

Meet the Doctor
Dr. John Bartemus is passionate about helping you optimize your physiology and return to a state of health and function. He has experience helping people with autoimmunity, chronic infections, thyroid disorders, etc. Click below to get started:

What Is Functional Medicine?

Address the Cause
Typically patients come to us having been told that everything looks normal based on the standard tests routinely run by their medical doctor (physical examination, urinalysis, blood tests etc.). They know deep down that things are not “normal”…
- Our society is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
- The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward acute care, the diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness that is of short duration and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg. Physicians apply specific, prescribed treatments such as drugs or surgery that aim to treat the immediate problem or symptom.
- Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and tools for preventing and addressing complex, chronic disease. In most cases it does not take into account the unique genetic makeup of each individual or factors such as environmental exposures to toxins and the aspects of today’s lifestyle that have a direct influence on the rise in chronic disease in modern Western society.
- There’s a huge gap between research and the way doctors practice. The gap between emerging research in basic sciences and integration into medical practice is enormous—as long as 50 years—particularly in the area of complex, chronic illness.
- Most physicians are not adequately trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet, and exercise to both address and prevent these illnesses in their patients.
- Our society is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
- The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward acute care, the diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness that is of short duration and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg. Physicians apply specific, prescribed treatments such as drugs or surgery that aim to treat the immediate problem or symptom.
- Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and tools for preventing and addressing complex, chronic disease. In most cases it does not take into account the unique genetic makeup of each individual or factors such as environmental exposures to toxins and the aspects of today’s lifestyle that have a direct influence on the rise in chronic disease in modern Western society.
- There’s a huge gap between research and the way doctors practice. The gap between emerging research in basic sciences and integration into medical practice is enormous—as long as 50 years—particularly in the area of complex, chronic illness.
- Most physicians are not adequately trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet, and exercise to both address and prevent these illnesses in their patients.
About Us
John Bartemus, DC, CFMP, BCIM, Author
Dr. John Bartemus has over 15 years of healthcare experience.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease” – Thomas Edison
Dr. John Bartemus is a Chiropractic Physician who strives to meet the standard for health care that Thomas Edison set over a century ago. Now more than ever, our society needs holistic doctors who are devoted to finding the unique cause of each individual person’s issues and correcting it in a natural, drug-free way.
Time and research have shown that more drugs do not equal more health. Our nation is suffering from a burden of chronic disease that is not the result of a deficiency of pharmaceuticals. It is the result of a lack of knowledge as to what our bodies require to be healthy. Our society is built on a magic bullet paradigm, this will never lead to health. Disease did not happen overnight, neither will health.
If you are looking for an objective, evidence-based, holistic integrative health doctor to help you determine the cause of your dysfunction(s) and remove them, Dr. John Bartemus is here to help you.
OUR MISSION
We strive to provide current, evidence-based care that addresses the cause of your dysfunction.
We aim to:
- Provide hope and solutions for those suffering with chronic ailments
- Provide answers and explanations to “Why Me?”
- Give objective, evidence-based results
- Use testing to determine YOUR specific biochemical and physiologic CAUSE of your ailment
- Promote general wellness for all people and families that desire to live at full potential
CREDENTIALS
- Bachelor of Science – Biology
- Bachelor of Science – Life Sciences
- Doctor of Chiropractic
- Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner
- Board Certified Integrative Medicine
- Graduate, American Functional Neurology Institute
- Board Eligible, Diplomate American Clinical Board of Nutrition
- Member, International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehab
- Member, PANDAS Physician’s Network
- Member, NC Integrative Medical Society
- Member, NC Physician’s for Freedom
OUR LOCATION
Functional Medicine Charlotte
If you live in Charlotte, greater Charlotte, or Lake Norman area, you can easily get to our office via Highway 77. We are conveniently located off of exit 28 in Cornelius.
Videos
Depersonalization, Social Anxiety, and Ativan Dependence eliminated in 6 wks w/Functional Medicine
This woman could not function in day to day life due to Depersonalization, severe anxiety, and dependence on Ativan to sleep. In less than 6 weeks the Depersonalization was eliminated and she is now out and about in public without need for Ativan or any other medication.
Get a FREE AUDIO copy of Dr. Bartemus’ Amazon International Best-Selling book, The Autoimmune Answer here: t.ly/UU_H
John Bartemus, DC
Functional Medicine Charlotte
704-895-2240
http://www.FunctionalMedicineCharlotte.com
Disclaimer: *Please note that the information shared on this YouTube Channel is informational and educational and is not to be interpreted as medical advice. Before implementing any information from this channel, please consult first with your primary care provider.
Crippling fatigue and brain fog eliminated in no time with Functional Medicine
Are you suffering from crippling fatigue, brain fog, and exercise intolerance? Don’t waste another day.
Get a FREE AUDIO copy of Dr. Bartemus’ Amazon International Best-Selling book, The Autoimmune Answer here: t.ly/UU_H
John Bartemus, DC
Functional Medicine Charlotte
704-895-2240
http://www.FunctionalMedicineCharlotte.com
Disclaimer: *Please note that the information shared on this YouTube Channel is informational and educational and is not to be interpreted as medical advice. Before implementing any information from this channel, please consult first with your primary care provider.
Depersonalization, Social Anxiety, and Ativan Dependence eliminated in 6 wks w/Functional Medicine
This woman could not function in day to day life due to Depersonalization, severe anxiety, and dependence on Ativan to sleep. In less than 6 weeks the Depersonalization was eliminated and she is now out and about in public without need for Ativan or any other medication.
Get a FREE AUDIO copy of Dr. Bartemus’ Amazon International Best-Selling book, The Autoimmune Answer here: t.ly/UU_H
John Bartemus, DC
Functional Medicine Charlotte
704-895-2240
http://www.FunctionalMedicineCharlotte.com
Disclaimer: *Please note that the information shared on this YouTube Channel is informational and educational and is not to be interpreted as medical advice. Before implementing any information from this channel, please consult first with your primary care provider.
Crippling fatigue and brain fog eliminated in no time with Functional Medicine
Are you suffering from crippling fatigue, brain fog, and exercise intolerance? Don’t waste another day.
Get a FREE AUDIO copy of Dr. Bartemus’ Amazon International Best-Selling book, The Autoimmune Answer here: t.ly/UU_H
John Bartemus, DC
Functional Medicine Charlotte
704-895-2240
http://www.FunctionalMedicineCharlotte.com
Disclaimer: *Please note that the information shared on this YouTube Channel is informational and educational and is not to be interpreted as medical advice. Before implementing any information from this channel, please consult first with your primary care provider.
Podcasts
Are Your Gut Problems Due To Brain Problems?
If you have chronic gut problems, you could have a brain problem. This is especially true if you’ve had a head injury or if you also suffer from worsening memory, brain fog, cognitive decline, or other symptoms of poor brain function.
Chronic digestive complaints — indigestion, acid reflux, constipation, burping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, pain, or irritable bowel disorders — are common complaints of a brain that is not functioning well.
The brain gives orders to the gut through the vagus nerve, which then tells the gut to digest food, repair and regenerate the gut lining, push food through the intestines (motility), and many other functions.
When brain function declines, the brain doesn’t give the vagus nerve enough input. As a result, constipation, leaky gut, food sensitivities, irritable bowel disorders, and other problems can arise.
This is one reason why people with a head injury or dementia have chronic gut complaints.
Exercise the vagus nerve to address gut problems
In functional neurology, we conduct a neurological exam to evaluate areas of the brain that are not functioning well. We then provide activities to activate or dampen different areas of the brain, depending on your needs, to improve function. This in turn can improve communication between the vagus nerve and the gut.
However, sometimes you can activate the vagus nerve yourself at home with some very simple daily activities.
Vagus nerve exercises
A few simple tests can tell you if your vagus nerve may not be sufficiently active:
- You don’t have much of a gag reflex; when you say, “ahhh” the uvula (the little punching bag at the back of your throat) does not rise much
- When you listen to your abdomen with a stethoscope, you hear virtually no rumbling noises — a healthy gut makes intermittent rumbling noises.
Here are some simple exercises to activate the vagus nerve:
Gargle vigorously several times a day. Gargling contracts the back of the throat, which activates the vagus nerve. Gargle each drink of a glass of water several times a day. Gargle vigorously and for a good length of time, ideally until your eyes tear (it may take a while to build up to that.)
Sing loudly. If you are alone at home or in the car, spend some time singing as loudly as you can. This also activates the back of the throat and hence the vagus.
Gag. Using a tongue depressor, which you can buy from Amazon, gently press on the back of your tongue to make yourself gag. Please do not poke the back of your throat. Do this several times a day, again, ideally until your eyes tear. Gargling and singing are like sprints for the vagus nerve, whereas gagging is strength training.
Coffee enemas. Please Google instructions for doing a coffee enema (or email me for a How-To guide). Hold the enema solution as long as you can. That, together with compounds in coffee that stimulate nerve receptors, will help activate the vagus nerve.
This is a simple overview of how to improve gut function by activating the brain. For more customized advice, please contact my office, 704-895-2240
Is Stress Making You Sick?
You’ve probably heard it over and over: Stress raises the risk of disease. But how do you know if your stress is the disease-causing kind? It’s helpful to know some signs and tests to let you know.
Severe stress can either cause you to be fatigued all the time, wired all the time, or a mix of both. Or maybe stress manifests as sleep issues.
It’s not uncommon for people to become so used to being stressed out they fail to realize it’s an issue.
Symptoms of fatigue-based stress
- Fatigue
- Slow to get going in the morning
- Energy crash in the afternoon
- Craving sweets, caffeine, or nicotine
- Unstable behavior; moodiness
- Shaky, light-headed, or irritable if meals are delayed
- Inability to stay asleep
- Dizziness when moving from sitting to standing
Symptoms of wired stress
- Excess belly fat
- Insulin resistance (high blood sugar)
- Insomnia
- Not feeling rested in the morning
- Women grow facial hair; men grow breasts
- PCOS in women (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
How to do a lab test for stress
You can also do a lab test to measure stress levels using your saliva; it’s called an adrenal salivary panel. Your adrenal glands are two small glands that sit atop each kidney that secrete stress hormones.
The best way to use the adrenal salivary panel is do the test a second time after following a health protocol. This shows you whether your health is improving.
This is because stress is always caused by something else, such as low or high blood sugar, an infection, or autoimmune disease.
Adrenal health should improve as you manage these conditions. If things do not improve, it means you must keep searching to find out what is taxing the body.
Measuring your sleep-wake cycle
Another way to gauge stress is to look at your sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm.
Are you alert in the morning and sleepy at night? An abnormal circadian rhythm is one symptom of adrenal stress.
Your primary stress hormone, cortisol, should be high in the morning and low at night. Many people have a backwards rhythm causing fatigue in the morning and insomnia at night. Or, instead of a gradual decline of cortisol during the day, it may suddenly drop in the afternoon, causing an energy crash.
Where are you on the stress scale?
By measuring several markers, the adrenal saliva test can tell you whether you are in:
- The “alarm reaction” of high adrenal hormones
- Adrenal exhaustion and chronic tiredness
- Somewhere in between
You do not necessarily have to progress from alarm reaction to adrenal fatigue. It’s possible to jump between phases, or stay in one phase for years.
The adrenal saliva test also measures immune cells called total SIgA. This measures how stress is impacting your immune system. If SIgA is low, it can mean you are more susceptible to food intolerances, infections, and weakened immunity.
Start with blood sugar stability to manage stress
Although diet and lifestyle factors are important in managing stress, the most common cause of chronic stress is a blood sugar imbalance. Addressing high or low blood sugar are vital to addressing chronic stress.
Additionally, various herbal and nutritional compounds can profoundly influence adrenal function. For instance, herbs called adrenal adaptogens are very beneficial regardless which stage you are in.
Ask my office how you can support your adrenal health, 704-895-2240.
Gut Health – Scratching the Surface
Gut health is a massive topic. There is no way to cover it in 1 episode, or 10. This episode lays the groundwork by covering gut anatomy and physiology. It then forays into the microbiota, food sensitivities, GERD, and your stools. This is a nice 10,000 foot view to get you started.
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A Comprehensive Approach to Healthcare
Most imbalances in functionality can be addressed; some can be completely restored to optimum function, and others can be substantially improved.
Prevention is paramount. Virtually every complex, chronic disease is preceded by long-term disturbances in functionality.
Changing how the systems function can have a major impact on the patient’s health. Functional medicine practitioners are holistic doctors who examine a wide array of available interventions and customize an action plan including those with the most impact on underlying functionality.
Functional medicine expands the clinician’s tool kit. Action plans may include combinations of botanicals, nutritional supplements, therapeutic diets, or detoxification programs. They may also include counseling on lifestyle, exercise, or stress-management techniques.
The patient becomes a partner. As a patient, you become an active partner with your functional medicine practitioner. This allows you to really be in charge of improving your own health and changing the outcome of your chronic ailment(s).
A Comprehensive Approach to Healthcare
Most imbalances in functionality can be addressed; some can be completely restored to optimum function, and others can be substantially improved.
Prevention is paramount. Virtually every complex, chronic disease is preceded by long-term disturbances in functionality.
Changing how the systems function can have a major impact on the patient’s health. Functional medicine practitioners are holistic doctors who examine a wide array of available interventions and customize a treatment plan including those with the most impact on underlying functionality.
Functional medicine expands the clinician’s tool kit. Treatments may include combinations of botanicals, nutritional supplements, therapeutic diets, or detoxification programs. They may also include counseling on lifestyle, exercise, or stress-management techniques.
The patient becomes a partner. As a patient, you become an active partner with your functional medicine practitioner. This allows you to really be in charge of improving your own health and changing the outcome of chronic ailment(s).
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