43. Understanding & Reframing Functional Medicine with Omar Akther

Are you overwhelmed by the all-or-nothing approach in functional medicine?? Lindsay is joined by board-certified internist, Dr. Omar Akther, who explains his approach to functional medicine, integrating the best aspects of western medicine combined with a more lifestyle approach. He explains that this is the best approach we can take when dealing with a chronic illness or chronic symptoms & how it differs from other fields of medicine. Omar also explains how he broke free from the mindset of traditional western medicine and transitioned into a root cause approach, how he balances earning a living while being aware of a client's financial limitations, and how you should advocate for yourself in a hospital setting. If you have had a negative experience with functional medicine and you're wanting to truly understand its importance, this episode is for you! Show Notes: -Prescription and procedure (P&P) care is great for acute problems -Chronic disease requires a unique approach to healing - lifestyle medicine is necessary to thrive -"Localization" no longer exists - the body and brain are always communicating & change with injuries, traumas, and life experiences -Integrative vs. holistic vs. functional medicine approaches -Omar's story & why he feels passionate about functional medicine -Going beyond the role of a physician - connecting with a deep desire to allow people to heal on a larger scale -Practicing what you preach - as a practitioner, being able to model health & wellness in your own life & hold yourself accountable -Many patients can feel disempowered in their healing journeys as a result of an all-or-nothing approach -Story of a woman in her mid 30's who suffered from hormonal headaches who was recommended a hysterectomy & didn't recover from hormonal symptoms -What to do to advocate for yourself before going into a practitioner's office - 1. Educate yourself & connect with a deeper-knowing 2. Find a practitioner that takes the time to listen to you & takes one step at a time 3. Building confidence in your own self-worth to ask the hard questions -Why functional medicine practitioners throw so many supplements, IV therapies, and modalities at someone with chronic symptoms. The reason? More = better in our society. -Taking a gentler approach & 1% approach to healing, introducing lifestyle medicine -Adding 1-2 lifestyle changes at a time. -When it comes to labs and diagnostic testing, pay attention to your body prior to testing. -More information does not lead to better care. Resources: -Visit Omar's Website -Visit Omar's Facebook -Visit Omar's LinkedIn -Omar's Instagram: @dromarakhter -Lindsay's Instagram: @myvitalside -Visit Lindsay's website -Cait's Instagram: @caitrossco -Visit Cait's Website Join our community: bit.ly/rewirethepodcast Podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: bit.ly/rewiredisclaimer