In this episode of the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Kate Kresge sits down with functional immunology expert and educator Dr. Samuel Yanuck to explore one of the most overlooked systems in chronic illness: the immune system.

With clarity and compassion, Dr. Yanuck breaks down how immune dysregulation can contribute to complex conditions like depression, neuropathy, migraines, chronic fatigue, and even cardiovascular disease. From brain inflammation and mast cell activation to Epstein-Barr virus and mold, Dr. Yanuck offers a new way of thinking about biology—where inflammation isn’t just a symptom, but a system that can be measured, understood, and treated.

You’ll here them discuss:

- Why immunology could be at the root of nearly every chronic illness

- The immune pathways that connect depression, anxiety, brain fog, and fatigue

- What PANS, PANDAS, and autoimmune encephalitis really are—and why they’re often misdiagnosed

- How gut, brain, and immune health form a feedback loop

- The labs you should run if you suspect chronic immune dysfunction

- A framework for evaluating chronic viral infections like EBV and CMV

- Natural immune modulators: Chinese skullcap, astragalus, quercetin, sulforaphane, and more

- Why personalized immune workups—not protocols—create results

Guest Bio:

Dr. Samuel Yanuck is a functional medicine clinician and expert educator in functional immunology. He is the creator of Cogence Immunology, a comprehensive online training program that has educated over 9,000 clinicians in over 60 countries. His approach blends immunology, clinical experience, and systems thinking to help providers and patients uncover the true drivers of chronic illness. Dr. Yanuck is also the co-founder of the Yanuck Center for Life and Health in North Carolina, where he sees patients and helps clinicians find root-cause solutions to immune dysfunction through mentorship and collaboration. His work is helping reshape how the next generation of practitioners understand inflammation, autoimmunity, and healing.

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