What Is an Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP) & How Functional Medicine Heals from the Root
When I was studying for my Levels 1 & 2 Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP) certification, friends often asked me: “So what exactly does an Integrative Health Practitioner do?”
The “health coach” part of my title makes sense to most people. But being an Integrative Health Practitioner is something unique — and it’s what makes this work so powerful.
What Is Functional Medicine?
“Functional medicine is a science-based, personalized healthcare approach that assesses and treats the underlying cause of illness through individually tailored therapies to restore health and improve function. It treats the whole system, not just the symptoms.” – Dr. Mark Hyman
Unlike conventional medicine, which is often:
- Disease-oriented
- Doctor-centered
- Reactive
- Focused on prescriptions over lifestyle
Functional medicine takes a completely different approach. It is:
- Client-centered & empowering
- Health-oriented
- Holistic & preventative
- Personalized to each unique person
- Focused on the root cause instead of masking symptoms
Dr. Stephen Cabral (creator of the IHP certification) describes it beautifully:
“Functional Medicine is an ecological view of the body where all the networks of our biology intersect and interact in a dynamic process. When out of balance, this process creates disease, and when in balance, it creates health.”
What Are Functional Medicine Labs?
One of the tools that sets an Integrative Health Practitioner apart is access to Functional Medicine lab testing. These labs help uncover the true imbalances in the body — even when conventional blood work looks “normal.”
Labs can reveal deficiencies, toxicities, and hidden stressors like:
- Heavy metal exposure
- Mold toxicity
- Gut imbalances & parasites
- Food sensitivities
- Hormonal imbalances
- Nutrient deficiencies
Some of the most common starting labs include:
- Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA – Minerals & Metals)
- Candida, Metabolic, & Vitamins
- Food Sensitivity Test
- Stress, Mood, & Metabolism
- Omega-3 & Inflammation Test
- Gut Bacteria + Parasites
- Mold Toxicity
These insights allow us to create a personalized roadmap so the body can finally begin to heal.
What Does an Integrative Health Practitioner Do?
As an IHP, I…
- Provide health education & coaching using a holistic, functional approach grounded in the 7 IHP disciplines.
- Guide clients through the DESTRESS Protocol (Diet, Exercise, Stress, Toxins, Rest, Emotions, Supplements, Success Mindset).
- Help clients identify roadblocks in their health and create action steps to move forward.
- Consider the whole person — lifestyle, emotions, environment, and health history.
- Empower clients to build new habits and sustainable wellness routines.
- Work alongside other practitioners when needed, always keeping the client at the center.
- Integrate the best of ancient healing + modern science into one comprehensive, practical approach.
The 7 Healing Disciplines of IHP
- Ayurvedic Medicine – The Science of Life
- Bioregulatory Medicine – The Science of Self-Healing
- Traditional Chinese Medicine & Herbalism – Harnessing herbs & energy practices for balance
- Eastern Philosophy – The power of the mind to heal the body
- Traditional Naturopathy – Returning to “Right Living” for balance
- Orthomolecular Medicine – Using the right molecules in the right amounts
- Functional Medicine – Addressing health at the root cause
Why Work with an IHP?
If you’ve ever been told your labs look “normal,” yet you still don’t feel well — or if you’re tired of chasing symptoms without answers — this is where an IHP can help.
By combining Functional Medicine labs, holistic healing tools, and personalized coaching, we help uncover what’s really going on inside the body and provide a clear plan for moving forward.
My mission as an IHP2 is to empower women (especially moms and families) to take back their health naturally, so they can feel vibrant, grounded, and fully alive again.
Because true healing isn’t about a quick fix. It’s about getting to the root cause, restoring balance, and creating a life where you thrive.
✨ Your body knows how to heal itself when given the right support. Sometimes it just needs a guide — and that’s where I come in.
Want to explore how Functional Medicine & IHP coaching can support you?
