Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine

Bringing you the leaders in Functional and Integrative Medicine, Dr. Rob Downey explores the cutting edge protocols and strategies to reclaim health and create a better life, from the inside out.

Your Health Journey Starts With Peace. 04/09/2025

Overcoming Chronic Pain Through the Subconscious Mind 04/02/2025

Choosing the Right Foods for Cardiac Health | Steven Masley, MD 02/25/2025

Top Energy Doc Reveals His Best Tips for Overcoming Your Fatigue with Evan Hirsch, MD 02/11/2025

How Meditation Transformed a High-Powered Miami Lawyer’s Life 02/04/2025

Q&A Session: Energy, Sleep and Supplementation 01/28/2025

Lower Chronic Inflammation For The Whole Family With Madiha Saeed, Md 01/21/2025

The Secret to Overcoming Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, and Autoimmunity. 01/14/2025

Root-Cause Health: Healing Beyond The Diagnosis with Reed Davis 01/07/2025

Regenerative Gardening: Boost Your Health and Save the Planet 12/16/2024

The Hidden Health Markers Your Doctor Is Overlooking—And How They Can Change Everything 12/10/2024

From Pain to Vitality: Transformative Tips You Can Use Today with Jane Hogan 12/05/2024

From Pain to Vitality: Transformative Tips You Can Use Today with Jane Hogan In this episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey interviews Jane Hogan, "The Wellness Engineer," who shares her innovative approach to addressing chronic pain through neuroplasticity, breathwork, and nervous system regulation. Drawing from her engineering background and expertise in functional medicine, Hogan explains how trauma and subconscious patterns contribute to pain and highlights the power of calming the nervous system to promote healing. Through simple yet effective practices like visualization, mindfulness, and morning routines, she empowers individuals to take control of their well-being. With inspiring success stories and actionable tools, Hogan offers hope and practical strategies for transforming pain into vitality. 00:58 – Jane Hogan introduces her approach. 04:07 – Neuroplasticity's role in chronic pain. 06:14 – Childhood trauma impacts nervous system. 15:26 – Tools for calming nervous system. 47:37 – Guided exercise reduces pain instantly. Jane Hogan, “The Wellness Engineer,” blends proven leading-edge science and ancient spiritually-inspired practices to help people release chronic pain using the mind, body, and breath so they can become empowered creators of their own health. Her personal experience of reversing crippling rheumatoid arthritis using natural solutions inspired her to leave a 30-year engineering career and become a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, Certified Yoga Teacher, and wellness educator. Jane’s Wellness by Design Blueprint has helped thousands of people release chronic pain naturally. She is the host of the Wellness by Design podcast and her empowering message has been featured on numerous podcasts and summits. She has been published in Thrive Global and Elephant Journal magazines and is a contributing author on three best-selling books. Jane hosted the Becoming Pain-Free: Healing the Root Causes of Chronic Pain online summit. /episode/index/show/fieldnotesexplorationfunctionalmedicine/id/34293990

A Functional Approach to Hair Loss with Saril Vasquez 11/20/2024

A Functional Approach to Hair Loss with Saril Vasquez In this episode, Dr. Rob speaks with Saril Vasquez, a functional medicine expert, about a holistic approach to hair loss. Saril shared her personal journey of overcoming severe hair thinning and how she discovered the root causes, like leaky gut, inflammation, hormone imbalances, and lifestyle factors. They discuss how most hair loss can be reversed through proper nutrition, personalized supplements, and sustainable lifestyle changes. Saril's insights remind us that healing is possible when we identify individual triggers and approach the process with patience and self-compassion. Her story offers hope to anyone struggling with hair loss. [01:12] Saril's personal battle with hair thinning [03:36] Root causes: diet, gut health, toxins [10:16] Importance of leaky gut and inflammation [17:24] Personalized plans for reversing hair loss [28:01] Sustainable strategies and community support shared Saril Vasquez is a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor, True Cellular Detox Practitioner, & a Certified Interventionist. She has the honour and privilege of coaching men and women with a compassionate and patient heart on how to uncover their true root causes of hair loss & reverse hair loss naturally. As a result, her students “rewind the aging clock,” feeling confident about themselves again by gaining control & clarity about what turns on or turns off their hair loss. Saril is the founder and CEO of Belle Organix LLC, a global coaching company on a mission to help millions of people master their body mechanics to reveal their inner belles. Her practical approach, connecting symptoms to systems, has helped countless individuals hold a deeper understanding of how their seemingly random symptoms are actually crucially overlooked clues that could be used to find desperately needed solutions. She has been trained and coached by some of the greatest and most successful individuals in the functional medicine space. Her expertise lies in understanding how to connect the dots and put the puzzle pieces together for her troubled yet determined clients and students. As a result, her graduates are finally able to decode what is going on in their bodies, beyond genetics, that exacerbates or reverses their hair loss. /episode/index/show/fieldnotesexplorationfunctionalmedicine/id/34055896

Finding Peace: The Overlooked Key to Health with Dr. Rob 11/13/2024

Optimizing Brain Health Through Metabolic Balance with Dr. Peter Kan 11/07/2024

Optimizing Brain Health Through Metabolic Balance with Dr. Peter Kan In this episode, Dr. Rob Downey interviews Dr. Peter Kan about the concept of neurometabolic health, which bridges the connection between brain function and metabolic processes. Dr. Kan explains that optimal brain health depends on balanced blood sugar, adequate oxygenation, nutrient utilization, and inflammation control. He discusses the role of functional medicine in addressing these areas through lifestyle and nutritional interventions, emphasizing that chronic inflammation, often originating in the gut, can undermine cognitive health. Dr. Kan also highlights the importance of personalized approaches in functional medicine, as well as simple, practical lifestyle changes like reducing processed foods, increasing exercise, and setting health goals for lasting wellness. 01:16 - Dr. Kan on neurometabolic health 02:53 - Brain function-metabolism connection explained 05:05 - Reducing inflammation supports brain health 16:35 - Exercise as a metabolic booster 29:38 - Gut health affects whole-body inflammation Dr. Kan believes that there are no accidents in life and everything happens for a reason. Although the family illnesses were difficult and stressful, his family’s health was transformed through it all. Thousands of hours of post graduate training and over 5,000 clients later, Dr. Kan is committed more than ever to use what he has learned to help those who has lost hope and lost in the insurance-based, profit-motivated, and pharmaceutically-driven system that is failing people with chronic conditions. Dr. Kan supports and manages patients with chronic conditions using a comprehensive approach by merging the exciting advances of functional neurology and functional medicine. Patients from across the country have come to seek out his holistic approach that is changing the lives of those suffering from chronic conditions. Dr. Kan regularly consults with other physicians on the methods he uses. Born in Taiwan and immigrated to America at the age of 13, Dr. Kan has deep appreciation of the Eastern wisdom and Western advances in natural healthcare. He believes in the God given ability of the body to heal and regulate itself, and that the body, mind, and spirit must be in alignment for healing to take place. It is his faith in God that gives him the passion and commitment to help patients with chronic pain find hope and healing. /episode/index/show/fieldnotesexplorationfunctionalmedicine/id/33830942

Heart-Centered Functional Medicine: Merging Science with Compassion 10/30/2024

Heart-Centered Functional Medicine: Merging Science with Compassion In this episode, Dr. Jessie Hehmeyer, founder of Well Empowered, shares her approach to functional medicine, which combines data-driven insights with a heart-centered, holistic perspective. She views health as a sacred journey, encouraging clients to move beyond restrictive health narratives and instead create a "vision of vitality" to guide their unique paths toward wellness. Dr. Hehmeyer and host Dr. Rob Downey discuss how honoring health can enable people to show up fully for their loved ones and passions, creating a deeper motivation for sustainable change. Through her personalized methods—including lab work and mindset shifts—Dr. Hehmeyer empowers people to break free from self-sabotaging habits, fostering resilience and self-compassion. (00:34) Health as a "sacred journey." (03:12) Connection between health and life purpose. (07:30) Weight as a symptom of a deeper health issue (13:00) Using labs to guide wellness plans. (39:07) Replacing self-sabotage with self-compassion. Dr. Jessica Hehmeyer’s life work is empowering individuals to create and sustain radical breakthroughs in health and vitality through educating patients, clients, and audiences on the targeted and science-based natural interventions of Functional Medicine. In her one-on-one counseling, she identifies the root cause of symptoms and conditions, employing food, botanicals, and lifestyle as medicine to tap into the body’s tremendous ability to heal. As a speaker, she provides audiences with meaningful information and facilitates conversations that allow individuals to take immediate action to forward their commitment to health. In addition to her clinical, academic, and research-based knowledge, Dr. Hehmeyer understands the challenges people face when transforming decades-old habits. To this end, she walks individuals and audiences through a process to address the four fundamental aspects of producing and sustaining results: inspiration, information, strategy, and practice. /episode/index/show/fieldnotesexplorationfunctionalmedicine/id/33690447

Achieving Balance and Resilience with Meditation with Jeff Patterson 10/23/2024

Genetics and Health: How Epigenetics Shapes Your Wellbeing with Dr. Sam Shay 10/16/2024

What to do When Your Depression is "Treatment-Resistant" with Silvia Covelli and Dr. Achina Stein 10/08/2024

What to do When Your Depression is "Treatment-Resistant" with Silvia Covelli and Dr. Achina Stein In this episode of the "Field Notes" podcast, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Silvia Covelli and Dr. Achina Stein about a groundbreaking 45-day program aimed at addressing treatment-resistant depression through a holistic, functional medicine approach. Silvia shares her personal journey of overcoming severe depression after 25 years, highlighting the importance of integrating physical and mental health in treatment. The program, based in Austin, Texas, focuses on identifying and healing the root causes of depression using comprehensive lab tests, diet, movement, and experiential therapies. The conversation emphasizes the need for a group setting, long-term strategies, and a shift away from conventional psychiatry’s symptom-focused treatments. They invite listeners to explore the program, which also offers scholarships and additional resources. In this episode: [3:30] Sivlia's story of overcoming depression [10:05] What is so-called "treatment-resistant" depression [20:15] The myth of a magic pill [31:10] Life after depression [46:40] Showing up for yourself Silvia J. Covelli Founder & CEO The Healing Depression Project Silvia holds a degree in Sociology from Boston College. Following her undergraduate studies, she spent four years as a social science researcher at Harvard University. Later, she pursued graduate studies in finance and business law. Silvia dedicated her career to entrepreneurship, evolving into a skilled business strategist and bringing ambitious projects to fruition. With a robust track record, she has a wealth of experience in business development and investments spanning both the United States and South America. Dr. Achina Stein Clinical Director The Healing Depression Project Dr. Achina Stein: DO, DFAPA, ABIHM, FACN, IFMCP Dr. Stein is an osteopathic physician who graduated from the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in 1990 and has been in practice as a board-certified psychiatrist for 25+ years. Dr. Stein is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychiatry, and awarded the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award by NAMI-RI in 2008. She is certified by the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM) and is a certified practitioner of the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFMCP). She is a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. /episode/index/show/fieldnotesexplorationfunctionalmedicine/id/33382647

The Immune System-Brain Connection with Dr. Jeffrey Bland | Field Notes Podcast 07/08/2024

The Immune System-Brain Connection with Dr. Jeffrey Bland | Field Notes Podcast I’m excited to share one of my favorite interviews I’ve ever done. It’s with the Father of Functional Medicine, Dr. Jeffrey Bland. This interview is from our Rewire Your Brain Masterclass, and I’m making it available for a limited time because I believe it will truly help so many people. Dr. Bland discusses the intimate connection between the immune system and the brain. Much like the brain, the immune system can be “rewired” or, as Dr. Bland says, “rejuvenated.” He also discusses what he calls the disease-care system or disease-care providers. “They are very skilled at understanding disease,” he explains. Then he asks, “If you had 10 patients with autoimmune disease who all take a certain drug, how many would have positive outcomes?” You’ll probably be very surprised by the answer. You won’t want to miss this. In this episode: 4:00: Can you rewire your immune system? 13:30: The truth about autoimmunity and pharmaceuticals 19:30: Surprising facts about your genes and gene expression 34:10: The ideal healthcare system Dr. Jeffrey Bland is a personable and highly respected thought leader who has spent more than four decades focused on the improvement of human health. He is known worldwide as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement, which represents his vision for a care model that is grounded in systems biology and informed by research that he has a unique ability to synthesize. His pioneering work has created the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI), as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the global leader in Functional Medicine education. Since 1991, hundreds of thousands of healthcare practitioners have participated in PLMI and IFM programs, and this collective knowledge has positively impacted the lives of patients all over the world. Dr. Bland began his career as a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound. He is a natural educator and became involved with numerous academic institutions during the years he spent teaching. This includes the significant contributions he made to the founding and accreditation of Bastyr University, the first federally accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in natural medicine in the US. In the early 1980s, Dr. Bland was hand-selected by two-time Nobel Laureate Dr. Linus Pauling to serve as Director of Nutritional Research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine. This experience marked both a personal and professional inflection point for Dr. Bland that has become an integral part of his career. /episode/index/show/fieldnotesexplorationfunctionalmedicine/id/32055302

You're Not Broken with Michael Roesslein 06/13/2024

The Blood-Sugar Effect: Women’s Health, Energy, and Hormones with Dr. Mariza Snyder 02/28/2024

Boosting Metabolism When You’re Over 40 with Nagina Abdullah 02/20/2024

A New Era In Health and Healing with Dr. Elena Villanueva 01/17/2024

A Human Approach to Health Coaching with Carol Comfort 11/16/2023

Understanding Functional Sexology with Dr. Keesha Ewers | Field Notes 11/06/2023

Understanding Functional Sexology with Dr. Keesha Ewers | Field Notes 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/ /episode/index/show/fieldnotesexplorationfunctionalmedicine/id/28536395

Clearing The Confusion On Women’s Health & Hormones with Dr Anna Cabeca 10/25/2023

Kicking Chronic Illness with Dr. Christine Schaffner 10/17/2023

Reversing Autoimmune Diseases with Dr. Natasha Fallahi 10/06/2023

Happy Hormones, Happy Life with Deb Matthew MD | Field Notes 09/15/2023

Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine

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