What is Functional Medicine? (And who’s practicing in Omaha, Nebraska)

Written By Samantha Nieman

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is a patient-centered, science-informed approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness rather than simply managing symptoms. Instead of asking, “What drug matches this diagnosis?” functional medicine asks, “Why is this happening in the body?”

Core Principles of Functional Medicine

1. Root-Cause Focused
Functional medicine looks upstream. Symptoms like fatigue, gut issues, anxiety, hormone imbalance, or autoimmune flares are viewed as signals, not isolated problems. Providers investigate underlying drivers such as inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, hormone dysregulation, gut dysfunction, toxin exposure, chronic stress, or infections.

2. Whole-Person Care
Rather than treating body systems in isolation, functional medicine considers how systems interact — gut, brain, hormones, immune system, metabolism, and nervous system are deeply connected.

3. Personalized (Not One-Size-Fits-All)
Two people can have the same diagnosis but very different root causes. Functional medicine uses personalized assessments, labs, and lifestyle context to tailor care to the individual.

4. Systems Biology Lens
The body is viewed as an interconnected ecosystem. Imbalances in one area often cascade into others.

5. Partnership-Based Care
Patients are active participants. Education, informed decision-making, and sustainable lifestyle changes are core to success.

What Functional Medicine Commonly Addresses

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Digestive and gut disorders

  • Autoimmune conditions

  • Hormonal imbalances (thyroid, adrenal, sex hormones)

  • Inflammation and chronic pain

  • Mental health concerns (when integrated with nutrition & lifestyle)

  • Metabolic dysfunction

  • Preventive and longevity care

Tools Commonly Used

Advanced & Functional Testing
May include comprehensive blood panels, hormone testing, gut microbiome analysis, food sensitivity testing, nutrient status, toxin exposure, or metabolic markers.

Treatment Tools (Non-Pharmaceutical First, Not Anti-Medicine)

  • Personalized nutrition

  • Lifestyle interventions (sleep, stress, movement)

  • Supplements

  • Herbal medicine

  • Hormone therapy (when appropriate)

  • Mind-body practices

  • Coordination with conventional medicine when needed

How Functional Medicine Differs From Related Approaches

  • Integrative Medicine: Combines conventional + alternative approaches (functional medicine often falls under this umbrella).

  • Holistic Care: Considers the whole person, but may or may not use advanced testing.

  • Naturopathic / Herbal Medicine: Often plant-based and lifestyle-focused; may overlap with functional medicine but is distinct.

Functional medicine is not about rejecting conventional medicine — it’s about expanding the toolkit.

Community-Sourced Functional, Integrative & Holistic Providers

(Names only – details intentionally separated for clarity and future expansion)

Functional / Integrative Medicine Providers

  • Sherri Hinkel Griggs

  • Dr. Mallory Rupp, DC

  • Dr. Jess Bethel

  • Marina Hedlund

  • Lauryn Nyhoff Mohr

  • Angie (Top Form Care)

  • Amanda Carlile, NP

  • Michelle McCaslin, APRN

  • Colin McDermott

  • Dr. Roni Pinkerton-Hargis

  • Dr. Phyllis Beryl S. Russo

  • Dr. Jon Lozier

  • Dr. Jim Dickey

  • Dr. Ben Galyardt

  • Dr. Jake (F8 Wellcenters)

Integrative / Direct Primary Care / Specialty Clinics

  • Balanced Health Clinic of Nebraska

  • Omaha Integrative Care

  • Synergy Integrative Health

  • Remedy Health, PC

  • Avant Total Health

  • Upstream Care

  • Heartland Functional Medicine

  • Align Integrated Medical

  • InVita Health and Wellness Omaha

  • Re-New Institute

  • Wellness Redefined

  • Inspire Collaborative Health Association

Chiropractic & Acupuncture (Often Part of Functional Care)

  • Rupp Chiropractic

  • Hansen Chiropractic & Wellness

  • Awaken Chiropractic

  • Doc Jack Belitz

  • Hinze Chiropractic & Acupuncture

  • 4 Paths Acupuncture

  • River Point Acupuncture, LLC

  • Move.ment Chiropractic & Integrative Wellness

Herbal, Holistic & Complementary Providers

  • Nicholas Schnell (Four Winds Natural Healing Center)

  • Kate Bodmann (Land of Milk and Honey Herbs)

  • Wild Roots People

  • HerbalistMo

  • The Mama Shaman

  • Sancta Familia

  • Courtney Marie Peavler (Peavler’s Passion Wellness)

  • Revitalign Wellness

  • Pain West

  • Joyful Heart Health Care

Mental Health – Integrative / Functional-Informed

  • Dr. Friedman (Integrative Psychotherapy Omaha)

  • Hilbert’s Whole Health Psychiatry, LLC

  • Omaha Health Therapy

Testing & Functional Health Platforms

  • Viome

  • Institute of Functional Medicine (Provider Directory)

Important Note

This list reflects community-shared experiences and self-identified practice styles. Inclusion does not imply endorsement or clinical equivalence. Functional, integrative, holistic, and complementary care exist on a spectrum.

Patients are encouraged to:

  • Ask about credentials and scope of practice

  • Understand testing philosophy

  • Clarify insurance vs cash-pay models

  • Choose providers aligned with their values and needs

This guide is designed as an educational resource and does not replace medical advice.

Samantha Nieman https://manifestomaha.com
Next

Our favorite Event Venues in Omaha