Functional medicine in Stockholm: naturopath vs functional medicine

Functional medicine is a model of care that looks for the underlying causes of long-standing symptoms and how the body’s systems connect, often through a long intake and wider lab testing. Research on the model as a whole is still limited, and the best-known study so far is exploratory [1]. I’m a US-trained naturopath in Östermalm, and I use functional testing alongside conventional tests as one part of naturopathy.

If you speak English and live in Stockholm, you may have found this page by searching for functional medicine. So I want to explain plainly what the term means, how it relates to naturopathy, and where I stand.

What is functional medicine?

In the research literature, functional medicine is described as a model that addresses underlying causes and functional imbalances, rather than one symptom at a time [1]. The idea is to see how things like sleep, digestion, stress and hormones affect each other.

In practice, it usually means:

• a long first conversation about your whole history
• questions about food, sleep, stress and your environment
• sometimes lab tests beyond the most common blood work
• a plan with food, lifestyle changes and often supplements

If you’ve seen a naturopath before, this probably sounds familiar. The two ways of working overlap a lot.

Naturopath vs functional medicine: what’s the difference?

The simplest way I can put it: naturopathy is a training, and functional medicine is one of several tools within it.

In the US, licensed naturopathic physicians typically complete a four-year graduate program at an accredited naturopathic medical school, and licensing rules vary from state to state [2]. Functional medicine, on the other hand, is used by practitioners with many different backgrounds, so the word alone doesn’t tell you what training someone has.

I hold a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, Oregon, and a master’s in Chinese medicine from the same university. I ran my own practice in Portland before moving to Stockholm in 2018. In Sweden, I’m an Authorized Naturopath (SNLF), a member of the Swedish Naturopathic Society. Naturläkare is a title from the society, not a license from Socialstyrelsen, the Swedish health authority. The title naturläkare isn’t protected in Sweden [3], so it’s always fair to ask what training someone has.

Naturopathy covers more than lab tests. With me, a plan can include:

• advice on food, sleep and stress
• Western and Chinese herbs
• homeopathy
• high-quality supplements
• Japanese acupuncture, my main style
• lab tests, both conventional and functional, when they’re useful

So functional testing is part of the picture, not the whole picture. You can read more on my page about naturopathy in Stockholm.

How I use functional testing in Östermalm

Sometimes your basic lab results come back normal, and the symptoms are still there. That’s when it helps to ask more questions and choose tests that give us more to go on.

One example is the DUTCH test, which shows how hormones like cortisol change over the day. It can be relevant for sleep problems or symptoms during perimenopause. Another is a stool test that looks at the gut microbiome, which can be part of the picture when you’re working on gut health.

Here’s how it works:

1. We start with a first visit, 60 minutes, in person or online. We go through your story and any lab results you already have.
2. Together we decide whether testing is useful, and if so, which tests.
3. Testing is done through a private lab. Lab tests are paid separately, at the lab’s price.
4. We review the results and adjust your written plan.

Lab results are information for your plan and for your conversations with your doctor. They aren’t a finished answer on their own.

Lab tests through a private lab are chosen together after your first visit, and you pay the lab’s price. It includes the first visit and testing. All prices are on the prices page.

What does the research say about functional medicine?

The most cited study comes from the Cleveland Clinic in the US [1]. The researchers looked back at people who had been to a functional medicine center and compared them with people at a family health center. In total, 7,252 people were included, and the main analysis compared 398 matched people in each group.

After 6 months, 30.9% of the functional medicine group had improved their global physical health score by at least 5 points, compared with 22.1% in the other group. After 12 months, the difference between the groups was no longer statistically significant [1].

The authors themselves describe the study as exploratory and say the results are hypothesis generating [1]. It was done at a single center, and people who choose functional medicine may differ from others in ways the study couldn’t measure. The authors call for prospective studies to confirm the findings. In short, the evidence for the model as a whole is still limited.

Why I’m careful with testing

More tests don’t automatically mean better answers, and an unusual value doesn’t have to mean something is wrong. I take that seriously, so this is how I work:

• we only order tests that could change something in your plan
• we look at results together with your symptoms, not on their own
• I’d rather tell you something is uncertain than pretend one test explains everything

It’s also good to tell your doctor about any herbs, natural remedies or supplements you take, since they can affect other medication [3]. A US government health agency gives the same advice about any complementary approach [2]. Bring the list to your next appointment.

Complementary to your doctor’s care

I work in parallel with your doctor, as a complement to the care you already get. If you’ve already had standard tests at your vårdcentral (local primary care clinic), those results become part of the picture. I’m happy to help you prepare questions for your next appointment.

When to see a doctor

Contact your vårdcentral or call 1177 (Sweden’s healthcare advice line) if you have:

• new, severe or unclear symptoms
• weight loss you can’t explain
• blood in your stool or urine
• a fever that won’t go away
• symptoms that get worse quickly

In an emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or sudden weakness on one side of the body, call 112. When you need care, alternative methods shouldn’t be your first choice [3].

Not sure whether functional testing is right for you? Book a free 15-minute call, or send me a message.

Sources

1. Beidelschies M, Alejandro-Rodriguez M, Ji X, Lapin B, Hanaway P, Rothberg MB. Association of the Functional Medicine Model of Care With Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes. JAMA Network Open, 2019;2(10):e1914017. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2753520
2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Naturopathy. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/naturopathy
3. 1177. Alternativa metoder och behandlingar (in Swedish). Updated 2024-10-10. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.1177.se/undersokning-behandling/fler-behandlingar/alternativa-behandlingar/alternativa-metoder-och-behandlingar/