Discover Functional Health with Dr. Kim: A New Path to Wellness in San Antonio

Looking for a Functional Medicine Doctor in San Antonio? Here's How I Work — From Anywhere in Texas

Many patients experience the frustration of pursuing symptom relief for years, moving from one specialist to another, only to receive more prescriptions without real solutions.

I am Dr. Yoon Hang "John" Kim, specializing in integrative and functional medicine for complex cases often overlooked by standard practices in San Antonio.

My practice operates virtually. I provide care to patients in San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, the Rio Grande Valley, and every small town in between, as well as those in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, and Florida. You can consult with me through secure video from the convenience of your home, office, or even your car during a lunch break, eliminating the need for travel and waiting rooms.

What "Functional Medicine" Actually Means in My Practice

Functional medicine refers to a holistic approach that seeks to treat the whole person and identify the root causes of health issues. While these descriptions are accurate, they often lack detail.

In my practice, root-cause medicine involves examining underlying systems such as the gut and microbiome, mitochondrial energy production, and immune regulation. I assess factors like toxic exposures and nervous-system patterns that may be contributing to symptoms. For instance, what appears as "depression" might actually be a thyroid issue, or "IBS" could be small intestinal bacterial overgrowth linked to an undiagnosed mast cell activation syndrome.

I hold board certification in preventive medicine and completed Dr. Andrew Weil's integrative medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona in 2004. As an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, I've been prescribing low-dose naltrexone since the early 2000s, frequently presenting for the LDN Research Trust, and authoring books on the topic. This background suits the needs of patients whose conditions often puzzle other doctors.

Why Virtual Functional Medicine Works — Especially for the Patients I Treat

Can functional medicine be effectively practiced through video consultations? For my patients, the answer is "better than in person, most of the time." Here's why:

Key Insights

Travel challenges for the sickest patients. Conditions like ME/CFS, Long COVID, MCAS, and severe fibromyalgia make clinic visits physically taxing. Virtual consultations remove this barrier, enabling access to necessary care.

The essence of visits: conversation and reasoning. Functional medicine primarily involves thorough history taking and reasoning, easily translated to video consultations. While physical exams matter, the core diagnostic work rests in the history and lab results.

Convenience of local labs and imaging. I collaborate with Quest, LabCorp, and specialty labs (DUTCH, GI-MAP, mycotoxin panels) for local testing. Patients can have blood drawn at nearby facilities.

Medications are sent to local pharmacies, or for LDN and other specialized compounds, to trusted compounding pharmacies.

Continuous access between visits. Membership patients can contact me securely between appointments, ensuring ongoing support and communication.

The Conditions I See Most Often

Common patterns in my practice include:

• Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) candidates such as fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, Long COVID, MCAS, and ME/CFS.

• Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), viewed as an immune derangement syndrome resulting from cumulative stressors.

• Post-viral conditions like ME/CFS, Long COVID, and related fatigue syndromes, aligned with Society for Integrative Oncology guidelines.

• Menopausal hormone therapy, often utilizing DUTCH testing to assess estrogen metabolism accurately.

• Mold toxicity, chronic Lyme, gut/SIBO, stubborn autoimmune diseases.

• For straightforward cases like sinus infections or routine checkups, primary care doctors or urgent care services are more appropriate. My practice is designed for cases unresponsive to typical treatments.

Will Insurance Pay for This?

The honest answer is no. My practice is membership-based and direct-pay. I do not bill insurance, and I limit my patient panel to 99 for personalized attention, allowing for communication by message or video between appointments.

Important Considerations

Membership is managed through Hint.com. While lab work and imaging are ordered through insurance, many patients use FSA or HSA funds for membership fees and visits. We ensure transparency about costs before you commit, so there are no surprises.

I chose this model because the insurance-billing system does not align with my practice philosophy. I value the ability to conduct thorough evaluations, use a blend of conventional and integrative methods, and dedicate significant time to each patient, which is only feasible outside the traditional billing system.

If You Want to Start

Begin with an initial consultation. Gather your medical records, particularly recent lab work, a list of symptoms with timelines, and current medications and supplements. I'll review everything.

The first meeting is a detailed conversation to map out known and unknown factors, identify necessary tests, and create a personalized treatment plan. This plan often includes nutrition, targeted supplements, prescription medications when appropriate, and lifestyle modifications tailored to you. Quick fixes aren't promised, but thorough evaluation and dedicated care are guaranteed.

If you're in San Antonio, elsewhere in Texas, or in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, or Florida, visit www.directintegrativecare.com to learn more and book an appointment.

Key Takeaways

Taking Action

• Convenience of local testing. I order labs through Quest, LabCorp, or specialty providers, with sample collection done locally.

• Local pharmacy prescriptions. Medications, including LDN and compounded options, are sent to pharmacies I've worked with for years.

• Accessible communication. Membership patients have secure messaging options for ongoing support between visits.

• LDN candidates include conditions like fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases, and chronic pain syndromes.

• MCAS is considered an immune disorder from cumulative impacts.