About Our Heartburn Specialists
A more personal approach to care.
We Believe Heartburn Is a Clue, Not a Condition
At Wilmington Functional Medicine, we've spent years watching patients cycle through antacids, PPIs, and endoscopies — only to end up back where they started. The reason? Conventional medicine treats heartburn as the problem. We treat it as a symptom pointing to something deeper.
Our functional medicine approach starts with listening — really listening — to your full health history. Then we run advanced diagnostic tests that most GI doctors don't order. Then we build a plan that's specific to you. You can see the whole process on our How It Works page.
Our Philosophy
We don't believe in lifetime prescriptions for a problem that has a real solution. Chronic heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD are almost always caused by identifiable, treatable root factors: bacterial imbalances, food sensitivities, low stomach acid, or stress-hormone dysregulation. When you find the cause, you can fix it.
We also believe patients deserve to understand their own bodies. Every test we run, we explain. Every recommendation we make, we back with evidence. You'll never leave an appointment wondering what just happened or what you're supposed to do.
Meet Your Doctors
Dr. Mathew Bradshaw, DC, AFMCP
Dr. Matthew Bradshaw is a Kansas City–born, Colorado-schooled chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner who blends natural healing principles with advanced training through the Institute for Functional Medicine. After overcoming his own debilitating panic attacks and gut issues using a clean diet, targeted supplements, and lifestyle changes, he now loves helping patients who feel stuck in the traditional medical system finally get answers and lasting relief.
Dr. Hilary Rutledge, DC, DABCI
Dr. Hilary Rutledge is a Sierra Nevada Foothills native, longtime Wilmington resident, and chiropractor-turned-functional medicine doctor who has spent more than two decades helping patients get healthy naturally. After returning to school for four additional years of advanced functional medicine training, she now focuses on partnering with patients who feel unheard in the traditional system, using in-depth testing, personalized care plans, and plenty of real-life empathy as a mom, horse lover, and yoga enthusiast.
Why Patients Choose Us
- We order tests conventional doctors overlook
- We explain every result in plain language
- We create plans you can actually follow
- We work with your existing doctors, not against them
- We offer telehealth for patients across North Carolina
Where We See Patients
HeartburnReliefNC.com is a service of Wilmington Functional Medicine, where patients are seen at 5046 Wrightsville Ave., Suite 200, Wilmington, NC 28403, (910) 444-9438. Telehealth appointments are available anywhere in North Carolina, and most testing is done with at-home kits — so distance is never a barrier. See all of our service areas.
What conditions do you focus on?
Chronic heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, H. pylori, hiatal hernia, eosinophilic esophagitis, and food-sensitivity-driven reflux. See the full list on our conditions page.
Do you take insurance?
We work with patients to maximize what's available, and many tests and consultations qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement. We'll walk you through the options on your discovery call.
How do I get started?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call. We'll listen to your story, answer your questions, and tell you honestly whether our approach fits your situation.
Ready for real answers?
Your first step is a free 15-minute discovery call. We'll listen, answer your questions, and tell you honestly whether we can help.
Book Free Discovery Call No cost. No commitment. Just answers.