Functional Medicine
Functional medicine looks beyond symptoms to the underlying imbalances driving them, hormonal and neurotransmitter shifts, mitochondrial and energy dysfunction, impaired detoxification, immune dysregulation, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. Rather than treating each symptom in isolation, Dr. Falcone’s functional medicine practice investigates how these systems interact in your specific case, including conditions that arise as a side effect of necessary treatments like chemotherapy.
Jump to a condition: Gut Dysbiosis · Leaky Gut Syndrome · Hormonal Imbalance · Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Fibromyalgia · Brain Fog · Sleep Problems · Food Sensitivities · Nutrigenomics · Nutritional Counseling
Gut Dysbiosis
Gut dysbiosis is an imbalance among the trillions of bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms that live in your digestive tract and normally aid digestion and immune function. When harmful organisms outnumber beneficial ones (often due to antibiotic use, poor diet, chronic stress, or infection), symptoms can range from bloating and irregular bowel habits to fatigue, food sensitivities, and mood changes. Research shows dysbiosis affects women more often than men. How Dr. Falcone treats it: after identifying the specific imbalance, treatment focuses on overhauling the dietary, medical, and lifestyle factors driving it, with the goal of restoring balance between beneficial and harmful organisms.
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut refers to increased intestinal permeability, where the gut lining allows substances into the bloodstream that shouldn’t cross it, potentially triggering systemic inflammation and immune activation. It frequently co-occurs with gut dysbiosis. How Dr. Falcone treats it: treatment addresses the same root dietary and microbial factors as dysbiosis, aiming to repair the gut lining alongside restoring microbial balance.
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance can affect energy, mood, weight, sleep, and libido, and often shows up around perimenopause and menopause, but can occur at any age from thyroid, adrenal, or reproductive hormone shifts. How Dr. Falcone treats it: comprehensive lab testing identifies which hormones are out of range, followed by an individualized plan that may include BioTE hormone optimization, nutrition changes, and lifestyle adjustments. See Hormone Optimization →
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Persistent, unexplained fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest can stem from mitochondrial dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, gut health issues, or a combination of factors. How Dr. Falcone treats it: a root-cause workup looks at energy metabolism, hormones, and gut health together rather than treating fatigue as a standalone symptom.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia involves widespread musculoskeletal pain often accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive difficulty. How Dr. Falcone treats it: functional medicine evaluation looks for inflammatory triggers, hormonal factors, and structural imbalances that may be compounding symptoms, building a plan around what’s found.
Brain Fog
Difficulty concentrating, mental fatigue, and memory lapses are frequently linked to gut health, blood sugar regulation, hormonal shifts, or chronic inflammation. How Dr. Falcone treats it: because brain fog is rarely an isolated issue, treatment typically starts with a gut and hormone evaluation before building a targeted plan.
Sleep Problems
Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking unrefreshed can result from hormonal imbalance, stress, nutrient deficiencies, or an irregular circadian rhythm. How Dr. Falcone treats it: treatment identifies the physiological driver of poor sleep, rather than defaulting to a sleep aid, and addresses it directly.
Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities differ from true allergies and can contribute to bloating, fatigue, skin issues, and inflammation without an obvious cause. How Dr. Falcone treats it: testing identifies specific triggers, and treatment includes both elimination strategies and gut-healing protocols, since food sensitivities and gut dysbiosis frequently overlap.
Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics is the study of how your individual genetics affect your response to nutrients, foods, and supplements. How Dr. Falcone applies it: genetic testing can inform a more precise, individualized nutrition and supplement plan than generic dietary advice.
Nutritional Counseling
Nutrition is foundational to nearly every condition treated through functional medicine. How Dr. Falcone applies it: counseling is individualized based on your specific lab findings, symptoms, and goals rather than a one-size-fits-all diet plan.
What to Expect & Fees
For functional medicine patients, The Falcone Center orders and helps coordinate all initial testing as part of the first appointment fee. Please submit any relevant prior testing before your first appointment so it can inform treatment planning. The Falcone Center does not profit from ordering tests, patients or their insurance pay the testing company directly, and Dr. Falcone is compensated only for interpreting results and treatment planning.
The Falcone Center is an out-of-network provider and does not accept insurance for functional medicine, though we provide receipts and documentation for you to seek reimbursement. Follow-up visit fees: 0–15 min: $125 · 15–30 min: $250 · 30–45 min: $375 · 45–60 min: $500. Full Functional Medicine Fees →
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is functional medicine?
An approach that investigates the root physiological causes of chronic symptoms, hormonal, digestive, inflammatory, or metabolic, rather than treating each symptom separately.
Does insurance cover functional medicine?
The Falcone Center is considered out-of-network by most major insurance plans and does not file claims directly, but provides documentation patients can submit for reimbursement. Confirm your plan’s functional medicine coverage before scheduling.
Do I need testing before my first appointment?
Testing is often ordered as part of your first visit. If you have recent relevant lab work, submit it beforehand so it can be factored into your treatment plan.
Schedule a Consultation
Every plan at The Falcone Center starts with Dr. Falcone herself, not a consultant. Book a consultation online or call the office to talk through your goals.