Tara McLellan, functional medicine certified, family nurse practitioner (NP) is the owner of Hillstar Health in Daphne, Alabama.

McLellan became a NP to help people be healthier and happier. “I realized traditional medicine often uses medications to mask symptoms, rather than asking why the symptom is occurring in the first place or if it can be addressed holistically,” she says. “So, in 2019, I started studying integrative medicine and became certified through the Institute of Functional Medicine.”

McLellan’s specialty is treating autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s or psoriasis, to name a few. These occur when the immune system can’t tell the difference between your own cells and foreign cells causing the body to mistakenly attack normal cells, manifesting in various diseases. “There can be triggers that lead to this this, like chronic stress, a viral illness or toxic exposures such as mold or heavy metals,” says McLellan. “Once the triggers are identified and reversed, the body can heal itself.”

Functional medicine is patient-focused, not disease-focused, and seeks the underlying causes of symptoms to correct and treat them through natural means. McLellan commonly finds that lifestyle modifications along with supplements can treat the root cause. In addition to supporting patients with autoimmune diseases, she also enjoys helping patients of all ages with hormone imbalances, chronic gastrointestinal issues and those struggling with mental health.

Learn more about how the functional medicine approach is changing lives with a holistic approach to chronic and preventative health concerns.

Hillstar Health