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Integrative & Functional Medicine
Fatigue, pain, brain fog, gut trouble and poor sleep are real, and they have causes. Integrative medicine looks for the root cause of how you feel, then builds a plan around you, using conventional medicine and natural approaches together.
Always tired? Brain fog? Aches and pain? Bloating or gut trouble? Can’t sleep?
or call (540) 680-2426
“So many of my patients have been told their labs are “normal” while they still don’t feel well. I want to understand why, and care for the whole person, not just the symptom.”
Dr. Sagar Verma, MD
Founder and Medical Director
The basics
Integrative medicine is a whole-person approach to health. It combines the best of conventional medicine, such as lab testing and prescription medications, with evidence-informed natural approaches, such as nutrition, lifestyle changes, supplements and herbal medicine.
Functional medicine is the detective work inside integrative medicine. Instead of asking only “which medicine treats this symptom?”, it asks “why is this happening?” and looks at how your body systems, history, environment and lifestyle connect.
The goal is not just to quiet symptoms, but to find and address what is driving them, so you can feel better and stay well. Integrative medicine works alongside your conventional care. It does not replace it.
Your physician
Dr. Verma has practiced integrative medicine since 2017. He is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine and Integrative Medicine, and became board certified in Integrative Medicine through AIHM in 2023.
Before focusing on integrative medicine, he spent years as a hospital physician. That experience is why he takes both sides seriously: he knows when conventional medicine and prescriptions are needed, and when nutrition, lifestyle and natural therapies can make the bigger difference.
The Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) is a professional organization that trains and connects physicians and other clinicians in integrative, whole-person care. Its training covers nutrition, lifestyle medicine, mind-body health, environmental health, botanical medicine and how to combine these safely with conventional treatment.
An example
Say you come to us with brain fog. A quick visit might end with “your labs are normal.” We look further, because brain fog is a symptom, not a diagnosis. These are some of the things we may check.
An underactive thyroid, including Hashimoto’s, is a common, often missed cause.
Low B12, iron, vitamin D or other nutrients can affect energy and focus.
Swings in blood sugar and insulin resistance can cloud thinking.
Perimenopause, menopause and low testosterone often affect memory and focus.
Poor sleep or untreated sleep apnea can leave you foggy every day.
Gut imbalance and ongoing inflammation may affect the brain.
Long-term stress and cortisol changes can drain energy and focus.
Some medications and environmental exposures can play a part.
We put these together with your history, symptoms and, when needed, detailed testing. That is how we find the root cause, and that is what integrative medicine is.
Our process
A long first visit to understand your full story: symptoms, timeline, history, family history, diet, sleep, stress, environment and medications.
A detailed analysis of your results, plus deeper testing when needed to look for the root cause.
We connect all the findings to map what is driving your symptoms.
A step-by-step treatment plan built around you, with regular follow-up.
Your treatment plan
Every plan is different. Depending on what we find, your plan may start with stabilizing your body or with removing what is getting in the way. We move through the phases and repeat the cycle as you improve.
Calm the most pressing symptoms, steady blood sugar, improve sleep and reduce stress, so your body can heal.
Take away what is driving the problem, such as inflammatory foods, gut imbalances and medications that may be contributing.
Reduce toxin exposures and, when appropriate, support your body's own detoxification.
Repair the gut, replace missing nutrients and balance hormones and thyroid.
Fine-tune your plan and build habits that help you stay well. Then we reassess, retest and adjust.
Advanced testing
During the test-and-analyze step, we do a detailed analysis of your results and can order tests that look deeper for the root cause of your problem. Your physician recommends only the tests likely to change your plan. These are some of the tests we offer.
A detailed genetic analysis from GB HealthWatch that may show your inherited risk for:
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia risk High triglycerides High cholesterol Maturity-onset diabetes (MODY) Late-onset diabetes Obesity Nutrigenomics: how your genes respond to food
Then we put it all together and create a plan for you based on your results.
Genetic results show risk, not a diagnosis, and are reviewed with you in detail. Many functional and genetic tests are not covered by insurance; we explain costs before ordering. Learn about specialty labs.
What we help with
Integrative medicine may help with many long-term health problems. These are the most common reasons patients come to us.
Including stress-related fatigue, often called “adrenal fatigue.”
Looking for and calming the sources of ongoing inflammation.
Bloating, IBS-type symptoms, leaky gut and SIBO.
Supportive care for conditions such as Hashimoto’s, lupus and celiac disease, alongside your specialists.
Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, with a full thyroid panel.
A whole-body plan that may reduce pain and improve function.
Blood sugar, insulin resistance, blood pressure and cholesterol.
Lowering risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Including perimenopause, menopause and low testosterone.
Insomnia and poor-quality sleep.
Holistic support for stress, anxiety and mood.
We work alongside your other doctors. Integrative medicine does not replace conventional medical care or specialist care. We are not gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, endocrinologists or psychiatrists. For autoimmune, digestive, mental health and other conditions, we provide supportive, whole-person care and coordinate with your specialists. Never stop a prescribed medication without talking to your prescribing doctor.
How we treat
Dr. Verma and his team use whatever combination is most likely to help, from prescription medication to food, supplements and herbs.
When needed. We prescribe conventional medications, including for thyroid, blood sugar and hormones.
Anti-inflammatory and personalized eating plans, with support from our nutritionist.
Sleep, movement and stress tools that support every other treatment.
Targeted, quality-checked supplements and botanicals, chosen for your results.
Vitamins and minerals by IV when appropriate. See IV therapy.
Regular check-ins to track progress and adjust your plan.
| Goal | Examples that may help |
|---|---|
| Gut repair | Probiotics, L-glutamine, digestive enzymes, zinc carnosine |
| Inflammation | Omega-3 fish oil, curcumin (turmeric) |
| Stress and sleep | Magnesium glycinate, ashwagandha, L-theanine |
| Energy and focus | Active B vitamins, B12, CoQ10 |
| Blood sugar | Berberine, inositol, alpha-lipoic acid |
| Thyroid and immune support | Selenium, vitamin D, zinc |
| Liver and detox support | NAC, sulforaphane, milk thistle |
Supplement disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Supplements can interact with medications and are not right for everyone. Talk with your provider before starting any supplement. Individual results vary. Do not start supplements without checking with us, especially if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or have a medical condition.
Integrative medicine combines conventional and natural approaches to treat the whole person. Functional medicine is the root-cause, systems-based way of investigating why symptoms happen. We use both.
No. We work alongside your current care. Never stop a prescription on your own.
Yes, when they are needed. Dr. Verma is a board-certified physician and prescribes conventional medications as part of your plan.
A longer visit to understand your full story, followed by a plan for testing. Most patients return to review results and start their treatment plan.
It depends on what is driving your symptoms. Some people notice changes within weeks; long-standing problems can take a few months. Results vary.
Physician visits and standard labs may be billed to insurance. Many functional tests, supplements and programs are self-pay. We explain costs up front.
This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Integrative medicine does not replace conventional medical care. Individual results vary. Medical disclaimer.
Add to your plan
These services may be added to your integrative plan when they are right for you.
Vitamin and mineral IV drips, such as the Myers’ formula, vitamin C with magnesium, or alpha-lipoic acid, given by a registered nurse after screening.
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Detailed hormone, gut, nutrient, toxin, cardiac and genetic testing, explained in plain language.
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Physician-prescribed peptides from licensed U.S. compounding pharmacies, for recovery, energy, metabolism and more.
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Medical-grade ozone given under medical supervision as an adjunctive wellness service.
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3 or 6 months
Our most in-depth integrative program, with more physician time and closer follow-up.
