Made for Health | Peptides | Lyme | Chronic Infections | Long Covid | Insulin Resistance | Hypermobility

🎒 Back-to-school season can bring changing routines, increased stress, new exposures, and added demands on the whole family. Support your family’s health this season with Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine’s Back-to-School 2026 resources. Back-to-School 2026: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/lp/back-to-school-2026/ In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman welcomes back Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge , a leading expert in emotional and behavioral dysregulation with more than 30 years of experience helping children and families. Their conversation explores what happens when the nervous system becomes chronically overwhelmed—and why addressing behavior alone may miss what is actually driving a child’s struggles. Dr. Roseann explains dysregulation as difficulty moving effectively between states of stress and calm. When the nervous system’s “stress cup” keeps filling without enough opportunities to release that stress, children and adults can remain chronically activated. That activation may show up through anxiety, emotional outbursts, attention difficulties, shutdowns, impulsivity, sleep problems, or other physical and mental health challenges. Dr. Hartman and Dr. Roseann also take a close look at screen time and device dysregulation . Rather than framing technology as inherently bad, Dr. Roseann emphasizes the importance of boundaries, especially because children can have difficulty disengaging once they are deeply absorbed in stimulating digital content. The conversation then moves into the heart of Dr. Roseann’s work: helping families regulate the nervous system first. Nutrition, gut health, magnesium, neurofeedback, PEMF, and other tools may all have a role, but she stresses that lasting change also requires consistent daily practices that help reduce nervous-system activation and create greater capacity for stress. Key Topics Covered What emotional and nervous-system dysregulation can look like in children Why people can appear highly functional while living in chronic fight, flight, or freeze The “stress cup” and why accumulated stress matters ADHD, anxiety, OCD, PANS/PANDAS, sensory challenges, and dysregulation Device dysregulation and screen-time boundaries Why smartphones and short-form content can be difficult for children to disengage from Why simply removing one physical stressor may not fully regulate the nervous system Nutrition, magnesium, gut health, mold, and nervous-system support Big-T trauma, little-t trauma, and chronic everyday stress Sympathetic nervous-system activation Why consistency matters more than searching for one “magic” intervention Breathwork, somatic exercises, Tai Chi, prayer, art, and other daily regulation practices Neurofeedback, PEMF, and brain-based tools Polyvagal theory and vagus-nerve regulation Why parents need to regulate themselves before helping a dysregulated child Co-dysregulation versus co-regulation Generational patterns and emotional regulation within families The CALMS Dysregulation Protocol® Regulation First Parenting® Dr. Roseann’s book, The Dysregulated Kid In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why dysregulation is about the nervous system’s ability to move between stress and calm ✅ Why chronic stress can affect the nervous system even when there has not been one major traumatic event ✅ Why correcting behavior may be ineffective when a child is already highly dysregulated ✅ How technology and device use can add another layer of stimulation for children ✅ Why supplements or advanced therapies alone may not replace daily nervous-system regulation ✅ How simple practices such as breathwork, movement, art, prayer, Tai Chi, and somatic exercises can become part of a daily regulation routine ✅ Why parents’ nervous systems influence their children through verbal and nonverbal cues ✅ How families can shift from co-dysregulation to co-regulation ✅ Why Dr. Roseann believes parents need to stop personalizing a child’s dysregulated behavior ✅ How the CALMS Dysregulation Protocol® gives families a practical framework for responding differently Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🎒 Back-to-school season brings changing routines, new exposures, and added demands on the whole family. Support your family’s health this season with Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine’s Back-to-School 2026 offer. Back-to-School 2026: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/lp/back-to-school-2026/ In this Made for Health minisode , Dr. Aaron Hartman continues exploring a question he hears frequently from patients: Why am I still sick? Why am I not getting better? What has been overlooked? Sometimes you've seen multiple doctors, received diagnoses, tried medications, completed specialized testing, and even worked with functional medicine practitioners, yet your recovery eventually reaches a plateau. According to Dr. Hartman, one potential piece worth investigating is mold exposure . He explains that mold and other biotoxins can interact with the immune system in complicated ways. One aspect of this is Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) , which Dr. Hartman describes in relation to activation of the innate immune system by biotoxins. He also discusses direct toxin exposure and how mold-related problems may intersect with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The challenge is that mold exposure can be easy to dismiss precisely because it is so common. A water-damaged environment or mold around an HVAC system may look “normal” to someone who sees it every day, but Dr. Hartman argues that common does not necessarily mean harmless for every individual. Key Topics Covered Why mold may be overlooked when chronic illness isn't improving Mold exposure and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) What Dr. Hartman means by the biotoxin pathway Innate versus adaptive immune responses Direct toxicity from mold and mycotoxins Mold and chronic inflammation Potential connections with autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions Water-damaged buildings and environmental exposure Why common mold exposure can be easy to dismiss Mold in HVAC systems and indoor environments HLA-DR/DQ genetics and susceptibility Why some people may have more difficulty handling biotoxins Mold exposure versus immune-system dysregulation Urine testing for mold toxins Evaluating the building as well as the individual Mold as a possible complicating factor in chronic Lyme disease Dr. Hartman's clinical example involving Lyme disease, hypermobility, and POTS Binders, phosphatidylcholine, environmental changes, and gut support discussed in his clinical approach Why foundational health still matters when dealing with environmental exposures RIFM's Healthy Building Guide and mold resources In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why Dr. Hartman considers mold when someone with a complex chronic illness stops progressing ✅ How he distinguishes mold exposure, direct toxin effects, and CIRS ✅ Why a water-damaged building may affect different people differently ✅ How Dr. Hartman describes the role of HLA-DR/DQ genetics in the body's ability to handle biotoxins ✅ Why simply finding mold-related toxins doesn't necessarily tell you whether your innate immune system is dysregulated ✅ Why evaluating your home or workplace environment can be an important part of investigating possible mold exposure ✅ How mold may complicate conditions such as chronic Lyme disease, autoimmune disease, mast cell activation syndrome, long COVID, and other complex health problems ✅ Why Dr. Hartman continues emphasizing nutrition, gut health, detoxification, and other foundations even when addressing mold Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🎒 Back-to-school season brings new routines, new exposures, and new challenges for the whole family. Support your family this school year with targeted nutritional support designed with whole-person health in mind. Get 25% Off the Back-to-School Bundle In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD, and Dr. Jenski, MD, explore Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and the biotoxin pathway. They break down how exposure to biotoxins from mold, water-damaged environments, and chemicals can trigger complex immune responses, and how genetic factors such as HLA gene mutations may influence the way certain individuals respond to these exposures. The conversation examines the connection between biotoxins, chronic inflammation, detoxification, and seemingly interconnected health problems . Dr. Hartman and Dr. Jenski explain why CIRS can be complex to identify and manage and why treatment needs to be personalized rather than approached with a one-size-fits-all protocol. They also discuss strategies used to support the body during treatment, including omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin , while emphasizing the importance of addressing CIRS through a thoughtful, step-by-step process. This episode provides listeners with a clearer understanding of the biotoxin pathway, why chronic inflammation can persist, and how a structured approach can help guide CIRS treatment. Resources & Links: 🌐 Dr. Aaron Hartman – Richmond Functional Medicine: richmondfunctionalmedicine.com 🌐 LinkedIn – Dr. Aaron Hartman: Connect Here 📺 YouTube – Richmond Functional Medicine: Watch Here 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🎒 Back-to-school season brings changing routines, new exposures, and added demands on the whole family. Support your family’s health this season with Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine’s Back-to-School 2026 offer. Back-to-School 2026: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/lp/back-to-school-2026/ In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman continues his series exploring a question he hears constantly from people dealing with chronic and complex health problems: Why am I still not getting better? You may have seen the specialists, received the diagnoses, taken the medications, completed advanced testing, or worked with integrative and functional medicine providers. Maybe you've made it 50% of the way—but something still feels missing. Dr. Hartman introduces the Hierarchy of Healing , a concept he says has existed within naturopathic medicine for more than a century. Rather than beginning with the newest test, supplement, or advanced treatment, this framework asks whether you've created the conditions your body needs to heal in the first place. That includes your physical environment, nervous system, connection with nature, food and water, and something medicine doesn't always know how to measure: meaning and purpose . Key Topics Covered Why some people improve but eventually become stuck in their healing journey The Hierarchy of Healing in naturopathic medicine Dr. Hartman's Triangle of Health Creating an environment that supports healing Why feeling safe matters to the nervous system Trauma, chaos, and nervous-system dysregulation The relationship between mind, body, and healing Connecting with nature and natural rhythms Seasonal changes in food and lifestyle The microbiome, polyphenols, mitochondria, and the environment Nourishing the body with real food and clean water Giving the body what it needs rather than only trying to remove what's wrong Why meaning and purpose belong in a conversation about health The biopsychosocial model of healing Why foundational principles still matter in complex chronic illness Turning health information into meaningful action In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ What Dr. Hartman means by the Hierarchy of Healing ✅ Why the environment surrounding you can become part of your healing process ✅ Why nervous-system safety may matter when your body seems unable to move forward ✅ How natural and seasonal rhythms fit into Dr. Hartman's framework for health ✅ Why nourishment involves more than simply avoiding unhealthy foods ✅ How Dr. Hartman connects the microbiome, polyphenols, mitochondria, and environmental influences ✅ Why meaning, purpose, relationships, vocation, and creativity can be important pieces of a healing journey ✅ Why getting better shouldn't be viewed only through medications, testing, supplements, or procedures ✅ Why Dr. Hartman continues returning to foundational principles even when working with people experiencing significant chronic illness Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🎒 Back-to-school season brings new routines, new exposures, and new challenges for the whole family. Support your family this school year with targeted nutritional support designed with whole-person health in mind. Get 25% Off the Back-to-School Bundle In this episode of Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman is joined by internationally renowned Lyme disease expert Dr. Richard Horowitz , who shares insights from his 35+ years of experience treating over 13,000 patients with chronic Lyme disease and complex chronic illnesses . Dr. Horowitz unpacks the 16-point treatment model he developed to address the multifactorial nature of chronic disease—including infections, inflammation, environmental toxins, mitochondrial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. He explores how chronic Lyme overlaps with long COVID, mold illness, and autoimmune conditions , and emphasizes the importance of personalized, root-cause approaches to healing. This eye-opening episode also addresses the medical and political challenges faced by Lyme patients and practitioners, the need for systemic change, and how advocacy and collaboration can help reshape the future of chronic care. Show Highlights: ✅ What makes chronic Lyme disease so difficult to diagnose and treat ✅ Dr. Horowitz’s 16-point model and why it’s transforming chronic illness care ✅ The intersection of Lyme, long COVID, and other systemic health conditions ✅ How toxins, infections, and inflammation fuel long-term illness ✅ The political and institutional barriers to better care and research ✅ Real-world patient stories that highlight hope and healing ✅ Where patients and practitioners can access further education and support Some Questions We Explore: ✅ Why are so many patients misdiagnosed—or not diagnosed at all? ✅ How can chronic Lyme mimic other diseases like fibromyalgia or MS? ✅ What’s the role of mitochondrial health and detoxification in recovery? ✅ How do we move from symptom management to root-cause resolution? In This Episode, You Will Learn: ✅ What a truly integrative, systems-based approach to chronic illness looks like ✅ How to use Dr. Horowitz’s model to guide testing, diagnosis, and treatment ✅ Why collaboration between conventional and functional medicine is crucial ✅ How to advocate for better awareness, resources, and policy change Resources & Links: 🌐 Dr. Richard Horowitz – Official Website: cangetbetter.com 📘 Book – Why Can’t I Get Better? by Dr. Richard Horowitz 📘 Book – How Can I Get Better? by Dr. Richard Horowitz 🌐 Dr. Aaron Hartman – Richmond Functional Medicine: richmondfunctionalmedicine.com 🌐 LinkedIn – Dr. Aaron Hartman: Connect Here 📺 YouTube – Richmond Functional Medicine: Watch Here 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🎒 Back-to-school season puts extra demands on the whole family. Support your health this fall with physician-vetted, foundational supplements from Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine. Get 25% off Back-to-School Support while the seasonal offer lasts. https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/lp/back-to-school-2026/ In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman begins a new series with a question he hears almost every day: “Why am I not getting better?” You may be doing everything you think you’re supposed to do. You’ve seen doctors and specialists. You’ve changed your diet, tried supplements, addressed your diagnosis, and worked hard on your health. Maybe you’ve improved 20%, 40%, or even 60%—but then something happens. Progress stops, symptoms linger, and you feel stuck. Before jumping to more complicated possibilities like mold, Lyme disease, mast cell issues, hormones, or advanced testing, Dr. Hartman argues that it’s worth returning to the foundations. In his clinical experience, three of the most commonly overlooked areas are gut health, stress, and sleep . He explores how nutrition, the microbiome, food reactivity, detoxification, stress and trauma, nervous-system regulation, and restorative sleep can influence the healing process. The goal isn't simply to chase the newest health trend. It's to identify what may be blocking progress, address what's lacking, and build a stronger foundation for healing. Key Topics Covered Why people can make significant progress and then suddenly get stuck The danger of chasing the newest health trend or treatment Why foundational health still matters in complex chronic illness Gut health and the microbiome Real food versus highly processed food Food sensitivities and immune reactivity Protein, minerals, and nutrition in detoxification Prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, polyphenols, and fiber Chronic stress and its impact on healing Health-related and healthcare-related stress Trauma and nervous-system dysregulation EMDR, tapping, somatic therapy, and parts therapy The default mode network and established brain patterns Why sleep is essential for repair and recovery Deep sleep, REM sleep, memory, and nervous-system regulation Why the basics should come before more complex interventions Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🎒 Back-to-school season brings new routines, new exposures, and new challenges for the whole family. Support your family this school year with targeted nutritional support designed with whole-person health in mind. Get 25% Off the Back-to-School Bundle In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman welcomes Dr. Jill Carnahan, a leading expert in functional and integrative medicine, for a powerful conversation about resilience, healing, and the root causes of chronic illness. Dr. Carnahan shares her deeply personal story—surviving breast cancer at 25, living with Crohn’s disease, and overcoming debilitating mold toxicity. These challenges became the catalyst for her shift from conventional to holistic, patient-centered care. Together, she and Dr. Hartman explore the connection between trauma, toxic exposures, belief systems, and spiritual healing in the path to true wellness. This is more than a medical discussion—it’s an invitation to reclaim your health through compassionate, root-cause medicine that honors both science and soul. ✅ Show Highlights: Dr. Carnahan’s journey through cancer, autoimmune disease, and mold illness Why trauma and belief systems play a critical role in recovery How conventional medicine often overlooks root causes The role of diet, detoxification, and the environment in healing Her shift from protocols to personalized, whole-person care The impact of spirituality and mindset in chronic illness recovery Insights from her new book and documentary 🎯 Some Questions We Explore: How did Dr. Carnahan’s personal health battles shape her medical philosophy? What’s the connection between trauma, the immune system, and chronic disease? Why are environmental toxins often missed in conventional care? How can spiritual practices aid physical recovery? 💡 In This Episode, You Will Learn: The importance of addressing trauma in healing complex illness Why belief, choice, and action are cornerstones of recovery Functional medicine tools for detox, gut healing, and immune regulation How to become an empowered advocate for your own health Where to start if you feel dismissed or overlooked in traditional healthcare 🌐 Resources & Links: Dr. Jill Carnahan – Official Website: https://www.jillcarnahan.com Book – Unexpected: Finding Resilience through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith : Buy Here Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless. Dr. Hartmans wrote UnCURABLE to help you take back control of your health and your hope. Visit the link below ⬇️ to get your copy and start your transformation today. Get the new book UnCURABLE 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🎒 Back-to-school season brings new routines, new exposures, and new challenges for the whole family. Support your family this school year with targeted nutritional support designed with whole-person health in mind. Get 25% Off the Back-to-School Bundle In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman sits down with Dr. James T. Leathem, DO , a board-certified anesthesiologist and psychedelic integration coach, to explore ketamine therapy, psychedelic medicine, and a different way of thinking about mental health. Dr. Leathem shares his unconventional path from business to medicine, how a near-death experience helped redirect his life, and how his background in anesthesia eventually led him into ketamine-assisted care. The conversation focuses on depression, PTSD, trauma, chronic pain, neuroplasticity, and the importance of pairing the medicine with meaningful integration work. Dr. Leathem explains that ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used at sub-anesthetic doses in this setting. He describes how ketamine interacts with the glutamate system through NMDA receptor blockade, which can influence AMPA signaling and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. He connects these mechanisms to synaptic plasticity, dendritic spine formation, and a period of increased neuroplasticity that may create an opportunity for new patterns and behaviors. But for Dr. Leathem, the medicine itself is only part of the process. He emphasizes preparation, intention, integration coaching, mindfulness, journaling, sleep, and daily practices after treatment. His analogy is simple: ketamine may help put out the fire in your "mental health house," but it cannot rebuild the house for you. That rebuilding requires active participation after someone becomes unstuck. The conversation also expands into the default mode network, spiritual experiences, stellate ganglion blocks, autonomic dysregulation, traumatic brain injury, and the wider landscape of psychedelic medicine. Throughout the episode, Dr. Leathem emphasizes individualized treatment rather than a cookie-cutter approach. Key Topics Covered Dr. James Leathem's unconventional journey into medicine How anesthesiology led him toward ketamine and psychedelic medicine Ketamine therapy for depression, PTSD, trauma, and chronic pain The difference between anesthetic and sub-anesthetic ketamine Why Dr. Leathem prefers an individualized approach to ketamine therapy IV ketamine and different routes of administration Why the ketamine experience is only one part of the healing process Preparation, intention, and psychedelic integration The neuroplasticity window following ketamine treatment NMDA receptors, glutamate, and AMPA signaling Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Dendritic spine formation and neural circuitry Why mental health may involve more than the traditional neurotransmitter model Ketamine and the default mode network Psychedelic experiences and shifts in perspective The role of daily habits after ketamine therapy Mindfulness, journaling, sleep, and metacognition Stellate ganglion blocks and autonomic nervous system regulation Ketamine in patients with complex chronic illness Dr. Leathem's clinical experience with traumatic brain injury Classic versus non-classic psychedelics Psilocybin, LSD, DMT, mescaline, MDMA, and other psychedelic medicines Why psychedelic treatment requires attention to preparation, setting, and integration Turning trauma and suffering into growth and personal evolution In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ How Dr. Leathem went from anesthesiology to ketamine and psychedelic medicine ✅ How ketamine works differently from conventional approaches focused primarily on serotonin and other monoamine neurotransmitters ✅ Why NMDA receptors, glutamate, BDNF, and neuroplasticity are central to the conversation about ketamine ✅ Why Dr. Leathem believes the period after a ketamine experience can be as important as the infusion itself ✅ How preparation, intention, integration coaching, and daily practices can help patients work with the changes that follow treatment ✅ Why ketamine may help someone become "unstuck," while long-term rebuilding still requires active participation ✅ How the default mode network may relate to ego, thought patterns, and psychedelic experiences ✅ How ketamine and stellate ganglion blocks are being combined in Dr. Leathem's practice when addressing certain patterns of autonomic dysregulation ✅ How ketamine fits into the much broader and evolving field of psychedelic medicine About Dr. James T. Leathem, DO Dr. James T. Leathem is a board-certified anesthesiologist, Certified Psychedelic Integration Coach, and co-founder of Gilbert Chandler Ketamine Therapy Clinic and Scottsdale Ketamine Therapy Clinic . His background in anesthesia provided the foundation for his work with ketamine and altered states of consciousness. After beginning his career in business and marketing, a series of deeply personal experiences led him toward medicine. He went on to earn his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and build a career in anesthesiology before transitioning into ketamine and psychedelic medicine. In the episode, he explains that his clinics have performed thousands of ketamine infusions and that his approach combines the medicine with preparation and integration rather than treating the infusion as a standalone intervention. His work focuses on helping individuals struggling with conditions including depression, PTSD, trauma, chronic pain, and other mental health challenges , while emphasizing personalized care and the potential for lasting behavioral and personal change. Connect With Dr. James T. Leathem 🌐 Gilbert Chandler Ketamine Therapy Clinic: Gilbert Ketamine Therapy Clinic 🌐 Scottsdale Ketamine Therapy Clinic: Scottsdale Ketamine Therapy Clinic 👨‍⚕️ Dr. James T. Leathem, DO: Dr. James Leathem’s Profile Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 🎒 Back-to-School 2026: Back-to-School Bundle 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if recovering from a concussion isn’t about pushing harder, but understanding exactly what your brain needs to heal without exceeding its limits? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to explore how addressing inflammation, cellular health, nutrition, and the interconnected systems of the body can help support the natural healing process. Concussion Recovery Requires More Than Rest: How to Support the Brain After a Traumatic Brain Injury In this Made for Health minisode , Dr. Aaron Hartman concludes his series on concussions and traumatic brain injuries by answering the question that follows understanding the causes, symptoms, and biological effects of TBI: What can you actually do to support recovery? He walks through the framework he uses with patients, beginning with strategies aimed at decreasing inflammation and supporting the brain during both acute and chronic stages of recovery. Dr. Hartman discusses nutrition, healthy fats, omega-3s, choline, curcumin, blood-brain barrier support, mitochondrial restoration, hormone balance, magnesium, sleep, graded exercise, brain retraining, vagus nerve activation, and therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen. One of his most important messages is that recovery must respect the brain's metabolic threshold . If exercise or cognitive activity leaves you feeling worse the following day or takes several days to recover from, you may be pushing beyond your current capacity. Rather than looking for one universal solution, Dr. Hartman emphasizes evaluating the bigger picture, including the gut, hormones, environment, toxins, emotional health, and other factors that may influence recovery. He closes the series with a message of hope for people dealing with persistent symptoms after traumatic brain injury. Key Topics Covered The foundations of concussion and traumatic brain injury recovery Why reducing brain inflammation is an early priority The role of an anti-inflammatory TBI diet Healthy fats, omega-3s, omega-6s, protein, and choline Curcumin and other nutrients used to support brain health Supporting the blood-brain barrier after traumatic brain injury The relationship between leaky gut and leaky brain Phosphatidylcholine and cell membrane support Magnesium and its role in brain health Mitochondrial restoration and energy production B vitamins, CoQ10, and mitochondrial support Hormonal changes following traumatic brain injury Sleep disturbances and melatonin Graded exercise during concussion recovery Understanding your metabolic threshold Why pushing too hard can worsen symptoms Vestibular rehabilitation and neuro-ophthalmology Brain retraining and cognitive exercises Vagus nerve activation and nervous system regulation Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and sensory deprivation Long-term strategies for supporting brain resilience Why gut health, hormones, toxins, and environment may need to be addressed Hope for people living with persistent post-concussion symptoms In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why concussion recovery may require more than simply resting and waiting ✅ How an anti-inflammatory diet and specific nutrients may support brain health ✅ Why the blood-brain barrier, gut, mitochondria, and hormones can all matter during recovery ✅ How to recognize when exercise or cognitive activity has exceeded your metabolic threshold ✅ Why graded exercise and brain retraining should be approached carefully during the chronic phase of recovery ✅ How hyperbaric oxygen, nervous system regulation, and other supportive strategies fit into Dr. Hartman’s clinical approach ✅ Why persistent post-concussion symptoms may require looking beyond the brain at the whole person Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if the problem isn’t fat itself, but what happens to fats before they ever reach your plate? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to explore a different way of thinking about chronic illness, nutrition, and supporting the body’s natural capacity for health. Healthy Fats, Omega-3s, and Seed Oil Myths: What Most People Get Wrong About Fat In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman sits down with legendary health educator Udo Erasmus , founder of Udo’s Choice and author of Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill , for a deep conversation about healthy fats, essential fatty acids, oil processing, and the nutritional myths that have shaped the way we think about fat. Udo shares how his experience with pesticide poisoning pushed him to take greater responsibility for his health and begin studying the relationship between nutrition and disease. That investigation eventually led him to focus on oils, which he believes are among the most easily damaged components of our food supply. Udo explains why omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential nutrients and challenges the idea that all seed oils or omega-6 fats should automatically be considered harmful. Instead, he argues that the condition, processing, balance, and handling of these fats matter. He and Dr. Hartman explore how oils can be affected by heat, light, oxygen, industrial processing, and frying, as well as why Udo developed a method of producing oils with health rather than shelf life in mind. The conversation ultimately expands beyond nutrition. Udo shares his broader philosophy of total health, explaining why physical health is only one part of the picture and why emotional health, social connection, environment, awareness, and inner peace also deserve attention. Key Topics Covered Udo Erasmus’ journey from pesticide poisoning to studying nutrition and healthy fats Why he began investigating how commercial oils are produced The difference between healthy fats and damaged fats Why omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are considered essential nutrients The controversy surrounding omega-6 fats and seed oils Why Udo believes processing is a critical part of the seed oil conversation How light, oxygen, and heat can affect sensitive oils Industrial refining, bleaching, and deodorization of oils Why frying can further alter oils Udo’s approach to producing oils with health in mind Why omega-3 fats require careful handling The balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids How dietary fats support the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients The relationship between fats, mitochondria, and cellular function Udo’s “oil change” concept for thinking about dietary fats Common myths about fats and essential fatty acids Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill Your Body Needs an Oil Change Why Udo believes health should become a teachable field The physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, and inner dimensions of total health In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why Udo Erasmus believes the conversation about dietary fat needs to distinguish between healthy and damaged fats ✅ Why omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are both essential to human nutrition ✅ How processing, heat, oxygen, and light may change sensitive oils ✅ Why Udo challenges the blanket claim that all seed oils and omega-6 fats are inherently bad ✅ How healthy fats can support the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients ✅ Why Udo compares changing the fats in your diet to giving your body an “oil change” ✅ How his philosophy of health has expanded beyond nutrition to include emotional wellness, environment, awareness, relationships, and inner peace Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Connect With Udo Erasmus 🌐 Udo’s Choice: https://udoschoice.co.uk/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/udoerasmus/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theudoerasmus/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/udoerasmus/ Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if the reason you're still struggling months or even years after a concussion isn't the injury itself, but the hidden factors keeping your brain stuck in a cycle of chronic inflammation? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to discover how identifying and removing the roadblocks to healing can help support your body's natural ability to recover from complex chronic illness. Why Some People Never Fully Recover from a Concussion: The Hidden Causes of Chronic Brain Inflammation In this Made for Health minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman explores why some people continue to experience post-concussive symptoms long after the expected recovery period. While many individuals improve within weeks or months, others remain stuck with brain fog, fatigue, headaches, cognitive changes, and other persistent symptoms for years. Dr. Hartman explains that these ongoing challenges may not simply be the result of the original injury, but of biological processes that continue to fuel inflammation and prevent the brain from fully healing. Using a functional medicine perspective, Dr. Hartman discusses the many factors that can keep the brain trapped in this inflammatory cycle, including blood-brain barrier dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, food sensitivities, environmental toxins, mold exposure, hormonal imbalances, sleep deprivation, chronic stress, insulin resistance, nutrient deficiencies, and low omega-3 levels. Rather than treating concussion as an isolated brain injury, he explains why evaluating the whole body may be essential for helping the brain return to its natural healing state. Key Topics Covered Why some people develop persistent post-concussion symptoms Chronic neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury Blood-brain barrier dysfunction and brain healing The connection between leaky gut and leaky brain Gut dysbiosis and chronic inflammation Food sensitivities that may contribute to neuroinflammation Mold exposure, mycotoxins, and environmental triggers EMF exposure and blood-brain barrier health Hormonal deficiencies that may slow recovery Sleep deprivation and chronic stress Heavy metals and other neurotoxic exposures Insulin resistance, metabolic health, and brain function Omega-3 deficiency and inflammation Why functional medicine evaluates the whole person after a concussion Preparing for a comprehensive recovery plan Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if there isn't a single treatment for Long COVID because there isn't a single biological process causing it? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to learn how identifying what's blocking your body's natural healing process can help create a more personalized path toward recovery from complex chronic illness. Long COVID Treatment Requires More Than One Approach: Integrative Strategies for Recovery In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman and Dr. Christian Jenski conclude their three-part Long COVID series by exploring the therapeutic strategies they have found most helpful when caring for patients with persistent post-viral symptoms. They explain why Long COVID is rarely driven by a single mechanism, making individualized care essential. Rather than focusing on one treatment, they discuss how clinicians often layer therapies based on each patient's biology, symptoms, and underlying contributors. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Hartman and Dr. Jenski discuss integrative approaches including low-dose naltrexone (LDN), GLP-1 receptor agonists, mast cell stabilizers, phospholipid therapy, antivirals, peptides, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, nutritional support, and other targeted interventions. They emphasize that treatment decisions should always be made with qualified healthcare professionals and that these therapies are selected based on an individual's unique clinical presentation rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. The episode closes with an encouraging reminder that patients living with Long COVID should not lose hope, as new research and clinical experience continue to expand available options. Key Topics Covered Why Long COVID treatment requires an individualized approach Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) and its role in immune modulation LDN for chronic pain, fatigue, autoimmune conditions, and Long COVID GLP-1 receptor agonists and microdosing strategies Mast cell stabilizers and antihistamine approaches Addressing dysautonomia and POTS-related symptoms Sleep support and nervous system regulation Antiviral therapies for selected patients Phospholipid therapy and cell membrane health IV phosphatidylcholine and mitochondrial support Peptides and emerging integrative therapies Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) Nutritional and supplement strategies Why treatment plans often involve combining multiple therapies The importance of working with experienced healthcare professionals In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why there is no single treatment that works for every person with Long COVID ✅ How low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is being used as part of integrative care for chronic inflammatory conditions ✅ Why clinicians may consider different therapies based on each patient's symptom pattern ✅ How mast cell stabilization, mitochondrial support, and nervous system regulation may fit into personalized care ✅ Why restoring cellular health and reducing inflammation are important considerations in functional medicine ✅ Why hope, education, and individualized care remain central to Long COVID recovery Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if a brain injury doesn't just affect your brain—but also your heart, gut, immune system, hormones, metabolism, and even the way your body heals? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to explore how seemingly unrelated symptoms can be connected through the body's complex biological systems. How a Brain Injury Can Affect Your Heart, Gut, Hormones, and Immune System In this Made for Health minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman continues his concussion series by explaining why a traumatic brain injury can have effects far beyond the brain itself. Using a "one brain, one body" perspective, he explores how the brain serves as the master regulator of nearly every system in the body. When that regulation is disrupted—whether by a concussion, emotional trauma, or PTSD-like events—it can contribute to problems involving the heart, digestive system, hormones, immune function, metabolism, and sleep. Dr. Hartman discusses the connections between the brain and the vagus nerve, heart rate variability, the gut microbiome, neurotransmitter production, immune regulation, hormone balance, metabolic health, and lipid membranes. He explains how understanding these interconnected systems can help clinicians recognize why symptoms that seem unrelated may actually share a common neurological origin, setting the stage for the next episode focused on practical treatment strategies. Key Topics Covered The "one brain, one body" approach to traumatic brain injury Why the brain acts as the master regulator of the body's systems Heart rate variability (HRV) and the brain-heart connection The role of the vagus nerve in heart, gut, and immune function How traumatic brain injury may contribute to fatigue and exercise intolerance The gut-brain axis and neurotransmitter production Leaky gut, the microbiome, and neuroinflammation Butyrate and its role in brain protection Sleep disturbances following brain injury Brain injury, immune dysregulation, and autoimmune conditions Emotional trauma, PTSD, and adverse childhood experiences as potential contributors to brain dysfunction Hormonal changes that may influence brain recovery Metabolic health, insulin resistance, and brain resilience Lipid medicine, phospholipids, omega-3s, and neuroprotection Why understanding whole-body connections can guide recovery Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if Long COVID isn’t one condition, but a collection of biological processes keeping your body stuck in survival mode long after the infection is gone? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to explore how chronic illness can involve the immune system, mitochondria, inflammation, and the body’s ability to recover. Why Long COVID Can Trigger Brain Fog, Fatigue, and Autoimmunity: The Hidden Biology Behind Persistent Symptoms In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman welcomes back Dr. Christian Jenski to continue their deep dive into Long COVID and the complex biological mechanisms that may keep symptoms going long after the initial infection. Rather than viewing Long COVID as a single condition, they explain why it may represent multiple overlapping processes involving chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, mast cell activation, nervous system changes, and persistent cellular stress. Dr. Hartman and Dr. Jenski discuss how functional and integrative medicine approaches complex illnesses by identifying patterns across multiple body systems instead of focusing on isolated symptoms. They explore the science behind Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), the Cell Danger Response, mitochondrial dysfunction, senescent cells, autophagy, autoimmunity, and nervous system dysregulation. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize that understanding which mechanisms are driving an individual's symptoms is essential for creating a personalized treatment strategy under the guidance of an experienced clinician. Key Topics Covered Why Long COVID may involve multiple overlapping biological processes How functional medicine approaches complex chronic illness through systems biology Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and persistent inflammation Why mast cells can contribute to fatigue, brain fog, digestive symptoms, skin issues, and pain Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and biotoxin illness How environmental exposures may contribute to chronic inflammation Mitochondrial dysfunction and the Cell Danger Response Why cells can become "stuck" in survival mode Senescent ("zombie") cells and chronic immune activation The roles of autophagy and apoptosis in healthy cellular turnover Understanding DAMPs and PAMPs in chronic immune signaling How persistent inflammation may contribute to autoimmunity Nervous system dysregulation and limbic retraining Why personalized testing and clinical oversight are important when evaluating Long COVID In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why Long COVID may involve much more than a lingering viral infection ✅ How mast cell activation can contribute to a wide variety of persistent symptoms ✅ The connection between chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and fatigue ✅ Why damaged cells may continue sending inflammatory signals long after an illness ✅ How chronic immune activation may contribute to autoimmune conditions ✅ Why functional medicine focuses on identifying each patient's unique combination of biological drivers Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if the lingering effects of a concussion don’t always look like headaches or dizziness, but instead show up as brain fog, sleep problems, vision changes, hormone issues, or emotional shifts that seem completely unrelated? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to explore a deeper perspective on chronic illness, brain health, and why identifying overlooked connections can be an important part of understanding what is happening in the body. What if symptoms that seem unrelated could actually trace back to an old concussion? In this Made for Health minisode , Dr. Aaron Hartman continues his series on concussions and traumatic brain injuries by exploring the many ways post-concussion symptoms can appear beyond the signs most people recognize. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, and light sensitivity may be familiar warning signs, but concussion-related changes can also affect cognition, emotions, vision, balance, hormones, sleep, and nervous system regulation. Dr. Hartman explains how post-concussion symptoms generally fall into somatic, cognitive, and emotional categories before diving into subtler patterns that may be overlooked. He discusses vestibular dysfunction, visual tracking difficulties, slower processing speed, memory problems, difficulty switching between tasks, hormonal disruption, autonomic dysregulation, and sleep disturbances. He also explains why emotional changes such as anxiety, depression, irritability, and difficulty handling stress may sometimes reflect changes in brain function rather than being purely psychological. Key Topics Covered Why post-concussion symptoms can persist much longer than expected The somatic, cognitive, and emotional categories of concussion symptoms Headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and sensory sensitivity after a concussion Why seemingly minor acceleration and deceleration injuries may affect the brain Memory problems, brain fog, and slower processing speed Why multitasking and switching between tasks may become more difficult Vestibular dysfunction and unexplained dizziness Visual dysfunction, eye tracking problems, and reading fatigue How concussion may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and hormone function The connection between brain injury and autonomic nervous system dysregulation Sleep initiation, sleep maintenance, and poor-quality sleep after concussion Why restorative sleep is especially important for brain recovery Anxiety, depression, irritability, and emotional dysregulation after brain injury Why some post-concussion symptoms may be mistaken for unrelated conditions The importance of looking at the bigger picture when symptoms persist Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if Long COVID isn't an entirely new condition, but another chapter in a much older story of infections triggering chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and symptoms that refuse to go away? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to explore a deeper perspective on complex chronic illness, root-cause medicine, and why understanding what keeps the body stuck may be the key to moving healing forward. What if Long COVID is still affecting millions of people while the resources created to study it are disappearing? In this episode of Made for Health , Dr. Aaron Hartman and Dr. Christian Jenski begin a new series on Long COVID and the larger world of post-infectious chronic illness. They discuss why people continue to experience persistent symptoms years after infection, even as federally funded Long COVID programs and research initiatives wind down without establishing a single standardized approach to diagnosis or treatment. Dr. Hartman and Dr. Jenski explore why Long COVID may not be an entirely new phenomenon, but part of a broader pattern of post-infectious illness seen throughout medical history. They discuss its overlap with chronic fatigue, POTS, dysautonomia, mast cell activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammatory response, and other complex conditions. They also explain why functional medicine approaches these patients through a systems-based lens, looking at inflammation, immune regulation, metabolic health, nutrition, gut health, environmental exposures, and other potential contributors rather than treating each symptom in isolation. Key Topics Covered Why Long COVID remains a major health challenge years after the pandemic The winding down of federally funded Long COVID clinics and research programs Why standardized diagnostic and treatment pathways remain limited The history of post-viral and post-infectious syndromes Why Long COVID may share patterns with other complex chronic illnesses The overlap between Long COVID, chronic fatigue, POTS, and dysautonomia Mast cell activation and chronic inflammatory response Mitochondrial dysfunction and persistent post-viral symptoms Why multisystem illness can be difficult to address through separate medical specialties How functional medicine uses a systems-based approach to complex illness The role of metabolic health and underlying inflammation Nutrition, nutrient optimization, and the gut-brain axis Why treatment needs may change from acute infection to chronic illness How infections may trigger or uncover previously hidden health vulnerabilities Why individualized care matters when treating complex chronic conditions Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if the symptoms that linger after a concussion aren't because the injury was severe... but because the brain is still trying to heal? Read UnCurable ( https://uncurablebook.com/ ) to discover how inflammation, cellular health, and root-cause medicine are changing the way we think about chronic conditions. A Mild Concussion Can Have Lasting Effects on the Brain In this Made for Health minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman continues his series on concussions and post-concussion syndrome by explaining what actually happens inside the brain after a head injury. While many people assume a concussion is only serious if someone loses consciousness, the science tells a different story. Even a mild traumatic brain injury can trigger inflammation, disrupt cellular energy production, and lead to symptoms that persist for months. Dr. Hartman walks through the biology of concussion, including changes to the blood-brain barrier, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and why the brain's electrical activity after a concussion can resemble seizure-like patterns. He also explains why factors such as metabolic health, nutrition, gut health, and previous injuries may influence recovery and discusses emerging strategies that may help support the healing process. Key Topics Covered Common myths about concussions and loss of consciousness Why mild traumatic brain injuries can cause long-lasting symptoms How concussion affects the blood-brain barrier Mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired energy production Brain inflammation and cytokine activation Why concussion may resemble seizure activity Factors that can influence recovery after a brain injury The potential role of omega-3s, magnesium, and metabolic health Why concussion should be treated as a whole-body condition In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why losing consciousness is not required for a concussion to be serious ✅ How brain inflammation can affect the entire body ✅ What happens to brain cells immediately after a concussion ✅ Why mitochondrial dysfunction can prolong recovery ✅ How nutrition and overall health may influence healing ✅ Why understanding the biology of concussion helps guide treatment Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if the biggest obstacle to healing chronic illness isn't finding the right medication... but helping your cells recover from years of inflammation, infection, and stress? Read UnCurable to explore a deeper perspective on chronic illness, root-cause medicine, and why healing often begins at the cellular level. What if chronic illness is really a problem of cellular communication? In this episode of Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman welcomes Dr. Melanie Stein, ND , a licensed naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and founder of Restorative Health Clinic, to discuss why chronic illnesses such as Lyme disease, mold toxicity, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), POTS, and long COVID often share a common thread: impaired cellular function. Dr. Stein shares her remarkable personal journey from suddenly waking up unable to move her legs during naturopathic medical school to being told her symptoms were "all in her head." After developing a bullseye rash and ultimately discovering she had Lyme disease, she began a years-long journey into functional medicine that transformed both her health and her career. Together, Dr. Hartman and Dr. Stein explore the science behind the Cell Danger Response, cell membrane health, mitochondrial function, phospholipid therapy, neural therapy, photobiomodulation, peptide therapy, and other emerging approaches that aim to restore the body's ability to heal rather than simply suppress symptoms. About the Guest Dr. Melanie Stein, ND , is a licensed naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and founder of Restorative Health Clinic in Portland, Oregon. She earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and Master's in Acupuncture from the National University of Natural Medicine. After overcoming her own battle with chronic Lyme disease and complex neurological illness, she dedicated her practice to helping patients with chronic infections, mold illness, mast cell activation, POTS, long COVID, and other complex chronic conditions through a root-cause, cellular healing approach. Key Topics Covered Dr. Melanie Stein's personal experience with paralysis and medical gaslighting Why chronic Lyme disease is often misunderstood What naturopathic medicine adds to root-cause healthcare The science behind the Cell Danger Response How chronic inflammation affects cell membranes Why mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to chronic illness The connection between Lyme disease, mold exposure, MCAS, POTS, and dysautonomia Why healing cell membranes may improve cellular communication The role of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phospholipid therapy IV butyrate and mitochondrial support Neural therapy and vagus nerve regulation Photobiomodulation (red light therapy) and cellular healing Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy (SOT) for chronic infections Why healthy fats are essential for cell membrane health Functional medicine strategies for treating complex chronic illness In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why chronic illness often begins at the cellular level ✅ How inflammation changes the structure and function of cell membranes ✅ Why Lyme disease, mold illness, MCAS, and POTS frequently overlap ✅ How mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to fatigue and chronic symptoms ✅ Why supporting cell membranes may improve healing and resilience ✅ How functional medicine combines nutrition, lifestyle, and advanced therapies to support recovery Resources & Links 📘 Breaking Through Chronic Illness by Dr. Melanie Stein (Available on Amazon) 🌐 Restorative Health Clinic: https://restorativehealthclinic.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmelaniestein/ 🌐 Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📘 UnCurable: https://uncurablebook.com/ Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if a concussion doesn't end when the headache goes away... but continues to affect your brain, nervous system, and overall health for months or even years? Read UnCurable to explore a deeper perspective on chronic inflammation, brain health, and the hidden root causes that often go overlooked. What if a concussion is more than just a bump on the head? In this minisode of Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman begins a new series on traumatic brain injuries by explaining why concussions are far more complex than many people realize. He explores how even seemingly minor head injuries can trigger inflammation, alter brain function, and contribute to long-term health challenges if they are not properly recognized and addressed. Dr. Hartman discusses the differences between traumatic brain injuries and concussions, the concept of primary versus secondary brain injury, and why normal CT scans or MRIs do not always rule out lasting neurological effects. He also explains how repetitive micro-concussions from sports, falls, and other everyday events may contribute to chronic symptoms, particularly when combined with infections, inflammation, or other stressors later in life. Key Topics Covered What defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a concussion Why concussions are often invisible on standard brain imaging The difference between primary and secondary brain injury How brain inflammation affects the nervous system Why even mild concussions can have lasting consequences The role of repetitive micro-concussions in long-term health Sports and activities commonly associated with head injuries The connection between brain injuries and chronic fatigue, gut health, and mood How previous concussions may increase vulnerability to future illness Why functional medicine looks beyond imaging results The growing prevalence of traumatic brain injuries Why early recognition is essential for long-term brain health In This Episode, You Will Learn ✅ Why a concussion is more than simply losing consciousness ✅ How brain inflammation can continue after the initial injury ✅ Why normal imaging does not always mean the brain has fully healed ✅ How repetitive head injuries may contribute to chronic symptoms ✅ Why brain injuries can affect the gut, immune system, and nervous system ✅ How recognizing past concussions may change your healthcare approach Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents

🔥 What if improving women's health starts by recognizing that women are not simply smaller versions of men... but have unique physiology that deserves its own approach? Read UnCurable to explore a deeper perspective on chronic illness, women's health, and why personalized medicine begins with asking better questions. What if women's health requires an entirely different lens than modern healthcare has traditionally provided? In this episode of Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman and Dr. Christian Jenski conclude their series on medical blind spots by discussing why women deserve a more personalized approach to healthcare. They explain how female physiology differs throughout every stage of life and why treating women's health as primarily reproductive health has left many patients feeling unseen, unheard, and undertreated. The conversation explores why intuition, patient advocacy, and individualized care are essential in functional medicine. Dr. Hartman and Dr. Jenski discuss hormone health, personalized testing, therapeutic trials, environmental health, nutrition, and the importance of partnering with healthcare providers who are willing to think beyond conventional algorithms. They also share practical advice for becoming an informed advocate for your own health while avoiding common pitfalls such as misinformation, social media echo chambers, and one-size-fits-all medical advice. About the Guest Dr. Christian Jenski is a triple board-certified physician specializing in emergency medicine, obesity medicine, and functional medicine. He works alongside Dr. Aaron Hartman to help patients uncover the root causes of complex chronic illnesses through a systems-based, evidence-informed approach that integrates lifestyle medicine, metabolic health, cardiovascular prevention, and personalized care. Key Topics Covered Why women's health requires a different clinical perspective How female physiology changes throughout different life stages Why reproductive health is only one part of women's health The importance of trusting intuition while pursuing evidence-based care How medical gaslighting can undermine patient confidence Finding healthcare practitioners who value curiosity and collaboration Why personalized medicine goes beyond standard treatment protocols The role of hormone health, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions Therapeutic trials and individualized treatment plans Avoiding misinformation and social media echo chambers Why objective testing and clinical judgment work best together Building a trusted healthcare team The importance of patient education and self-advocacy How improving women's health can positively impact entire families Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine 🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ 📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD Mentioned in this episode: 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents 25% Off Back to School Support for Parents Back to school asks a lot of parents, too. Support your body through the season with three physician-reviewed, foundation-first essentials: Twice Daily Multi, Quercetin + Nettles, and NAC. For a limited time, save 25% on the Back to School Support Bundle. Visit the link below ⬇️ Shop the Back to School Sale Back to School Support for Parents