Episode 16: Why Functional Medicine Changed Everything for Me

In this episode, Dr. Kacey shares why functional medicine didn’t just change how she practices—it changed her life.

What started as a search for better answers became a completely different way of understanding the body.

Because it’s not about chasing symptoms.
 It’s about understanding how everything is connected.

If you’ve ever felt:

•  Dismissed or told everything is “normal” 
•  Like you’re doing all the right things but still don’t feel well 
•  Frustrated trying to piece together your health on your own 

This episode will help you see what’s possible when you start looking at your health through a different lens.

Because when you begin supporting your metabolism, hormones, and brain together,
your body can finally respond the way it’s meant to.

🧠 Your Next Step (Start Here)

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🌿 Deeper Support

👉 Memory Momentum Method
A structured, root-cause approach to support brain health, clarity, and long-term cognitive resilience. Click Here to learn more.

👉 The Anchored Journey (1:1 Care)
A personalized, lab-driven roadmap to help you restore your metabolism, hormones, and brain—with expert guidance every step of the way. Click Here to learn more.

🛍️ Support Your Body

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There’s nothing wrong with you.
 You’ve just been missing a different way to understand your body.

And once you see it—
 everything starts to change.

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 Disclaimer: The content provided in The Anchored to Wellness Show is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey there, wellness warriors. Welcome to the Anchor to Wellness Show, your compass in the sea of holistic health. I'm Casey Wallace, and I'm your passionate advocate for vibrant well-being. And after witnessing countless patients caught in the cycle of sick care model, I became really disenchanted with the conventional healthcare system. It's a system where people aren't truly getting better, they're just simply managing symptoms. But I refuse to accept this as the norm, and I'm determined to shift the paradigm from sick care to well care. I have embarked on a journey into the realms of functional medicine and holistic health. And in each of these episodes, we will dive deep into the latest research, debunking myths, and unlocking the secrets to optimal wellness. From brain health to hormone balance, we'll cover it all with a blend of science, soul, and a dash of controversy. Together, we're making waves to reclaim control of our health destiny and anchor ourselves to wellness. So whether you're seeking clarity on brain fog or ready to reclaim your vitality, you're in the right place. So let's make waves and set sail towards a life anchored in wellness. Today I am sharing a deeply personal story about how functional medicine completely transformed my life. Not just as a doctor, but as a person. For years I was stuck in the conventional healthcare system, a system that felt more like a business than a healing profession. It was focused on diagnoses and quick fixes rather than truly helping people get better. Patients with those vague or complex symptoms were often dismissed or labeled with anxiety or depression because they did not fit into those neat boxes that we were trained to treat. I am so grateful to have been called out of that rat race. Learning about functional medicine was a complete game changer for me. It opened my eyes to how broken the system is and gave me a new way to practice medicine. One that allows me to dig deeper, study more, and truly help people heal. Functional medicine isn't just about treating symptoms or slapping on a diagnosis, it's about addressing those root causes of issues like immune disease and brain health challenges and gut dysfunction and even hormonal imbalances. So in this episode, we're going to dive deeper into what functional medicine is and how it changed my life and the lives of my patients and why I believe it's the future of healthcare. If you've ever felt stuck in the conventional system or you've wondered if there's a better way to approach your health, then this episode is the right one for you. So let's talk about the problem with conventional medicine. And I do want to just say I'm not against conventional medicine, but I just have found a better way for me and for my patients. But I want to start with what I see as one of the biggest challenges in conventional medicine. It's become more of a business and not a healing profession. They focus on billing and coding and squeezing as many patients into a day as possible, which leaves little room for truly helping people. Doctors are often forced to rely on quick fixes and just symptom management rather than digging deeper to address the root causes of their health issues. And this isn't because they don't care. That's not what I'm saying. It's because the system doesn't allow them to practice any other way. And I just want to say, how do I know this? It's because I've been there, I've done it, I know the ins and outs of how it was to practice in a setting that was more focused on the business side of medicine. And then there's this issue of these vague conditions. Patients that their symptoms don't fit neatly into a diagnosis, you know, we're taught like if you have these symptoms, you have most likely this is your differential diagnosis, and this is how you get down to what the diagnosis really is. But if people don't fit into that, a lot of times they're labeled with anxiety or depression, or it's felt that it's more just in their head, or it's just their stress. Okay, you know, I agree. Stress is a huge cause of many chronic conditions. It is huge. But it's not all just about stress. There's so many things we can do to make someone more resilient so that stress is not perpetuating their metabolic mess. Speaking of metabolic mess, if you don't know what that is, I've spoken about that in previous episodes. So go back and listen to that. It's a great, it's a great thing to realize what's happening in our bodies when we get that metabolic strain. But what happens when that issue is not a mental health issue? I mean, so many things can be physical things and they're manifesting as mental health issues. And how do I know that? I've done tons of research on the brain. The brain is so powerful in what it's doing, and mental health is a big part of our health overall, but sometimes physical health issues can cause mental health issues, and mental health issues, yes, they can cause physical issues, but patients are getting stuck in a cycle of prescriptions and then frustration, and no one is really looking deeper into what is really going on. I know this firsthand. Again, I was trained in this system and I didn't know what I didn't know. Doctors are taught to diagnose and prescribe, but so much is left out of traditional medicine training. There's very little focus on things like gut health and hormone balance or even how lifestyle factors impact overall health. I talk so much about the nervous system with my patients because it is a powerful way to help people improve their overall health. If a nervous system is dysregulated, it's very difficult to get someone better. And anything outside of that conventional approach is often dismissed as it's just not real. It wasn't until I stepped out of this system and into functional medicine that I realized how limiting and frankly harmful this approach can be for so many people. Looking back, it's no wonder patients and doctors all alike are feeling so burnt out and stuck. So let's talk a little bit about what functional medicine offers. Functional medicine completely redefines how we approach health and healing. Unlike conventional medicine, which often stops at that diagnosis and prescription, functional medicine goes deeper. It addresses the root cause of those illnesses and treats the whole person. Think about a tree. If we're only focusing on the leaves of the tree, that would be everything from our symptoms to our diagnoses. We have to think about why are those leaves on the tree? Well, there's a trunk that's usually some sort of chronic inflammatory condition, but then below that are the roots. And that's where I really like to work is what is happening in those root things that we can really start to transform someone's health. It's a patient-centered care. It's at its finest, diving deep into those underlying factors that are driving those symptoms, that are creating the leaves on the tree rather than just masking them. And functional medicine uses tools like comprehensive lab testing, even looking at labs through the eyes of an optimal physiology and not just standard reference ranges, we can reveal imbalances in gut health, hormones, micronutrients, and so many more things that are often overlooked in conventional health care. For me, functional medicine wasn't just a new way to help patients, it was a way to reclaim my passion for medicine. I was so burned out. It allowed me, this allowed me freedom to spend meaningful time with patients, to listen, and to create individualized care plans for each person that truly can make a difference. I am really able to talk with my patients now and really form a plan personalize for that patient something that they can do, that they can implement. Not everybody can do everything, not everybody wants to do everything. So I'm able to really form a plan specifically for that patient. I am no longer bound by the constraints of a 15-minute appointment or restricted and narrow sets of tools. And now I can practice medicine on my own terms with flexibility and the deep need to address those complex health issues. One of the most eye-opening parts of functional medicine is seeing real life transformations. It creates those. I've had patients who struggled for years in the conventional system, and they finally find some relief because we were able to uncover what was really going on. I will never forget a patient who came to me with chronic fatigue, brain fog, and hormonal imbalances. No one could figure it out. And through functional medicine testing, we discovered significant gut dysbiosis and nutrient deficiencies, and we formed a personalized protocol for that patient, and she feels so much better. She's regained energy and clarity in her mind, and she thought she had lost that forever. So that's the power of functional medicine. It's not just treating symptoms, it's giving people their lives back. So let's talk about some key areas where functional medicine excels. Functional medicine shines in areas where conventional medicine often falls short, and one of the biggest examples I can see is autoimmune conditions. In conventional care, autoimmune diseases are typically managed with those immunosuppressive medications that mask symptoms but don't address the underlying causes. And goodness, they have so many potential adverse effects and potential lifelong issues that I find that those medications are very scary. Are they needed in some people? Of course, yes, for sure, they are needed. And I also want to point out that when you when you're watching TV and when almost every new drug that's coming out, every single one that they're advertising on T TV, almost every one of them is some sort of immunomoduli agent. And I'm just like, okay, this is such a sign that we are seeing that a lot of what's happening, the leaves on our tree, a lot of that is being caused by some sort of immune system activation, chronic inflammatory condition. So we're we're focusing on the leaves and the inflammation and not on those root causes. So please don't hear me wrong. Don't stop your meds if you're taking one of those. But just know we have to be better about this. I do think that is the better thing for many people. It's not necessarily that you should not be on those medications, but at the same time, we have to recognize that many times we can do things differently to not have to be on the medications. So I want to dig deeper into those things, like what is happening in the gut. Are we being exposed to environmental toxins? Are we do we have chronic infection? What are we having some food sensitivities that are driving those autoimmune flares? And by addressing these root causes, we can help patients reduce inflammation and manage their symptoms naturally and even put those conditions in remission. It does take work, it takes a lot of time and energy and effort on everyone's part. But if you're really wanting to get do that, you can do it. And another area where I find and where my passion is, where functional medicine excels, is brain health, cognitive decline, brain fog, memory loss, decreasing focus and concentration, just feeling so mentally unclear, having those blank thoughts. Those often get dismissed as normal aging, but they could that could not be further from the truth. Functional medicine looks at early warning signs of cognitive issues. We have to be more diligent about starting early in treating these issues with cognition. And this is telling us the brain is in trouble. We have to be proactive to support brain health. And even if you're already experiencing some of these things like brain fog and lack of focus and concentration and feeling like those thoughts are slower, guys, that is a sign that your brain is in trouble. And it's not even proactive approach anymore. Let's we got to be more reactive to that. So my passion is to help people understand they have to recognize those early signs and get on board with a good brain health revitalization program. Because guess what? You can make your brain better. We don't have to follow into the age-old adage that it's just aging, it's just normal. That is just not true. And we can optimize nutrition, we can balance hormones, we can address inflammation, we can improve gut health. Goodness, that is directly tied to brain function, and we can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline and even reverse symptoms in their early stages. So there is no cure for dementia. That is not what I'm saying. We have not found a cure for dementia, but we have seen numerous studies that we can reverse cognitive decline. We might not get people back to A1, like mocha score of 30, but we can get people better where they can have at least better functionality in life and perhaps live independently, more so independently. But our goal is to prevent, and you have to be on point earlier in life to be able to do this. I have a strong family history of dementia. I'm on my brain health improvement plan. I want people to have brain envy. I want you to envy those that have healthy brains. So let's not forget how much gut health and hormone balance, these are two areas that are so deeply connected to every system in the body. There's lots of things you can do on your own for gut health and hormone balance, but that's a whole nother podcast. So you don't have to necessarily see me and have all this done, but yes, there's so many things you can do to even just lay a good foundation for gut health and hormone balance. And we see that these things, we see gut health and hormonal balance and micronutrient things as a foundation for health. It has a huge role in immune function, neurotransmitter production. What are neurotransmitters? Transmitting through neurons, right? Their brain signals, and even we have to think about detoxification. Hormones impact everything from mood and energy to cognitive function and metabolism. I believe I've you've probably heard me say this, but I believe the Women's Health Initiative study from 2002 was the biggest tragedy in medicine. So many issues have come from that. Here we are 20 years later, with so much more incidents of breast cancer and colon cancer and heart disease and dementia and osteoporosis, all things that would not have occurred if we would have maintained women throughout their menopausal years on hormone therapy. So that's a whole nother soapbox. I'll talk about that in another episode. But goodness, it's such a big tragedy. And the pendulum is swinging. We're seeing more and more patients getting back on hormone therapy. So it's a great thing to see that. And we can offer lots of tailored protocols to address imbalances in systems. It this creates a ripple effect of improvements throughout the body. Again, go back and listen to metabolic mess. If you can start to reverse that cycle, you will see a ripple effect of other things starting to improve in the body. So that is where functional medicine truly excels. We're looking deeper, we're addressing the interconnected systems that influence health. We provide those solutions that are transformative and not just temporary. So I believe that functional medicine is the future. I believe that the conventional healthcare system is broken and functional medicine is filling those gaps it leaves behind. I have so many patients coming to me that their doctor, their traditional doctor, has said, you know what, I don't know, go find a functional medicine doctor. And so it's funny, like no one's going from functional medicine to conventional medicine. So that's a pretty big eye-opener. But again, I'm not I'm not saying bad things about my colleagues. It's just how we were trained. But now I've really revamped my education. I know so much more. My toolbox is so much bigger, so it's so much better. So we don't want to just focus on symptoms, those leaves on the tree. We don't want to focus on quick fixes. We want to prevent and address those root causes. We want to flip that approach on its head, prioritize wellness, long-term wellness. There are areas in this in this world that are called blue zones, and those people are so healthy, and we can start to emulate that with our people. We don't want to just have some short-term symptom relief, right? We won't want to just control disease processes. We want to get people well. We want to empower people to take an active role in their healing process because for functional medicine, you do have to have an active role in your healing process. It's not just about coming in and getting on a medication or a supplement. Yes, you have to do your part. And we want to create those sustainable results instead of just those endless cycles of prescriptions and appointments. So, what makes functional medicine so powerful is its holistic vision. It doesn't just treat the body, it's a whole person. I want to know what's happening physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially. I want to know those environmental factors that could be playing a role in your health. For me, it's been a game changer to my practice in a way that aligns with my values. I can spend more time, I can dig deeper, I can create those plans that truly address unique needs. It has allowed me to be more creative and innovative and form a partnership between me and the patient that is rarely seen in the conventional system. Patients do have to be very active in their care in order for functional medicine to work. So don't so don't think it's just a quick fix either, but you do have to be active in your care. The truth is, most doctors in the conventional system aren't at fault for its shortcomings. I I've been there, I understand it. They're simply working within a framework that doesn't allow for anything else. I was one of them. I didn't know what I didn't know. I was able to step outside of that system because of functional medicine for myself personally, and then through that, I was like, oh my gosh, this is such an answer. I'm gonna really dive deeper into this. I've done functional medicine certifications, I've done functional lab analysis mentorships, I've done the Bredison protocol training. I'm currently in a functional blood chemistry analysis certification to dive deeper into routine lab work and how we can really see a lot with basic biomarkers that people are getting every day and being told their labs are normal. I'm also in another brain health certification to really dive deeper into the structure of the brain and the function of the brain and how that is creating a ripple effect in everything. So it's so amazing. I can kind of nerd out on all this stuff. Those of you that know me personally know I can kind of nerd out on all this stuff. So it's not just about managing those diseases. I can get really excited because I can restore vitality in people through functional medicine. And I cannot be more grateful for that. So let's talk about taking the first step. If you're listening to this and you feel stuck in the conventional healthcare system and you're wondering why you're just not getting the answers or the results you need, know that there's another way. Functional medicine is about empowering you to take control of your health by addressing root causes and creating lasting change. It's not a quick fix, it's a commitment to understanding your body and your unique needs and your path to wellness. For patients, the first step is seeking out functional health testing and working with a practitioner who can guide you through what is happening and those underlying issues. It could be gut health, it could be hormonal balance, it could be cognitive support. That is my passion. I want to see people get their brains back. We can offer deeper level of care that can transform your health from the inside out. We have to start asking questions and being curious and refusing to settle for a system that focused on the just the disease, you know, disease control and symptom suppression instead of true healing. If you're a practitioner, I would say that functional medicine offers the freedom to practice with intention and depth. And if you did anything, I would highly recommend you dig deeper into being able to interpret basic biomarkers, your CBC, your CMP, your cholesterol testing, your thyroid all hormones, things like that. I would encourage you to even just dig deeper into being able to look deeper at regular labs, just your basic labs, and seeing things that you are calling normal that are really not normal. Even if that's all you did and you could still function at a higher level in your conventional practice because you would see things in these labs that people that don't have more specific training in this are not seeing because really we didn't really learn about all that. My daughter is in medical school, and I am encouraging her that once she starts getting out into her clinical rotations, she I want her to dig deeper into being able to look at just a CBC and seeing things so much deeper than just being saying, okay, everything's normal, good job. No, there's so many things on it, even a normal CBC that we can glean and really start to dive deeper with a patient. And if you do want to know more about functional medicine, just reach out to me. I can help guide you in what I did and the path I took. It can be powerful. There's things you can do in your system to really start to help people. We can dig deeper into the details of their health journey and Create those personalized protocols that really work for each patient. It's a shift that doesn't just benefit patients, it reignites passion for medicine because you truly are helping people and it reminds us why we chose the path in the first place. Taking that first step toward functional medicine is about saying yes to a better way of caring for yourself, your loved ones, and your patients. I'm not saying that this is necessarily better because for some people, better is not being sick, better is controlling their disease and controlling their symptoms, right? That is the better approach. But I'm saying in order to get people well, we have to do things differently. Not necessarily better, because better can just be, yeah, we don't want your diabetes to be out of control and your blood pressure to be out of control. We want you well, but sometimes just treating is the best way to do it. So the journey is not necessarily easy. I've spent a ton of money and I've spent a ton of time revamping my education to be able to do this. But I will tell you, the results have been so worth it. My health, your health, the future, the future of our patients, the future of the healthcare system are all worth it. I will say if you're interested in diving a little deeper to just know some basic things you can start to do on your own to help improve your overall health, especially your brain health and your cognition, is you can go and listen to my masterclass about unpacking the early rise of memory loss. And I will put the link to that in the show notes, but that's a great place to start for things that you can start to put into place to help your cognition, to help your brain function better, to start to develop some things with your brain that you're like, oh gosh, I can already tell a difference. So there will be a link to that as well. There will also be a link to a seven-day challenge that you can do to implement a small task every single day for seven days. That is done via email. I there's a little video clip in there of me. So that will be a link in the show notes as well. So I just want to say functional medicine has completely changed the way I approach health and healing for myself, for my patients, for my family, overall, for my practice. It is going beyond the surface. We address root causes, we help empower people to take control of their wellness. The conventional system may be broken, but I believe that we offer hope and transformation in a little bit different path forward. We can dig deeper, we can take those next steps in our health journey. And I would just think explore what functional medicine can do for you and the power to heal and thrive. It's within your reach. You just need to take that step. So thank you for joining me. And I hope this episode has inspired you. If you have any questions, please just reach out to us. Thank you for joining me on this episode of the Anchor to Wellness Show. Together, let's anchor ourselves to a life of vibrant well being. Until next time, take care, stay curious, and embrace the journey to holistic vitality. Stay anchored and stay well.