Functional medicine isn’t a replacement for conventional care — and it isn’t the opposite of it. It blends the best of both.

It uses the science, labs, and clinical tools of conventional medicine alongside a systems-based understanding of how your gut, hormones, brain, immune system, and environment interact.

Instead of asking only “What diagnosis fits?”, we ask “Why is this happening in this body?”

Care may include nutrition, lifestyle shifts, targeted supplements, medication when appropriate, and nervous system support. The focus is on identifying root causes, understanding the whole person, and creating a personalized plan that actually makes sense.

Not alternative. Not anti-medicine.
A comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to helping your body regulate and heal.

Functional medicine looks at health through a different lens. Instead of asking “What diagnosis fits these symptoms?” it asks “Why is the body out of balance—and what’s driving it?” It connects patterns across systems: gut, hormones, immunity, brain, stress, sleep, environment.

Where conventional care often focuses on managing symptoms, functional medicine works to uncover and address the root causes beneath them. And instead of one-size-fits-all plans, it creates personalized, evidence-informed pathways based on your history, labs, lifestyle, and biology.

But the key is this:
You don’t have to choose one or the other.
Functional medicine complements conventional care by giving you a deeper, whole-body view—so you get both the clinical tools and the long-term healing strategy.

AK Wellness is a great fit for women and children who want answers, not band-aids. If you’re tired of feeling dismissed, stuck in cycles of symptoms, or told “everything looks normal” when you know it’s not — this is for you.

People who benefit most are ready to explore root causes, open to making meaningful changes, and want a provider who listens deeply, thinks broadly, and collaborates every step of the way.

Functional medicine uses a blend of standard medical labs and specialty tests to understand how your body is functioning beneath the surface. Not everyone needs every test — we choose them based on your symptoms, history, and goals.

Common options include:

• Comprehensive blood work (nutrients, inflammation markers, thyroid, hormones, metabolic health)

• Gut testing (stool analysis to look at digestion, microbiome balance, inflammation, infection, and overall gut function)

• Hormone testing (blood or DUTCH testing to evaluate sex hormones, cortisol, and circadian rhythm)

• Food sensitivity or immune-response testing (when clinically appropriate)

• Mold and environmental toxin testing (if symptoms or history suggest exposure)

• Micronutrient testing (to assess deficiencies affecting energy, mood, and immunity)

Not every patient needs specialty labs — many people start with targeted blood work and a careful clinical assessment. Together, we decide what testing (if any) will actually move your healing forward.

Testing isn’t mandatory for every person, but it is strongly recommended for most patients because it gives us a clearer, more accurate picture of what’s going on beneath the surface.

Functional medicine is built on understanding root causes, and labs often reveal things we can’t see through symptoms alone — nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, gut dysfunction, inflammation patterns, or toxic exposures. The right tests can save months of trial-and-error and allow us to build a plan that’s targeted instead of generic.

That said, we don’t run every test on every person. We choose testing strategically, based on your story, symptoms, history, and goals. Some people start with foundational labs; others benefit from more advanced testing.

You won’t be pushed into unnecessary tests — but you will be guided toward the ones that will meaningfully move your healing forward.

Healing timelines vary, but most people begin noticing shifts within the first 4–8 weeks once we address the right root causes.
Some improvements happen quickly (energy, digestion, sleep), while deeper healing (hormones, nervous system regulation, inflammation) can take longer.

Functional medicine isn’t “slow”—it’s strategic.

Instead of chasing symptoms, we’re rebuilding the foundation that allows your body to function the way it’s meant to. I’ll outline your expected timeline based on your labs, history, and goals so you always know what to expect.

Yes. Functional medicine and conventional medicine can work beautifully together. Many patients combine both to create a more complete, effective approach to healing.

Most people who come to functional medicine have already explored conventional treatments, so our work often focuses on the deeper, root-cause layers that haven’t been addressed yet. When medications, procedures, or conventional support are helpful, we integrate them thoughtfully.

Your care plan is always tailored to your unique needs, drawing from both approaches as appropriate — not choosing one at the expense of the other.

Your first visit is a deep dive into your whole health story — not just your symptoms. We explore your digestion, hormones, stress, sleep, environment, history, and patterns you may not even realize are connected.

You can expect:

• A comprehensive conversation about your health timeline

• Review of any available labs

• A clear explanation of what might be driving your symptoms

• An initial plan focused on foundations (habits, nutrition, nervous system support, targeted supplements)

• Recommendations for any testing that will move your healing forward

• Plenty of space to be heard, ask questions, and feel understood

You’ll leave with a roadmap — not guesswork.

After your initial deep dive, we review any needed labs and create a personalized healing plan. Follow-up visits focus on interpreting results, adjusting your plan, supporting your nervous system, optimizing nutrition, refining supplements, and troubleshooting anything that isn’t shifting yet.

You’ll always know your next steps — there’s no guessing or generic protocol.

Most patients meet every 4–6 weeks, especially in the beginning when we’re uncovering root causes and adjusting your plan. As you start to feel better and things stabilize, visit frequency decreases.

The goal isn’t to keep you in endless appointments — it’s to build momentum and help your body heal efficiently.

No. AK Wellness provides specialized, functional medicine care, not primary care. You’ll still need to maintain a relationship with a conventional primary care provider for routine screening exams, acute issues, and emergency care.

Think of AK Wellness as your deep-dive partner in root-cause healing, while your primary care provider handles the day-to-day medical necessities. They work alongside each other — not in place of one another.

You don’t need to live in Washington. Alani is licensed in Washington, California, Arizona, and Hawaii, and can provide full medical care to residents of those states.

If you live elsewhere, you may still be able to work together in a consulting/coaching capacity depending on your needs. Ask during your consult. 

AK Wellness doesn't bill insurance directly. This allows for longer appointments, deeper investigation, and personalized care that isn’t restricted by insurance requirements.

You can, however, use:

• HSA/FSA funds

• Superbills for potential out-of-network reimbursement (depending on your plan)

Most patients appreciate the flexibility this model gives them — it lets us focus on what will actually help you heal, not what insurance will or won’t approve.

AK Wellness is committed to providing exceptional care, and a significant amount of time goes into preparing for each appointment.

For this reason, we have a 48-hour cancellation policy.
If you cancel within 48 hours of your appointment time, the full appointment fee will be charged.

There is no fee to cancel or reschedule when the request is made more than 48 hours in advance.

We understand that true emergencies happen. Situations such as a death in the family or hospitalization will be reviewed by the provider on a case-by-case basis.