A holistic take on the most common mistake practitioners make—and how to ensure your programs deliver lasting results.
Introduction: Why Functional Medicine Needs More Than Supplements
As functional medicine continues to gain momentum among health practitioners, many are eager to help patients tackle chronic health problems using innovative protocols. However, according to Dr. Chad Woolner, one of the most common, and costly, mistakes practitioners make when launching a functional medicine program is relying too heavily on supplements. This pitfall can lead to lackluster results and disappointed patients. Understanding why a complete, holistic approach is essential can mean the difference between transformational patient outcomes and ongoing frustration for both practitioners and their clients.
The Supplement-Centric Trap: A Story of Good Intentions Gone Awry
To illustrate this point, Dr. Woolner recounts the experience of a practitioner who joined their Simplified Functional Medicine (SFM) program, full of excitement to learn about supplement protocols. Despite being coached on the holistic nature of functional medicine, this practitioner focused almost exclusively on supplements when working with patients, neglecting other crucial elements of the program.
Not surprisingly, the results were disappointing. The patient enrolled under this supplement-centric approach didn’t achieve the health outcomes they were hoping for. Both practitioner and patient were left frustrated, prompting the practitioner to seek guidance from the SFM team. Upon review, it became clear: none of the lifestyle, engagement, or educational aspects had been incorporated. The expectation that supplements alone would elicit dramatic change proved to be a critical error.
The Missing Piece: A Truly Complete Approach to Healing
This scenario highlights the third and possibly most important mistake in functional medicine: failing to provide a comprehensive approach. Supplements are undeniably powerful tools, but they are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to resolving chronic health issues. Dr. Woolner emphasizes that practitioners (and their patients) will end up “sorely disappointed” if they operate under the illusion that chronic conditions can be solved purely with supplements.
To check if a program is genuinely comprehensive, Dr. Woolner suggests a simple litmus test:
If you take away lab tests and supplements from your program, what do you have left?
If your answer is “not much,” then your approach is incomplete and leaves critical gaps in care.
With Simplified Functional Medicine, if you removed labs and supplements, what remains is a robust lifestyle curriculum. This includes resources and actionable tools for patients, such as breath work, meditation, cold immersion, sauna therapy, sleep hygiene protocols, and daily routines built around environmental design and behavior change. These are the core drivers that empower patients to take charge of their own health from the inside out.
From Passive to Empowered: Why Lifestyle and Education Are Non-Negotiable
The crux of Dr. Woolner’s message is that true healing doesn’t come from an external source, be it a practitioner or a pill. Instead, it requires a paradigm shift both in how practitioners structure their programs and how patients engage with the healing process. Chronic illnesses are often the result of years of lifestyle patterns; merely adding supplements won’t undo those ingrained habits.
A complete functional medicine program must include patient education, engagement, and practical tools for behavior modification. This not only accelerates recovery but also creates lasting change, reducing the risk of symptom relapse and fostering a sense of empowerment among patients.
Conclusion: Put the “Function” Back into Functional Medicine
In summary, Dr. Woolner’s key takeaway is simple yet profound: Supplementation has its place, but it is not a cure-all. Avoid the mistake of providing an incomplete solution. Whether you choose to work with SFM or build your own program, ensure that your approach addresses the whole person, mind, body, and lifestyle.
By giving patients a comprehensive toolkit that extends far beyond the supplement bottle, you’ll set them up for true, sustainable health. And you’ll set yourself apart as a practitioner who delivers outcomes that truly matter.
