Functional Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa
Have you been told your lab results are normal — but you still feel exhausted, foggy, or just not yourself? That gap
between ‘technically fine’ and actually feeling well is exactly what functional medicine closes. Dr. Sara Neil is a Certified
Functional Medicine Physician who uses comprehensive testing to find the root cause of your symptoms — not just
name them and prescribe something to mask them.
How it works with us
Persistent Fatigue and Low Energy Stress and Burnout
Hormone Imbalances — PMS, perimenopause, menopause, irregular cycles Low Testosterone and Male Hormone
Issues Thyroid Symptoms — weight changes, hair thinning, brain fog Sleep Problems Stubborn Weight Gain Brain Fog
and Mood Swings Gut Problems — bloating, SIBO, leaky gut, food sensitivities Vitamin D Deficiency — very common in
Iowa October through April Patients whose labs say normal but who do not feel normal
What Happens at Your Acupuncture Visit
Step 01
A long, unhurried first visit. Dr. Sara takes a full history — symptoms, diet, sleep, stress, medications, and life events.
Step 02
Customized lab orders. Some are blood draws. Others — like the DUTCH hormone test — you do at home. She tells you the cost before ordering anything.
Step 03
Lab review appointment 2–4 weeks later. Dr. Sara walks you through every result in plain English.
Step 04
Your personalized plan — targeted nutrition changes, supplements (NutriDyn and Standard Process), sleep and stress strategies.
Step 05
Follow-up every few months to track progress and adjust the plan.
Conditions We Commonly Help Support
Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying factors that may be contributing to symptoms, rather than simply masking them. Dr. Sara creates personalized care plans designed to support long-term wellness, energy, and overall quality of life.
Weight Loss, Nutrition & Lifestyle Support
Struggling with weight changes, low energy, cravings, or difficulty maintaining healthy habits can often be connected to deeper metabolic, hormonal, or lifestyle factors. Dr. Sara works with patients to create realistic nutrition and lifestyle strategies that support sustainable results and long-term health.
Hormone & Adrenal Health
Hormonal imbalances can affect energy, mood, sleep, metabolism, and overall well-being. Functional medicine may help identify patterns related to adrenal stress, cortisol imbalance, fatigue, menopause symptoms, and other hormone-related concerns through personalized testing and treatment planning.
Gut Health & Digestive Concerns
Digestive symptoms such as bloating, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities, SIBO, and leaky gut can impact many areas of health beyond digestion alone. Dr. Sara takes a comprehensive approach to supporting gut function, inflammation balance, and overall digestive wellness.
Thyroid Support
Thyroid dysfunction can contribute to fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, dry skin, hair changes, and low motivation. Functional medicine testing and nutrition-focused care may help uncover contributing factors affecting thyroid health and metabolic function.
Food Sensitivities & Inflammation
Food sensitivities and chronic inflammation can sometimes present as fatigue, headaches, digestive discomfort, skin irritation, or joint pain. Dr. Sara works with patients to identify potential triggers and develop individualized nutrition strategies that better support the body.
Brain Health, Sleep & Cognitive Wellness
Sleep quality, focus, memory, mood, and mental clarity are all closely connected to overall health. Functional medicine may help identify contributing factors affecting brain health and sleep patterns while supporting healthier recovery, stress management, and cognitive function.
Nutritional Deficiencies & Methylation Support
Nutrient deficiencies and methylation imbalances can influence energy production, detoxification, mood, and cellular health. Comprehensive lab testing may help identify deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients so care can be tailored to your individual needs.
Detoxification & Longevity
Everyday stress, environmental exposures, inflammation, and lifestyle factors can place strain on the body over time. Dr. Sara focuses on supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways while helping patients improve resilience, healthy aging, recovery, and long-term wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Functional Medicine
It looks for the root cause of why you do not feel well — not just naming symptoms and masking them. It uses thorough testing and builds a personalized plan using food, lifestyle, and supplements.
No. Functional medicine works alongside your regular doctor. Keep all your current medications and appointments.
Standard lab ranges are designed to catch disease — not find optimal health. Functional medicine uses tighter reference ranges to find issues conventional labs
miss.
DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. You collect
small urine samples at home and mail them to a lab. It maps your cortisol pattern, sex hormones, and melatonin — a much fuller picture than a single blood draw.
Some standard bloodwork may be covered. Specialty tests are usually paid out of pocket. We always tell you the cost before ordering.
Absolutely. Men come in for low energy, belly weight, low libido, sleep problems, and
brain fog.
Ready to Try Functional Medicine?
Call (515) 244-1823 or click below to request your first appointment.
Same-week scheduling is usually available.