Functional Medicine in South Bend, IN

Functional medicine at Kaurich Chiropractic & Wellness Center focuses on finding and addressing the root causes of your health concerns, not just managing symptoms. Through detailed evaluations, lab testing when appropriate, and personalized plans, care is designed to rebalance body systems, reduce inflammation, and support long‑term wellness.
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What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is a systems‑based, patient‑centered approach that looks at how your digestion, hormones, immune system, nervous system, and lifestyle all interact. Instead of isolated symptoms, it considers patterns such as fatigue, joint pain, sleep issues, and digestive problems that may share underlying causes.

By combining a thorough health history with targeted examinations and appropriate testing, functional medicine seeks to uncover contributors like chronic inflammation, nutrient imbalances, stress, or environmental factors. Treatment plans typically blend nutrition, lifestyle changes, and natural support strategies alongside any necessary traditional medical care.

We have a nurse practitioner on staff who are trained to assist with functional medicine therapies. Talk to Victor Zindoga, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC today about our offered modalities.

Healthcare practitioner performs a gentle hands-on assessment of a female patient’s arm during a functional medicine evaluation in a calm, clinical environment.

How Functional Medicine Supports Your Health

Functional medicine supports your health by looking beyond single symptoms and focusing on how your body’s systems work together, so the real drivers of fatigue, pain, or digestive issues can be addressed in a targeted way. This approach fits naturally with chiropractic care, since both aim to remove obstacles to the body’s ability to heal and function at its best.

Helps uncover root causes such as inflammation, nutrient imbalances, gut issues, or hormone shifts.

Encourages you to be an active partner in your healing, not a passive recipient of care.

Uses guided nutrition strategies to reduce triggers and support better energy and mood.

Incorporates gut and metabolic support to improve digestion, blood sugar balance, and weight trends.

Addresses hormone balance and stress‑management tools to support sleep, focus, and resilience.

Adapts over time, with individualized plans updated based on how your body responds.

What to Expect from a Functional Medicine Visit

A functional medicine visit is designed to feel more like a detailed health consultation than a quick symptom check, with extra time devoted to learning your story, routines, and long‑term goals. This broader picture helps shape a plan that’s realistic for your life and focused on meaningful, sustainable change.

A healthcare professional in a white coat uses a handheld device to examine the wrist of an older woman sitting on a sofa in a home-like setting, with shelves and books in the background.
  • In‑depth discussion of your history, daily habits, stress levels, and health priorities.
  • Review of prior lab work and imaging, plus consideration of whether additional tests are useful.
  • Clear, step‑by‑step recommendations for nutrition and hydration changes.
  • Suggestions for targeted supplements when appropriate to support specific systems.
  • Guidance on movement or exercise that matches your current ability and goals.
  • Sleep and stress‑reduction strategies to help your body recover and regulate more effectively.
  • Follow‑up visits to track progress, troubleshoot challenges, and refine your plan as you improve.
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Functional Medicine FAQs

How is functional medicine different from traditional medicine?

Traditional medicine often focuses on diagnosing and treating specific diseases or symptoms, while functional medicine looks for underlying imbalances across body systems and aims to correct them with personalized lifestyle, nutrition, and supportive care.
Functional medicine can be helpful for fatigue, digestive issues, headaches, weight changes, hormonal concerns, joint pain, brain fog, sleep problems, and many chronic, unexplained, or recurring symptoms.

No. Functional medicine is designed to complement, not replace, your existing medical care. You should continue routine checkups , medications, and specialty care as recommended by your other providers.

Lab testing may be recommended to investigate things like blood sugar regulation, inflammation, nutrient status, hormones, or digestive health. Whether testing is used depends on your symptoms, goals, and what information is needed to guide your plan.
Nutrition is central. Food can either fuel inflammation and symptoms or support healing. Functional medicine often uses individualized nutrition plans to improve digestion, stabilize energy, and reduce triggers for pain and illness.
Some people notice changes in energy, digestion, or sleep within a few weeks of implementing their plan, while more complex or long‑standing issues may require several months of consistent changes to see significant improvement.
No. Many people use functional medicine preventively to optimize health, support healthy aging, and reduce their risk of future chronic conditions.

Targeted supplements may be recommended to correct deficiencies or support specific systems, but they are used alongside, not instead of, nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Follow‑up frequency varies but is often more frequent at the beginning (to review results and adjust your plan) and then spaced out as you progress and feel more confident managing your routine.
Coverage varies by plan and by the specific services provided. Some components, like certain lab tests or office visits, may be covered, while others may be out‑of‑pocket. The office can review your benefits and help you understand expected costs before you begin.