Business of Functional Medicine: Four Entrepreneurial Mindsets for Practice Owners [OM1]  

Guest: Ari Meisel

Host: Kristen Brokaw

Episode # 349

October 2, 2024

In this Business of Functional Medicine podcast episode hosted by Kristen Brokaw, Ari Meisel, a business coach, discusses the importance of productivity and scalability for healthcare providers. He emphasizes the need for providers to shift their mindset from being indispensable to creating systems that allow for growth and delegation. The discussion covers the impact of technology on business practices, the four entrepreneurial mindsets, and strategies for improving patient experiences and communication within practices.

Ari also shares insights on effective delegation and the importance of overcoming overwhelm to find hope and success in practice management.

Tune into this episode to learn about:

• How Ari’s "Less Doing" system can help providers become more replaceable in their businesses
• How technology amplifies existing habits, good or bad
• Planning for an “exit strategy” to have an eventual option of selling one’s business or stepping into less hands-on, time-intensive role
• Using delegation to empower team members, not just offload work
• Improving communication to improve your business and clinical practice

In this week’s episode of the Evolution of Medicine Podcast, we dive deep into the groundbreaking work of Beth Lambert, executive director at Documenting Hope, and Dr. Heather Tallman Ruhm, medical director at Documenting Hope. This powerful conversation centers on reversing autism, addressing chronic pediatric illnesses, and how integrative medicine is playing a critical role in improving children's health.

Lambert and Dr. Tallman Ruhm share their personal journeys and the transformative impact of their research on families dealing with autism. They discuss the importance of understanding autism as a spectrum and the various factors—from environmental toxins to total body load—that contribute to chronic illness in children. You’ll also hear about their ongoing research studies and the vital role of community support in helping families navigate these complex challenges.

Lambert and Dr. Tallman Ruhm emphasize the power of integrative medicine, and the growing network of practitioners dedicated to addressing autism and chronic illness in children through a holistic lens. Their work is pushing the boundaries of pediatric health and providing new hope for families. Tune in now to learn more about the future of pediatric health and the essential role of community support.

When you listen to this episode, you’ll learn: 

• That in some cases, autism can be reversed
• Early intervention leads to better outcomes
• Each child’s health journey is unique and care must be individualized
• Environmental factors play a key role in the development of autism
• Genetics are important but not the sole cause—understanding the total load on a child’s system is crucial
• Community support is essential for families facing autism
• Documenting cases is critical for scientific validation and future treatment models
• And much more

https://documentinghope.com/

In this inspiring episode, Erin and Gene share their powerful journey from the world of conventional medicine to founding their thriving functional medicine practice, Rising Tide Wellness, in Charleston, SC. Through personal health challenges and professional growth, they discovered the potential of functional medicine to provide the answers they were searching for—not just for themselves, but for their community.

This conversation delves into how their partnership fueled their transition, the importance of accountability, and how the support of their local community has been integral to their success. From navigating the challenges of building a practice to embracing personal transformation, Erin and Gene offer a roadmap for practitioners looking to balance heart, structure, and innovation in the evolving world of healthcare.

Tune in to learn about:

• Solutions that functional medicine offers where conventional approaches may fall short
• How to build a supportive partnership to drive personal and professional growth
• How a successful practice demands both community integration and personal development
• How workshops, group coaching, and virtual care can provide flexibility and deeper patient engagement
• How personal and professional transformations are continuous and impactful

Tune in to hear how Erin and Gene are forging new paths in medicine and empowering their community to take charge of their wellness.

Rising Tide Wellness

The Business of Functional Medicine: Proactive Business Solutions for a Healthy Practice with Seth Conger

In this episode of the Evolution of Medicine podcast, James Maskell speaks with Emily Kaplan of the Broken Science Initiative. They dive deep into the flaws of modern science, particularly in the context of medicine, and discuss how these issues contribute to the chronic disease epidemic. Emily Kaplan and Greg Glassman of CrossFit co-founded the Broken Science Initiative to address these deep-rooted problems and promote true scientific inquiry.

During this episode, you will hear an argument that the modern scientific method, especially in medicine, has become corrupted by political and financial interests, leading to a replication crisis and widespread statistical manipulation. Emily Kaplan also differentiates medicine and public health, criticizing the latter as being more about political consensus than clinical significance, leading to flawed public health policies.

Tune in for a conversation that explores:

• Why there has been a decline in moral obligation to patients in hospital settings
• The loss of physician authority and how that impacts patients
• Flawed research and corruption in science
• Critiques of public health
• How CrossFit can help reverse the chronic disease epidemic.
• And much more!

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the deep issues within the scientific community and how they impact public health and medicine.

Episode resources: 

The Broken Science Initiative and The Journal Club.

Rob Kress, with a background in pharmacy and herbology, joins James for a compelling discussion on the critical need for men’s health-focused medical practices. This episode is meant to inspire practitioners to create successful, holistic men’s health practices that can effectively address the current men’s health crisis.

The conversation stems from the recognition that many existing practices are primarily geared toward women, leaving a gap in addressing men’s specific health needs. Rob Kress shares with listeners his program, Man Unmedicated, which is a 30+ hour training program designed to equip practitioners with both clinical knowledge and coaching skills. Man Unmedicated offers a dual approach to men's health:

1. Functional Medicine Training: Focuses on labs, hormones, medications, and other clinical aspects related to men’s health.
2. Holistic Wellness Training: Covers the "seven peaks of wellness," including physical health, movement, exercise, and emotional/mental well-being, providing a more comprehensive approach to men's health.

Listen to the episode to hear more about:

• Opportunities that come with building men’s health-focused practices
• The importance of creating relatability and trust with male patients by sharing personal health journeys
• Strategies for building referral-based, community-centered practices around men's health groups and coaching
• Ongoing mentorship and support to help practitioners implement this model in their communities
• And much more

The State of Men’s Health Functional Forum, August 2024

Man Unmedicated

Julia Hotz is a journalist and author, who wrote a book called The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service and Belonging. James and Julia connected because her new book is strikingly synergistic in topic and title to James’ second book, The Community Cure: Transforming Health Outcomes Together, which calls for readers to adopt group care principles to make lifestyle medicine more widely accessible and sustainable.

This is an enlivening conversation, where you’ll hear about the data backing social prescribing as an antidote to the most prevalent chronic health issues of this generation: illnesses exacerbated by the loneliness epidemic, such as attention and mood issues and a slew of chronic illnesses.

Tune in to learn about:

• Financial benefits of social prescribing
• Business solutions for supporting community-based solutions to chronic health issues
• How science backs social prescribing as an effective solution to ailments like chronic pain, trauma, dementia, diabetes and loneliness
• Potential for insurance companies to incentivize social prescriptions
• The benefits of art and nature on health
• And much more

VagusFest launched in spring 2024, and Dr. Kelly Livingston took the concept and ran with it, creating a sucessful event that engaged her local community members. Dr. Livingston joins this podcast episode to share her experience applying James Maskell’s VagusFest model in Darien, Connecticut.

The VagusFest model enables local practitioners to host local community events that demonstrate to local attendees the power of vagal toning, and indirectly, the benefits of lifestyle, functional, or integrative medicine. Functioning as a promotional event for local clinics, VagusFest addresses a public relations issue for functional medicine, which is that the general perception that patients must invest significant time into their health journey before seeing results. VagusFest hosts can showcase how their approach to medicine offers immediate benefits through direct experience at the event.

Download and listen to the episode to hear more about:

• Reasons for practitioners to prioritize nervous system regulation in their practices.
• Dr. Livingston’s favorite resources on vagal toning, including books by Deb Dana and Stanley Rosenberg.
• Challenges and successes of previous VagusFest events.
• The value of group medicine and community engagement.

This podcast episode is brought to you by Pulsetto. Pulsetto is a leader in the vagus nerve revolution. Their vagus nerve stimulator is extremely easy to use, great for addressing pain and sleep issues.  Order your first one at goevomed.com/Pulsetto. If you like it and want to order for your patients, you can also order wholesale much like you would do with supplements. This is potentially a powerful tool to use in your practice. 

Expanding upon the July 2024 Functional Forum about reversing cognitive decline, this podcast episode offers the full conversation between Dr. Heather Sandison and James Maskell.  Dr. Sandison is the author of Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health.

In this episode, the guest delves deeper into the potential for functional medicine to reverse dementia, and Dr. Sandison shares her success in using a comprehensive approach to improving cognitive function for patients.  She also discusses challenges and controversies surrounding this approach, including the role of mold and toxins in brain health

This is a hopeful discussion that offers listeners:

1. An overview of the factors that clinicans want to consider addressing with dementia patients
2. Findings from clinical trials that use lifestyle and personalized medicine
3. An understanding of cost saving benefits of a functional medicine approach
4. The potential for AI to assist in supporting decision-making protocols
5. And much more!

Kirkland Newman is the founder of MindHealth360, host of the London Functional Forum Community, and is organizing the Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conference, occurring October 10-13, 2024 just outside of  Washington, DC.

The conference aims to bring together various practitioners and professionals in the mental health field to discuss concrete solutions and advancements in mental health care. The conference will address topics such as brain health, technology addiction, gut-brain connection, trauma therapy, genomics, and more.

The goal is to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice and provide practitioners with a wider toolbox to address mental health issues. The conference is open to medical and mental health professionals, as well as passionate individuals interested in mental health transformation.

This episode offers a preview of cutting-edge perspectives on mental health, including cognitive decline. When you listen, you’ll learn about:

1. Kirkland’s vision to integrate functional medicine into mainstream mental health practices.
2. The epidemic of mental health issues, especially among young people, is a concern, and conventional medical practices seem ill-equipped to address the problem.
3. An introduction to some IMMH speakers, including Dr. Daniel Amen, who focuses on brain health rather than mental health; Dr. Robert Lustig, who discusses technology addiction and the impact of the amygdala on mental health; Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Dale Bredesen, and more. 
4. The gut-brain connection, trauma's impact on biochemistry and the gut, and the importance of safe connection and social engagement in healing are also highlighted in the conversation.
5. And much more!

In this Business of Functional Medicine episode, Kristen Brokaw hosts a conversation with Dr. Jarrod Spencer, a sports psychologist who also works with corporations and high net-worth professionals. In this episode, Dr. Spencer discusses the importance for clinicans to manage emotional energy and mental fatigue. Given that healthcare is usually a high-stress role, individuals must prioritize their emotional health and well-being.

Getting enough sleep, counseling and developing a mental toolbox to effectively manage emotional energy are examples of strategies healthcare providers should be employing. He also highlights the significance of creating a positive and supportive culture in the workplace, including practices like fist bumping and high fiving to foster camaraderie among staff members.

This episode validates physician burnout and offers helpful tools for managing emotional energy and mental fatigue.

If you listen to the full episode, you’ll hear about:

1.       Dr. Spencer’s scoring system, for measuring emotional energy, or one’s psychological capacity to effectively deal with immediate stressors in their life.

2.       Mental fatigue significantly impacts a person's perception of effort. When mentally fatigued, individuals are more likely to perceive tasks as requiring more effort, which can decrease their endurance and motivation.

3.       Emotional and mental fatigue can lead to negative thinking, decreased performance, and burnout.

4.       Compassion fatigue and neglecting one's own emotional well-being can have negative consequences on both personal and professional life.

5.       And more!

On this episode, our guest is Mastin Kipp, a best-selling author and creator of Functional Life Coaching^TM. Mastin joined the podcast to talk about his recent book titled, Reclaim Your Nervous System, which discusses the importance of prioritizing the nervous system in healing and overall well-being.

Mastin asserts that befriending and addressing resistant parts of ourselves can promote healing and improve our relationship with our nervous system. Mastin highlights the power of group care and co-regulation in creating a safe space for emotional expression and healing.

This podcast release coincides with Evolution of Medicine’s launch of VagusFest, which is a participatory nervous system healing event that practitioners can organize to promote healing in their communities. If you’re interested in hosting your own event, please contact support@goevomed.com. 

Check out the full podcast episode to hear about:

• Mastin Kipp’s journey into coaching and the study of the nervous system.
• The power of group settings for facilitating behavior change and creating a sense of safety.
• Co-regulating groups can drive the adoption of functional medicine as a standard of care, with clinicians providing support and addressing root causes when necessary.
• Challenges of expressing emotions and the societal conditioning that often discourages emotional expression.
• And more!

Robert Lustig, MD joins James for this information-packed episode that unifies mental and metabolic healthcare. Dr. Lustig is a pediatric endocrinologist and food educator, who focuses on spreading awareness about the topic of this podcast.

During this episode he walks through the connection between nutrition, brain health, and mental health. They touch on topics such as the impact of ultra-processed food on metabolic health, the role of the amygdala in fear conditioning and chronic toxic stress, and the importance of the vagus nerve in regulating the nervous system.

Dr. Lustig also highlights the need for public education and policy change to address the systemic health crisis and mental health crisis. Dr. Lustig will be speaking at the Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conference in October 2024.

Check out this informative, empowering episode to hear about:

• Dr. Lusting’s new book on the amygdala and its connection to food.
• The importance of understanding the difference between food science, nutrition and metabolic health.
• The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in systemic and mental health disorders.
• The potential for a cultural shift toward prioritizing metabolic health and the challenges facing it. 

In this episode, Darrell Moon, founder of Aspirational Healthcare, discusses the Nuka System of Care in Anchorage, Alaska, which has been called “the best healthcare system in the world.” The system is built around the needs and aspirations of the customers, focusing on building relationships and providing support to help individuals achieve their goals in life. 

Moon encourages healthcare providers to consider offering direct primary care memberships and aligning with employers who are willing to fund this type of healthcare. He also advises business leaders to take control of their healthcare purchasing power and align with benefit consultants who work in their best interest. Nuka System of Care has achieved high levels of patient satisfaction, improved health outcomes and reduced costs.

Moon invites individuals to attend the Nuka System of Care June conference and a conference for business leaders in September to learn more about the system and how to implement an aspirational model of healthcare.

Tune in to the full episode to hear more about:

·       How hospital admissions can be reduced by focusing on preventive care and early intervention

·       How CEOs can influence healthcare systems, through their purchasing power and by practicing problem solving abilities they regularly use to lead their businesses

·       How employers can align objectives with healthcare brokers, so that the benefits consultant gets incentivized to be paid for meeting the employers’ objectives (reduced healthcare expenses through direct primary care that emphasizes prevention and customer-centric care)  

·       Nuka System of Care provides healthcare at half the cost of other systems in the US, due to their focus on providing care that is aligned with the goals and needs of the customer, rather than focusing on profit

·       Growing demand for direct primary care (DPC) membership

Check out these upcoming conferences held by Nuka System of Care:

·       June 24-28, 2024: Nuka System of Care Conference

·       September 10-12, 2024: CEO Summit in Anchorage, AK with Aspirational Healthcare

In this episode James Maskell is joined by returning guest, Dr. Shilpa Saxena, MD to continue exploring the use of GLP-1 agonists, specifically Semaglutide, for weight loss and cardiometabolic diseases.

The conversation reinforces the importance of using GLP-1s responsibly and in conjunction with lifestyle medicine coaching to address underlying behavioral issues and promote sustainable weight loss. Dr. Saxena emphasizes the need to address metabolic dysfunction comprehensively, considering factors such as fatty liver disease and insulin resistance, and using a combination of interventions, including herbs, botanicals, and lifestyle modifications.

They also discuss the potential side effects of GLP-1 agonists and strategies for minimizing them. Additionally, they touch on the role of group visits and community support in facilitating behavior change and long-term success in weight management.

Check out the full episode to hear their thoughts on:

•        Normalizing discussions around weight without enabling poor health.
•       The role of supportive communities to support behavior change
•       Stigma around Semaglutide use
•        Patient personas who functional medicine providers are best able to help, and those personas that are not a good fit for the functional medicine approach to weight loss.

Learn about Group Visit Toolkits

In James Maskell’s first-ever solo podcast, he introduces Evolution of Medicine’s upcoming event, VagusFest. On May 29, 2024, listeners can join the Evolution of Medicine’s debut VagusFest, a participatory education experience focused on toning the vagus nerve, that will provide hands-on healing experiences for participants.  

In this podcast episode, James previews themes that will be explored during VagusFest and expresses how the event will help advance health-promoting medicine.

VagusFest will serve as a model for clinicans to recreate similar events in their local communities as a strategy for carrying out public relations campaigns that promote functional medicine at the local level. VagusFest is a complete set of tools to run a VagusFest event in a community, including step-by-step guides, marketing materials, and PR assets.

Check out the full conversation to learn about:

• James’ thoughts on what has been limiting the growth of functional medicine.
• How to win over new patients who have been deterred by long treatment timelines and expectations to make lifestyle changes.
• How VagusFest will give participants the tools to regulate their own nervous systems and create a sense of unity and healing in their communities.
• Upcoming opportunities for practitioners to participate in VagusFest events and learn how to implement them in their own communities.

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.

In this episode, Dr. Tom Guilliams rejoins the podcast to explore the complexities and misconceptions surrounding botanical medicine and how clinicians can maximize the therapeutic effects of herbs.

We learn from Dr. Guilliams that clinicians using herbs should consider the role of the microbiome in terms of absorption and activation of botanical compounds. He explains that because absorption varies from person to person, a personalized approach is needed for optimal outcomes.

Dr. Guilliams also discusses the limitations of traditional clinical trials in evaluating botanical medicine, and he proposes a new framework that considers individual characteristics, such as genetics and microbiome composition. While Dr. Guilliams encourages listeners to embrace the use of botanicals, he also advises questioning the source and efficacy of herbal products and considering the traditional uses of herbs in addition to the isolated compounds.

Please check out the full conversation to learn more about:

• The limitations of curcumin and the need to consider the whole components of herbs.
• Why herbology is complex and requires specialized knowledge.
• The historical and traditional uses of botanical medicine for healing.
• Issues with applying the pharmaceutical model to botanical extracts.
• Why we need to rethink research processes and clinical trial methodologies for botanical medicine.

• And much more!

In this podcast episode, James Maskell interviews Dr. Navaz Habib about the importance of the vagus nerve in healing and overall health.

Dr. Habib explains that the vagus nerve plays a critical role in shifting the body from a sympathetic (fight or flight) state to a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state, which is necessary for healing. He emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for patients to feel connected and reduce stress. Dr. Habib also discusses the role of physical trauma, such as head injuries or spinal misalignments, in affecting vagus nerve function.

He recommends various strategies to improve vagus nerve tone, including diaphragmatic breathing, gargling, humming and physical exercise. Dr. Habib's new book, Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve, provides further information on these strategies and their impact on overall health.

Listen to the full conversation to learn how:

• The vagus nerve is the organ of unity, connecting all organs and systems in the body.
• Chronic diseases are diseases of disconnection, both internally and externally.
• Breathing exercises, such as slow, nasal and diaphragmatic breathing, can help regulate the breath and shift the body into a parasympathetic state.
• Gargling, humming and vocalization can stimulate the vagus nerve and activate the parasympathetic system.
• The vagus nerve is a unifying topic for health professionals and can be beneficial for patients of all ages and conditions.

James Maskell’s guest on this episode is Jeffrey Morrison, MD, whose clinical approach is to use nutrition to prevent or reverse degenerative and chronic disease. In both his clinical practice and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, he considers detoxification as a critical foundation to health.

During this conversation, Dr. Morrison emphasizes that toxins in the environment are a major cause of disease and that our bodies are not equipped to handle the vast array of chemicals present in our modern environment.

He explains that detoxification is a natural process where cells push toxins into the connective tissue, which then moves them through the lymphatic system, liver, gallbladder, and digestive tract for elimination (or through sweat or breath). However, if the body is overwhelmed with toxins or if the detoxification process is hindered, symptoms and illness can occur. Most often, this looks like visible inflammation, aches and pains, fatigue, skin issues and brain fog.  

Dr. Morrison recommends supporting detoxification through practices such as regular exercise, anti-inflammatory eating, drinking plenty of water, and maintaining regular bowel movements. He also discusses the importance of the lymphatic system in detoxification and the role of the nervous system in regulating detoxification.

 Please listen to this full episode to learn more about:

• Group detox programs to save costs and time, for clinicans and patients alike. 
• The role of saunas in detoxification
• The American Academy of Environmental Medicine’s focus on educating practitioners and advocacy for environmental health
• And much more!

 Evolution of Medicine’s partner, Lifestyle Matrix Resources Center can point you to patient education materials, as well as protocols related to detoxification as well. You can contact them at contactus@lifestylematrix.com.  

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!

James’ guest on this episode is Dr. Andrew Weil, the founder and leader of a fellowship program for integrative medicine through the University of Arizona. In this role and others, he has significant influence on future generations of integrative medicine practitioners.

In this conversation, Dr. Weil discusses the current state of integrative medicine and his vision for the future. Integrative medicine is becoming more mainstream in the United States, with many medical schools teaching some form of it. However, there is still a long way to go in changing the paradigm of conventional medicine and fully integrating health-promoting practices.

Dr. Weil believes that history is on the side of integrative medicine and that it will eventually become the standard of care. Listen to the full show to discover what is needed going forward to evolve medicine from our guest’s perspective.

This dynamic conversation also touched upon the following topics:

• The role of psychedelics in integrative medicine
• A vision of the future where allopathic medicine is a subspecialty focused on critical care, trauma and terminal care
• The lack of financial incentives for health-promoting and preventative medicine
• The need for studies that compare conventional and integrative medicine in terms of patient outcomes
• And much more!

This interview was also featured in the January 2024 Functional Forum, which kickstarted the Evolution of Medicine’s year of unity.