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.
What We Treat With Functional Medicine
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 Functional Medicine 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.
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.