Healing from the Inside Out: Dr. Jill Carnahan on Functional Medicine, Root Cause Healing, and Lifestyle Therapies

1. Can you share a bit about your journey into functional medicine? What inspired you to take this path?

I grew up on a farm in Central Illinois as one of five children. We had a one-acre organic garden where we grew much of our own fruit and vegetables. My mother, a retired nurse who left her career to raise us, instilled a holistic mindset in our family. We often sought care from a local chiropractor, which shaped my early views of healthcare.

Initially, I wasn't certain about pursuing medicine. During my undergraduate years, I explored various healing modalities including acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy, and osteopathic manipulation. As I researched these paths, I realized I could also apply to traditional medical school to learn the best our country's healthcare system had to offer. When I started receiving acceptance letters, I saw it as an opportunity to help change how medicine is practiced.

At that time, I hadn't heard of functional medicine, but I knew I wanted to practice a more holistic, root-cause approach that incorporated diet, lifestyle, and exercise alongside conventional treatments. I completed my medical training at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago before pursuing residency in family medicine. During residency, I studied all the holistic topics I could find. It was then that I discovered Jeff Bland, the father of functional medicine. Once I heard his lectures, I realized this was exactly what I'd been looking for, and I began my functional medicine training before even completing residency.

2. What experiences have influenced your approach to treating patients holistically?

I entered medicine with a desire to master conventional Western diagnosis and treatment while maintaining a focus on root cause medicine. I was naturally curious, always asking 'why' – not just to diagnose diseases, but to understand how they developed in the first place. My goal was to help reverse disease trajectories and guide patients toward better health.

My deepest lesson came during my third-year surgical rotation in medical school. At age 25, I discovered a lump in my left breast, which was soon diagnosed as aggressive breast cancer. Facing my own mortality at such a young age provided an education that no textbook could match. Though terrifying, I approached my diagnosis by developing a personalized treatment plan that integrated Western medicine with complementary therapies – including nutrition, supplements, lifestyle modifications, medication, prayer, meditation, and mindset work.

Nine months later, I emerged in remission. Though I was traumatized, bald, and severely malnourished from chemotherapy, I had survived and gained invaluable insights that traditional medical training could never provide. After a nine-month leave of absence, I returned to complete my medical school training. Graduating to become a doctor after facing cancer during my education gave me a unique perspective. Understanding what it's like to be a patient on the other side of the stethoscope has profoundly influenced how I treat patients today – because I truly understand; I've been there.

3. What is your process for identifying and addressing the root causes of illness when working with your patients? What are some of the most common ones?

Identifying and addressing the root causes of illness starts with a thorough history and timeline. The foundation of healing begins with creating a trusting, caring relationship with patients and listening carefully to their story. When patients walk through my door, I want them to know that I deeply care about their well-being and am committed to creating the most dynamic and trusted physician-patient relationship possible. They need to feel safe in my presence to tell their whole story.

Often, patients share details they've never told anyone before as they sit in my office discussing their medical concerns. Getting to the root cause of illness starts with listening and creating a safe space for patients to share their lives. This includes not only their physical medical history but also their childhood experiences and any trauma they may have endured, including their current and past relationships with loved ones, and how these factors contribute to their current state of mind and physical health.

After establishing this comprehensive history, I order in-depth panel testing, looking for biochemical and genetic markers that may indicate the cause of their illness. Many times, complex chronic diseases come down to infectious burden and toxic load, and how these two factors interplay with the immune system to create inflammation and dysfunction.

4. How do you determine the balance between nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, and medication when designing a treatment plan?

When designing a treatment plan, I believe in creating a comprehensive, balanced approach that addresses multiple aspects of healing. The foundation begins with nutrition, as food can be both medicine and a potential source of inflammation. Dietary modifications are tailored to each patient's unique biochemistry and health challenges.

Supplementation plays a strategic role in addressing specific imbalances we identify through testing, helping to support the body's natural healing processes. However, supplements are just one piece of the puzzle – they work best when integrated with proper nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle modifications, particularly exercise and stress management, are crucial components that can't be replaced by supplements or medications alone. We work together to design realistic, sustainable changes that fit each patient's life and capabilities.

Beyond these foundational elements, I often incorporate various therapeutic modalities that support the body's natural healing mechanisms. These may include:

Physical Therapies:

• Massage therapy for soft tissue healing and stress reduction

• Craniosacral therapy for nervous system regulation
  

• Chiropractic care for structural alignment
  

• Lymphatic drainage therapies

• PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy
  

 Mind-Body Approaches:

• Psychotherapy for emotional healing
  

• Somatic behavioral therapy for trauma resolution
  

• Meditation and mindfulness practices

• Stress management techniques
  

Natural Healing Modalities:

• Naturopathic medicine
  

• Clinical herbology
  

• Homeopathic remedies
  

• Acupuncture

Biohacking and Technology-Based Therapies:

• Red light therapy for cellular regeneration
  

• Hydrogen therapy
  

• Infrared sauna sessions
  

• Cold plunge therapy
  

• Epsom salt baths
  

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The key is finding the right balance of these interventions for each individual patient, recognizing that healing is a dynamic process that may require adjustments over time. We monitor progress carefully and modify the treatment plan as needed to optimize results while ensuring the approach remains manageable for the patient. The goal is to create a synergistic effect where multiple modalities work together to support the body's innate healing capabilities

5. In your experience, how does addressing these root causes differ from traditional symptom-focused treatments?

Traditional symptom-based therapy often acts as a band-aid, temporarily masking the complaints or symptoms a patient is experiencing. While this approach may provide short-term relief, it doesn't address the underlying root cause or influence the patient's trajectory – whether they're moving toward disease or back toward health.

Simply giving a patient a diagnostic label or disease name does nothing to answer the crucial question: 'Why did this person develop these symptoms or conditions in the first place?' For example, knowing someone has autoimmune thyroiditis doesn't explain why their immune system began attacking their thyroid tissue, or what environmental, genetic, or lifestyle factors triggered this response.

Addressing root causes involves diving deeper to find answers to these fundamental questions. We investigate:

• What underlying imbalances are present?

• Which systems are dysfunctional and why?
  

• What environmental factors are contributing?
  

• How are lifestyle choices impacting the condition?
  

What role do genetics, epigenetics, and past experiences play? By understanding these deeper mechanisms, we can work to reverse the disease trajectory and restore the body's natural healing capabilities. This approach not only resolves current symptoms but also helps prevent future health issues by addressing the fundamental imbalances that led to disease in the first place.

Think of it like a garden: Traditional medicine often focuses on pulling weeds (treating symptoms) while functional medicine also examines and improves the soil quality (addressing root causes). By creating optimal conditions for health, we enable the body to heal itself and maintain wellness long-term.

6. What are some ways you incorporate wellness tools into your lifestyle to support healing and recovery?

My approach to wellness is holistic, weaving together spiritual, physical, and mental practices throughout each day. Everything starts with my morning spiritual practice - quiet time for journaling, prayer, and meditation. As Kahlil Gibran beautifully expressed, "work is love made visible," and I begin each day meditating on loving kindness and compassion, as my deep connection to the Divine drives everything I do.

Physical wellness is equally important in my daily routine. I prioritize morning exercise, alternating between aerobic activity and strength training, followed by a nutritious breakfast and my targeted supplement regimen. Yes, I do enjoy my coffee, which I enhance with Dr. Jill Beauty Collagen and creatine. Even during busy clinic days, I stay active by doing pull-ups on the bar in my office or squats between patient consultations.

My evenings typically include a long walk, during which I feed my passion for lifelong learning by listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or music. When time permits, I read two to three books per week. Sleep hygiene is non-negotiable for me - I follow a consistent bedtime routine that begins with eliminating blue light exposure two hours before bed.

For recovery and optimization, I incorporate various therapeutic tools, including:

• Regular Epsom salt baths
  

• PEMF mat sessions
  

• Molecular hydrogen inhalation therapy

• Red light therapy

• Infrared sauna sessions (typically 30 minutes, twice weekly)

Perhaps most importantly, I prioritize nurturing connections with friends and family, recognizing that social bonds are fundamental to overall well-being. These relationships, combined with my daily wellness practices, create a foundation for optimal health and resilience.

7. What role does nutrition play in restoring health, and are there any specific dietary recommendations you find universally beneficial?

Nutrition serves as a foundational pillar in health restoration, beginning with the most basic elements: clean air, clean water, and clean food. This foundation is crucial because what we put into our bodies directly impacts our cellular function and overall well-being.

The first step toward optimal nutrition involves elimination - removing toxic chemicals, heavily processed foods, and artificially altered ingredients from our diet. This creates a clean slate for healing to begin.

When looking at evidence-based dietary patterns, the Mediterranean diet stands out as one of the most extensively studied and beneficial approaches, with robust research supporting its role in cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and longevity. Other well-researched dietary interventions include the DASH diet for cardiovascular health and anti-inflammatory protocols that minimize processed foods and refined sugars.

For building optimal health, I recommend prioritizing:

• Organic leafy greens and seasonal vegetables
  

• Fresh fruits chosen at peak ripeness
  

• High-quality proteins like organic chicken and wild-caught fish
  

• Healthy fats, including extra virgin olive oil
  

• Nutrient-dense nuts and seeds
  

• Locally sourced produce whenever possible

While these recommendations provide a strong baseline, I recognize that nutrition isn't one-size-fits-all. In my clinical practice, I customize dietary protocols based on each patient's unique health conditions, genetic predispositions, and specific healing goals. This personalized approach allows us to harness the therapeutic power of food in the most effective way possible.

8. What lifestyle changes do you consider essential for healing and long-term wellness?

While many people focus solely on physical interventions for healing, I've found that mindset and mental patterns play a crucial role in achieving lasting wellness. One of the most profound lifestyle changes we can make is transforming our mental landscape and understanding the powerful connection between our thoughts and physical health.

The subconscious mind is an incredible ally in the healing journey. I've observed throughout my clinical practice that our thought patterns and beliefs can either accelerate or impede healing. Essential mindset changes include:

First, we must recognize that many health conditions have a mental component - there's often a correlation between our thought patterns and physical manifestations in the body. By understanding this mind-body connection, we can harness our subconscious mind, which inherently knows how to regulate our vital processes and facilitate healing.

A critical lifestyle shift involves carefully curating our thoughts, especially before sleep. I encourage my patients to practice positive health affirmations and visualization, replacing statements like "I'm sick" with empowering ones such as "I am strong, I am healthy, I will overcome adversity." This isn't mere positive thinking - it's about programming our subconscious mind, which faithfully reproduces our habitual thought patterns.

Another essential change is managing stress and anxiety, which can disrupt our body's natural rhythms. Instead of allowing worry to dominate, we must consciously feed our minds with thoughts of harmony, health, love, and peace. This shift helps normalize bodily functions and creates an internal environment conducive to healing.

Perhaps most importantly, we need to cultivate faith in our healing journey. Just as a seed planted in fertile soil grows according to its nature, when we plant positive expectations about our health with faith and conviction, our subconscious mind works to manifest these outcomes.

These mindset changes, combined with proper nutrition, movement, and other physical interventions, create a comprehensive approach to healing and long-term wellness that addresses both the visible and invisible aspects of health. 

9. What advice would you give to someone who is unsure where to start on their healing journey?

The first thing I want you to know is that healing is absolutely possible. I've witnessed countless patients transform their health, even after years of suffering and uncertainty. As both a physician and someone who has navigated my own healing journey, I understand how overwhelming it can feel at the beginning.

Start with believing in your body's innate capacity to heal. Your body has an incredible intelligence and wants to move toward wellness - this isn't just optimistic thinking; it's founded in medical science. I've seen remarkable recoveries begin simply when patients shift from hopelessness to believing that healing is possible. 

Begin with small, manageable steps. You don't need to overhaul your entire life overnight. Perhaps start with improving your sleep quality, adding more whole foods to your diet, or taking five minutes each day for quiet reflection. These seemingly simple changes can create a powerful foundation for healing.

Remember that healing isn't linear - there will be ups and downs, and that's completely normal. What matters is your overall trajectory and commitment to the journey. As a functional medicine practitioner, I encourage you to find healthcare providers who will truly listen to your story and partner with you in uncovering the root causes of your health challenges.

Most importantly, be patient and gentle with yourself. Your healing journey is unique to you, and while it may take time, every step forward counts. When you combine belief in your body's healing potential with proper medical support and lifestyle changes, remarkable transformation becomes possible.

Follow @drjillcarnahan on Instagram for access to all of her wellness content.

Follow @drjillcarnahan on Instagram for access to all of her wellness content.