What Is Functional Neurology & How Can It Help You Heal Naturally?
If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, brain fog, balance issues, or neurological symptoms that just don’t seem to have clear answers—you’re not alone. At Meraki Chiropractic & Functional Neurology, we specialize in a unique approach that’s changing lives: Functional Neurology.
But what exactly is functional neurology? And how is it different from traditional neurology or mental health care?
Let’s break it down.
What Is Functional Neurology?
Functional neurology is a brain-based healthcare approach that looks at how your nervous system is functioning—not just whether it’s damaged.
Rather than only searching for tumors, lesions, or structural abnormalities (as traditional neurology does), we assess how different areas of your brain and body are communicating, processing, and responding. Think of it as analyzing the software of the brain, not just the hardware.
Your Brain Can Change: The Power of Neuroplasticity
One of the most exciting discoveries in modern neuroscience is that your brain is capable of neuroplasticity—the ability to rewire, adapt, and form new connections. Functional neurology works with this innate power by providing targeted stimulation, exercises, and interventions that help your brain heal naturally.
We use techniques that activate specific pathways in the brain to improve things like:
- Mood regulation (for anxiety and depression)
- Sensory processing (for autism and sensory overwhelm)
- Balance and dizziness (vestibular function)
- Cognitive clarity (brain fog, memory, focus, ADD/ADHD)
- Post-stroke recovery
- Concussion and head injury rehabilitation
- Tourette’s, Tics, involuntary movements
What Makes It Different From Traditional Neurology?
While traditional neurologists are incredibly important for diagnosing serious conditions (like seizures, MS, or stroke), they often rely heavily on imaging and medications. Functional neurology takes it a step further by asking:
“How well is your nervous system actually functioning—and what can we do to support it naturally?”
Instead of focusing only on pathology, we evaluate how the brain, body, and environment interact to create symptoms. And instead of just managing symptoms, we aim to improve function, communication, and recovery.
One of the biggest differences?
We also use comprehensive, full-spectrum lab testing to uncover root causes that often get overlooked—such as:
- Inflammation and immune dysregulation
- Nutrient deficiencies affecting neurotransmitter balance
- Gut-brain axis dysfunction (like leaky gut or microbiome imbalance)
- Hormonal imbalances that influence brain function
- Blood sugar instability and mitochondrial health
These labs are far more in-depth than routine tests and help us connect the dots between what’s happening biochemically and how your brain is functioning.
With this whole-person view, we don’t just guess—we get real data that guides targeted, natural care plans.
Real-World Example: Anxiety and the Brain
Let’s say you’re dealing with chronic anxiety—something we see often in our clinic. You’ve maybe tried therapy, medications, or even meditation, but you still feel on edge, overwhelmed, and not yourself. In a functional neurology setting, we approach this differently.
First, we assess function:
We don’t guess—we test. We evaluate how your nervous system is behaving in real time, using clinical tools like:
- Eye movement testing to assess brainstem, cerebellar, and cortical function.
- Heart rate variability (HRV) to evaluate your autonomic nervous system—specifically how well you switch between “fight-or-flight” and “rest-and-digest.”
- Balance and coordination testing, which can reveal dysfunction in the cerebellum, often tied to anxiety and overstimulation.
- Primitive reflexes and postural reflexes to identify retained or unintegrated reflexes that could keep your nervous system stuck in hypervigilance.
- Vagal tone assessments, since the Vagus nerve plays a massive role in emotional regulation, digestion, and overall calmness.
Then, we investigate the biochemical piece:
Anxiety is rarely just in the brain. It’s often the result of neurochemical imbalances and metabolic stressors that functional lab testing can uncover. Depending on your case, we may run:
Lab Tests We May Use for Anxiety:
Blood sugar/insulin markers and thyroid panel – since both blood sugar instability and thyroid dysfunction can fuel anxiety.
DUTCH Complete or Plus – for cortisol rhythm (HPA axis), sex hormone imbalance, and metabolite patterns.
GI-MAP or Gut Zoomer – to detect gut infections, dysbiosis, leaky gut, or inflammation that could be impacting your brain via the gut-brain axis.
Organic Acids Test (OAT) – to assess neurotransmitter precursors, B-vitamin status, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress.
Micronutrient Panel (SpectraCell or Vibrant) – to find deficiencies in magnesium, B6, zinc, or others that directly affect mood and brain health.
Homocysteine, hs-CRP, and other inflammatory markers – to measure neuroinflammation and methylation issues.
Rather than labeling anxiety as simply a “chemical imbalance” that needs to be medicated, we view it as a brain-body dysfunction—one that is highly responsive to the right inputs. With this combined neurological and biochemical approach, we can reduce the triggers and retrain your brain to respond more calmly and efficiently.
The Natural Healing Approach
We use a combination of:
- Specific neurological exercises
- Chiropractic adjustments (if needed)
- Sensory-motor therapies
- Light, vibration, or vestibular stimulation
- Brain-based nutritional support
These approaches work together to create lasting, brain-based healing.
Is Functional Neurology Right for You?
If you’ve been told “everything looks normal” but you still don’t feel right…
If you’re tired of relying solely on medication and want a proactive, personalized path to healing…
If you’re looking for answers no one else has given you… Functional neurology could be the missing piece.
Next Steps: How to Begin
At Meraki Chiropractic & Functional Neurology, we offer comprehensive evaluations that look at how your brain and body are communicating in real-time. If you’re curious about whether this approach can help, we’d love to talk.
Email info@merakichiropractic.com to get started
Dr. Dani Ruf, Brain-Focused Chiropractor, Functional Neurology, Meraki Chiropractic PLLC, 14JUN2025
