Functional Medicine · Waltham, MA · Serving Greater Boston
Gut Health: Healing Digestion from the Root Cause
Bloating after every meal. Foods that suddenly don’t agree with you. Discomfort you’ve learned to plan your life around, even after tests came back “normal.” Your gut is talking, and at Inner Healing Medical in Waltham, about 20 minutes from downtown Boston, our providers take the time to understand what it’s saying: a root-cause evaluation of your digestion, followed by a personalized plan to restore it.
A full care team. Your gut health evaluation at Inner Healing Medical is led by our providers: board-certified family medicine physicians Dr. Marianela Lavena, MD and Dr. Stephen Roberts, MD, and functional-medicine-trained nurse practitioners, each caring for their own patient panel. Call 781-614-7800 or email info@innerhealingmedical.com.
Why gut symptoms get dismissed
Conventional GI care is excellent at what it’s built for: finding and treating disease. A colonoscopy that rules out cancer or inflammatory bowel disease is genuinely good news. But “we didn’t find a disease” is not the same as “your gut is healthy,” and that’s where many people get stuck: real daily symptoms, a normal scope, and a suggestion to manage stress or take an antacid. Functional medicine picks up exactly where that conversation ends. We look at how your digestive system is actually functioning: the microbiome, digestion and absorption, food reactions, and the gut’s two-way conversation with your brain, hormones, skin, and immune system.
What we investigate
Microbiome & digestion
- Microbiome imbalance (dysbiosis) and overgrowth patterns
- Digestion and nutrient absorption
- Effects of past antibiotics and acid-blocking medications
- Comprehensive stool and microbiome analysis
Food & sensitivity
- Food sensitivity evaluation
- Celiac screening and gluten-related symptoms
- Trigger identification through structured elimination
- Personalized nutrition planning with our health coach
Gut–body connections
- Gut–brain axis: stress, mood, and digestion
- Links to skin, hormones, and thyroid
- Immune and inflammatory patterns
- Nutrient status: iron, B12, vitamin D, and more
Lifestyle & stress
- Stress physiology and nervous system regulation
- Sleep quality and its effect on digestion
- Movement, meal rhythm, and daily patterns
- Mind-body practices from our wellness center
How gut restoration works at Inner Healing Medical
There is no one-size-fits-all gut protocol. After an unhurried evaluation and targeted testing, your provider builds a sequenced plan: removing what’s irritating the gut, restoring digestion, rebalancing the microbiome, and repairing from there, using nutrition as the foundation, supplements where they’re warranted, and conventional treatment where it’s indicated. Nutrition coaching and our mind-body programs support the changes, and, when appropriate, physician-supervised IV nutrient therapy can help replete what a struggling gut hasn’t been absorbing.
Because gut symptoms rarely travel alone, being a membership practice matters here: the same provider follows your digestion, energy, mood, and labs over time, connecting dots that fifteen-minute visits never could. Struggling with exhaustion too? Read about our approach to chronic fatigue — the two often share roots.
When conventional GI care comes first
Some symptoms need a gastroenterologist’s evaluation before anything else: blood in the stool, unintended weight loss, difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting, or a family history of GI cancers. We take these seriously, refer promptly, and coordinate with your GI specialist, so root-cause work complements conventional care rather than replacing it.
Ready to make peace with your gut?
Reach out to our team to learn whether our approach is right for you. Serving Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Lexington, Belmont, Watertown, and all of Greater Boston.
781-614-7800 · info@innerhealingmedical.com
465 Waverley Oaks Rd, Suite 201, Waltham, MA 02452
Contact UsFrequently asked questions
What gut symptoms do you work with?
Members come to us with bloating, gas, irregular digestion, reflux, food reactions, and digestive discomfort that persists despite normal conventional testing, as well as gut-connected concerns like fatigue, skin issues, and brain fog. After evaluation, your provider will tell you honestly whether a functional medicine approach fits your situation.
What gut testing do you offer?
Testing is chosen based on your history and may include comprehensive stool and microbiome analysis, food sensitivity evaluation, celiac screening, inflammatory markers, and nutrient status (iron, B12, vitamin D, and others). Standard labs can often be billed through insurance; specialty functional labs are quoted before anything is ordered.
Do you replace my gastroenterologist?
No, and we don’t try to. Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat GI disease; we focus on how your gut is functioning day to day. Many members work with both, and we refer promptly and coordinate care whenever symptoms call for conventional GI evaluation.
Do you take insurance?
We accept most major insurance plans for medical visits (not MassHealth or MassHealth-affiliated plans). Membership fees, specialty functional laboratory testing, and certain wellness services are separate from insurance. We’ll explain exactly what’s covered before you enroll.
Can Inner Healing Medical be my primary care provider?
Yes. Our physicians and nurse practitioners can serve as your primary care provider, handling preventive care, prescriptions, and referrals, with functional and integrative medicine built into the same relationship. Each provider cares for their own patient panel.
Where are you located? Do you see patients from Boston?
We’re at 465 Waverley Oaks Rd, Suite 201 in Waltham, MA, about 20 minutes from downtown Boston with free on-site parking, and minutes from Lexington, Newton, Belmont, and Watertown. Telehealth visits are available for patients across Massachusetts.
This page is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have severe abdominal pain, blood in your stool, or other alarming symptoms, seek medical care promptly.