Supplements
Understanding Functional Medicine Supplements
Drugs vs. Supplements
According to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended, Section 201(g)(1), the term drug is defined as an ‘article intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.’ Technically, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, herbs, or homeopathic remedies are not classified as drugs. However, these substances can have significant effects on physiology and must be used rationally.
Using Supplements
At Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine we provide nutritional counseling and make individualized recommendations regarding use of these supplements in order to upgrade the quality of foods in a patient’s diet and to supply nutrition to support the physiological and biomechanical processes of the human body. Although these products may also be suggested with a specific therapeutic purpose in mind, their use is chiefly designed to support given aspects of metabolic function.
Drug Interactions
Use of nutritional supplements may be safely recommended for patients already using pharmaceutical medications (drugs), but some potentially harmful interactions may occur. For this reason, it is important to keep all of your healthcare providers fully informed about all medications and nutritional supplements, herbs, or hormones you may be taking. It is also important to consult with a health care provider who is trained and knowledgeable in the use, interactions and reactions that may occur as a results of using supplements.
Our Recommendations
As a service to you, we make recommendations based on our research of supplements and health conditions. We have vetted specific vendors and know which ones provide a good quality, clean, reliable product.
We determine quality by considering:
- The quality of science behind the product
- The quality of the ingredients themselves
- The quality of the manufacturing process
- The synergism among product components
For more information about our recommendations, read our series “Straight Talk About Supplements & Snake Oil”:
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Straight Talk About Supplements | Part 1:
Supplements & Snake Oil
5 Things You Need to Know About Supplements
Straight Talk About Supplements | Part 2:
Your Supplements May Be Lying to You
2 Troubling Scams To Steer Clear Of
Purchase Supplements
Affordably. Reliably. Confidently.
First & foremost,
do no harm.
It’s my job to ensure the supplements I recommend do no harm.
We’ve partnered with Fullscript, a trusted online dispensary that manages the store and frees our providers to recommend the safest and most reliable supplements to you.
We have trusted brands like Designs for Health, Thorne, Metagenics, Biotics Research, and Klaire Labs, which are all high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade supplements all in one place for your convenience.
All subscribers receive a 10% discount off MSRP.
First-time buyers save an additional 15%.
Get Started With Wellness Essentials
I’m often asked, “If you had to pick only 3 supplements to recommend to me, what would they be?”
Here’s my answer: You need a quality multi-vitamin, a good source of Vitamin D, and you need to boost your Omega 3 fatty acids. If you can invest further in your health, I also recommend a strong source of probiotics and a detox formula.
If you’re new to supplements and looking for a safe, reliable way to boost your overall health, here are the must-haves to get started:
