Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine

On this episode, I’m joined by women’s health and hormones expert Dr. Mariza Snyder. 

Dr. Mariza illuminates the critical connection between glucose and insulin levels and how they impact our hormones and energy. Blood sugar is often misunderstood and not talked about enough, so this conversion is truly an eye-opener. 

We also discuss ways to take your power and freedom back with the help of a great practitioner. 

She also gives us practical advice to help you along your health journey. 

Enjoy this fascinating episode as we dive deep into women’s health and wellness. 

[1:40] - Dr. Mariza’s health journey

[4:30] - Blood Sugar-Hormone-Energy Connection

[14:45] - The power of wearable monitors like Oura Rings and Glucose meters

[19:12] - Importance of breakfast and how and when to fast

[28:30] - How a health plan creates peace, security, and freedom

Dr. Mariza Snyder is a functional practitioner, women’s hormone expert, and the author of eight books. The newest book, The Essential Oils Menopause Solution, focuses on solutions for women in perimenopause and menopause, and the #1 National Bestselling book, The Essential Oils Hormone Solution, focuses on balancing women’s hormones naturally.

She has lectured at wellness centers, conferences, and corporations for the past fifteen years on hormone health, metabolic health, nutrition, and detoxification. She has been featured on Dr. Oz, Oprah Magazine, Fox News Health, MindBodyGreen, and many publications. Dr. Mariza is also the host of the top-rated Essentially You Podcast (with over 6 million downloads) designed to empower women to become the CEO of their health. Check out her website, drmariza.com, for women's hormone tips, including recipes and supplementation.

Metabolism and weight loss expert Nagina Abdullah joins me for a fascinating podcast episode. Nagina has been helping women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond get lean and feeling their best for many years. 

We’re so fortunate to have her share her best insights and tips today so you can learn how to easily boost your metabolism and energy WITHOUT restrictive dieting. 

Yes, you can eat healthy and delicious real food, lose weight, and feel amazing. Nagina shows you how. 

In this episode, you’ll learn… 

[2:32] Meaning of Masala (spicy) Body

[5:39] Timing, adding, and pairing food 

[16:40] The number one reason women are losing 10-20 plus pounds

[25:35] Why diets don’t work

[32:40] Truth about portion sizes

[37:43] Using spices as a tool for flavor and high metabolism 

Nagina Abdullah, founder of Masala Body, is a health coach for female professionals, corporate executives, and 7-figure entrepreneurs.

She teaches tested and perfected metabolism-boosting strategies to help women lose 20-40 pounds while working 60+ hours a week, even if they have tried everything.

Nagina has a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, an MBA from NYU Stern AND worked for a top 4 consulting firm as a management consultant before starting her health coaching business. She has been featured in Health.com, Business Insider, People.com, and many more prominent publications!

Get Her Sweet Spice PDF eGuide Here:

https://masalabody.com/sweetspicepdf/

Dr. Elena Villanueva joins the podcast to discuss a new era in health and healing. We talk about getting to the real root causes of disease, like stress, trauma, and even generational trauma. She breaks down the often misunderstood topics of energy medicine, quantum science, and much more. 

Join us for this fascinating conversation and learn how to go beyond pills and prescriptions and get to the true root causes of disease. 

Join Dr. V's Masterclass here: https://inflammationmasterclass.com/?oid=7&affid=2801

In this episode:

2:05 - Moving beyond pills and prescriptions

7:00 - Making holistic and functional health more accessible

9:10 - A new era in health and healing

13:45 - Case study: from diabetes and depression to healthy and happy

23:00 - The science of Energetic medicine

27:27 - A new awareness of health and disease

34:20 - Understanding quantum science

Carol Comfort joins the podcast again for an enlightening conversation about health coaching and finding your personal path to healing. 

They discuss having a tailored plan for health because everyone’s journey is unique and it’s critical to follow your own path forward.

Dr. Rob and Carol talk about where to start and how important it is to create tiny but powerful habits. 

Don’t miss this wonderful episode of The Field Notes Podcast. 

You’ll learn about… 

[3:20] - Connection: The key to success

[5:45] - Integrating health coaching and practical modern medicine

[9:20] - The power of small, positive action steps

[22:30] - Achieving more by doing less

[27:00] Carol’s favorite health books

Carol Comfort is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. 

After working in a functional medicine clinic for several years, she began her own private practice. Carol lives in Homer, Alaska, with her husband and their pup Tuuli on 20 peaceful acres where they raised two very independent children.

Carol enjoys hikes through the woods, kayaking, and cross-country skiing. Yoga and swimming are also regular parts of her fitness routine. In the summer, she swims in the small pond just out my front door. To help keep herself grounded and balanced, she’s kept a regular meditation practice for the last 20 years. She’s also a classically trained pianist and maintains a lively piano studio.

Connect with Carol here. <=

And you can download here App here. <=

Dr. Keesha Ewers joins the podcast to shed light on a topic that’s too often in the shadows: Sex Health. They discuss hormones, “life force,” trauma, the nervous system, and more. They also dive deep into what is “Functional Sexology,” a term coined by Dr. Keesha. 

Dr. Keesha tells us about what she calls the “yellow brick road” of growth, healing, and gaining wisdom and strength. 

You’ll learn about… 

[5:00] - The innocence of infancy to the wisdom of elderhood

[8:23] - What Ayurveda says about libido and life force

[12:05] - How heartbreak, betrayal, and trauma impact your health, hormones, and libido

[21:00] - How your body can be hyper-vigilant and how it can lead to chronic disease

[26:50] - Reducing stress vs. your relationship to stress

[37:00] - Why stages of development are supposed to be hard

[42:00] - 5 places to look for root causes

Dr. Keesha Ewers is a board certified Functional and Ayurvedic medical practitioner, as well as Doctor of Sexology, family practice ARNP (advanced registered nurse practitioner), a trauma informed therapist, Huachumera (medicine woman trained in the use of plant medicine from Peru), and a Reiki Master. She is registered in Washington state in clinical hypnotherapy and certified in EMDR, Brainspotting, the Enneagram, and mediumship and Angel Therapy. Dr. Keesha is also a certified MAPS MDMA therapist. She is the founder of a new branch of medicine called Functional Sexology.

Dr. Keesha practices what she calls Mystic Medicine. Mystic Medicine sees EVERYTHING as God, including illness and suffering. She has seen that once the lesson is learned, the struggle is relieved. Dr. Ewers developed the 4 Pillar Freedom Framework and founded the Academy for Integrative Medicine to train people who are passionate about empowering themselves and then empowering others to heal themselves. Her Integrative Medicine Health Coach Certification Program is the only health coach program that trains coaches in Functional Medicine, Ayurveda, Positive Psychology, the Enneagram, Sexology, and laboratory testing.

https://www.drkeesha.com/

In this episode, Dr. Rob is joined by Dr. Anna Cabeca to bring clarity to the often complex topic of women’s health and hormones. 

Women suffering from conditions like fatigue, hormone imbalances, skin and hair issues, mood swings, hot flashes, and more, are often told it’s a normal part of aging. 

Dr. Anna is here to clear the confusion and offer real solutions and relief. 

You’ll learn about…

[3:43] Misconceptions regarding bioidentical hormones

[8:18] The importance of nutrition and lifestyle

[15:53] The power of positive self-talk

[23:01] Why we need healthy fats in our diet

[29:13] The connection between trauma and women’s health

Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG, is the best-selling author of The Hormone Fix KetoGreen 16 and MenuPause. Dr. Anna is triple board certified and a fellow of gynecology and obstetrics, integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. 

She holds special certifications in functional medicine, sexual health, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. She lectures frequently on these topics throughout the world to large audiences and is known nationally as The Girlfriend Doctor and is the host of The Girlfriend Doctor show. 

She has personally developed natural products to help women balance hormones and thrive through menopause, including the highly acclaimed Julva® cream for the vulva and MightyMaca® Plus, a powerful superfood blend. She now lives in Dallas with her daughters, horses, and dogs.

On this episode of Field Notes: An Exploration in Functional Medicine Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey is joined by Dr. Christine Schaffner, a naturopathic doctor and an expert in lymphatics.

[00:20] Introduction
[04:05] Lymphatics
[13:55] The function of a scar
[21:00] Injections and scar tissue
[27:59] What you can do to optimize your lymphatic system
[37:18] Functional medicine as a paradigm shift
[39:03] How to incorporate a biological dentist into your treatment plan
[41:00] How does a topical agent work systemically?

Dr. Christine Schaffner is a board-certified Naturopathic physician who graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.  Prior to Bastyr, she completed her undergraduate studies in Pre-medicine and Psychology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dr. Schaffner is passionate about practicing medicine and creating healing spaces.  She is the Clinic Director of Sophia Health Institute, the clinic she co-created with her mentor Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt in Woodinville, Washington.  She actively sees patients at Sophia Health Institute and through her practices at Marin Naturopathic Medicine in California, as well as Bella Fiore Organic Med Spa & Klinik in Seattle, Washington.

Along with practicing medicine in clinics she has co-created or owns, Dr. Schaffner has built partnerships and working relationships with practitioners who are committed to treating persistent Lyme disease all over the world.  Through these connections, she has established a unique set of skills and knowledge to serve her patients.

With her diverse skill set, Dr. Schaffner seeks to improve access, outcomes, and speed of recovery for patients struggling with chronic illness wherever they may be.

If you're a highly sensitive person or deeply empathetic, you may easily pick up on subtle energies in the environment and go into fight, flight, or freeze mode.

Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Dr. Natasha Fallahi, The Sensitive Doctor. She is a MindBodyHealth expert, functional medicine practitioner, and Certified Autoimmune Coach specializing in an intuitive approach to living and healing.

Download her free ebook: Too Sensitive – 5 Things I Did to Heal from Depression, Anxiety and Hashimoto’s Autoimmunity.

Timestamps:
[02:53] Natasha’s unconventional journey towards medicine
[09:16] Healing Hashimoto’s intuitively
[12:04] The health consequences of being empathic/intuitive- and its tie to autoimmunity
[17:30] The common sense of functional medicine
[29:18] Giving others hope: why diseases shouldn’t be labeled as irreversible
[37:18] What is psychoneuroimmunology?

Deb Matthew MD, The Happy Hormones Doctor, joins the podcast today. She is a frequent guest expert on podcasts, radio, and TV news and talk shows, with more than 60 appearances on NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX. Dr Deb suffered for years with fatigue and irritability, and her quest to restore her own health led her to change everything about how she practices medicine. Together, we discuss hormones, how they can affect us, and how to find someone to accurately assess your hormonal imbalance.

Timestamps:
[02:41] What started to change Deb’s fatigue and irritability? [04:43] How do hormones affect us?
[08:59] Looking for a constellation of symptoms
[22:06] “Cortisol steal”
[30:15] How to find someone that can help you.

The topic of Pelvic Floor Fitness is not discussed nearly enough, despite the fact that pelvic floor issues affect millions of people. 

Jana Danielson joins the podcast to pull back the curtain on the health implications that the pelvic floor has for women and men 

You'll learn about:

[1:30] - Why this isn't talked about enough

[7:35] - The little-known and extremely important nerve 

[14:00 - The physiology of your core and pelvic floor

[23:32] - How breathing properly is like CPR for your pelvic floor

Jana Danielson is an award-winning wellness entrepreneur who through her own experience with physical pain, turned her mess into her message.  She is an Amazon Best Selling Author, owner of Lead Pilates and Lead Integrated Health Therapies, her bricks & mortar businesses and the Metta District, her online wellness community.  

She is the creator of the Cooch Ball, the world’s first patented pelvic floor fitness tool for women.  Jana has coached and consulted with thousands of women from all over the world to help improve their quality of life, their confidence and their impact in this world.

In this episode, Dr. Rob is joined by Dr. Jaban Moore to discuss intestinal permeability, AKA, "leaky gut." 

Leaky gut can impact virtually all aspects of your health. Dr. Moore lays out some practical guidance you can take today to help you heal. 

Highlights:

[2:45] - What is leaky gut?

[14:44] - Root causes of leaky gut

[19:20] - Conventional medicine vs. functional medicine

[24:00] - Leaky gut-autoimmunity connection

https://healingleakygut.byhealthmeans.com/?idev_id=29465

Dr. Heidi Hanna is the Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, a company providing brain-based health and performance programs to individuals and organizations, a Senior Researcher with the Brain Health Initiative, and a Fellow and Advisory Board Member for the American Institute of Stress. Dr. Heidi is also an instructor at Harvard at a regular lecturer at Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa. She is a NY Times bestselling author who has written seven books, including The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic, Recharge and What’s So Funny About Stress?

Dr. Heidi has been featured at many global conferences including the Fortune Magazine Most Powerful Women in Business Summit, ESPN Leadership Summit and the Million Dollar Round Table. Her clients have included Google, Starbucks, Microsoft, Principal Insurance, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise and WD40 as well as the PGA Tour and the National Football League. Dr. Heidi is also a National Board Member and Certifed Humor Professional with the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor although she won’t admit she’s funny.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Kalish and I have a discussion as two functional medicine physicians to talk about telemedicine, what they are doing to improve their practices, forming long term relationships with patients, and looking towards longevity in functional medicine.

[07:06] The budding presence of telemedicine
[16:09] The availability of health services for disadvantaged communities
[20:00] Transition to health sustainability, and forming long-term relationships with patients
[29:35] What happens after a patient is “cured”?
[31:30] Spiritual guidance in medicine

Check out Dr. Kalish’s Brain Restore Program

Dr. Dan Kalish, founder of The Kalish Institute for Functional Medicine, has trained over 2,000 practitioners on building successful Telemedicine and Functional Medicine practices. Founded in 2006, The Kalish Institute teaches clinical application and patient communication techniques through a hands-on, case-based approach. In direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Kalish has honed the focus of course-offerings at The Kalish Institute to meet the growing practitioner demands for knowledge on best practices in transitioning to Telemedicine. Dr. Kalish is an IFM Certified Practitioner, and a lead faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine Practice Implementation Program. Dr. Kalish has authored three books on Functional Medicine, and is a notable speaker at Integrative Medicine conferences.

Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Marc David, the Founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, a leading visionary and teacher in Eating Psychology, and the author of the classic and best-selling books Nourishing Wisdom and The Slow Down Diet. We talk all about how stress ties to the psychology of eating, and approaching weight loss holistically.

Timestamps:
[02:51] What SHOULD we eat?
[11:07] Why don’t zebra’s get ulcers? (and other stress responses)
[18:02] How does stress physiology impact our eating challenges and common health concerns?
[26:59] What is mindful eating?
[29:55] Changing your relationship with food.
[38:09] What is the background of stress responses such as emotional eating, overeating or binge eating?
[44:33] Resetting the body back to vitality.

Marc David is the Founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, a leading visionary and teacher in Eating Psychology, and the author of the classic and best-selling books Nourishing Wisdom and The Slow Down Diet. His humorous, engaging, and informative speaking style have made him a popular and well loved presenter and his non-dogmatic approach to nutrition appeals to a wide audience of eaters who are looking for positive, inspiring, and innovative messages about food and health. Marc has held senior consulting positions at Canyon Ranch Resorts, the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, the Johnson & Johnson Corporation, and the Disney Company. Learn more about his work at psychologyofeating.com

Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Jeff Bland about Functional Medicine and its impact on the medical community and health.

They talk about the future of medicine and how you can put functional medicine principles into practice for your own health and well-being.

Dr. Rob and Dr. Bland open up about their personal experiences in the early days of their careers in this powerful episode. 

• The history of functional medicine
• Autoimmunity and what it actually entails
• Changing lives through functional medicine
• The fight against disillusionment

Jeffrey Bland has been an internationally recognized leader in the nutritional medicine field for over 35 years and is known as the father of functional medicine for his ability to synthesize complex scientific concepts in a manner that is both personable and accessible. A biochemist by training, Dr. Bland earned dual degrees in biology and chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and completed his PhD in organic chemistry at the University of Oregon. He is a Fellow of both the American College of Nutrition where he is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and the Association for Clinical Biochemistry.

Committed to advancing education in the natural health sciences, Dr. Bland was the first member of the Board of Trustees of Bastyr University in Washington State, the first federally accredited university in the United States offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in natural medicine, and contributed significantly to its founding and accreditation. With his wife, Susan, Dr. Bland founded The Institute for Functional Medicine in 1991, a nonprofit organization focused on educating healthcare practitioners on effective approaches to treating and preventing chronic disease. During his decades-long career, Dr. Bland has traveled annually throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, presenting a highly regarded seminar series on science-based nutrition and health. He has provided lectures and medical education events to more than 250,000 health care providers in more than 50 countries.

Trauma expert, Dr. Aimie Apigian joins the podcast for this very important episode. 

Dr. Aimie discusses the deep connection between trauma and disease. 

She reveals how early trauma literally creates the operating system for your brain and nervous system. 

And of course, we discuss steps you can take to begin to untangle this complex web of stored trauma so you can live a happy and healthy life. 

She's also about to launch a life-changing new event called The Biology of Trauma. 

Learn more about it here.

Dr. Aimie Apigian, MD MS MPH is the leading medical expert on how life experiences get stored in the body and restoring the body to its best state of health through her signature model and methodology, The Biology of Trauma™.

Dr. Aimie truly is the physician who healed herself. After a few years in a general surgery residency in Portland, OR, Dr. Aimie decided to forge her career path as a Trauma, Attachment, and Addiction Medicine Physician. She believes the healing journey can be accelerated through evidence-based tools and approaches to rewire the nervous system and the effects of chronic stress and trauma on the mind and body. 

Having both parented children with effects from attachment and trauma issues and then having her own health challenges from chronic stress and traumas, she is intensely invested on finding what actually works practically and how to restore the body to its highest potential for health optimizing the biology.

Jodi Cohen joins the podcast to discuss hidden sources of stress and anxiety, and the best tips and solutions for relief. 

Jodi Cohen is a bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and founder of Vibrant Blue Oils, a top resource for essential oils online, which welcomes 300,000 visitors every year.

Her #1 bestselling book, Healing with Essential Oils, synthesizes decades of leading scientific research to help explain how essential oils can work to support the body and the brain. Random House published her second book, Essential Oils to Boost the Brain and Heal the Body, on March 16, 2021. 

After personally experiencing the profound physical and mental benefits of essential oils in addressing her own anxiety, insomnia, and autoimmunity, Jodi wanted to know why. Today, she holds certifications in nutritional therapy, functional neurology, herbalism, and aromatherapy, along with multiple continuing educational courses in plant medicine, brain health, Chinese medicine, and herbalism.

Learn more about Jodi here: https://vibrantblueoils.com/

Joe Rignola returns to the podcast to discuss how to build strength and resilience by facing your fears. 

Using different tools and modalities like therapy, breathwork, plant medicine, and others can be helpful, but it's how to integrate the lessons learned in your every day life that truly move the needle and rewires your brain and nervous system. 

Joe Rignola is an entrepreneur, filmmaker, and best-selling author. He began his own health journey about 16 years ago while dealing with depression, anxiety, severe digestive issues, weight gain, and more. 

After researching alternatives to the medications he was on, Joe was able to take control of his health and lose over 45 pounds by changing his diet and lifestyle. Filled with gratitude for his newfound health and energy, Joe went back to school to study health and nutrition so he could help others along their journey. 

He has founded, co-founded, and launched some of the most successful brands and events in the health space over the past 12 years. 

He is the founder of the 170,000-member community, WellConnected.tv

In this episode, Dr. Rob is joined by pain expert, and energy worker, Debora Wayne.

Debora shares her inspiring story of overcoming chronic health conditions such as pain, ulcers, anxiety, insomnia, and more. She now helps people worldwide recover from debilitating and often life-threatening diseases.

DEBORA WAYNE, founder of The International Chronic Pain Institute, is a world-renowned energy healer and pain-release specialist helping men and women worldwide (virtually) to rapidly find and remove the hidden root causes of Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety, Trauma, Battles with Weight, Binge-Eating, BurnOut, and other chronic conditions.

Debora's proven programs are backed by science and have helped tens of thousands of people (virtually) from 150 countries around the world to remove pain, recharge energy, and transform their lives without pills, PT, or giving up the foods they love.

3:00 - Personal story of finding peace and the process of UNlearning to learn

15:01 - You don't need "belief" for energy healing to work

29:00 - Recovering from the "unrecoverable."

35:45 - Our natural state is ease, not DIS-ease