About
Earl R. Freeman, Jr., DO, IFMCP practices under the name "Dr. Bud" and leads the Freeman Center for Maximal Health in Alfred, Maine. He grew up in Kennebunk, Maine, graduating from Kennebunk High School before earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Maine, Orono. S. Coast Guard Academy and several other fields of study before he found his calling in pre-medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri and completed his internship and residency at the former Osteopathic Hospital of Maine in Portland.
Dr. Freeman spent over 20 years in solo rural family practice in Fryeburg, Maine before relocating to the Kennebunk area, where he has practiced for roughly 25 years. His transition into Functional Medicine came after encountering the writings of Dr. Jeff Bland and learning that Cleveland Clinic had established a Center for Functional Medicine. He enrolled in Institute for Functional Medicine training and earned his IFM Certified Functional Medicine Physician credential. His Addiction Medicine work spans more than a decade; he developed Suboxone programs in Conway, NH and Portland, ME, and served as medical director of methadone clinics in Portland and Lewiston. Dr. Freeman has also navigated significant personal health challenges, including aortic valve replacement surgery and a successful treatment of stage 4 esophageal cancer using chemotherapy alongside functional medicine principles. He and his wife Debbie, a Nurse Practitioner, live on a 100-acre property where they have grown vegetables, raised livestock, produced maple syrup, and cut their own firewood. His guiding osteopathic principle holds that the human body contains within itself all the means to regulate and heal, and that a physician's role is to assist those means rather than overwhelm them.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
University of Maine, Orono
Medical School
Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO
Residency
Osteopathic Hospital of Maine, Portland (Internship/Residency)
Additional Training
Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) training; IFM Certified Functional Medicine Physician (IFMCP)
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Freeman right for?
Dr. Freeman works well with adults seeking a root-cause explanation for chronic or complex conditions. Patients dealing with hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune conditions, thyroid issues, or fatigue often benefit from his Functional Medicine approach. He also serves patients managing opioid dependence or addiction through evidence-based medication-assisted treatment. Those who value a longtime relationship with a single physician and prefer a self-pay, no-insurance model tend to fit well in his practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Freeman treats a wide range of chronic and complex conditions. These include hormonal imbalances, thyroid and adrenal disorders, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, digestive disorders such as IBS, IBD, and GERD, autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, migraines, depression, anxiety, and opioid dependence. He also focuses on cancer prevention, gut health restoration, and heavy metal toxicity.
Dr. Freeman holds the IFM Certified Functional Medicine Physician credential, awarded by the Institute for Functional Medicine. He is also a licensed osteopathic physician with decades of clinical experience in family medicine, functional medicine, and addiction medicine.
Dr. Freeman earned his medical degree from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his internship and residency at the former Osteopathic Hospital of Maine in Portland. He later completed advanced training through the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Dr. Freeman structures his evaluations around three phases: a deep historical review, personalized testing, and individualized recommendations. He looks for Antecedents, Triggers, and Mediators that have shaped each patient's health over time. Initial visits typically run about two hours and take place in person. Follow-up visits can occur in person or via Zoom.
Yes. Dr. Freeman has worked in addiction medicine for over ten years. He developed Suboxone programs in Conway, NH and Portland, ME, and served as medical director of methadone clinics in Portland and Lewiston. He uses medication-assisted treatment with Buprenorphine and Naltrexone, collaborates with approved addiction counselors, and encourages 12-Step involvement.
Yes. Dr. Freeman offers Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as part of his practice. He trained as an osteopathic physician at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and applies hands-on techniques when his schedule allows.
Dr. Freeman sees adults with chronic, complex, or hard-to-diagnose conditions who want a root-cause investigation rather than symptom management. He also sees patients in his Direct Primary Care panel for ongoing primary care needs and patients seeking help with opioid dependence through his Addiction Medicine services.
Yes. Dr. Freeman underwent heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement and later received a diagnosis of stage 4 esophageal cancer. He treated the cancer successfully using chemotherapy alongside functional medicine principles. Multiple subsequent PET scans have shown no evidence of cancer. This experience deepened his commitment to functional and integrative approaches to health.
Doctor profile last updated April 10, 2026