Primary Care from
Our Functional Medicine Doctor
At Evoke 5 Medical Center, our functional medicine doctor can also be your primary
care doctor. As your primary care provider, we are the first place you reach out to
when you need health care, whether it’s for routine wellness check-ups or acute care
for an illness. Our functional medicine doctor can also be involved in other aspects of
your health care, overseeing care from other providers, specialists or facilities.
As your primary care functional medicine doctor, our focus is on finding your individual
pathway to optimal living and helping you achieve and maintain whole body wellness.
Understanding Functional Medicine
Functional medicine is the practice of getting to the “root cause” of disease, which goes far beyond chasing and treating
symptoms. Our discovery involves an in-depth exploration of your health history, gaining an understanding of your current
diet, lifestyle and environment, and gathering insights through appropriate lab testing.
In functional medicine, there are no “cookie cutter” treatment plans. We believe each individual has a unique pathway to
optimal living. Based on the findings from our discovery phase, we’ll work together to design an individualized treatment
plan that addresses your unique health goals and needs.
Together, we’ll help you attain and maintain whole body wellness, enhancing each of the 5 Pillars of Health & Wellness©:
Medical, Physical, Mental, Aesthetic and Spiritual Wellness.
The Functional Medicine
Difference
We’re often asked if functional medicine doctors are the same as
“regular” doctors. We’re glad you asked!
Our functional medicine doctor, Dr. Castel Santana, is a MD with a
degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of
Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Maryland
and has practiced as a board-certified family medicine doctor for
more than a decade.
Dr. Cas also undertook the rigorous requirements to become a
Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner through the Institute for
Functional Medicine® (IFM), which is the only organization providing
functional medicine education and certification programs that is fully
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical
Education (ACCME).
Is Functional Medicine for You?
At Evoke 5 Medical Center, we welcome patients 18+ who are committed to achieving and maintaining optimal health. The
functional medicine approach goes beyond treating symptoms, and there is often no “magic pill” that fixes everything
instantaneously.
Functional medicine treatment plans often involve lifestyle changes, including sleep, diet and exercise, as well as
incorporating appropriate supplements, detoxification protocols, and a variety of other natural approaches. While
prescription medications are sometimes warranted, we take time to evaluate the possible effective options before pulling
out the Rx pad.
The people who often find functional medicine successful are those who are frustrated with the health care they’ve been
receiving, are seeking root cause answers and real, long-lasting results, and want to explore a better way to feel better.
Conditions Our Functional Medicine Doctor Treats
Our functional medicine doctor takes a holistic and individualized approach to diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of
health issues, including:
Chronic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, heart disease and chronic pain
Digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease and food sensitivities
Hormonal imbalances including thyroid disorders, adrenal fatigue and reproductive hormone issues
Metabolic disorders like obesity, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance
Mental health conditions including anxiety, depression and ADHD, as well as neurodegenerative disorders like
Alzheimer’s disease
Allergies, sensitivities and intolerances, including food allergies and environmental sensitivities
Cardiovascular health, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis
Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne
Chronic fatigue and energy-related problems
Stress and adrenal health, including adrenal fatigue and burnout
Women’s health and hormonal issues, including menstrual irregularities, menopause and fertility
Musculoskeletal, joint pain / degeneration
Going Beyond Treating Disease
While functional medicine can effectively treat existing conditions, our primary goal is preventing illness, promoting overall
wellbeing, and optimizing your health! Our functional medicine doctor does that by providing:
Lifestyle and nutrition guidance, including personalized recommendations on diet, exercise, sleep and stress
management
Identifying risk factors using advanced testing and a thorough assessment of your health history
Nutrient optimization, involving assessing and addressing nutrient deficiencies and imbalances in the body
Detoxification support to help the body eliminate harmful substances and reduce the toxic burden
Optimization of gut health, including supporting a healthy gut
Stress reduction techniques to lower the risk of numerous health problems, including cardiovascular disease and
mental health issues
Regular health assessments and screenings to detect issues before they progress to advanced stages
Regenerative / longevity exosome and stem cell therapy
Advanced screening Prenuvo and Cleerly scans
The Tools in Our Toolbox
As your primary care functional medicine doctor, we utilize cutting-edge treatments that focus on optimizing brain, gut,
hormone and cellular function, and incorporate the most effective bioidentical and biohacking options. Services offered by
our functional medicine doctor includes:
- Primary Care + Functional Medicine
- Lab Testing
- Gut Testing
- Environmental Toxin Testing
- Micronutrient Testing
- Genetic Testing
- IV Therapy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Peptide Therapy
- Mitochondrial Testing (Oxidative Stress Testing)
- Aesthetic Procedures: Neuromodulators; Exosome/PRP Microneedling; Liquid Facelift
- Regenerative Medicine: Musculoskeletal Injections; Longevity “Wolverine” Exosome/Stem Cell IV
- TPE (Therapeutic Plasma Exchange) for Detoxification
- Autism Protocols
