Ep. 33 | Functional vs. Western Medicine: What Women Over 40 Need to Know
You go to your doctor. They run a basic panel. They tell you everything looks "normal." Maybe they write a prescription. And you leave feeling like nobody actually looked at you — the whole picture of what's going on in your body, your life, your stress, your history.
You're not wrong. And you're not alone.
There's a fundamental difference between Western medicine and functional medicine — and for women over 40 navigating perimenopause and menopause, understanding that difference can change everything.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Functional Medicine:
A patient-centered, holistic approach that looks for the underlying causes of illness — not just the symptoms
Considers your genetics, lifestyle, environment, stress, nutrition, and health history to create a personalized treatment plan
Asks "why is this happening?" instead of "what medication treats this?"
Western Medicine:
Focuses on diagnosing and treating specific diseases and symptoms using drugs, surgery, and interventions
Effective for acute care and emergencies but often limited in addressing chronic, complex, or multi-system issues like what happens in menopause
Typically shorter appointments with less time for the full picture
Bridging the Gap:
My personal journey of transitioning from Western medicine to functional medicine practitioners — and what changed for me
How a holistic nutrition coach can work alongside your doctor, filling in the gaps that conventional care often misses
What that support looks like: personalized guidance, lifestyle and nutrition expertise, accountability, a holistic approach, and complementary care
Why you don't have to choose one or the other — the best outcomes often come from both working together
If you're feeling stuck in your current healthcare situation, you have more options than you think. A nutrition and health coach doesn't replace your doctor. She fills in the gaps — providing the root-cause investigation, the personalized nutrition plan, the stress and lifestyle support, and the accountability that a 15-minute appointment can't.
This episode is for you if: You're a woman over 40 who feels like something is missing in her healthcare — dismissed by her doctor, frustrated by prescriptions that don't address the real problem, or curious about functional medicine but unsure where to start. This episode shows you what's possible.
Links & Resources:
🎯 Take the free quiz → What's Really Causing Your Symptoms? https://cindistickle.com/quiz
📅 Book a free Hormone Reset Clarity Call → https://calendly.com/cindistickle/menopause-hormone-clarity-call
🌿 Learn more about It's Not Just Hormones™ System → https://cindistickle.com
👩💻 Join the free community → It's Not Just Menopause: No-BS Support with Real Answers → https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsmenopause
📱 Follow on Instagram → @cindisticklenutrition
💬 If this episode spoke to you, please share it with a friend — or leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more women find the root-cause menopause support they deserve.
