New medical trend helping heal patients from cellular level

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- There's a new trend in medicine where doctors are now playing detectives - getting to the core of your health and helping people feel better from the cellular level.

For 30 years, Tanya Tecce says she had her thyroid tested and every year it came up normal.

"I would wake up and still be tired. I had gained about 25 pounds and it didn't make any sense," she said.

Fed up, Tecce turned to Dr. Heather Moday and to functional medicine.

"I would forget why I walked into a room," said Tecce.

She was diagnosed with a common autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's disease, but her treatment was less than conventional.

"I didn't have to get any surgery, I didn't have to take synthetic hormones," she said.

The Moday Center for Functional Medicine is the first of its kind in Center City Philadelphia.

Dr. Moday is a traditional MD who is now dedicated to getting to the bottom of you personal biochemistry.

"What I love about it is that it is so based in science," she said.

Blood, stool, saline, urine - functional medicine labs take a deeper look at unlocking the root of your individual issues.

"And get down to people's specific needs - it's not this blanket prescription approach of 'take this drug'," said Dr. Moday.

Tecce's treatment involves specific nutritional supplements and other lifestyle adjustments, from food to stress to sleep

"I feel like my body is healing from inside out," she said.

Functional medicine isn't new. It's been around for about two decades, but it's just starting to trend.

"We as Americans are frustrated with our own healthcare because when we go to the doctor we get 5 or 10 minutes and a prescription and we don't feel much better," said Dr. Moday.

And this isn't meant to replace your doctor or specialist. While Dr. Moday can and does still write prescriptions, she says these personalized labs give her a new set of biomedical tools to work with.

"We are really more interested in finding out why people get sick.

As for the cost, some insurance companies are just starting to pick up some of the tab, but a lot of patients are paying out of pocket.

Tecce says she's feeling great - and that's worth every penny.

"If you are good about taking your car in every 3000 miles I mean, this the one body you get," she said.

Tuesday on Action News at 4, find out how functional medicine - and some unique tests - are helping people unlock the secret to weight loss.

For more information on the Moday Center, CLICK HERE.