{"id":6581,"date":"2024-11-05T12:10:29","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T17:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/?p=6581"},"modified":"2024-11-05T12:12:33","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T17:12:33","slug":"healing-from-the-inside-out-how-functional-medicine-transforms-health-in-cuenca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/05\/healing-from-the-inside-out-how-functional-medicine-transforms-health-in-cuenca\/","title":{"rendered":"Healing from the Inside Out: How Functional Medicine Transforms Health in Cuenca"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6581\" class=\"elementor elementor-6581\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-687802a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"687802a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13fac71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13fac71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Photos: Courtesy of MEDIWELL Clinic<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a9fce8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7a9fce8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0400f1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f0400f1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35441e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"35441e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Seventeen years ago, I survived a near-fatal heart attack. Twelve years ago, I battled prostate cancer. Today, I\u2019m taking 15 different pills a day. It\u2019s a pharmaceutical jungle. Since moving to Cuenca, I\u2019ve wondered if there\u2019s a way to escape this reliance on drugs. That\u2019s when I stumbled across the intriguing world of Functional Medicine.<\/p><p>Functional Medicine is revolutionizing healthcare worldwide by shifting the focus from managing symptoms to uncovering the root causes of illness. Unlike traditional medicine, which often targets individual symptoms, Functional Medicine offers a holistic, patient-centered approach that looks at how interconnected the body\u2019s systems are. Practitioners don\u2019t just prescribe; they dig deeper into your genetics, environment, and lifestyle to understand the bigger picture of your health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fef5cd5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fef5cd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"447\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-19-at-7.21.13-PM-e1730824741843.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6584\" alt=\"MEDIWELL Clinic LOGO\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-19-at-7.21.13-PM-e1730824741843.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-19-at-7.21.13-PM-e1730824741843-300x179.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f061cad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f061cad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This approach is gaining traction, particularly in the U.S. The Cleveland Clinic\u2019s Center for Functional Medicine, the first major center of its kind, boasts a waitlist of over 2,000 patients\u2014evidence of growing public interest in this emerging field.<\/p><p>So, what makes Functional Medicine so appealing? Practitioners use advanced diagnostic testing and detailed health histories to create a roadmap for better health. They don\u2019t just treat disease; they focus on prevention, promoting sustainable solutions like dietary changes, stress management, and lifestyle modifications. It\u2019s a personalized path to wellness, not a one-size-fits-all approach.<\/p><p>The empowerment that comes with Functional Medicine is refreshing. It gives patients the tools to take control of their health, offering alternatives to the pill-popping culture. As more people seek proactive ways to manage their well-being, Functional Medicine continues to gain popularity as a bridge between natural remedies and conventional care.<\/p><p>Luckily, Cuenca is no stranger to this health revolution. I was fortunate to meet Dr. Stefan\u00eda Montalvan, a certified Functional Medicine practitioner at MEDIWELL Clinic.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d246ba9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d246ba9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76c9de7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76c9de7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Her journey into Functional Medicine is just as inspiring as the practice itself.<\/p><p>After graduating from medical school, Dr. Stefania spent a transformative year in the Gal\u00e1pagos on Santa Isabela Island, working on international health programs. There, she and her colleagues made lasting improvements in prevention and healthcare management for the island&#8217;s population. Later, she became the head of nutrition at a public hospital in El Oro Province during the pandemic. This challenging role opened her eyes to the complications faced by those with chronic diseases.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1e15d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f1e15d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"572\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-19-at-7.13.27-PM-572x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6583\" alt=\"MEDIWELL Clinic\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3fdeaa elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"b3fdeaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider-separator{display:flex;margin:0;direction:ltr}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator{align-items:center}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:before{display:block;content:\"\";border-block-end:0;flex-grow:1;border-block-start:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider__element{margin-inline-start:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider__element{margin-inline-end:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-block-start:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e3a084 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e3a084\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Juggling motherhood, long hospital hours, and her own health crisis led Dr. Stefania to seek answers beyond conventional medicine. That\u2019s when she discovered Functional Medicine. Inspired by peers in Colombia and Mexico, she pursued certification at the prestigious Functional Medicine Institute in the U.S. &#8220;It transformed how I approach medicine\u2014not just for my patients, but for myself and my family,\u201d she explains. \u201cI realized this was the right path.\u201d<\/p><p>Dr. Stefania founded MEDIWELL Clinic in Cuenca, where Functional Medicine complements conventional care. Her clinic dives deep into what matters most\u2014true, long-lasting health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-645586a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"645586a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3805a28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3805a28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote><p>Located near Hotel Oro Verde, MEDIWELL offers consultations both in person and via telemedicine, Monday through <strong><span style=\"color: #7d6bbf;\">Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m<\/span><\/strong>. Services are available in both <strong><span style=\"color: #7d6bbf;\">English and Spanish.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-846c038 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"846c038\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-649efcb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"649efcb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a12607 elementor-widget elementor-widget-google_maps\" data-id=\"7a12607\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"google_maps.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-google_maps .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden}.elementor-widget-google_maps .elementor-custom-embed{line-height:0}.elementor-widget-google_maps iframe{height:300px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed\">\n\t\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=Av%20Ord%C3%B3%C3%B1ez%20Lasso%20633%2C%20Cuenca&#038;t=m&#038;z=15&#038;output=embed&#038;iwloc=near\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"Av Ord\u00f3\u00f1ez Lasso 633, Cuenca\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Av Ord\u00f3\u00f1ez Lasso 633, Cuenca\"\n\t\t\t><\/iframe>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e18a2e3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e18a2e3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2ed00b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a2ed00b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Ready to take control of your health? I know I am. Schedule your appointment today!<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4198c5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4198c5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Contact Information<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-605736f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"605736f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Address<\/strong>: Ordo\u00f1ez Lasso 633 y Olivos sector Oro Verde, Cuenca<br \/><strong>Phone<\/strong>: 096 982 1223<br \/><strong>Email<\/strong>: Mediwellcuenca@gmail.com<br \/><strong>Instagram<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mediwell_cuenca?igsh=enljYnR6eW5kZXpo\">Mediwell Cuenca<\/a><br \/><strong>Facebook<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61564881936787&amp;mibextid=LQQJ4d\">MEDIWELL Clinic<\/a><br \/>Find Dr. Stefania on the Functional Medicine Institute: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifm.org\/practitioners\/stefania-esther-montalvan-zambrano\">Dr. Stefania Montalvan<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photos: Courtesy of MEDIWELL Clinic Seventeen years ago, I survived a near-fatal heart attack. Twelve years ago, I battled prostate cancer. Today, I\u2019m taking 15 different pills a day. It\u2019s a pharmaceutical jungle. Since moving to Cuenca, I\u2019ve wondered if there\u2019s a way to escape this reliance on drugs. That\u2019s when I stumbled across the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,52,483,516],"tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6581"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6581"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6601,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6581\/revisions\/6601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}