Show 1474: Treating the Cause, Not Just the Symptoms, with Functional Medicine
Release Date: 05/30/2026
Show 1483: Plant Power: Feed Your Gut and Fight Inflammation
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
When you decide to grab a bite to eat, do you think about how to feed your gut microbes? Most of us don’t. Even if we did, their only means of stating their preferences is somewhat after the fact. Do you end up feeling less than well? Perhaps the denizens of your gut aren’t happy. In this episode, we consider how to support your microbiota and whether that can reduce the inflammation that seems to accompany modern life. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health...
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Show 1482: Are Your Kidneys in Trouble? Two Tests Could Tell You
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Our kidneys do an incredible job filtering our blood every hour of every day. Most of us have two kidneys, and each one has about a million microscopic filters called glomeruli. Unlike the filters in our HVAC system, though, these filters cannot be replaced. But they do their work so well and unobtrusively that most of us don’t even think about our kidney function. Although 37 million Americans have kidney trouble, the majority are unaware of their situation. Two tests could reveal how well the kidneys are working. What are they, and how often should you ask about them? At The...
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Show 1481: Flip-Flops, Fungus and Foot Pain: What Are Your Feet Trying to Tell You?
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Millions of people suffer with foot trouble. Some have heel pain when they first get out of bed. Others complain of flat feet or bunions. Athlete’s foot is very common, though it doesn’t always respond as expected to antifungal medications. Speaking of fungus, toenail fungus can be extremely stubborn. What are your feet trying to tell you about what they need? How can you keep them healthy, especially in the summertime? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health...
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Show 1446: The Science of Strong Bones: Lifestyle, Medication and Movement (Archive)
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Are you concerned about your bone health? Do you worry about osteoporosis? According to the CDC, more than 10 million Americans have low bone density that makes them more vulnerable to fractures. For many older people, a fracture can be devastating, reducing mobility and possibly even leading to death. What does the latest medical science tell us about how you can maintain strong bones? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these...
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Show 1480: The Sleep Reset: How to Fall Asleep and Stay Asleep
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Do you have trouble sleeping? An occasional late night or early morning is probably not dangerous, but too many people get too little sleep on a regular basis. How does that affect their health? Even more importantly, what can they do to change the situation? You’ll want to listen to find out if you need a sleep reset. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content...
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Show 1479: Must You Shun the Sun to Save Your Skin?
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
When sunny summer days come around, it makes some dermatologists shudder. They would prefer we behave like bats and hide in caves until nightfall. Failing that, they stress the importance of always applying (and re-applying) high SPF sunscreen, wearing sun-blocking clothing with long sleeves and keeping a big-brimmed hat firmly on the head. A beekeeper’s outfit might be perfect. But must you really shun the sun completely to save your skin? Our guest describes how to practice moderation safely. He also explains why some people are addicted to sunshine, while others are allergic to it....
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Show 1412: Beyond Amyloid: The Science That Could Change the Course of Alzheimer Disease (Archive)
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
This week, we look at the new pharmaceuticals that the FDA has approved for treating Alzheimer disease. Although they are effective at removing amyloid plaques from the brain, they don’t seem to help patients function better. Is it time to turn away from an exclusive focus on amyloid to consider other factors that might affect cognitive decline and change the course of Alzheimer disease? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these...
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Show 1478: The Outdoor Prescription for Fighting Dementia, Depression and Heart Disease
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Too many of us are spending our days staring at screens. Little screens on our phones, big screens on the television, medium-size screens on our computers at work. Our modern lifestyles mean that we spend the vast majority of our time indoors–93%, on average. What is the time inside doing to our health? Is there an outdoor prescription to reverse dementia and depression? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations...
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Show 1477: Answering Your Questions About Vision Problems
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Humans have five senses, but for most of us, sight dominates. That’s why vision problems are so distressing. Have you been dealing with difficulties with your eyes? During this broadcast episode, our guest expert is ready to answer your questions about vision problems. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes....
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Show 1476: Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Roadmap for Managing Chronic Pain
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Pain is an important warning signal, helping you protect your body from damage. That’s why we can view acute pain as an asset. Chronic pain, though, can be debilitating. In this episode, a pain psychologist offers a roadmap for managing chronic pain. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please...
info_outlineOver the years, we have spoken with scores of healthcare experts about chronic illness. Many of them attribute the problems to inflammation, which is after all a natural response to infection or injury. But not everyone has a system for locating and addressing the source of the inflammation. If you want to treat the cause, not just the symptoms of your disease, you might want to consider functional medicine.
At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Many people have heard of integrative medicine. We asked our guest, Dr. Susan Payrovi, how this differs from functional medicine. (She practices both.) According to Dr. Payrovi, while both approaches embrace lifestyle therapies, integrative medicine may focus on individual organ systems, just as conventional medicine does. Functional medicine, on the other hand, is more likely to focus on how the body works. What functional systems are involved when a person experiences fatigue, for example? If there is a problem with the way the body produces energy, how could that be resolved?
If you are dealing with a problem caused by underlying inflammation, you could prescribe a potent anti-inflammatory or even a medicine that counteracts the immune system’s response to danger by blocking interleukins, for example. Or you could search upstream for the disturbance that is causing the immune system to overreact. Going upstream to find the cause is the functional medicine approach.
Sending the Body Safety Signals
If inflammation is a response to a danger signal, how can we let the immune system know that the body is safe? Lifestyle therapies offer some powerful interventions, even though they may sound very ordinary. Getting adequate sleep can make a huge difference for the immune system and lower inflammation dramatically. Stress management is another potent non-pharmaceutical approach. Consuming a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods or even medicinal herbs could also contribute to a sense of safety and reduced inflammation.
The Silo Problem of Modern Medicine
We have spoken with many people who have struggled with a disease that manifests in multiple symptoms. They end up seeing a variety of specialists who don’t seem to communicate with each other. NO tool manages every condition. Too often, specialists pay attention only to the specific organ that they are assigned, and as a result, nobody puts the big picture together for a long time. The hope is that functional medicine would do a much better job for such patients, including those whose suffering has an emotional, psychological or spiritual aspect.
Functional Medicine and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
One example where patients are demanding more of their medical care is chronic fatigue syndrome. Conventional medicine has a notoriously difficult time treating such patients. Coaching patients on small but important lifestyle changes is one approach that functional medicine can offer. Pacing and learning to prioritize are vital skills for such patients. Dr. Payrovi learned a lot about the value of such approaches in dealing with her own illness, multiple sclerosis.
Finding a Functional Medicine Practitioner
People looking for a functional medicine practitioner can consult the Institute for Functional Medicine. The organization lists practitioners on its website, ifm.org. So does the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, aihm.org.
This Week’s Guest
Susan Payrovi, MD, is a physician practicing Integrative and Functional Medicine at Stanford’s Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Payrovi is board certified in Anesthesiology, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, as well as Integrative Medicine. She has additional training in Functional Medicine and acupuncture.
https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/susan-payrovi. Her website is drsusanpayrovi.com.
Susan Payrovi, MD