Below are the latest supplement recommendations. Functional Medicine changes rapidly, and we don’t always have time to update the course right away, but you’ll always find our latest recommendations here first.
MC-BFM-1Beyond BalanceCombination therapyStart one capsule daily on an empty stomach, and increase up to as many as three capsules once daily, as tolerated.
| Condition/Symptom | Supplement Name | Brand | Dosage | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High cortisol | HPA Balance | Vital Plan | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening. May be taken without food. |
| Phosphatidylserine (often used in combination with HPA Balance) | Designs for Health | 150 mg capsule | Take 1 capsule daily. | |
| Relora | ||||
| Low free cortisol/high total cortisol | 5-HTP | Jarrow Formulas | 100 mg capsule | Take 1 capsule 1 hour before bed. |
| Tyrosine | Jarrow Formulas | 500 mg capsule | Take 1 capsule 3 times daily. | |
| Power Adapt | Natura Health Products | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 1 to 2 pills twice per day. | |
| Vital Adapt | Natura Health Products | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules twice daily. This is better absorbed on an empty stomach; however, it may also be taken close to/with food. | |
| High cortisone | Licorice root | Herb Pharm | 701 mg per 0.7 ml | Two to 5 times per day, take 30 to 40 drops in a little water. |
| Low cortisol | Adrenal glandulars | Dr. Ron’s | New Zealand Adrenal Bovine 250 mg, New Zealand Adrenal Cortex 20 mg, New Zealand Liver 210 mg | Start with 1 capsule at breakfast. After 7 days, increase to 2 capsules at breakfast. Seven days after that, you may try increasing to 3 capsules at breakfast (or, if they are not stimulating for you, you can take 1 capsule 3 times daily with meals). If you feel hyperactive or overstimulated, reduce the dosage. |
| Vital Adapt | Natura Health | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules twice daily. This is better absorbed on an empty stomach; however, it may also be taken close to/with food. | |
| Adrenal Cortex | Thorne | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 1 capsule, 1 to 3 times daily. | |
| Adrenal Support | Herb Pharm | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Add 0.7 mL (approximately 1/8 teaspoon) to 2 oz. of water or juice, 2 or 3 times per day. It’s best taken between meals. | |
| Stress Manager | Herb Pharm | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Add 0.7 mL (approximately 1/8 teaspoon) to 2 oz. of water or juice, 2 or 3 times per day. It’s best taken between meals. | |
| Antifungals | A-FNG | Byron White Formulas | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Slowly build to 10 drops with meals. |
| Formula SF722 | Thorne Research | 10-Undecenoic acid 250 mg | Take 5 gelcaps 2 to 3 times daily with or without food. | |
| Yeastonil | Apex Energetics | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 1 capsule twice daily with meals. You can increase as tolerated up to 2 pills twice per day. | |
| Antimicrobials | GI-Synergy | Apex Energetics | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 1 capsule twice daily with meals. You can increase as tolerated up to 2 pills twice per day. |
| Monolaurin | Lauricidin | Pure Monolaurin | Start with 1/4 scoop 3 times daily with meals. Work up to 1 full scoop 3 times daily with meals. | |
| FC-Cidal | Biotics Research | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 pills twice per day immediately before breakfast and lunch. | |
| Dysbiocide | Biotics Research | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules twice daily with meals. | |
| CandiBactin-AR | Metagenics | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 pills twice per day with food. If causing stomach upset, take 1 pill 3 times per day with food. | |
| CandiBactin-BR | Metagenics | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 pills twice per day with food. | |
| Biocidin LSF (pediatric-friendly) | Bio-Botanical Research | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 1 to 3 pumps daily. Begin with 1 pump, and gradually increase to 3 pumps per day as directed. Hold under the tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing. It may be added to water. It’s best taken on an empty stomach 10 minutes before meals. | |
| Biocidin Advanced Formula | Bio-Botanical Research | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Use 1 drop per 10 lbs body weight per day, divided into 2 or 3 doses. Take for 6 weeks. | |
| Biofilm disruptors | Biofilm Defense | Kirkman | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Start with 1 capsule per day on an empty stomach. Build up to 2 capsules twice daily on an empty stomach. |
| BioDisrupt | Researched Nutritionals | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules twice daily about 1 hour before meals. | |
| InterFase Plus | Klaire Labs | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Begin with 1 capsule twice per day on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). If no die-off symptoms occur, increase the dose slowly until you reach 3 capsules twice daily. | |
| MC-BFM-1 | Beyond Balance | Combination therapy | Start one capsule daily on an empty stomach, and increase up to as many as three capsules once daily, as tolerated. | |
| Constipation (including probiotics and pro-motility support) | MotilPro | Pure Encapsulations | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 to 3 capsules twice per day between meals. |
| Motility Activator | Integrative Therapeutics | Combination therapy | Take one capsule twice daily, or two capsules before bed, as preferred. | |
| SIBO-MMC | Priority One | Combination therapy | Take 3 capsules twice daily (ideally away from food) or 3-6 capsules at bedtime. | |
| Mutaflor | Mutaflor | Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 25 x 109 | Take 1 capsule per day for the first 4 days. Take 2 capsules daily starting on day 5. | |
| PooPDoc’s Formula | Poop Doc | Ozonated magnesium 1035 mg, Potassium 99 mg | Start with 1 capsule daily and work your way up to 3 capsules daily, to bowel tolerance. | |
| Magnesium glycinate | Klaire Labs, Pure Encapsulations | Dose is brand dependent | Take 200 to 600 mg/d (use caution with higher doses over the long term). | |
| Natural Calm | Natural Vitality | Magnesium 325 mg | Start with 1/2 teaspoons in the evening, and work up to as many as 3 teaspoons as needed to help with constipation. Take 1 to 2 teaspoons before bed. | |
| Ageless Hydro-C | Ageless Nutrition | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Use a dry teaspoon. Dissolve 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of Hydro-C powder in half a glass of plain drinking water at room temperature. Once dissolved, drink immediately. Otherwise, the solution becomes flat (not effervescent) and slightly bitter. | |
| Acacia fiber | Integrative Therapeutics | 2.2 grams | Use as directed by the manufacturer; start slowly and build up. | |
| Bifidobacterium infantis | Ther-Biotic infant formula (multiple ingredients) or single ingredient brand of choice | Single strain probiotic | Start slowly and build up. | |
| Atrantil (methane targeting) | KBS Research | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules 3 times per day. | |
| Citrus pectin | No preferred brand | Citrus pectin | Use as directed by the manufacturer; start slowly and build up. | |
| Escherichia coli Nissle | No preferred brand | Single strain probiotic | Start slowly and build up. | |
| Lactobacillus plantarum (Ideal Bowel Support) | Jarrow Formulas | Single strain probiotic | Start slowly and build up. | |
| Methane targeting | B. infantis | Klaire Labs or brand of choice | Single strain probiotic | Start slowly and build up. |
| Atrantil | KBS Research | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules 3 times per day. | |
| Lactobacillus reuteri (BioGaia Gastrus) | Everidis Health Sciences | Single strain probiotic | Take 1 chewable tablet per day. | |
| L. plantarum (Ideal Bowel Support) | Jarrow Formulas | Single strain probiotic | Start slowly and build up. | |
| Helicobacter pylori specific *See antimicrobials* | Crucera-SGS | Thorne | Sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) 50 mg | Take 3 capsules twice daily with lunch and dinner. |
| Saccharomycesboulardii | Klaire Labs or Biotics Research | 3 billion CFU | Take 1 capsule twice per day away from antimicrobials (such as GI-Synergy, Lauricidin). If on antibiotics and having diarrhea, you could take as much as 2 to 3 pills 3 times per day. | |
| Bismuth-containing Products | PeptiGuard | Thorne | Combination therapy | Take 2 capsules two times daily between meals for a maximum of eight weeks. |
| Bio-HPF | Biotics Research | Combination therapy | Take 2-3 capsules before meals at least 3 times daily. If you only have two meals a day, then consider taking the third dose with a snack or on an empty stomach if tolerated. | |
| Probiotics | Seed Daily Synbiotic | Seed | Multi-strain probiotic | Start with 1 daily and build up to 2 daily. |
| MegaSporeBiotic | Microbiome Labs | Multi-strain probiotic | Start with 1 capsule daily, and after 5 to 7 days, increase to 2 capsules daily. It’s best taken about 20 minutes after a meal. | |
| Primal Probiotics | Primal Blueprint | Multi-strain probiotic | Take 1 capsule per day with food. Up to 10 capsules per day (5 capsules twice) may be taken to help restore flora after food poisoning or use of antibiotics. | |
| Terraflora | Enviromedica | Multi-strain probiotic | Take 1 to 2 capsules per day with or without food. | |
| VSL #3 | VSL #3 | Multi-strain probiotic | Dietary management of gas and bloating in irritable bowel syndrome: 2 to 4 capsules, or 1 packet. Dietary management of ulcerative colitis (UC): 4 to 8 capsules, or 1 to 2 packets. Dietary management of active UC:, or 2 to 4 packets. | |
| Ther-Biotic Complete | Klaire Labs | Multi-strain probiotic | Take one capsule twice daily. Best taken at least 1-2 hours away from antimicrobials. If you are on antibiotics and you experience stomach upset, pain, diarrhea, nausea, bloating, etc, you can take more, even up to 4-6 pills twice per day. | |
| Heartburn/gut discomfort | DGL mastic gum wafers | Jarrow Formulas | DGL 300 mg with Mastic Gum 150 mg | Chew 1 to 2 wafers as needed for heartburn or other upper gastrointestinal distress. |
| GastroMend-HP | Designs for Health | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules twice daily on an empty stomach. | |
| Motility/digestion | Iberogast | Medical Futures | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 20 drops 3 times daily just before or with meals on the days that you are more symptomatic. For a maintenance dose, take 20 drops before bedtime. It may be mixed with your favorite drink (warm water is recommended). |
| Digest Gold | Enzymedica | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 1 capsule with each meal. More may be taken as needed. | |
| MotilPro | Pure Encapsulations | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 to 3 capsules twice per day between meals. | |
| Ox Bile | Allergy Research Group | Bile (Bovine) 500 mg | Take 3,000 to 6,000 mg per day. | |
| Super Enzymes | NOW | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 1 capsule immediately after meals. | |
| Cholesterol lowering | Pantethine | Jarrow Formulas | Pantethine 450 mg | Take 1 capsule (450 mg) twice daily with meals. |
| Annatto-E Synergy (tocotrienols) | Designs for Health | Black Cumin Seed Oil 1g Vitamin E Isomers 125mg (as delta and gamma tocotrienols) |
Take 2 capsules in the evening with food. | |
| Choleast-900 (Red Yeast Rice) | Red Yeast Rice 900 mg | Take 1 capsule twice daily. | ||
| QH-Absorb | Jarrow Formulas | Ubiquinol 200 mg | Take 1 capsule (200 mg) with breakfast. | |
| Blood sugar regulation | Metabolic Synergy (nutrients) | Designs for Health | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 3 capsules twice daily with meals. |
| GlucoSupreme Herbal (botanicals) **helpful with sugar cravings | Designs for Health | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Take 2 capsules twice daily with meals. | |
| Inflammation | Boswellia Phytosome | Thorne | Indian Frankincense Phytosome 350 mg | Take 1 capsule 2 times daily. |
| Boswellia AKBA | Pure Encapsulations | 5-LOXIN Boswellia serrata extract 100 mg with 3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) 30 mg | Take 1 capsule 1 to 2 times per day with food, as needed for pain and/or inflammation. | |
| Ojai CBD | Ojai Energetics | See website for details | Take as instructed on the website. | |
| Curcuma NF-kB | Gaia Herbs | Turmeric root extract** Curcuma longa) (36mg Curcumins from total EtOH extract) Turmeric root supercritical extract+ … 34mg (Curmuma longa) Black Pepper fruit supercritical extract+ … 7mg (Piper nigrum) |
Take 1 to 2 capsules, twice daily as needed. Take up to 2 to 4 grams daily for autoimmune conditions. | |
| Vitamin D | Vitamin D/K2 | Thorne or Ortho Molecular Products | Thorne: 1000 IU per 2 drops OM: 1000 IU per drop |
Dose-dependent on nutrient need |
| Cod liver oil (vitamins A and D) | Rosita | Wild caught cod liver oil, rosemary, organic vitamin E, fish collagen softgels. | Take 3 capsules daily with the fattiest meal of the day. (Liquid also available) | |
| Sleep | Doc Parsley’s Sleep Remedy (for initiating sleep) | Multiple ingredients – see product label for specifics | Capsules – Take 3 capsules 45 minutes before bed. Powder – Mix 1 packet in 8oz warm water 30 min before bed. |
|
| Nutrients | Kelp flakes (iodine sources) | Maine Coast Sea Vegetables | The maintenance dose of kelp is 300 mcg daily; take 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon daily. | |
| Zinc citrate | Natural Factors | Zinc citrate 15 mg | Take 15 mg 3 times daily on an empty stomach. | |
| Trifolamin lozenges (Methyl B12 and methylfolate) | Designs for Health | Vitamin B12, as methylcobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, and adenosylcobalamin3000 mcg, [6s]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate 680 mcg | Take 1 lozenge daily. Allow the lozenge to dissolve slowly and completely in the mouth, and swallow. It’s best taken just after a meal. | |
| Optimal Liposomal Vitamin C | Seeking Health | Vitamin C 1000 mg Sodium 90 mg Phosphatidylcholine 400 mg |
Take 1 teaspoon daily on an empty stomach, about 15 minutes before a meal. You can mix it with other tinctures. If you start to feel a cold or flu coming on, or if you are experiencing constipation, you may increase to up to 1 teaspoon 2 to 3 times daily as needed. | |
| Iron | Proferrin Clear (heme-based iron) | Proferrin | Iron 10.5 mg | Take 1 tablet twice daily with meals. If you take thyroid medication, take this supplement at least 4 hours away from your medication. |
| Desiccated Liver, Spleen, and/or Organ complex | Ancestral Supplements | Freeze-Dried New Zealand Grassfed Liver (Bovine) OR Freeze-Dried New Zealand Grassfed Spleen (Bovine) OR Organ complex (multiple ingredients) | Start with 1 capsule daily. Then, you can increase your dose as tolerated to 6 capsules daily. |