The Root Cause Medicine Podcast Hard Case? Start Here. Functional Immunology for Complex Cases with Dr. Sam Yanuck
Jun 19, 2025
01:04:58
In this episode of the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Kate Kresge sits down with functional immunology expert and educator Dr. Samuel Yanuck to explore one of the most overlooked systems in chronic illness: the immune system.
With clarity and compassion, Dr. Yanuck breaks down how immune dysregulation can contribute to complex conditions like depression, neuropathy, migraines, chronic fatigue, and even cardiovascular disease. From brain inflammation and mast cell activation to Epstein-Barr virus and mold, Dr. Yanuck offers a new way of thinking about biology—where inflammation isn’t just a symptom, but a system that can be measured, understood, and treated.
You’ll here them discuss:
- Why immunology could be at the root of nearly every chronic illness
- The immune pathways that connect depression, anxiety, brain fog, and fatigue
- What PANS, PANDAS, and autoimmune encephalitis really are—and why they’re often misdiagnosed
- How gut, brain, and immune health form a feedback loop
- The labs you should run if you suspect chronic immune dysfunction
- A framework for evaluating chronic viral infections like EBV and CMV
- Natural immune modulators: Chinese skullcap, astragalus, quercetin, sulforaphane, and more
- Why personalized immune workups—not protocols—create results
Guest Bio:
Dr. Samuel Yanuck is a functional medicine clinician and expert educator in functional immunology. He is the creator of Cogence Immunology, a comprehensive online training program that has educated over 9,000 clinicians in over 60 countries. His approach blends immunology, clinical experience, and systems thinking to help providers and patients uncover the true drivers of chronic illness. Dr. Yanuck is also the co-founder of the Yanuck Center for Life and Health in North Carolina, where he sees patients and helps clinicians find root-cause solutions to immune dysfunction through mentorship and collaboration. His work is helping reshape how the next generation of practitioners understand inflammation, autoimmunity, and healing.
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Guest Details:
Dr. Samuel Yanuck
- Clinic Website: www.yanuckcenter.com
- Academy: www.cogenceimmunology.com
- Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Clinician Training Program: Cogence Immunology (Free with sponsorship)
- Specialties: Functional immunology, complex chronic illness, autoimmune encephalitis, PANS/PANDAS, neuroimmune interactions
Rupa Health Details:
Labs Mentioned
Sleep tracking (e.g., Oura Ring)
Timestamps
00:00 – Meet Dr. Sam Yanuck and how functional immunology became his life’s work
01:52 – Case studies: reversing sarcoidosis and managing cancer with immune modulation
04:16 – Immunology in every case: from neuropathy to chronic fatigue
07:33 – What’s missing in traditional medical education
11:08 – How to catch immune dysfunction before it's too late
20:18 – What functional immunology reveals when the "right thing" didn’t work
21:13 – Understanding PANS, PANDAS, and autoimmune encephalitis
27:37 – How depression, anxiety, and inflammation feed each other
34:16 – Why casting a wide net with labs matters for root cause medicine
36:00 – The labs you’re probably not running (but should)
41:16 – The role of genetics, IL-6, IL-4, histamine, and acetylcholine
47:21 – How to begin testing for inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune loops
55:36 – Chronic viral infections (EBV, CMV, HSV) and how to screen for them
59:15 – Understanding IgG patterns and EBV early antigen
01:06:12 – What to do about viral burden: nutrition, herbs, and TH1 support
01:09:39 – Histamine intolerance, aldehydes, and mast cell overwhelm
01:11:49 – How to think like a clinician: iterate, evaluate, evolve
01:12:46 – Where to find Dr. Yanuck and how to access Cogence Immunology