FAQ
Everything you need to know about functional medicine, INSIGHT™, and working with RootCause Medicine.
FAQs
What Sets RootCause Medicine Apart
How is Functional Medicine different from Conventional Medicine?
Conventional medicine is excellent for urgent and acute care—injuries, emergencies, and dangerous infections. Chronic issues are different. When symptoms overlap (fatigue, gut issues, brain fog, hormone shifts, weight resistance), many people get “normal labs,” a new prescription, and no real explanation.
Functional medicine treats the body as one connected ecosystem. We look for root causes and patterns, then build a plan using nutrition, lifestyle, nervous system support, targeted therapeutics, and measurable biomarker tracking. When medication is appropriate, we use it thoughtfully—with a functional lens.
What is Functional Medicine 2.0?
Functional Medicine 2.0 was the early wave of the movement. It introduced foundational principles many patients never hear in conventional care, including:
• Gut health and the microbiome
• Food as medicine and removing inflammatory triggers
• Detoxification and mitochondrial function
• Sleep, stress resilience, and supplement support
That foundation is still valuable. But for complex or stubborn cases, it wasn’t always precise enough. That’s where modern precision functional medicine comes in.
What is Functional Medicine 3.0 (Precision Systems-Based Medicine)?
Functional Medicine 3.0—what we practice at RootCause Medicine in Colorado—adds precision, strategy, and measurement to root-cause care.
We use objective data to guide decisions and track progress across systems such as:
• Cardiometabolic and advanced lipid risk
• Inflammation and immune patterning
• Hormone mapping and cycle-aware optimization
• Gut and microbiome testing when indicated
• Metabolic tracking (glucose insights, nutrient status)
• Resilience and recovery biomarkers tied to healthspan
This approach isn’t just symptom relief. It’s built for repair, regulation, and long-term resilience—so improvements hold.
What makes RootCause Medicine different?
RootCause Medicine isn’t “functional medicine with a supplement list.” It’s a physician-led, data-driven care system designed to create measurable change—especially for patients who feel stuck.
What makes us different:
• Data-driven: we track biomarkers and trends over time
• Systems-based: we connect inflammation, metabolism, gut, hormones, detox, and nervous system regulation
• Results-oriented: momentum and measurable progress matter here
• Human-centered: we teach, explain, and build a plan you understand
Credibility + Science
How is RootCause Medicine different when it comes to credibility and science?
The wellness world is loud, and not all of it is grounded in physiology or clinical reasoning. At RootCause, we don’t follow trends—we evaluate data.
Dr. Angie Martinez brings 20+ years of clinical experience bridging conventional training with advanced functional medicine. That matters for safety, clarity, and results.
We evaluate interventions by asking:
• Does it make physiological sense?
• What is the risk-to-benefit ratio for this person?
• Can it be monitored and adjusted using objective markers?
• Do outcomes hold up in real patients over time?
We draw from peer-reviewed research, advanced clinical education, and real-world outcomes—staying current through ongoing training (A4M, menopause-focused education, and other institutes).
INSIGHT™ Framework
What is the INSIGHT™ Health Profile?
The INSIGHT™ Health Profile is Dr. Angie Martinez’s proprietary system for turning complex health data into a clear roadmap.
INSIGHT™ maps symptoms, history, and labs across seven foundational systems:
• I – Inflammation & Infections
• N – Nutrients
• S – Stress Chemistry & Sleep
• I – Insulin & Metabolism
• G – Gut Health
• H – Hormones
• T – Toxins & Toxic Load
Over time, your profile becomes a living record of progress—your “health résumé”—showing where you started, what changed, and what we optimize next.
What is Dr. Angie’s INSIGHT™ Methodology?
INSIGHT™ Methodology is the step-by-step strategy behind the Health Profile.
We prioritize care in sequence—often stabilizing immune signaling, gut integrity, metabolic energy, and inflammatory load first—then refining hormones, detox capacity, performance, and prevention as your foundation strengthens.
It’s structured, measurable, and adaptable. If your body isn’t responding as expected, we reassess, refine, and adjust using real feedback from symptoms and biomarkers.
Getting Started + Fit
What happens on a Discovery Call?
The Discovery Call is a conversation—not a sales pitch.
It’s a chance to:
• Share your story and your biggest challenges
• Review what you’ve already tried
• Clarify goals, timeline, and readiness
• Decide whether RootCause Medicine is the right fit
You’ll also learn which entry point (Foundations, QuickStart, Drop 10) matches your needs. By the end, you should have clarity about your next step—even if it isn’t us.
Who is not a good fit for RootCause Medicine?
RootCause Medicine works best for patients who are ready to engage and follow through.
We may not be the right fit if:
• You’re not ready for feedback, change, or a longer commitment when needed
• You want a quick fix without participation and accountability
• You plan to combine multiple programs at the same time (overlapping protocols often negate each other)
• You’re not open to structured follow-up and course correction
Our work is advanced and strategic. It works best when we do it together.
I’ve tried other functional medicine programs. Can you help?
Yes—this is common.
When other programs don’t work, it’s usually due to sequence, precision, or lack of follow-up, not lack of effort. We often help patients understand:
• Why previous protocols didn’t move the needle
• What systems were addressed too early or too late
• Where biology wasn’t ready for certain interventions
• How to simplify and re-sequence care for better results
INSIGHT™ is built to answer: “Why didn’t this work before?”
Do you prescribe controlled substances or narcotics?
No. RootCause Medicine does not prescribe controlled substances or narcotic medications.
Testing + Data
What kind of testing do you use at RootCause Medicine?
Functional Medicine 3.0 often begins where standard care stops—especially when symptoms are real but labs look “normal.”
We start with a strong foundation of conventional biomarkers mapped across INSIGHT™ systems, and when appropriate add tools such as:
• InBody™ body composition analysis
• CGM (continuous glucose monitoring)
• Nitric oxide and ketone testing
• Grip strength and functional measures
• PNOĒ VO₂ max and ventilatory/cardiopulmonary testing
• Mood/cognitive screening when appropriate
• Specialty labs (stool, hormone, immune/autoimmune, toxins/biotoxins, infections)
We don’t test to collect information. We test to create clarity—then turn it into priorities and action.
How do you decide which labs are needed?
We don’t test everything at once—and we don’t guess.
Labs are chosen based on:
• Symptoms, history, and goals
• Which systems need clarity first
• What will change clinical decisions
• Cost-to-benefit and timing
Testing is sequenced to maximize ROI and avoid overwhelm.
What if I already have labs?
Bring them.
Your previous labs are part of your health story and often help us spot patterns over time. We review what you already have, use what’s still relevant, and avoid repeating what doesn’t need to be repeated.
You don’t need new labs to start with us. We meet you where you are in your data, then recommend only what adds leverage.
Programs + Follow-Up
What does the first visit look like?
The first visit is longer—and intentionally so.
We review your history, symptoms, goals, prior labs, and patterns that may have been missed. Dr. Angie connects the dots across systems and introduces INSIGHT™, so you understand what matters first and why.
Most patients leave with:
• Clear working explanations for what’s driving symptoms
• An initial plan focused on high-leverage systems
• A roadmap for testing and follow-up
How often are visits, and what does follow-up look like?
Follow-up is structured and intentional—not random or reactive.
In the Foundational Program, visits typically occur every 4–6 weeks over 6–8 months. As systems stabilize, care may space out to every 2–3 months, then every 6 months for maintenance or optimization.
We monitor progress using symptom tracking, lab trends, and functional markers. And we support execution through our patient coordinator model—so you don’t feel like you’re doing this alone.
Your programs sound advanced—what if I feel overwhelmed?
Overwhelm is common—and often biological.
Inflammation, stress chemistry imbalance, metabolic dysfunction, and nervous system overload can make change feel harder than it should. We want you to tell us when you’re overwhelmed so we can adjust the plan to meet you where you are.
Support includes:
• Structured follow-up every 6–8 weeks
• Patient coordinators who clarify steps and check in if you fall off course
• Comprehensive visit notes and checklists to keep you on track
• In-clinic options like BrainTap™ to support focus, motivation, and nervous system regulation
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress—with support.
What’s the difference between the Comprehensive Foundations Program and QuickStart?
Both use INSIGHT™, but they’re built for different needs.
Comprehensive Foundations Program
• 6–8 months of structured care
• Built for stabilization, measurable results, and long-term momentum
• Required pathway for transitioning into continuity or membership care
QuickStart Program
• Shorter entry option for patients who want direction and a clear plan
• Designed for those who don’t want a longer-term commitment right now
• Does not transition into continuity or membership care
QuickStart gives clarity and a starting plan. Foundations is for sustained change and deeper outcomes.
What is the investment to work with RootCause Medicine?
The best place to start is a Discovery Call. That’s where we review your needs, your story, and what level of support makes sense.
Most patients begin with our Comprehensive Foundations Program. For those who want a shorter entry point, we offer QuickStart.
Because care is personalized, labs and supplements are not included in program pricing. Those costs vary based on your history, goals, and what you’ve already completed. We guide decisions based on ROI and avoid unnecessary spending.
We offer:
• Pay-in-full savings (when paid on the first day)
• Payment plans to spread the investment over time
What happens after the Foundational Program is completed?
Long-term care options at RootCause Medicine are available only after you’ve completed the Foundational Program.
Foundations establishes your baseline, stabilizes core systems, and creates the INSIGHT™ framework we use for all future decision-making. Once that foundation is in place, some patients choose to continue care to protect gains, prevent regression, and expand optimization.
At that point, you may transition into CORE Membership or Quintessence, depending on goals and readiness.
What is the CORE Membership?
CORE Membership is available after successful completion of the Foundational Program and is designed for patients who want ongoing continuity care without starting over each time life or biology shifts.
CORE Membership includes:
• Ongoing prescription and hormone management
• INSIGHT™ data monitoring and trend-based lab review
• Strategic plan adjustments over time
• Prevention-focused care to protect gains
• Support through stress, travel, illness, and hormone transitions
Think of CORE as maintaining and refining what you’ve built—with steady medical oversight.
What is the Quintessence Program?
Quintessence is our most advanced and exclusive level of care, available only after completing the Foundational Program.
It is designed for patients who want to move beyond stabilization and intentionally raise the ceiling on their health, performance, and longevity.
Quintessence includes everything in CORE, plus:
• Advanced hormone optimization for brain, bone, heart, muscle, and metabolic performance
• Genetics-informed care (AncestryDNA-based interpretation integrated into your plan)
• Strategic long-term health planning and healthspan mapping
• Brain mapping and neuro-pattern insights when appropriate
• VO₂ max–driven conditioning and metabolic performance programming
• Expanded regenerative and peptide toolkit (when medically appropriate)
• Access to the RootCause space to intentionally begin a Health Day, including Members Lounge access, clinical support offerings, and curated health-stacking experiences
Think of Quintessence as elite optimization with an environment built to support it.
How do I choose between CORE Membership and Quintessence?
This decision is made after you’ve completed the Foundational Program, when your biology, data, and response to care are clear.
• CORE Membership is ideal if you want long-term stability, prevention, and thoughtful medical oversight.
• Quintessence is ideal if you want advanced optimization—hormones, genetics, brain performance, body composition, VO₂, and deeper longevity strategy—plus access to an elevated in-person care environment.
We guide this choice collaboratively, based on your goals, data, and capacity.
Conditions We Commonly Support
What conditions do you commonly help with?
A diagnosis is often the entry point—not the focus of care. We support patterns across inflammation/immune signaling, metabolism/energy production, gut integrity, hormones, detox capacity, and nervous system regulation.
Common areas include:
• Unexplained fatigue, brain fog, pain, “normal labs” but not well
• Gut and immune patterns (IBS, SIBO, food reactions, histamine symptoms, autoimmunity patterns)
• Hormone and metabolic concerns (thyroid, insulin resistance, perimenopause/menopause, low testosterone, weight resistance)
• Brain and mood patterns (anxiety/depression, migraines, insomnia, neuroinflammation patterns)
• Chronic fatigue/post-viral support (including Long COVID patterns)
• Detox and reactivity patterns (environmental load, mold/biotoxin considerations, fatty liver patterns)
• Cardiometabolic prevention (blood pressure, advanced lipid risk, inflammation-lipid connection)
• Musculoskeletal resilience (osteopenia/osteoporosis risk, sarcopenia prevention, tendon recovery)
• Skin patterns (eczema, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, inflammatory rashes)
• Prevention/optimization and longevity strategy (healthspan, strength, cognition, metabolic flexibility)
Who do you work with (adults, children, families)?
We work with adults and, in appropriate cases, children and families with close monitoring and parent involvement.
Common pediatric patterns we support include:
• Gut and digestive issues
• Food reactions and allergy patterns
• ADHD/focus and behavioral concerns
• Autism spectrum support (systems-based, integrative care)
• PANS/PANDAS and neuroimmune inflammation patterns
Care is conservative, sequenced, and collaborative.
Logistics + Safety
Do you accept insurance?
RootCause Medicine is a direct-care practice, which allows more time, deeper analysis, and higher-touch support than insurance models typically allow.
We provide:
• Superbills for possible out-of-network reimbursement
• Guidance on using insurance for many conventional labs when appropriate
• Cash-pay or discounted lab options when helpful
Do you offer telehealth or out-of-state care?
Yes—with structure.
Your first visit is always in person. This allows us to gather key data, complete assessments, and establish a formal doctor–patient relationship. After that, telehealth follow-ups are often available for busy patients.
Out-of-state care may be possible after an in-person intake, depending on clinical needs and licensing.
Many patients prefer to keep care fully in person—and that’s part of what makes RootCause unique. We’re not a virtual-only clinic. We invite you into an intentional healing environment designed for focus and transformation.
Is this safe with my current medications or specialist care?
Yes—and collaboration matters.
With your permission, we can coordinate with your specialists or primary care, share clinical insights, and support lab interpretation and sequencing.
Patients are required to maintain a primary care provider for urgent needs, emergencies, routine screening, and preventive services covered by insurance. RootCause Medicine is not primary care—though we often provide more depth and strategy than a typical primary care visit allows.
Advanced Therapies
What is your approach to hormone care?
Hormone care at RootCause Medicine is advanced, proactive, and medically grounded.
We don’t use hormones as cosmetic tools. Symptom relief matters, but our approach also supports long-term health:
• Heart and cardiovascular protection
• Brain and cognitive resilience
• Bone density and musculoskeletal integrity
• Metabolic stability and body composition
• Healthspan and aging trajectory
Plans are individualized, risk-aware, and monitored with labs and follow-up, aligned with modern standards including The Menopause Society.
How do peptides fit into care at RootCause Medicine?
Peptides are not shortcuts, and they’re never the foundation of care.
In many cases, we use FDA-supported peptide therapies as part of a medically guided strategy. In select cases, we may consider non–FDA-approved peptides with transparency, conservative use, trusted sourcing partners, and appropriate monitoring.
All peptide use is:
• Physician-guided and individualized
• Integrated into a broader systems-based plan
• Introduced when foundational systems are stable
• Monitored through labs, symptoms, and safety markers
Do you offer GLP-1 weight loss support or Drop 10 details?
Yes. We offer medically guided GLP-1 support through our Drop 10 Program and, in select cases, within longer-term care.
Our focus isn’t just weight loss—it’s metabolic repair and body composition. We aim to preserve (and build) lean muscle while reducing inflammatory and metabolic burden.
Drop 10 may include:
• GLP-1 therapy when appropriate and monitored
• InBody™ tracking to support fat loss while protecting muscle
• Protein + strength strategy for lean mass
• Metabolic and inflammation support
• Check-ins and adjustments based on response
GLP-1 signaling may also influence inflammation and brain-related pathways, so we monitor thoughtfully and use it as part of a larger strategy—not a standalone solution.
You don’t need more generic advice
You need a plan that fits your body and your life. Book a Discovery Call and start addressing root causes, let’s talk.
Currently accepting a limited number of new patients for 2026. Virtual care available in select states.
© 2026 Root Cause Medicine, 8790 Ralston Road, Arvada, CO, 80002
Phone: (720) 290-5569 | Email: [email protected]