Dr. James Carter, the director of the Center for Functional Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, discusses his journey to functional medicine and his role at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Carter is also a vascular medicine specialist and is interested in vascular health from a functional medicine perspective. He talks about the vision and growth of functional medicine at Cleveland Clinic, including the development of specialized programs for women's health, oncology, pediatrics, and cardiovascular health. Dr. Carter also discusses the importance of group visits and shared medical appointments in functional medicine practice. He shares his excitement for the upcoming Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Annual International Conference (AIC) and highlights topics he is looking forward to, such as bone health, mental health and pediatric nutrition. Finally, Dr. Carter reflects on his decision to join Cleveland Clinic and expresses his enthusiasm for the future of functional medicine at the institution. Check out this full conversation to learn more about: ·         A systems perspective that integrates biological systems with social context in patient care. ·         Educating medical students and integrating functional medicine into cardiology practice ·         Understanding and overcoming resistance to change with patients. ·         A preview of Dr. Carter’s upcoming IFM presentation, and what he’s looking forward to learning from other presenters. ·         And much, much more! Register here for IFM’s AIC event, occurring May 29-June 1, 2024. You can also register for VagusFest here, which is occurring on the evening of May 29.  Check out Lifestyle Matrix Resource Center’s new website to learn about their Group Visit Toolkits, tools to enhance patient compliance and more at lifestylematrix.com/membership.  

In this episode, we learn about anthroposophic medicine from James Maskell’s guest, Adam Blanning, MD. Anthroposophic medicine takes a holistic approach to humans, nature, illness, and healing by addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. The principles and practices of this medicinal form incorporate elements of herbal medicine, homeopathy, movement therapies and more. Anthroposophic medicine was established in the early 1920s by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman. Anthroposophic medicine can be especially beneficial for children working through chronic illnesses, such as asthma, allergies or behavioral issues. Dr. Blanning also highlights the importance of understanding developmental rhythms and providing support for children during key stages of growth. Dr. Blanning, in addition to founding the Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies, is also involved in consulting for Waldorf schools, which are rooted in Rudolf Steiner’s work. Check out this full conversation to learn more about: James Maskell’s personal experiences with anthroposophic medicine. Application of anthroposophic medicine in various settings, including hospitals and private practices. The importance of creating healing environments that consider the patient's comfort and well-being, such as reducing noise and promoting rest in hospital settings. An upcoming training week through the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine on April 27 - May 4, 2024 in Loveland, Colorado.

James Maskell’s guest on this episode is Dr. Elisa Song, a holistic pediatrician whose mission is to educate clinicians and parents alike about environmental toxicity in children and how to help children thrive by improving their health. She has written books, organized conferences and is passionate about addressing environmental toxicity.   In this episode, she discusses several sources of toxins in children and the importance of toning the vagus nerve as a strategy to improve children's well-being. Dr. Song’s upcoming book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrated Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience, provides practical guidance to help promote health and resilience in children, including advice about how to read food labels and avoid harmful additives. Check out this empowering conversation to learn more about: Food additives that contribute to leaky gut and chronic illnesses. The importance of parasympathetic exercises for children with chronic symptoms or illnesses. How environmental toxins are contributing to chronic illness. Dr. Song’s book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrated Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience, available on May 14, 2024.   

Guest: Zak Holdsworth, CEO of Hint Health In this Business of Functional Medicine episode, we hear from Zak Holdsworth, a leader in the health technology industry and the CEO and cofounder of Hint Health. Hint Health supports the direct primary care (DPC) movement and aims to provide affordable, high-quality health care by offering a successful alternative to the traditional fee-for-service model. Zak Holdsworth’s company offers technology solutions for DPC clinics, including membership management systems and employer infrastructure. They have also developed an EMR system specifically designed for DPC clinics. Additionally, Hint Health has created Hint Connect, a network product that connects DPC clinics with employers and other health care practitioners. Their goal is to create a unified network of DPC clinics that can work together to provide better care and reduce costs. The company's vision is to redesign the healthcare system to enable easy access to high-quality, affordable care. Download and listen to the full episode to learn about: The concept of unity and the value of working together in the DPC market. Constraints of the fee-for-service model and how removing those constraints can lead to better patient care and alignment with functional medicine practices. How Hint Connect allows for rapid patient onboarding and revenue generation for doctors. A positive shift in the perception of DPC by insurance brokers, who now see the value in investing in high-value primary care. And much, much more! Plus, check out the visualization of the interconnected relationships across the Hint Health DPC ecosystem.

Exploring the complexities of botanical medicine, Dr. Guilliams discusses bioavailability, personalized approaches, and limitations of clinical trials. He advocates for understanding traditional uses, questioning product sources, and rethinking research processes. The podcast delves into the challenges of curcumin absorption, individualized medicine, and utilizing botanicals in functional medicine practice.

Exploring the role of the vagus nerve in healing and overall health; importance of shifting from sympathetic to parasympathetic state; strategies to improve vagus nerve tone; significance of breathing exercises, gargling, and humming; vagus nerve as the organ of unity; chronic diseases caused by disconnection; impact of physical trauma on vagus nerve; benefits of yoga, pilates, exercise, and active recovery; therapies for enhancing vagus nerve function; importance of integrating health for all ages.

Dr. Jeffrey Morrison, a doctor who uses nutrition to prevent or reverse degenerative and chronic disease, discusses the importance of detoxification for optimal health. He explains how toxins in the environment can lead to symptoms and illness, and emphasizes the need to support the body's natural detoxification process through exercise, anti-inflammatory eating, hydration, and regular bowel movements. The role of the lymphatic system and nervous system in detoxification is also explored. Other topics include group detox programs, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, the health effects of the spike protein, and addressing toxins in medical practices.

In this episode, James interviews Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, a neuro-optometrist. For the first time ever on the podcast, we learn about the field of functional optometry, including how it differs from traditional optometry. Dr. Appelbaum discusses the importance of vision for overall health and how vision problems can impact learning, behavior and daily life. His framework is shaped by his childhood experience with overcoming visual problems through vision therapy. He is passionate about his mission to raise awareness about functional vision care, even though he faces resistance from conventional optometry. He also introduces his online vision training program, ScreenFit, which is designed to minimize the negative effects of screens on vision and promote healthy visual habits. Podcast listeners can use the code EVOMED to receive a discount on the ScreenFit program. Tune into the full conversation to learn more about: How one in 10 children have vision problems that impact their ability to learn The importance of vision for neurological function, especially in childhood Waldorf education and developmentally appropriate educational philosophies How inflammation and cardiometabolic health relate to eye function And much, much more!  

Dr. Andrew Weil, founder of a fellowship program for integrative medicine, discusses the future of integrative medicine, including the role of psychedelics, the need for financial incentives for preventative medicine, and the importance of outcome studies. He envisions a future where allopathic medicine focuses on critical care, trauma, and terminal care. This captivating conversation also explores the challenges and opportunities of advancing integrative medicine and the legacy and future of integrative medicine in healthcare. The speakers emphasize the need for unity and a new standard of care.

In this episode, Dr. Joan Rosenberg discusses her book, 90 Seconds to A Life You Love, and the concept of living life by design. Many believe their circumstances dictate their lives; our guest asserts that one can design their life by having a vision or big goals and working towards them despite the circumstances. Dr. Rosenberg shares the importance of paying attention to how thoughts and feelings are expressed and managing emotional states effectively. She introduces the concept of the "Rosenberg reset," which involves choosing awareness by experiencing unpleasant feelings for 90 seconds and using insights gained from those feelings to make decisions or act. Dr. Rosenberg also discusses how clinicians can apply these principles in their practice, including addressing difficult topics with patients and handling their own emotions. She suggests using a soft contract with patients to discuss sensitive issues and delivering information with well-intentioned kindness. Dr. Rosenberg believes confidence and resiliency can be developed when clinicians are able to confront difficult topics and handle the responses they receive. Download and listen to this conversation to learn more about: How to develop confidence as a clinician Why emotional mastery is an important component of successfully collaborating with patients The eight emotions we need to accept to feel more capable in our lives Using “soft contracts” and offering observations tentatively to deliver difficult messages to patients And much, much more Joan I. Rosenberg, PhD, creator of Emotional Mastery™ and Emotional Mastery Training™, is a highly regarded expert psychologist, master clinician, trainer and consultant. She is a cutting-edge psychologist who is known as an innovative thinker, trainer and speaker.