Listen properly first
The initial consult is where you talk and we listen. Most gut cases are solved as much by the history as by the labs.
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Functional MedicineGut health and digestive testing in Morgan Hill, CA
Bloating, reflux, unpredictable bowels, food that used to be fine and isn’t any more. This is where functional testing most often changes the picture entirely.
Why “you have IBS” isn’t an answer
An IBS diagnosis is largely a statement that other things have been ruled out. It names your symptoms; it doesn’t explain them. For a lot of patients there is a identifiable mechanism underneath — bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, an imbalance in the colonic microbiome, low stomach acid, impaired bile flow, a specific food reactivity, or a stress-driven motility problem.
Those mechanisms call for genuinely different responses. Treating them all as “IBS — try more fibre” is why so many patients cycle through years of trial and error.
What we test for
SIBO — small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, a common driver of bloating that arrives within an hour of eating.
Gut dysbiosis and pathogens — comprehensive stool analysis looking at the balance of the microbiome, plus H. pylori and other specific organisms.
Intestinal permeability — commonly called leaky gut, assessed through specific markers rather than by assumption.
Food intolerance and sensitivity — including immune reactivity panels through Cyrex Laboratories, which is a different question from a classic allergy test.
GERD and reflux mechanisms — because reflux is frequently not a too-much-acid problem, and treating it as one can entrench it.
The part most protocols skip
Gut function is exquisitely sensitive to stress and sleep. The nervous system and the gut are in constant two-way conversation, which is why symptoms flare in a hard week and settle on holiday. A gut protocol that ignores the stress and sleep factors will underperform, however good the supplements are.
That’s a large part of why this practice is built around five factors rather than testing alone — and why having chiropractic and nervous-system care in the same building isn’t incidental.
What this is not
We are not a replacement for gastroenterology. Blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting, anaemia, or a family history of colorectal cancer all warrant medical evaluation and possibly a scope — and we will refer you rather than test around it.
We also won’t sell you a protocol before we’ve seen your data. That’s the whole point of the sequence.
At your first visit
What we look for
- A long, unhurried history — symptom timeline, diet, medications, stress and sleep
- Review of any testing you’ve already had, including work from your PCP or GI
- Discussion of which specialty panels are actually worth running for your case
- Clear pricing on any recommended testing before you commit
- Screening for the red flags that mean gastroenterology, not functional testing
- A written plan at your Case Review, covering diet, lifestyle and any supplements
Next step
A short call first, so you can decide whether this approach fits before spending anything.
Or call (408) 778-6770.
Our approach
How we work on gut health & digestion
Test, don’t guess
Panels through Genova, Cyrex, BioHealth and Doctor’s Data — selected for your presentation, not sold as a bundle.
Interpret with training
Dr. Diana’s ADAPT Level One designation from Kresser Institute is specifically about reading this kind of data properly.
Diet you can live with
Dietary change that fits your actual life, culture and budget. Inclusive and diverse, not a restrictive printout everyone gets.
Address the nervous system
Stress, sleep and motility, worked on alongside the protocol rather than after it.
Re-test and adjust
Follow-ups every two to six weeks, with re-testing where it will actually change the plan — not for its own sake.
This describes our general clinical approach and is not a promise of a specific outcome. Every case is assessed individually, and results vary between patients.
Before you book
Gut health & digestion — common questions
Is functional medicine testing covered by insurance?
Generally not. Specialty panels and consult time are usually out of pocket, and some patients can use HSA or FSA funds. We quote everything before you commit. [VERIFY: typical panel price ranges and HSA/FSA eligibility.]
My GI doctor said everything was normal.
That’s useful information, not a dead end — it means structural disease has largely been excluded, which is exactly the population functional testing is designed for. A normal colonoscopy doesn’t tell you about bacterial overgrowth, microbiome balance or food reactivity, because it isn’t looking for them.
Do I have to do an elimination diet?
Sometimes a structured trial is the fastest way to an answer, but it’s not automatic and it’s not forever. Where testing can answer the question directly, we’d rather test than have you restrict for months.
How much does this cost overall?
It depends entirely on which panels your case warrants, which is why the sequence starts with a consult rather than a test order. You’ll have real numbers before you agree to anything. Start with a free 15-minute discovery call if you want a ballpark first. [VERIFY: publish a typical range here — cost opacity is the single biggest reason functional medicine enquiries don’t convert.]
Can I keep seeing my regular doctor?
Please do. This is complementary care, and we’ll happily share findings with your PCP or GI specialist. Anything that belongs with them, we’ll say so.
Ready to find the why?
Most new patients are seen within the same week. Call the office, or send a short request and we'll get back to you.