Functional Medicine at SLO Health Center

Beyond Primary Care, Functional Medicine services are available through the SLO Health Center. To learn more, please contact: SLOFlowerEssence@gmail.com

Signing up with our Functional Medicine practitioner, Kerry Hughes, you will receive a total lifestyle and functional medicine evaluation and make-over which will guide the personalization of your lifestyle & supplementation protocol. Through integrating results from your Functional Medicine evaluation with our primary care team, chronic imbalances in the body can be resolved and long-term health supported.

This approach is directed and will stop the endless trial and error use of supplements and/or diets in which many people are caught up.  With use of this personalized approach, healing opportunities are identified and addressed which then help the body return to a state of ease, health and resiliency.

The Role of Primary Care in Healthcare

Primary Care serves as a patient’s main source of medical care, providing continuity and integration of healthcare services over time. Ideally, a Primary Care physician builds a long-term relationship with their patients, guiding their overall health and referring them to specialists when needed. As the American Academy of Family Physicians describes it, Primary Care is:

“Person-centered, team-based, community-aligned, and designed to achieve better health, better care, and lower costs… It is performed and managed by a personal physician who often collaborates with other health professionals and utilizes consultation or referral as appropriate.”

The Role of Functional Medicine

Functional Medicine and Nutrition take a holistic, science-based approach to identifying and addressing underlying causes of common health concerns. These disciplines use advanced functional lab testing to detect imbalances and dysfunctions before they progress into disease. Unlike traditional lab tests that focus on diagnosing illness, functional testing evaluates the body’s systems with a more whole-body approach, using more specific “optimal” ranges rather than standard reference ranges.

 Some of the specialized lab tests may include:

• Functional blood chemistry analysis
• Microbiome and stool testing
• Detailed hormone evaluation
• Detoxification markers
• Food sensitivity testing
• Intestinal mucosal barrier assessment
• Mineral levels and ratios

Looking Upstream for Healing

By the time someone visits a doctor, they are often experiencing the downstream effects of years of dysfunction. Instead of just managing symptoms, Functional Medicine and Nutrition practitioners look upstream—identifying root causes and restoring balance to the body.

Through personalized supplementation, targeted lifestyle changes, and lab-guided recommendations, the body can regain homeostasis and move beyond symptom management into true vitality and wellness. When imbalances are addressed at their source, it’s remarkable how the body can heal and thrive.

Complimentary by Nature

At SLO Health, we believe Functional Medicine can complement Primary Care, particularly in two key ways:

First, for individuals with chronic conditions—such as digestive issues—where symptoms stem from long-term dysfunction, a deeper, upstream approach is often necessary. This might involve gastrointestinal testing to assess the microbiome, gut lining, and immune system, helping to identify underlying causes rather than just managing symptoms.

Second, for those who are proactive about their health, Functional Medicine offers a way to move beyond simply being symptom-free to achieving optimal wellness. By following personalized protocols that include adjustments in lifestyle, diet, rest, exercise, stress management, and supplementation, individuals can enhance their well-being, as illustrated by the Wellness Scale (see Figure: Wellness Scale).

 At SLO Health, we provide a truly integrated healthcare experience, where Primary Care can be integrated with Functional Medicine to support each patient’s unique health journey. For more information, contact: SLOFlowerEssence@gmail.com