors regularly, and never skipped a dose of my medication. Yet, I felt trapped in this cycle of illness. That’s when I started to ask myself: maybe there’s something missing. Not that I was doing something wrong, but perhaps there was a piece of the puzzle I hadn’t yet found.
Being the tech geek that I am, instead of driving myself crazy by researching lupus symptoms and wondering if that’s what I had or might develop, I redirected my energy into searching for what else I could do to get better. That’s when I came across the story of Dr. Goldberg. It opened more doors for me until I discovered the concept of functional medicine, and from then on, I never stopped learning about it. I was obsessed.
I remember the first functional medicine doctor I found was based in the US—Dr. Mark Hyman. I even tried booking an online session with him, billed at $100 per hour. I was that desperate. But, unfortunately, I couldn’t secure an appointment. In hindsight, it was a blessing because not long after, I realized that functional medicine doctors were available here in the Philippines. One of them, a fellow native of my hometown, Nueva Vizcaya, also had lupus and had managed to heal herself through a functional medicine approach.
Fortunately, I got the chance to speak with Dr. Katherine Noscal, and that’s when our journey toward uncovering the root causes of my lupus began.
At this point, my kidneys and even my liver were starting to sustain damage. I was no longer in a position to simply reset my lifestyle and diet. While I did make lifestyle changes, they weren’t enough given my condition at the time.
So, we decided to run various functional medicine tests. I underwent nutrient testing and took highly comprehensive stool and urine tests, which were all sent to the US. And there, we discovered what was truly going on inside my body.
Out of 17 vital nutrients (vitamins and minerals), only 3 were at normal levels—just normal, not optimal. My body had stopped producing antioxidants, and I had a major systemic fungal infection.
This explained why I wasn’t completely recovering. With all the nutrient deficiencies and the major infection, my body was no longer able to absorb the nutrients it needed from food.
Armed with this knowledge, we targeted the specific deficiencies with supplements based on my needs, while also working to restore my body’s ability to absorb nutrients. We addressed the fungal infection as well.
Once the root causes were addressed, I began seeing results. I started to feel better each day, and my kidney and liver functions returned to normal.
But let me emphasize, it’s not just about the supplements. It’s much more than that. These supplements would have been little more than expensive urine if I hadn’t changed my lifestyle and diet. Those are the most important components.
I took tests to identify my food sensitivities—not just allergies. I learned exactly what to eliminate from my diet. I filled my body with whole, real foods and removed anything processed. And indeed, food is medicine.
Alongside dietary changes, I made an effort to improve my sleep patterns, manage stress, and simply strive for a better lifestyle overall. This completed the missing piece.
One very important point: functional medicine is not an alternative to conventional medicine. Throughout this journey, I continued to see my conventional doctors. I never stopped taking my prescribed medications unless advised by my rheumatologist. My functional medicine doctor never pressured me to stop them.
What happened instead was a natural tapering of my medications. As I improved, the dosages of my maintenance medicines were gradually reduced until, eventually, my rheumatologist discontinued them altogether.
Even now, whenever I feel something is off, I consult my rheumatologist. I still see my nephrologist, gastroenterologist, and any specialist I need. The best part? My functional medicine doctor and my conventional doctors are all good friends. I believe that’s been the secret—a collaborative effort among all my doctors. We’ve worked together to balance my illness with wellness.