Say Goodnight to Insomnia: A Functional Medicine Approach to Restful Sleep

Insomnia is more than a sleepless night - it’s a signal from your body that deeper imbalances may be at play. If you struggle to fall asleep, wake up frequently, or battle fatigue during the day, you’re not alone. Over 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and millions more have occasional sleep issues that interfere with daily life, relationships, and overall health.

What’s Really Causing Your Sleepless Nights?

Conventional medicine often treats insomnia as a standalone symptom with quick fixes like sleeping pills. But functional medicine looks beneath the surface. Insomnia isn’t just “in your head”—it’s a red flag that your body is experiencing dysfunction, often stemming from what Reed Davies and The Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioners call metabolic chaos.

At the root of sleep disturbances are often hidden stressors, including:

• Hormonal imbalances (especially cortisol and DHEA)

• Blood sugar dysregulation

• Chronic stress (mental, emotional, physical, and chemical)

• Liver detoxification issues (especially if you wake between 1–3 a.m.)

• Inflammation and gut dysfunction

• Nutrient deficiencies and food sensitivities

Your Brain Cleans Itself While You Sleep

Did you know your brain has its own waste disposal system called the glymphatic system? It flushes out toxins—like the amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer’s—only while you’re asleep. Without enough sleep, your brain can’t detoxify properly, increasing your risk of cognitive decline and mood disorders.

Why Cortisol Is Keeping You Awake

Cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, plays a crucial role in your energy cycles. It should peak in the morning and drop by bedtime. But modern life—stress, screens, sugar, late workouts—throws this rhythm off, often causing a cortisol spike at night, making it nearly impossible to drift off.

Functional Lab Testing: Discovering the "Why"

Rather than guessing, functional practitioners use specific lab tests to identify imbalances in:

• Cortisol and DHEA throughout the day

• Sex hormones (like estrogen and progesterone)

• Gut health and pathogens (when these are awake at night, they often wake you up too)

• Blood sugar regulation

• Liver detox function

• Food sensitivities

These tests give us a roadmap to restore your body’s balance—no pills required.

Protocol for Sleep Success

Functional medicine uses a whole-body healing strategy based on the main pillars of health:

• Diet: Stabilize blood sugar with protein-rich snacks before bed

• Rest: Aim for 8+ hours, ideally asleep before 10 p.m.

• Exercise: Gentle, consistent movement (preferably earlier in the day)

• Stress Reduction: Address all forms - mental, emotional, physical, and chemical

• Supplementation: Personalized support like melatonin, B vitamins, adrenal nutrients, and adaptogens

Healing Starts with Self-Care

Ultimately, your body knows how to heal - it just needs the right conditions. By identifying and removing the stressors that drain your body’s “bank account,” and restoring balance through nutrition, rest, and support, restful sleep becomes not just possible, but sustainable.

Ready to Get to the Root of Your Insomnia?

If you're tired of band-aid solutions and want a personalised roadmap to deep, restorative sleep, functional medicine may be your answer. Every person is a study of one, and that’s why we start with you.

Book your complimentary sleep evaluation and adrenal function screening today.