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Welcoming new patients with open arms. At Functional Medicine Clinic of Houston, our goal is to assist patients in their search to maintain a healthy body — free of disease and symptoms.

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Welcome to Functional Medicine of Houston

A Better Approach to Long-Term Health

Our goal or mission at the Functional Medicine Clinic of Houston is to assist patients in their search to maintain a healthy body – free of disease and symptoms.

We all want to live a long and healthy life; however, in America today, it is our belief that our Healthcare system has turned into a Disease Care system. Think about this – think of any disease – diabetes, cardiovascular disease, GERD, thyroid conditions, IBD, etc., when you visit a medical doctor, generally, you will be placed on a prescription drug of some type; maybe two or more. But is that the best approach for your body?

You need to step out of the traditional healthcare system and visit our Functional Medicine Clinic in Houston so that can take a new whole-body approach to healing your health.

We believe that medical doctors are the most competent and professional way to deal with an acute disease. A heart attack, a massive infection, a broken bone, etc. But when a condition becomes chronic, are treating these illnesses with acute protocols the best way to handle a chronic problem. We think not.

Have you ever had a laboratory test to determine how much Nexium or Wellbutrin you need in your body? Of course not! These are drugs that were developed to make the pharmaceutical company money. Do they work? Well, if you know someone on these or any other drugs, ask them when they can stop taking the drug? The answer is never. Once you are on a drug, typically, you are on it for life. And many times, the patient will still have symptoms. But is that the way anyone should live their life? The real question should be – Is there anything better or can anything be done to stop the madness of drug usage in this country, especially as it relates to chronic conditions?

Yes, we believe Functional Medicine is the answer there are alternatives and people don’t have to be on drugs for the rest of their lives. The answer might be Functional Medicine.

Success Stories

Patients Who Started Getting Answers

Real patients. Real experiences. Functional Medicine of Houston’s success stories come from patients who had been told their labs were normal, their symptoms were stress-related, and their only option was another prescription.

Their experiences reflect what becomes possible when the right questions get asked — and the right tests get run.

    
 
 
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   Dani C Simmons 
 578 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot say enough great things about Dr. Bobbie Stowe and Functional Medicine of Houston! After struggling with both physical and mental health issues for over 10 years, I finally found someone who truly listened to my concerns and took the time to understand my needs. Dr. Stowe has been incredibly kind, attentive, and thorough in addressing the root causes of my health challenges.

I’m only three months into my treatment, but I already feel 95% better—something I never thought would be possible. My energy levels, mental clarity, and overall well-being have improved tremendously, and for the first time in years, I feel hopeful about a new way of living. The quality of care I’ve received here has been life-changing, and I highly recommend Dr. Stowe to anyone looking for a compassionate and knowledgeable provider who truly wants to help you heal!
  
 
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   Carolyn Sims 
 579 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have been working with Dr. Stowe for almost 2 years.
My results have been amazing. I sought him out due to an extremely hyperactive thyroid. I was very, very sick. He set me up for quite a few tests and the results came back showing that I had a VERY leaky gut. Leaky gut can lead to many health issues, many of which are debilitating, as mine were. My thyroid numbers are now fine, my leaky gut is all but nonexistent and I feel 1000 times better. I cannot thank Dr. Stowe enough, really. I am extremely pleased with the results. He is very easy to work with. Very knowledgeable and can explain complex things in an easy to understand way. I have learned a lot. I have healed a lot. I am very thankful for his help.
  
 
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   Ivan Medina 
 1045 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dr. Stowe’s treatment has been great. I am making progress and feeling much better every time. Even other areas of my health, which were not necessarily the intended target of my treatment improved as well! My digestive system and skin feel much healthier since I started the protocols. Dr. Stowe and his staff are always there when I have questions or concerns.
  
 
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   Heena Kalra 
 1848 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am writing this review because I genuinely feel that people need to think beyond the traditional medication system and listen to their body by getting it correctly analyzes. I happened to found Dr Stowe after a bit of struggle on hyperthyroidism which was detected as graves disease all of a sudden after  just a little less than 2years of my first child's delivery. This was a shock and my TSH was negative less than 0.006. after alot research on internet and being from indian origin I was more interested in alternative medicine or naturopathy  or yoga to help me.   I am thankful that I found Dr.Stowe, he helped me bring my thyroid back to normal in 4-5months. His treatment must be followed he stresses that, they gave me very exceptional support with all my queries on email as due to pandemic I couldn't visit him. The cost of treatment is high, but Dr.Stowe does let you get a super bill for your out of pocket or out of network expense to claim on insurance and also let's u get some tests done at local LabCorp etc, what ever is best and permissible. His appointments are very detailed and he spends time with you writing and guiding each thing.
  
 
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   Sarah Cook 
 1967 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I came to Dr. Stowe with a lot going on. He took his time, was thorough and really helped unpack ALL The THINGS! I had seen several doctors about my symptoms with not luck in getting to the root cause! I am beyond thankful for his work and how it has impacted me! It is worth the investment to get down to the bottom of whatever is going on!
  
 
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   Natalia Perez 
 2139 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I suffered from frequent migraines for almost 20 years and for the last few years they started getting worse and more frequent.
They were so frequent that my life started changing. I was in the ER several times and I was absent from my job for many days.
I needed to lay down for days and I couldn’t have a normal life.
I was desperate and looking for help in order to have a better quality of life.
I tried the doctors my insurance covered. I tried diets, exercise, natural and homeopathic ways and I didn’t get the results.
I heard about functional medicine a year ago and I started looking for a doctor in Houston.  Happily, I found Dr. Stowe.
I started with the tests and then the treatment.  I saw results immediately. My migraines started going down and my digestion improved. My energy levels increased, and I started having more hope every day.
After I tried so many things, I finally found the correct treatment in order to have a better QUALITY of life, and it doesn’t have a price.
  
 
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   Katherine Healy 
 2268 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dr. Stowe helped me figure out the root cause of my chronic infections and suppressed immune system. While the testing and supplements were a significant out-of-pocket expense, the investment in my health was well worth it. I am now off of prescription medications and feel better than ever.
  
 
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   Charity Haynes 
 2287 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dr. Stowe has helped me tremendously with digestive issues. His protocol has helped me to feel so much better. He is super knowledgeable and knows how to heal the body naturally. He helped improve my immune system, identify foods to avoid, and I no longer have vitamin deficiencies. The investment in your health is well worth it. I highly recommend him.
  
 
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   Tiffany Yao 
 2313 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dr. Stowe and the people who work in his office are all very professional and respectful. The cost of treatment is always communicated openly and upfront so there are no surprise bills. I came to Dr. Stowe in March with very severe eczema and thyroid problems. When I followed his treatment protocol, most of my symptoms went away in a month and a half. I still have some ways to go, but I already feel so much better and my quality of life has improved greatly. Dr. Stowe spent a few hours with me during the first appointment to figure out the root of my problems and created a customized plan to get me off of my prescription meds for good. If you have any chronic disorders, I highly recommend giving functional medicine a try.
  
 
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   Margaryta Dema 
 2390 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The most attentive, careful and helpful doctor! Dr. Stowe helped me to deal with a lot of health concerns I had prior to our meeting and restored my energy level. Now I am full of energy, healthy and happy young woman thanks to the doctor!
  
 
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   Melani Lindsey 
 2581 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. After consulting with an endocrinologist who insisted I had Graves’ disease and said my only option was radioactive iodine, I sought other options. I did not feel enough testing had been done and my current life situation of considerable stress taken into account. I felt this was an aggressive and uneducated approach to my symptoms.
I reached out to Dr Stowe as I was driving from Houston to North of the Woodlands. He stayed on the phone with me for 45 minutes and asked a ton of questions. By the end of the phone call he had a better grasp of the whole picture than the endocrinologist was even interested in. We began addressing adrenal concerns and ran some very in depth testing. That was 8 months ago. I am 90% better with all my symptoms corrected. I appreciate Dr Stowe interest, but mostly his efforts in digging into symptoms and addressing things that were overlooked by my other physician. I’m thankful I resisted the supposed fast cure of destroying my thyroid permanently, and possibly resolving nothing.
  
 
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   Michelle ONeill 
 2632 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
  
 
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   Candice Skorka 
 2800 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dr Stowe has truly changed my life in a way other doctors could not.  I was very ill for 5 yrs and all the doctors I previously saw were not treating or healing the underlying problem.  I got up the courage to find a new doctor and came across Dr. Stowe.
After just a few weeks on his protocol I’m a new person and see light at the end of the tunnel.  I’m confident with his help I’ll be totally transformed in a few months which is what I’ve been desperately wanting for years!  I would highly recommend him to anyone with health struggles.  He has been a life saver.
  
 
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   Stan Kazwell Jr. 
 2857 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My biggest regret is that I did not meet Dr. Stowe years ago.  After decades of decline, the dogma of “modern medicine” was failing me, leaving my longevity in doubt.
Fortunately, my wife, (an R.N.) was not as accepting of her deeply depressed husband’s  decline.   As a matter of last resort, we turned to Dr. Stowe and functional medicine.  While I was somewhat hopeful, I knew, deep down, how this would end.  Nonetheless, Dr. Stowe’s dogged determination, and my wife’s embracement of his protocols, have given me back my life.  Instead of treating my layers of diagnoses, Dr. Stowe treated me as an individual.
I will warn you, this science based approach of functional medicine will likely be mocked by your physicians.  The next time you see them, however, they will probably have forgotten that you even mentioned it.  Instead, they will either pat themselves on the back or just plain be dumbfounded.  Such is my experience.
If I found Dr. Stowe and functional medicine years ago, I know I would be much healthier today.  Still, I am so please because I have improved beyond what I could have hoped to be possible.  I have a life again.  Thank you very much, Dr. Stowe.
Stanley Kazwell, Jr.
  
 
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   pf camp 
 2860 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. While exploring options to remedy extended fatigue, low stamina, difficulty focusing, and overall anxiety / restlessness, I was referred to Dr. Stowe.  He is consistently well-researched, forthright, and driven to the solutions which help the body heal itself (v. endless return visits).  His protocols are based on the analysis of any prescribed lab work and the supplements proven to adjust any deficiencies.   After 8-10 weeks, even friends have noticed my significant increase in overall vitality.  I highly recommend Dr. Stowe force a reasoned, practical, EFFECTIVE solution.  One of the best health decisions I have made.  (A bonus is his office environment is pleasant and professional.)
  
 
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   Shannon M 
 2881 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I suffered with migraines for 30 years.  Dr. Stowe is the only doctor that could get rid of my migraines and I have gone to numerous neurologist that would just prescribe me migraine medication, which just put a band-aid on the problem.  These neurologist did not fix the problem; Dr. Stowe fixed the problem.  It is a process, but if you stick with the process you will get your body in better shape than you have ever been and feel great.  Dr. Stowe has always been great in returning my phone calls and texts in a timely manner.

Read Patient Stories

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Functional Medicine actually work?

Generally speaking, FM helps restore balance within a body. Balance within the body, typically follows function. And if function is achieved, then generally speaking you have a body without disease or symptoms. Functional Medicine looks at what is dysfunctional within the body and tries to determine how to help the body restore balance. If that can be accomplished, then typically, symptoms resolve and patients feel better. Here is an example: someone breaks a bone and goes to a doctor. The doctor DOES NOT heal the bone. The doctor may set or straighten the bone so that it heals straight, but the body actually heals the bone, by itself. But the most remarkable part of the process is this – the body knew when to STOP THE HEALING! Think about this for a minute. The bone was broken and without an x-ray or lab testing or anything scientific, the body started the healing process but then it also stopped that process on its own. To me, this is the most remarkable miracle of life. The body knows and wants to be in balance and to be well. Hence, it heals the bone and then stops the healing process – balance!

I don’t live in Houston, so how can I find a practitioner if FM?

The easiest way is through the internet. Simply search for a functional medicine doctor. You can also search for alternative healthcare providers. You can ask friends if they have worked with someone who uses FM. If all else fails, contact me and I’ll see if we know of someone in your area and if not, we have professional resources that we can utilize that we might be able to assist you with.

What are the costs of your supplements or other protocols?

Each supplement is priced individually and differently. It would be impossible for me to state that a protocol is $XXX because we provide individual protocols to assist with normal function.

Does insurance cover the costs associated with utilizing FM?

Maybe yes, maybe no. Some of the laboratory tests are covered entirely; but some are not covered at all. A lot depends on your individual insurance coverage. Right now, we don’t know of any insurance coverage that will cover the costs of an office visit. With that said, many people have Health Savings Accounts and sometimes those monies can be used to pay for the office visit.

How much does it cost to utilize your services?

In general, for practitioners that we are aware of, the office visits ranges from a few hundred dollars to more than one thousand dollars. My initial office visit is $500 and then $750 for the second visit. The cost for each visit after the first two visits, is time dependent and ranges from $0 to $750.

I don’t live in Texas, so can you help me?

Probably not. We only have a license to practice in the Great State of Texas. But just like the answer above, try those same searches and if you can’t find someone, maybe we can help.

Do I have to purchase your supplements? If so, why?

Yes, for several reasons. First and foremost, we don’t know the quality of each and every supplement that is in the market place. We would refer people of review Consumer Reports and their research on supplements. Many of the supplements that this non-profit organization tests, do not meet label requirements and / or are contaminated. The second reason is that all of the supplements that we use meet at least 2 if not all 3 requirements that we demand of supplements. A – cGMP, B – 3rd party assays and C – bio-availability studies. The combination of at least 2, if not all 3 of these criteria means that patients are getting some of the best quality products available. Another reason is costs. Many of the supplements that we utilize in my clinics are the same or maybe slightly higher in costs, compared to OTC brands. Further, what use is a supplement if it doesn’t contain the nutrient it is supposed to contain or is contaminated. And last, patient compliance is vital for the re-balance of normal function. We will know if a patient isn’t compliant because we know how much a patient should be taking on a routine basis and therefore when they should be re-purchasing.

How long before I start feeling better using FM?

Difficult to answer directly; however, some nutrients have an immediate effect that a patient can actually feel. With other supports, a patient may never feel any difference. But what most patients tell me is that after several months, they don’t know what it is, but they feel different, in a positive way. Some have also told me for example that they use to get a cold every year or sinus infections a couple of times a year; things like that. But since being on my protocol, they haven’t had a re-occurrence of those symptoms any longer.

How do your protocols, using nutraceuticals (nutrients) differ from pharmaceuticals (drugs)?

First, your body needs nutrients in order to function properly. And we can test for many nutritional deficiencies. And we can also use other nutraceuticals that we can’t test for, but have been shown with scientific review/research to be beneficial to the body. The same cannot be said of drugs produced by the pharmaceutical industry. You can’t measure the amount of Nexium you are missing in your blood!

Also, if you look at the top-selling drugs in the US as reported by a healthcare industry provider, IMS Health, from October 12 through September 2013, the top 10 drugs had sales of approximately $49.5 BILLION! And the top 100 drugs totaled more than $139 BILLION. There is a massive amount of money at stake. In addition, there were more than 478 million prescriptions written during the same time frame. That is more than 1 prescription for every man, woman and child in America. Does that make sense to anyone?

Functional Medicine is an art and a science. We strive to provide answers as to why and where and then assist with body with protocols that gentle nudge the body back into health.

Ready to Work With a Thyroid Functional Medicine Doctor in Houston?

Functional Medicine of Houston is currently accepting new patients across Texas. The first step is a free consultation with a Functional Medicine Practitioner. — a conversation about your health history, what you have already tried, and what testing may help reveal.

Request an Appointment Call (713) 667-6656