Bay Area Functional and Integrative Health

Bay Area Functional and Integrative Health

About Joan Lu, PhD, RN, PHN, BC-FMP Joan Lu is the founder of Bay Area Functional & Integrative Health, a nurse-led practice focused on helping individuals understand their health beyond “normal labs.” She is a Registered Nurse in California, and holds a PhD in Natural Medicine. She is also a Board-Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, with a clinical focus on chronic conditions, metabolic health, and medication–nutrient interactions. ​ Her work centers on patient education, advocacy, and connecting the dots between symptoms, labs, medications, and nutrition—especially for individuals who feel unheard or unresolved within the traditional healthcare system. ​ A Personal Journey That Shapes Her Work Before becoming a practitioner, Joan was once a patient. She was told she would never get pregnant, had PCOS and endometriosis, and was given multiple serious diagnoses—including one that suggested cancer. But through lifestyle changes, nutrition, and persistence, her story unfolded differently. Today, she is a mother—and her experience continues to shape how she approaches care: with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for each individual’s journey. ​ Her Approach Joan provides personalized, holistic support with a strong emphasis on food as medicine, functional lab interpretation, and medication awareness. She integrates clinical nursing experience with functional medicine, culinary medicine and traditional chinese medicine. Her goal is not to replace your healthcare team—but to advocate for you to better understand your body, ask informed questions, to take a more active role in your health while navigating the complex U.S. healthcare system.