James. E. Hicks, DC

James. E. Hicks, DC I help women 35-55 lose stubborn weight and restore their energy — naturally. No crazy diets. No exhausting workouts. Just root cause answers that finally work.

Functional Medicine doctor with 30+ years of experience. Let's talk. Dr. James Hicks, ND, is a recognized authority in detoxification and toxicity, holding certifications as a Functional Medicine Practitioner, Blood Work Specialist, Integrative Health Practitioner, and Restorative Wellness Solutions Practitioner. As the founder of Functional Wellness LLC, Dr. Hicks is dedicated to guiding individu

als toward optimal health by addressing underlying causes of illness through evidence-based approaches involving diet, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications. He is the #1 bestselling co-author of “Healing Beyond the Diagnosis” and author of “The Ultimate Way to a Healthy Quality of Life.” Dr. Hicks's commitment to promoting detoxification as an essential component of longevity is evident in his innovative Functional Wellness Protocol, which systematically addresses sensitivities, deficiencies, and toxicity—a methodology successfully implemented with thousands of clients. He incorporates a range of natural supplements to enhance daily detoxification and supports a variety of health concerns including weight loss resistance, gut health, food sensitivities, skin conditions, and hormonal imbalances. Through his virtual practice, Dr. Hicks serves patients nationwide and remains deeply committed to helping individuals achieve and maintain lasting wellness.

Not All Cooking Oils Are Equal. Your Body Knows the Difference.Red palm oil has been demonized for decades. But science ...
05/29/2026

Not All Cooking Oils Are Equal. Your Body Knows the Difference.

Red palm oil has been demonized for decades. But science tells a different story. And the oils most Americans cook with every day? Those are the real problems.

Red palm oil is one of the richest natural sources of tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E most Americans never consume. It also contains 15 times more beta-carotene than carrots, supports fat-soluble vitamin absorption, and has been shown in clinical research to reduce arterial plaque.

Tocotrienols cross the blood-brain barrier. For anyone concerned about cognitive decline or cardiovascular risk, that matters. Buy unrefined, sustainably sourced red palm oil. Deep red-orange color means the nutrients are intact.

Now compare that to what most kitchens stock.
Avoid or Limit:
Soybean oil: Highly processed, linked to inflammation and blood pressure spikes.
Canola oil: Often refined and may contain oxidized fats that damage cells.
Sunflower oil: High in omega-6 fatty acids. Excess omega-6 disrupts the inflammatory balance your body depends on.

Use Sparingly:
Olive oil: Excellent for cold uses and low-heat cooking. Less stable at high temperatures. Best used on salads or added after cooking.

The oils sitting in your pantry may be doing more damage than the food you are trying to cook. Inflammation, hormonal disruption, and oxidative stress often trace back to processed fats consumed daily over years.

Most practitioners never test for oxidative stress markers or inflammation.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Your doctor probably never prescribed this.Most people think exercise means a treadmill, a weight room, or a spin class....
05/28/2026

Your doctor probably never prescribed this.

Most people think exercise means a treadmill, a weight room, or a spin class. Necessary? Yes. The only option? Not even close.

Ballroom dancing produces the most consistently positive health results across ALL measured domains. Cardiovascular function, cognitive performance, mood, balance, and quality of life. All improved.

The research shows:
Brain, cardiovascular, and metabolic benefit.. A 2025 Bayesian meta-analysis found ballroom dancing significantly improves cognitive function in older adults compared to every other dance style tested. It challenges executive function, spatial memory, and rapid processing simultaneously. No pill does that. Ballroom hits aerobic thresholds that matter. Heart rate variability, circulation, blood sugar regulation — all respond.

Mood and mental performance. A controlled 10-week study published in December 2024 showed that just one 60-minute ballroom session per week improved mood and key health markers in previously sedentary middle-aged adults. One hour. Ten weeks. Measurable results.

Dementia prevention. Research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience identified ballroom dancing as one of the most protective lifestyle activities against dementia onset. It trains the brain to learn, adapt, and coordinate in real time.

Social and hormonal benefit. Physical touch, rhythmic movement, and partner coordination trigger oxytocin and dopamine. Not theoretical. Documented.

This is why I talk about lifestyle medicine inside every program I run. Labs tell us your biochemistry. But what you DO daily determines whether the numbers improve. It is a strategic combination of movement, nutrition, and targeted biochemical support. Ballroom dancing is one piece. A very good one. If you can’t ballroom, just move everyday!

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program.

You've been to every doctor.  I saw 18 doctors and practitioners running across the country before I found out what was ...
05/28/2026

You've been to every doctor. I saw 18 doctors and practitioners running across the country before I found out what was happening inside my own body.

You've had the blood work done. You've heard "everything looks normal." You've been told it's stress. Or age. Or just something you have to live with. But you're still exhausted. Still in pain. Still frustrated. And honestly. still wondering if someone is ever going to take your health seriously.

I hear that. More than you know. After 30 years of working with patients who came to me after the system failed them, I can tell you this: "normal" lab results do not mean optimal. And optimal is what you deserve.

You don't need another referral to another specialist who gives you 8 minutes and a prescription. You need someone who will actually listen, look at your full picture, and tell you the truth about what is driving your symptoms.

That is what I do. I have opened up complimentary 20-minute Strategy Calls from now until June 15, 2026 for anyone who has a health issue that has gone unresolved. No pitch. No pressure. Just a real conversation with a practitioner who has been connecting root causes to real solutions for three decades.

If something in your body is off and nobody has given you a straight answer. this call is for you.

Scan the QR code in the visual graphic, or go directly to:
👉 functionalwellnessllc.com/discovery-call-page

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your physician before beginning any new health protocol.

Your Kidneys Are Under Attack Every Single Day.Toxins. Blood sugar spikes. Medications. Metabolic waste. Your nephrons a...
05/27/2026

Your Kidneys Are Under Attack Every Single Day.

Toxins. Blood sugar spikes. Medications. Metabolic waste. Your nephrons absorb that punishment continuously.

Most people ignore their kidneys until something goes wrong. By then, damage is done.

Research shows astaxanthin activates the Nrf2/HO-1 cellular defense pathway.

That does three things your nephrons need:
🔬 Quenches oxidative stress in renal tubular cells
🔥 Suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines driving structural damage
🛡️ Inhibits cell death in glomerular and tubular tissue

This is not a "kidney cleanse." It is cellular protection at the nephron level, where damage actually begins.

Before any targeted support, I start with a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. Key kidney biomarkers I assess:
🧪 eGFR: nephron filtration capacity
🧪 BUN: kidney clearance of protein waste
🧪 Creatinine: flags reduced nephron function
🧪 BUN/Creatinine Ratio: dehydration, filtration problems
🧪 Total Protein/Albumin: protein retention status
🧪 Calcium: tubular dysfunction indicator
🧪 CO2/Bicarbonate: acid-base regulation
🧪 Glucose: drives glomerular oxidative stress

If your markers are trending wrong, we talk about what the labs are telling you and what makes sense next.

Test, Don't Guess.™

DM me the word KIDNEY for a brief info session.
https://functionalwellnessllc.com/discovery-call-page

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

I LEARNED THE HARD WAY… SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO!I learned how to lose stubborn weight, restore energy, and feel vibrant aga...
05/27/2026

I LEARNED THE HARD WAY… SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO!

I learned how to lose stubborn weight, restore energy, and feel vibrant again. Because 10 years ago, I couldn't figure out why my own body was working against me.

But I invested 32 years and helped over 3,000 patients get real answers — so that you don't have to spend years guessing like I did. The most valuable thing I learned? It's not your willpower. It's not your diet. It's not how hard you're working out. It's what's happening inside — your gut, your hormones, your microbiome — that's been running the show all along.

Once I stopped chasing symptoms and started uncovering root causes through functional medicine testing, everything changed. I lost 18 lbs in 6 weeks — without extreme diets or exercise. And now, this is what I LOVE helping my clients do.

If you have been struggling with your weight that doesn't budge, let's find out and discover why. Get your complimentary strategy session here:

https://functionalwellnessllc.com/discovery-call-page

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is educational and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

GET TO THE GUT OF ITYou're exhausted. Your mood is unpredictable. The scale keeps creeping up. You bloat after every mea...
05/27/2026

GET TO THE GUT OF IT

You're exhausted. Your mood is unpredictable. The scale keeps creeping up. You bloat after every meal. Your belly looks inflamed even when you haven't eaten much.

Conventional medicine ran your labs. Everything came back "normal."

But you still feel terrible.

Here's what most doctors miss: your gut may be running the whole show.

The gut is not just a digestion organ. It produces roughly 90% of your serotonin. It regulates your immune system, your inflammation levels, and your metabolism. It sends constant signals to your brain via the gut-brain axis.

When gut function breaks down, everything downstream suffers. Fatigue. Brain fog. Weight gain that won't budge. Sleep disruption. Anxiety. Bloating so severe your clothes don't fit by evening.

This is not aging. This is dysfunction. And it is measurable.

At Functional Wellness LLC, we use the GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus) stool analysis test to see exactly what is happening inside your gut. We are not guessing.

The GI-MAP identifies:

- H. pylori and other bacterial pathogens
- Opportunistic and dysbiotic bacteria
- Parasites and fungal overgrowth (including Candida)
- Intestinal permeability markers (leaky gut)
- Secretory IgA levels (immune defense)
- Digestive enzyme insufficiency
- Inflammation markers including Calprotectin

Every one of those findings connects to symptoms you are living with right now.

Fatigue. Mood crashes. Stubborn weight. Bloat. Gut belly. Sleep problems. These are not separate issues. They are one story. And the gut is often chapter one.

If your gut has never been properly tested, it is time.

1. Comment GUTCHECK below for more info or...
2. Get your lab directly, Visit: labs.rupahealth.com/store/storefront_7dJvE34 or...
3. Complimentary 20 minute clarity call session:
https://functionalwellnessllc.com/discovery-call-page

Your gut has been trying to tell you something. It is time to listen.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is educational and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Most people are not sick. They are disconnected from their own biology.  Your nervous system is not broken. It's been wa...
05/25/2026

Most people are not sick. They are disconnected from their own biology. Your nervous system is not broken. It's been waiting.

Most people I work with don't just have a lab problem. They have a disconnection problem.

Fatigue. Brain fog. Mood swings. Hormonal chaos. These are not random failures. They are signals from a body and nervous system that has been running on stress chemistry for years. Sometimes decades.

Here is what conventional medicine misses: when your nervous system is locked in survival mode, no supplement, no diet, and no lab panel alone will restore you fully.

The stress hormone cascade is real. Cortisol suppresses thyroid output. Chronic inflammation blocks mitochondrial energy production. Disrupted sleep wrecks insulin sensitivity and s*x hormone balance. Your biology follows your inner state, not just the other way around.

I see this pattern constantly in my practice. A patient's labs improve. But they still feel stuck. Still foggy. Still flat. Why? Because we treated the numbers without addressing the terrain.

Root cause medicine goes deeper than blood work. It asks: why did your body stay in that state in the first place? What kept the alarm system running long after the danger passed?

That is the question I build my programs around.
For women 35 to 55, the answer often lives at the intersection of cortisol dysregulation, thyroid suppression, and estrogen-progesterone imbalance. For men over 60, it shows up as blunted testosterone, poor sleep architecture, and mitochondrial fatigue.
The lab work reveals the what. The deeper work reveals the why.

Both matter. Neither is optional. If you have been doing everything right and still feel like something is missing, your body is not failing you. It is communicating with you.
Start with the data. Then go deeper.

DM me the word CLARITY and I will show you where to start.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol.

She protected what mattered most — and taught her pups to do the same. This is AnnaWolf.My Shiloh Shepherd. My protector...
05/25/2026

She protected what mattered most — and taught her pups to do the same. This is AnnaWolf.

My Shiloh Shepherd. My protector. My girl. Years ago, she stood between our family and intruders on our farm — without hesitation, without fear. Just pure loyalty. She was the most devoted mother to her pups — a beautiful mix of Shiloh Shepherd and Great Pyrenees.

She didn't just love them. She groomed them to do exactly what she did: protect what matters most. She's been gone for a few years now… but her legacy lives on.

Because she taught me something I carry into everything I do: Protect what matters most. Your health. Your energy. Your body.

The life you're meant to live. That's exactly why I do the work I do — helping women reclaim what matters most to them.

Miss you, AnnaWolf

A PRAYER OF RELEASEForgiveness PrayerMost people carry wounds they never named.  Pain from relationships that broke them...
05/24/2026

A PRAYER OF RELEASE

Forgiveness Prayer
Most people carry wounds they never named. Pain from relationships that broke them. Trauma from events is never fully processed. Fear that quietly rewired how they see themselves and everyone around them.

Here is what I know after decades in clinical practice: unresolved emotional wounds do not stay in your mind. They migrate and internalize into your body. They show up as inflammation, hormonal dysfunction, chronic fatigue, and behaviors you cannot explain.

Science is now confirming what Scripture always pointed to. Forgiveness is not just spiritual. It is biological. This is a Forgiveness Prayer for anyone who is ready to go deeper. It is rooted in faith and built on a simple truth: healing requires release. You cannot carry the weight of old wounds and expect your body, mind, or spirit to function at full capacity.

“Father, I come before You as the Author and Finisher of my healing. I invite Your Spirit into the deepest part of me, to locate the origin of these feelings and thoughts of pain, trauma, fear, and unforgiveness.

Go to every level, every layer, every part of who I am. Bring it all to the surface. Analyze it. Resolve it. Not by my understanding, but by Your truth alone, through Christ our Savior.

Move through every generation, every timeline, every wound and its roots. Heal each one completely, in alignment with Your perfect will. Bring me to the present moment, filled with Your light and truth. Let me receive Your peace and love. I forgive myself for the ways I have misread reality. I extend full forgiveness to every person, every place, every circumstance, and every event that contributed to this pain.

With total forgiveness and unconditional love, I release it. Every physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual burden rooted in this old wound, recorded in my very DNA, I release to You now. I allow transformation to replace it.

I choose to be complete and free. I feel tremendously unbound. I am who You created me to be.

And with a humble and grateful heart, I speak these words of release:
I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.

It is done. It is healed. It is accomplished.

In Jesus' name, Amen.”

Share this with someone who needs it today.

This content is for inspirational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

Address

Myrtle Beach, SC

Opening Hours

Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+16145548128

Website

https://drhickswellness.com/

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