What Functional Medicine Actually Is and Why You’ve Never Heard About It
- Brainz Magazine
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Shannon Hernandez is a nurse practitioner in independent practice. Her primary focus is assisting individuals with their overall cellular health. She is a 2-time NYT best-selling author in Health-A-Pedia and Essence of a Woman. She is also the founder and CEO of Hernandez Holistic Health designed to deliver education in a virtual setting.
Have you ever left your provider’s office feeling unheard, rushed, or confused about your next steps? You're not alone. Many people feel frustrated with the traditional medical system, especially when dealing with chronic symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, or hormonal imbalance. If you’ve never heard of functional medicine, that’s no surprise. It’s not mainstream yet, but it definitely should be.
I created Hernandez Holistic Health to help fill that gap. In my practice, we don’t chase symptoms. We ask why they’re happening. And then, we build a personalized path to healing from the inside out.
Let’s dive into what functional medicine actually is and why it might just be the answer you’ve been searching for.
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a root-cause, systems-based approach to health care. Instead of breaking the body into separate parts, we look at how all your systems interact with your hormones, gut, brain, immune system, and metabolism. We use advanced testing, personalized nutrition, and lifestyle changes to address the source of dysfunction, not just the symptoms.
Why you haven’t heard of it
Functional medicine isn’t part of the conventional medical model taught in most schools or covered by most insurance plans. It takes time, personalization, and education, things that don’t always fit into a 7-minute appointment. But that’s exactly why it works.
This approach is growing because patients are demanding more than prescriptions and vague diagnoses. They want answers. They want healing. They want someone to actually listen.
6 reasons functional medicine works when others don’t
1. It sees the body as a whole, interconnected system
Functional medicine recognizes that everything is linked; your gut affects your brain, your hormones impact your energy, and your nutrition shapes your inflammation. We zoom out to find patterns and causes, not just treat symptoms.
2. It uses deeper testing and better questions
You deserve more than "your labs look normal." We go beyond the basics, using comprehensive labs that assess hormones, nutrients, inflammation, detox pathways, and more. Plus, we ask questions about your sleep, stress, digestion, and life history that actually matter.
3. It values your story
Your health history, symptoms, struggles, and intuition are important. In functional medicine, we take the time to understand you, not just your chart. That insight often leads to answers that would otherwise be missed.
4. It treats food as medicine
In my practice, nutrition is a central tool. Whether we use carnivore, low-carb, anti-inflammatory, or gut-repair strategies, the goal is always the same: reduce inflammation, stabilize blood sugar, support healing, and restore energy.
5. It empowers you with education and support
You don’t just get a plan, you get a partner. I help you interpret your labs, adjust your strategy, and track progress over time. You’ll understand what’s happening in your body and how to support it daily.
6. It builds long-term health, not just symptom relief
Functional medicine isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about sustainable change. We’re not just chasing symptom relief, we’re helping your body heal so you can feel your best for years to come.
Why now is the time to try functional medicine
If you’ve been feeling like something is off but can’t get answers, functional medicine may be exactly what you need. At Hernandez Holistic Health, I help people uncover hidden imbalances, restore function at the cellular level, and build vibrant, resilient health.
Let’s stop guessing and start healing. Click here to learn more about the Hernandez Holistic Health Membership and take the first step toward a new way of caring for your body.
Read more from Shannon Hernandez
Shannon Hernandez, Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner
Shannon Hernandez is a Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner and founder of Hernandez Holistic Health. She specializes in uncovering the root causes of chronic symptoms through advanced lab testing, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions. With a passion and expertise for cellular health, metabolic balance, and hormone optimization, she empowers clients to heal from the inside out—naturally. When she's not consulting, she's creating educational content to help others take control of their health journey.
