Quick answer: For an autoimmune condition, functional medicine is designed to work alongside your physician: your medical doctor or specialist diagnoses the condition and manages any medication, while a functional medicine evaluation looks for environmental and immune triggers, such as nutrition, gut health, stress, and blood sugar, that may be contributing to how you feel. At Dr. Harrison’s Center of Functional Medicine in Westminster, CO, Dr. Glenn Harrison, DC, does not prescribe or change medication, so the two kinds of care fit together rather than compete.
Why work with both a physician and functional medicine?
Autoimmune conditions happen when the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy cells. The exact cause is not known, and our autoimmune health page lists genetic, environmental, hormonal, and age-related factors that may play a role. Common examples include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.
A diagnosis and medical treatment are essential, but they may not explain every symptom a person lives with. Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different sleep, diet, digestion, stress, blood sugar, and nutrient patterns. Functional medicine adds a detailed look at those factors, while your physician keeps managing the disease itself.
Who handles what in autoimmune care?
This is how responsibilities typically divide when a patient works with both a physician and our clinic:
| Part of care | Your physician or specialist | Dr. Harrison’s Center of Functional Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosing the specific autoimmune condition | Yes | No; reviews your existing diagnosis and records |
| Prescribing, adjusting, or stopping medication | Yes | No; medication decisions stay with your prescribing doctor |
| Monitoring disease activity and affected organs | Yes | No; encourages you to keep those appointments |
| Detailed history of symptoms, triggers, and care already tried | Focused on the condition being managed | Yes, in a dedicated virtual discovery session |
| Functional lab testing (thyroid antibodies, nutrients, blood sugar, inflammation, gut, stress hormones) | Some overlap | Yes, chosen for your situation |
| Nutrition, sleep, stress, and lifestyle plan | General guidance | Yes, a personalized Clinical Master Plan |
| Emergencies and urgent symptoms | Yes, or call 911 | No |
What does a functional medicine autoimmune evaluation involve?
Every new patient follows the same four-step process described on our Our Unique Approach page:
- Free 15-minute discovery call to discuss your goals and decide whether the approach is a good fit.
- Virtual discovery session to review your detailed history, previous labs, intake forms, and the care paths you have already tried.
- In-person investigation with a non-invasive, problem-focused physical exam, and a decision on whether more lab testing is needed.
- Lab review and Clinical Master Plan, where findings are explained along with what needs to be done and how long it is expected to take.
For autoimmune concerns, the evaluation looks for the environmental and immune triggers that may be driving symptoms. Depending on your case, that can include gut health, food triggers, nutrient status, blood sugar regulation, stress, and environmental exposures. For a deeper look at those factors, read what autoimmune disease is and how diet may influence autoimmune conditions.
What does working alongside my physician look like in practice?
Dr. Harrison’s program works in conjunction with your primary doctor. In practice, that means:
- Your medications stay with your prescriber. Dr. Harrison does not prescribe medication and does not advise stopping any medication you take. Any change is up to you and your prescribing doctor.
- Your specialist visits continue. Keep seeing your rheumatologist, endocrinologist, or other specialists as scheduled.
- Your lab results can be shared. Bring recent labs from your physician to the virtual session, and share functional lab results with your medical team if you choose.
- Specialists are brought in when needed. If outside expertise is needed, which is uncommon, Dr. Harrison collaborates with specialists so your care stays coordinated.
How does this apply to Hashimoto’s and thyroid autoimmunity?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, and it is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. Many people with Hashimoto’s still need thyroid hormone medication, especially when thyroid damage has already occurred. At our clinic, functional medicine is designed to work alongside that medication rather than replace it, while looking at factors such as gut health, food triggers, nutrients, blood sugar, and stress.
See our thyroid health page and the full Hashimoto’s protocol article. For other autoimmune conditions, see our articles on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and Graves’ disease.
When should I contact my medical doctor instead?
Call your physician promptly for a new or rapidly worsening flare, new symptoms in a different part of the body, a fever while taking medication that affects the immune system, or any side effect from a prescribed medication. If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, or another emergency, call 911. Never stop or change a prescribed medication without talking to the doctor who prescribed it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to stop seeing my rheumatologist or endocrinologist?
No. Functional medicine at Dr. Harrison’s Center of Functional Medicine is meant to be added to your existing care, not to replace it. Keep your specialist appointments and any monitoring they recommend. Your physician continues to diagnose and manage the autoimmune condition, while our evaluation focuses on nutrition, lifestyle, and other factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Will Dr. Harrison change my autoimmune medication?
No. Dr. Harrison does not prescribe medication and does not advise patients to stop any medication they are taking. Whether you continue, adjust, or stop a medication is exclusively up to you and your prescribing doctor. If you have questions about a medication, bring them to the doctor who prescribed it.
Can functional medicine cure an autoimmune disease?
No one can honestly promise that. Our clinic does not treat disease; the focus is on the underlying health dysfunction that may be contributing to chronic symptoms. The goal of a functional medicine evaluation is to understand your situation in more detail and build a personalized plan, alongside the medical care your physician provides.
What should I bring from my physician?
Bring your diagnosis details, recent lab results, a current list of medications and supplements, and notes on treatments you have already tried. The virtual discovery session reviews your history, previous labs, and intake forms, so having your records ready helps avoid repeating tests and makes it easier to see which additional labs, if any, are worth running.
How do I get started?
Start with a free 15-minute discovery call to talk through your situation and see whether the approach is a good fit. Book your free discovery call or call 720-449-6217. The office is at 9035 Wadsworth Pkwy #3300, Westminster, CO 80021, and video consultations are available.