If you’ve been struggling with a chronic illness—whether it’s mold-related illness, chronic tick-borne infections, MCAS, chronic fatigue syndrome, or interstitial cystitis—you may be wondering: Can Functional Medicine really help me?
The answer is yes… but it comes with an important caveat: it’s not a quick fix. Chronic complex illness requires a comprehensive, personalized, and thoughtful approach, and that’s exactly what we do in our practice.
Why Functional Medicine Can Work When Conventional Care Falls Short
Many patients arrive to our office after seeing multiple specialists, taking countless medications, and still feeling stuck. Conventional medicine, although well meaning, often treats symptoms rather than root causes, and this can leave patients frustrated, exhausted, and hopeless as their recovery continues to decline or stall.
Our functional and restorative medical approach, on the other hand, is designed to dig deeper. We look for underlying triggers—such as chronic infections and stressor, environmental exposures, immune dysfunction and nutritional imbalances—that may be driving your illness.
For example, one patient in our program struggled with postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS), hypothyroidism, chronic sinus congestion and anxiety. He was so ill that driving was nearly impossible. Despite seeing several specialists, nothing worked. Using our approach, we uncovered evidence of long COVID and a chronic bartonella infection. Once we stabilized his POTS with medication and other supports, we addressed the chronic infections using a combination of antivirals, antibiotics and herbal formulas. We also discovered chronic sinus issues linked to a previous root canal and referred him to a biological dentist—resolving those issues completely. This case shows the power of looking at the whole picture, not just individual symptoms.
Another patient had been ill for years, suffering from food intolerances, chronic bloating, fatigue, and brain fog. Through our in-depth assessment, we discovered extensive water damage in her home. Once the environmental issue was addressed and her body was supported for recovery, she experienced tremendous relief. As we often say: one cannot get well in the environment that made them sick.
My Approach: The BONES Framework
Over the years, I’ve been inspired by leaders in Functional and Integrative Medicine, including Drs. Bruce Hoffman, Neil Nathan and Dietrich Klinghardt. Drawing from their work, I developed my BONES framework, which guides our comprehensive care:
- Build Resilience and Healthy Barriers – Support immune, gut and skin barriers to strengthen defenses, as well as nervous system regulation/limbic retraining. Identify and address lifestyle/habit choices that impact health restoration.
- Optimize Circadian and Cellular Health – Improving sleep, hormonal balance and mitochondrial function.
- Nourish – Support the body with proper nutrition and hydration.
- Evaluate & Eliminate – Use targeted lab testing and environmental assessment to identify triggers and address them.
- Support – Collaborate with health coaches, medical/dental specialists, personal trainers, chiropractors and mental health therapists.
- Simplify – Make recovery sustainable and manageable for daily life.
This approach allows us to personalize treatment plans based on your unique situation, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol.
What Functional Medicine Can—and Can’t—Do
It’s important to be realistic: chronic illness recovery takes time, commitment, and active participation. There’s no magic pill that will fix years of complex illness overnight. Patients who succeed are those willing to:
- Change dietary habits
- Optimize circadian rhythms
- Address environmental exposures
- Engage fully in a structured, long-term healing plan
This is why our program lasts at least one year. It includes:
- Comprehensive initial readiness assessment (2 visits with Dr. Davis + 2 coaching sessions) to get you started, then:
- 6 visits with me (Dr. Mary Davis) in person or telemedicine
- Messaging support between visits
- 5 health coaching sessions to support your healing plan
This structure ensures patients get support, guidance, and accountability throughout the recovery process.
A Message of Hope
The most important takeaway: healing is possible, even after years of chronic illness. Functional Medicine is not a quick fix—it’s a dedicated, personalized journey. But with the right approach, rooted in deep expertise and attention to your unique triggers, patients often see remarkable transformations.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward recovery, our BONES-based healing program offers the structure, expertise, and comprehensive support needed to help you reclaim your health.ture, expertise, and comprehensive support needed to help you reclaim your health.