Tara Mclellan, Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Integrative Healthcare at enrG Wellness

Using a holistic approach to treat chronic conditions and handle preventative health concerns with a focus on identifying the root cause of symptoms and moving forward with natural methods.

Tara McLellan, functional medicine certified, family nurse practitioner (NP) for 12 years is the owner of Integrative Healthcare of Lower Alabama. She spends her personal time creating fun adventures with family and friends, rescues pets and is an athlete who focuses on functional flexibility, strength and movement. She practices what she preaches, living a well-rounded and active life.

McLellan became a NP to help people be healthier and happier. “I quickly realized Western medicine jumps to treating symptoms and pushing medication rather than digging into the root cause of an issue. I felt there should be a more holistic way to practice medicine,” she says. “I started studying holistic medicine and became a certified NP through the Institute of Functional Medicine.” Tara is also an instructor for the Master of Science in Nursing program at the University of South Alabama.

Functional medicine is patient-focused and not disease-focused, seeking to discover the underlying causes of symptoms and correct and treat them through natural means. “Integrating traditional and functional medicine allows me to assess possible root causes of a person’s symptoms, and not simply prescribe medication to manage them,” says McLellan. “I evaluate each patient’s lifestyle—nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management—along with possible genetic predispositions or sources of inflammation and toxicity, which may be contributing to symptoms. This helps people achieve health with a more natural, comprehensive approach.”

McLellan sees people who are suffering from chronic conditions and symptoms who are looking to find a more natural approach to symptom management or alleviation. She commonly finds that lifestyle modifications and supplements can treat the root cause, rather than simply masking symptoms with a medication (as is the way with Western medicine). She is excited about new detox protocols for mold, toxicity, parasites, chronic infections and even weight loss.

McLellan enjoys spending the necessary time with her patients and listening to their needs to co-create a path to healing. “I believe that the functional medicine model can bring true wellness, which involves not only the body, but also the mind and soul,” she says.

Learn more about how the functional medicine approach is changing lives with a holistic approach to chronic and preventative health concerns. Reach out to schedule a lifestyle assessment of sleep, nutrition, activity, relaxation practices, environmental exposure and genetics.

Location: 620 N. McKenzie St., Suite 200, Foley, AL. For more information, call 251-943-9355 or visit AlabamaIntegrativeHealth.com.