Functional medicine is a personalised, science-based approach to healthcare that looks beyond symptom management to ask: why is this happening, and what does this person specifically need to recover? Developed and refined by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the world’s leading body in this field, functional medicine brings together the best of conventional medicine with an in-depth understanding of nutrition, genetics, gut health, hormones, the immune system, and the environment — to identify and address the true root causes of disease.
It is built on three key insights:
Functional medicine focuses on understanding your full story: not just your current symptoms, but your history, your diet, your stress levels, your sleep, your relationships, and your goals. From this foundation, a personalised plan is built.
Functional medicine is particularly well-suited to people living with chronic or complex conditions — especially those who have been told their test results are ‘normal’, been given a diagnosis without a clear explanation, or have tried multiple approaches without lasting results. However, Alex works with a wide range of client ranging from those with chronic complex conditions to those simply wanting a “health MOT” to those wanting to focus on longevity and optimizing their health.
Conditions that can be helped include:
Functional medicine appointments are intentionally different from what most people are used to. Here is what your journey with Alex typically looks like:
| Conventional Medicine | Functional Medicine |
|---|---|
| Focuses on diagnosing and treating disease | Focuses on identifying and resolving the root causes |
| Short appointments | Extended initial consultations (60–90 minutes) |
| One diagnosis, one treatment | Personalised plans addressing multiple interconnected systems |
| Pharmaceutical-led | Integrates diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted supplements alongside appropriate medical care |
| Symptom management | Restoration of function and long-term wellbeing |
Functional medicine does not replace your GP or specialist care. It works alongside it, filling the gaps that the current healthcare system — through no fault of its own — often cannot address.
Alex has spent over 12 years helping people with complex, chronic health challenges that have often slipped through the net of conventional medicine. Holding an MSc in Nutrition and extensive clinical training in functional medicine, he specialises in gut health — including SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and IMO (Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth) — as well as chronic fatigue and and mould related illness.
What makes Alex’s approach distinctive is the care he takes to understand each patient as an individual. He uses advanced functional testing, detailed health history, and an integrated view of the body to build plans that are genuinely personalised — not generic. His goal is not simply to reduce your symptoms, but to help you understand your own health at a deeper level, so that you can sustain it long-term.
Outside of his clinical work Alex lectures at various institutions and recently received Distinguished Faculty Award from The Academy of Functional Nutrition and lifestyle management for outstanding contributions to the development of clinical nutrition and lifestyle medicine education. He is also a certified Breathwork facilitator and IFS-Informed Coach.
One of the things that distinguishes functional medicine from standard GP care is access to comprehensive, indepth testing. Whilst standard NHS blood tests can identify serious disease, they are often not designed to catch the subtler dysfunctions that underlie chronic symptoms.
Alex uses a range of specialist functional tests to build a more complete picture of your health:
Testing is guided by your individual presentation. Not all tests are required, and Alex will discuss the most clinically relevant options for you during your initial consultation.
Testing and supplement fees are separate to consultation fees and will be discussed with you. Alex will only recommend tests and supplements he considers clinically necessary for your case, and fit your budget.
30 minutes
1 x 90 minute session
2 x 60 minute sessions
30 minutes
Functional Medicine is a personalised, science-based approach to health that asks why you are unwell, not just what is wrong. Rather than matching a diagnosis to a treatment, we examine how your genetics, diet, environment, stress, and life history interact to create your unique pattern of health. By identifying and addressing root causes — from nutrient deficiencies to gut imbalances to chronic inflammation — we aim to restore genuine, lasting wellbeing rather than simply managing symptoms.
Functional Medicine is particularly wellsuited to complex and chronic conditions where conventional approaches have fallen short. Common areas include: digestive health (IBS, SIBO, bloating, IBD); fatigue & energy (ME/CFS, burnout, adrenal dysfunction); hormonal imbalances (thyroid, menstrual health, perimenopause); skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne); autoimmune conditions; metabolic health (blood sugar, weight); and brain health (brain fog, mood, anxiety). If you have been told “everything looks normal” yet you still feel far from well, this approach may be exactly what you need.
Your first appointment is an in-depth conversation — typically 60–90 minutes — designed to hear your full story. Before we meet, you will complete a detailed health questionnaire covering your symptoms, medical history, diet, lifestyle, sleep, stress, and significant life events. During the session we explore the connections between these factors, identify patterns, and begin mapping the underlying drivers of your health concerns. You may also be referred for specialist functional testing — such as gut microbiome analysis, SIBO breath testing, or hormone panels — to give us a clearer, evidence-based picture before we build your personalized plan.
There is no single answer — it depends on the complexity of your situation and your goals. Most clients begin with the 3 consultation package and move in to ad hoc consultations after this. The 3 consult package is designed to give us the time and depth needed to genuinely understand what’s going on for you — and build a plan that actually works. No matter the length, throughout, you are always an active partner in the process.
Yes — and importantly, it is complementary, not a replacement. Your GP provides essential conventional medical care; Functional Medicine adds a deeper layer of investigation and a broader toolkit focused on nutrition, lifestyle, and root-cause resolution. As a Nutritional Therapist and IFM-certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, I work alongside — never instead of — your existing medical team.
Not necessarily. Alex will review any previous test results you have and can often gain useful clinical insights from existing NHS results. He may suggest additional tests where there are gaps that are clinically relevant to your case.
Alex primarily works with adults but is increasingly seeing children in his clinic. As a dad to two young boys, he is very passionate about giving our children the best start possible. If you are enquiring on behalf of a child or young person, please get in touch to discuss whether functional medicine is appropriate for their situation.
This is one of the most common situations Alex encounters. Standard NHS tests are designed to detect serious disease, but they often miss the subtler dysfunctions that cause chronic symptoms. Functional medicine uses different reference ranges and a broader range of markers to identify patterns that conventional tests may overlook. Many patients who have been told their results are normal discover meaningful imbalances through functional testing.
