Dr. Mila McManus, MD

Mila McManus, M.D., graduated at the top of her class from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School in 2000, and is board-certified in Family Medicine. After realizing that conventional medicine was failing to effectively treat or cure her own health issues as well as those of her patients, Dr. McManus went in search of answers and discovered natural ways to treat the root causes of symptoms and disease rather than band-aiding symptoms with prescription drugs.  She became certified by the American Academy of Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy in 2004 and founded The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness where she treats men, women, and children of all ages.  She is also board certified in Anti-aging medicine by the A4M, is a certified GAPS practitioner, and is completing her certification in peptide therapy. Most recent certifications include IV C therapy, Ozone-UBI, and RGCC lab testing and therapies for cancer and chronic infections.  She has been featured on The Michael Berry Show, Dr. Hotze’s Wellness Revolution podcasts, Great Day Houston, and The Business Makers Radio Show, and recently published the second edition of her book Highway to Health: A Nutritional Roadmap. Dr. McManus is an accomplished public speaker and has been a contributing writer for I-Am Magazine and other publications. She has been voted ‘Best Doctor’ by her community on Woodlands Online every year since 2010 when the annual competition began. In 2020, she also won Living Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards in 3 categories including Best Functional Medicine Doctor. 

1– Before joining A4M, what was your medical background?

After residency, in 2003, I spent 1 year building a family medicine practice, then learned about functional medicine, and have been practicing that every since.

2– What anti-aging techniques have you incorporated into your practice? And how did you so?

I was introduced to bio-identical hormone therapy and nutrition by Dr. Steve Hotze, who trained me and has been a mentor ever since.  After I trained with him for several months, I learned about A4M and have been a member since 2004 or 2005.  I don’t offer aesthetics at my facility, but we have many products and services for anti-aging, including various detoxification protocols, gut cleanses, bio-identical hormone therapy, ONDAMED PEMF, ozone, IV nutrition, nutritional supplements, nutrition counseling, GAPS diet (my on-staff nutritionist and I are certified GAPS practitioners), stem cell therapy, and therapeutic peptides. More recently I’ve been offering some complementary cancer testing and therapies.  I’ve trained through A4M on many of these, and with others, have attended conferences and workshops, researched online, learned from colleagues, etc.

3– What are the benefits of practicing anti-aging medicine? (as a professional, and for your practice?)

Having been on both sides of the fence (conventional and functional medicine), there’s no question that functional medicine makes more sense.  There, obviously, is a time and place for needing conventional medicine, and having trained as an MD was foundational for what I’ve accomplished in functional medicine.  Moreover, conventional medicine failed me.  When I graduated from residency, I had never been sicker, more tired, heavier, more depressed, or more unhealthy in general.  Discovering functional medicine was life saving for me!

4– What are the changes you see in your patients?

People really can and do reclaim their health and happiness!  Nothing works 100% of the time for 100% of people, but results ARE typical.  Addressing gut health, nutrition, and hormonal imbalances can improve or resolve so many health issues, from chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety, to autoimmune disorders, pain, allergies, migraines, and gastrointestinal complaints.

5– Why would you recommend Anti-Aging Medicine to your peers?

What we learn and practice in functional and anti-aging medicine is everything we aren’t taught in medical school.  Effective medicine and healing patients requires knowledge and skill with conventional AND functional medicine, period.

6– Where do you see the future of Anti-Aging medicine 20 years from now?

I’ve been practicing anti-aging medicine for 16 years and it’s slow becoming more and more accepted by mainstream medicine.  I’m hopeful that, in another 20 years, it’ll be core curriculum in all medical schools. I also think artificial intelligence will have emerged to offer quick and accurate diagnosing of root causes of ailments which will make our jobs easier, and make our patients happier and healthier.

• Alternative Medicine
• Family Medicine
• Holistic Medicines
• Stem Cell Therapies
• Weight Management