704.765.6813

functional medicine

Functional Medicine

The Key to Total Cell Optimization

At Deep Roots Natural Medicine we are committed to getting to the ROOT of your medical condition and help you help. Based on our years of experience, we’ve found that healing can be achieved at an accelerated rate via a holistic modality known as functional medicine.

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Tree Graphic displaying functional medicine practices

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is an integrative, science-based approach to health that focuses on detecting and addressing the root cause of symptoms. Functional medicine is the combination of both progressive and traditional medicine, and emphasizes the importance of diet and lifestyle in helping you achieve your wellness goal. Through functional medicine, we are able to promote optimal systematic function, repair cell damage, and greatly improve overall quality of life. 

Our functional medicine approach is patient-centered rather than disease centered. What that means is our team looks at the body holistically, as a collection of complex interconnected functional systems in relation to its environment. In this way, functional medicine is, by nature, investigative and evidence-based. We make use of cutting edge, diagnostic tools and laboratory testing to identify subtle dysfunctions or imbalances. While conventional medicine is focused on detecting overt symptoms and disease, functional medicine looks beyond the surface level to get to the root cause.

Treatment plans are customized according to individual patient needs, and patients are actively involved in the healing process.

Personalized nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, customized nutritional supplements, stress management techniques, assistance with detoxification, lifestyle modification and—only in isolated cases when necessary—prescription medications, are all used to help restore proper bodily function and balance.

A Functional Medicine practitioner evaluates how cells function, repair, and maintain themselves. These processes are related to larger, systemic functions in your body, including:

  • Hormones production and balanced
  • Detoxification Pathways
  • How cells interact with nutrients
  • Neurtotransmitter balance
  • Immune system function
  • Inflammatory responses
  • How micro and macro environment impacts cellular function
  • The role of genetic makeup, and how it impacts biochemistry

Deep Roots Functional Medicine Testing

We utilize a variety of diagnostic testing to get a clear look under the proverbial hood. This often includes comprehensive blood work and stool and saliva tests to assess how well your organs and bodily systems are functioning. 

Our tests are unique in both testing depth and results analysis. As an example, a full thyroid panel cany show potential antibody involvement, and the lab values will also indicate if the thyroid pathway is operating properly. If the thyroid is not functioning well, it can point us to where the breakdown in the operation is occurring.

In addition, our tests can also help detect:

Blood vial in lab showing test results from functional medicine patient
  • Food Intolerances
  • Heavy Metals
  • Nutritional Deficiencies
  • Parasites
  • Gut Health Imbalances
  • Improper Hormone Levels
  • Unbalanced Cortisol Levels
  • Sub-optimal DHEA Levels
Dr. Tracie Hinton-Chavez, DACM, licensed acupuncturist in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte's Best 2022 winner badge from The Charlotte Observer

Your Functional Medicine Practitioner Voted Charlotte's Best in 2022

Dr. Tracie Hinton-Chavez holds a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine. She is licensed by the North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board and board certified through the National Certification Board for Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine. Our Practice uses investigative, evidence-based, and focused approaches to treat you as a whole person rather than a collection of symptoms.

DACM  •  MSOM  •  Licensed Acupuncturist, NC  •  Nationally Board Certified

Dr. Tracie Hinton-Chavez on the WBTV QC Life set in Charlotte

As Seen on WBTV3's QC Life

Charlotte knows Dr. Tracie — WBTV's QC Life has featured her natural approach to health and healing. Watch her segments and see why patients across the Queen City trust her care.

Gut Health Gua Sha

How Does Functional Medicine Differ From Conventional Medicine?

Conventional medicine focuses on the symptoms of a disease and uses pharmaceutical drugs and/or surgery to suppress symptoms.

Functional medicine, works to optimize your cells on the micro and macros levels so they function at their best and most efficient.

Functional medicine can optimize your cells so they function at their best and most efficient.

What Medical Conditions Can Benefit from Functional Medicine?

We’ve had great success in addressing and treating the following conditions:

  • Aging
  • Adrenal Fatigue
  • Allergies
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Digestive Disorders
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Infertility
  • Menopause
  • Testosterone Deficiency
  • Weight Gain

What Our Functional Medicine Patients Say

Rated 4.9 on Google Reviews  –  Read all our reviews on Google.

I can't say enough good things about Tracie at Deep Roots Natural Medicine! She is an incredible acupuncturist and functional medicine practitioner who truly takes the time to understand your body and health concerns. Her approach is both intuitive and science-based, making every session not only effective but also deeply restorative. From the moment you walk in, you feel heard, supported, and cared for. Whether it's pain relief, hormonal balance, or overall wellness, Tracie's expertise and holistic approach make a real difference. I always leave feeling better—both physically and mentally. If you're looking for someone who genuinely cares about your well-being and gets results, Tracie is the one to see!!
Bethany V.
Bethany V.
I had been wanting to start acupuncture and find a functional medicine doctor for a while. I am so lucky I found Dr. Tracie at Deep Roots!! The acupuncture along with eastern herbs, vitamins, and a detailed examination of my lab work has really helped my overall well being. Can't say enough, highly suggest Deep Roots!
Katrina H.
Katrina H.
It is always helpful to see Tracie! She has helped me with back pain and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to herbs and functional medicine.
Jennifer D.
Jennifer D.
Very wonderful experience. Very knowledgeable, warm, and welcoming experience. Combining the acupuncture and functional medicine is a very nice touch. Highly recommend
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Autoimmune Disease

Auto-immune diseases can have a profound effect on a person’s quality of life. These conditions are often highly complex, impacting multiple organ systems. We offer cutting edge complimentary treatments for several autoimmune conditions.

Immune system disorders cause abnormally low activity or over activity of the immune system. In cases of immune system over activity, the body attacks and damages its own tissues.

Immune deficiency diseases decrease the body’s ability to fight invaders, causing vulnerability to infections.

Examples of autoimmune disease include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Psoriasis
  • Graves' disease
  • Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Vasculiti

There’s a misconception that some people are genetically predisposed to encounter certain conditions. Functional Medicine believes that your genes are by no means your destiny. The majority of autoimmune conditions can be managed with targeted diet and lifestyle therapies. It is sometimes necessary for pharmaceutical intervention, but we believe that must be coupled with diet and lifestyle adjustments for sufficient and effective treatment to occur.

At Deep Roots Natural Medicine we are passionate about treating and helping improve the quality of life for people suffering with autoimmune conditions.

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Thyroid and Adrenal Function

Your adrenal glands have the very important job of secreting hormones (or chemical messengers) into your bloodstream. When functioning properly, these hormones travel to different parts of the body to supply energy and help maintain proper health.

But sometimes the adrenal gland function can get thrown off course. When this happens, there’s either an overproduction or an underproduction of the stress hormone cortisol. The latter often results in Adrenal Fatigue, a condition in which your adrenal system just can’t keep up the needs of your body. 

Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue are wide wrangling and can often include low energy, struggling to wake up in the morning, insomnia, headaches, salt and sugar cravings, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, hair loss, and brain fog.

Like the Adrenal Glands, the thyroid is also responsible for producing important hormones that play a large role in regulating your metabolic rate, controlling heart, muscle and digestive function, cognitive abilities and development, and bone strength. When the thyroid gland isn’t functioning well, you can experience many of the same symptoms as adrenal fatigue.

And the problems can be compounding. If your adrenal glands aren’t producing enough cortisol and your thyroid isn’t functioning properly, you can experience a number of debilitating health challenges that can be difficult to remedy.

It’s no exaggeration that when it comes to reaching many health and wellness goals, optimal thyroid and adrenal gland function is imperative.

To learn more or get your questions answered, contact us today!

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Weight-Loss

First things first: food is the essence of health. Long gone are the days of calorie in, calorie out approach. To be healthy, it’s much more important to focus on the type of calories you’re eating, and the nutrient density of your food. Learning how to avoid things like pesticides can reduce the impact of chemicals on your hormonal systems, which in turn play a major role in promoting optimal health and weight management. 

At Deep Roots Natural Medicine our weight-loss plans are customized and created to your specific health goals. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, reboot a healthy lifestyle, clear brain fog, or reverse chronic disease, we can help improve your performance and most importantly, your quality of life. 

When you work with one of our Functional Medicine specialists, you’ll get the support you need to be successful. We are proud to provide you with quality information and effective plans that can fit the particulars of your busy life, and help you reach your wellness goals.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE IN CHARLOTTE

Frequently Asked Questions

Functional Medicine is an integrative, science-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of symptoms. By combining traditional and progressive methods, it emphasizes the importance of diet and lifestyle in achieving wellness goals. This approach promotes optimal bodily function, repairs cellular damage, and enhances overall quality of life.

We prioritize a patient-centered approach that views the body holistically, recognizing the interconnectedness of its systems and environment. Dr. Tracie employs investigative, evidence-based methods, utilizing advanced diagnostic tools and laboratory tests to identify subtle dysfunctions. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses on overt symptoms, Functional Medicine delves deeper to uncover root causes.

Treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s needs, with active patient involvement in the healing process. We offer nutritional guidance, herbal medicine, customized supplements, stress management techniques, detoxification assistance, and lifestyle modifications. You can rest assure that our practice always uses natural methods to restore balance and proper bodily function.

Patients often come to us with digestive issues, fatigue, hormone and thyroid concerns, sleep difficulties, and stress-related symptoms, especially when previous testing has come back “normal” but they still don’t feel well. Functional Medicine looks for the underlying imbalances contributing to these symptoms rather than addressing them in isolation.

Yes. Functional Medicine is designed to complement, not replace, the care you receive from your primary physician or specialists. Dr. Tracie encourages patients to keep all of their providers informed so everyone is working from the same picture.

We are at 4108 Park Rd, Suite 210, in Charlotte’s Madison Park neighborhood, a short drive from Dilworth, Myers Park and SouthPark. You can schedule online or call (704) 765-6813.

Easily Keep Your Health On Track

Virtual Health Portal

We now offer virtual consultations through our Deep Roots Portal app. We want to make it easy for you to achieve your health goals from anywhere…even in your favorite chair. 

Book a 15 minute phone consultation to see if our Deep Roots Virtual Health Portal is right for you.

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If you suffer from a chronic illness, low vitality or are just interested in staying as youthful and functional. You owe it to yourself to give us a call and see how functional medicine may be able to help you.

Schedule your consultation today!

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