What happens when medical training meets lived experience, intuition, and a willingness to question the system?

In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman, the physician and author behind A Curable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to the Final Odds, pulls back the curtain on his family’s journey navigating rare pediatric health challenges and the modern healthcare system. Dr. Hartman shares how his wife Becky’s background as a pediatric occupational therapist profoundly shaped both his parenting and his medical philosophy, introducing him to the reality of rare diagnoses, individualized care, and nontraditional therapies long before they became part of mainstream conversation.

This episode explores the power of gut instinct, the science behind intuition, and the importance of integrating head knowledge, hand knowledge, and heart knowledge when caring for complex patients. Through stories of innovative therapies like suit therapy, nutritional interventions, and environmental changes, Dr. Hartman highlights why healing often requires openness, humility, and a willingness to look beyond standard medical protocols.

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD is the founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine and the author of A Curable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to the Final Odds. His work focuses on root-cause medicine, complex chronic illness, and integrating environmental, nutritional, and neurological approaches to healing.

Key Topics Covered

1. Why gut instinct and intuition are real biological phenomena, not “just emotions”
2. The role of the enteric nervous system and subconscious processing in decision-making
3. How pediatric occupational therapy approaches rare and complex conditions differently
4. The impact of Becky’s work with children with special needs on the author’s medical thinking
5. Why rare diagnoses are more common than we realize when viewed at population scale
6. Head knowledge, hand knowledge, and heart knowledge and why all three matter in healing
7. Suit therapy and its origins in aerospace medicine and neurorehabilitation
8. How unconventional therapies often precede mainstream adoption by decades
9. The role of nutrition, environment, and early intervention in pediatric health outcomes
10. Lessons learned from animal health, farming, and environmental medicine
11. Why integrative medicine requires curiosity beyond human medicine alone

Links & Resources

📘 Book: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds

👉 https://a.co/d/8sqjZNF

🌐 Website: Richmond Integrative and Functional Medicine

https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if chronic illness isn’t a single diagnosis to fix, but a layered process shaped by infections, environment, and how your body responds to stress over time?

In this episode of Mate for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman is joined by Veronica Porterfield, MS, LN, MPAS, PA-C, for a deep, systems level conversation on why chronic illness is rising and why recovery looks different for every person. Together, they unpack the “perfect storm” driving persistent illness, including Lyme disease, mold exposure, long COVID, immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and environmental toxicity.

Rather than viewing chronic illness as a single diagnosis or infection, this episode reframes it as a layered process influenced by genetics, environment, nervous system regulation, hormones, and cumulative toxic load. Dr. Hartman and Veronica explain why antibiotics alone are often not enough, why some people recover quickly while others do not, and how individualized, root cause focused care can change long term outcomes. This episode offers clarity, validation, and a roadmap for patients navigating complex, chronic health conditions.

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD

Founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine, Dr. Hartman specializes in complex chronic illness, tick borne disease, mold related illness, and immune dysregulation. His approach integrates functional medicine, mitochondrial health, nervous system regulation, and personalized care to restore resilience and healing.

About the Guest

Veronica Porterfield, MS, LN, MPAS, PA-C

Veronica is a clinician with extensive experience in Lyme disease, mold illness, mast cell activation, and chronic inflammatory conditions. She focuses on identifying hidden drivers of illness and helping patients recover through individualized, whole person care.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

1. Why Lyme disease outcomes vary so widely from person to person
2. The “perfect storm” of genetics, toxins, infections, and immune dysfunction
3. How mold exposure contributes to chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS)
4. Why environment often outweighs genetics in determining health outcomes
5. The role of epigenetics and transgenerational exposure in chronic disease
6. Mitochondrial dysfunction and the cell danger response
7. How nervous system dysregulation impacts immune resilience
8. Hormonal disruption in chronic Lyme, mold illness, and long COVID
9. Dysautonomia, POTS, and mast cell activation as downstream effects
10. Why long COVID often reactivates latent infections like Lyme or Epstein-Barr
11. Limitations of antibiotic-only treatment strategies
12. The importance of individualized, multi-layered treatment plans

📲 Follow & Resources

Dr. Aaron Hartman & Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if the fats you have been told to avoid are actually the key to repairing your cells, calming inflammation, and protecting your heart and brain?

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman breaks down the powerful role dietary fats play in health and disease. He explains how modern fat consumption has shifted dramatically over the past century and why low omega 3 levels, excess omega 6 intake, trans fats, and oxidized seed oils are now strongly linked to heart disease, metabolic syndrome, neurological disorders, autoimmune conditions, and even cancer. Dr. Hartman walks listeners through the biology of fats, how damaged oils disrupt cell membranes and inflammation signaling, and why restoring healthy fats is one of the most effective ways to support healing. The episode introduces the concept of lipid membrane medicine and shows how intentional fat choices can become a force for resilience and recovery rather than disease.

Key Topics Covered

1. Why low omega 3 levels carry a heart disease risk comparable to smoking
2. How trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and oxidized polyunsaturated fats damage arteries
3. The connection between excess omega 6 intake and obesity, insulin resistance, PCOS, and fatty liver disease
4. How industrial seed oils became a staple in the modern food system and why that matters
5. The importance of omega 3 to omega 6 balance and how modern diets became highly inflammatory
6. How oxidized LDL contributes to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk
7. The impact of unhealthy fats on brain health, mood disorders, ADHD, and neurodegenerative disease
8. Why autoimmune and inflammatory conditions are worsened by damaged fats
9. The decline of organ meats and egg yolks and resulting phospholipid deficiencies
10. The role of phosphatidylcholine and phospholipids in mitochondrial and cellular repair
11. Introduction to lipid membrane medicine as a therapeutic strategy for healing

Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

💻 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

What if your genes are not a fixed sentence, but a flexible blueprint shaped by how you live?

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman takes a deep dive into the powerful relationship between genetics, environment, and health. Drawing from both cutting edge science and his personal journey supporting his daughter’s health, he explains why the outdated idea that “genes cause disease” no longer tells the full story.

With only about 23,000 genes, humans are not genetically much more complex than some animals. The real difference lies in the epigenome, the system that controls how genes are turned on or off in response to nutrition, stress, toxins, infections, and lifestyle. Dr. Hartman explores how gut bacteria, viral DNA, and environmental exposures influence gene expression, and why even well known genetic conditions can show dramatically different outcomes depending on context.

From historical events like the Dutch Hunger Winter to modern examples such as BRCA mutations and Down syndrome, this episode reinforces a hopeful truth: genes load the gun, but environment pulls the trigger. Listeners will walk away empowered with practical ways to use genetic insights, personalized nutrition, and lifestyle changes to support long term health and resilience.

Key Topics Covered

• Why humans are not defined by gene count alone
• What the epigenome is and how it controls gene expression
• How gut bacteria and viral DNA influence human genetics
• The Dutch Hunger Winter and transgenerational epigenetics
• Why genes are blueprints, not fixed outcomes
• Understanding SNPs and how small genetic variations affect health
• The MTHFR gene and its role in folate metabolism
• Vitamin D receptor genes and nutrient requirements
• How personalized nutrition can modify gene expression
• Using genetic testing to identify vulnerabilities and strengths
• The difference between genotype and phenotype
• Why real food, sleep, movement, and environment matter most

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD, is the founder of Richmond Integrative and Functional Medicine. He specializes in complex chronic illness, root cause medicine, and personalized care that integrates advanced testing with nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental medicine. His work bridges modern science with practical strategies to help patients reclaim health and resilience.

Links & Resources

📘 Book: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds

 👉 https://a.co/d/8sqjZNF

🌐 Website: Richmond Integrative and Functional Medicine

 https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if the reason so many people struggle with chronic symptoms is not a missed diagnosis, but a misunderstood infection?

In this episode of Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman is joined by Veronica Porterfield, MS, LN, MPAS, PA-C to unpack the growing epidemic of Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses such as Babesia and Bartonella. Together, they explore why Lyme disease is so frequently overlooked, misdiagnosed, or dismissed, despite affecting nearly half a million people in the United States each year.

This conversation dives deep into the limitations of current testing, the controversy surrounding diagnostic guidelines, and why Lyme is often called the “great imitator.” Dr. Hartman and Veronica explain how Lyme and its coinfections can mimic autoimmune disease, neurological conditions, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and even dementia. They also discuss why many patients worsen with immune suppressing treatments and how underlying infections may be the missing piece.

This episode serves as an essential foundation for understanding Lyme disease, setting the stage for deeper discussions on treatment strategies and recovery in upcoming episodes.

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD is the founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine. He specializes in complex chronic illness, root cause medicine, and cases that have failed conventional treatment. His work focuses on uncovering hidden infections, immune dysfunction, and environmental triggers that drive long term illness.

About the Guest

Veronica Porterfield, MS, LN, MPAS, PA-C is a clinician at Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine with extensive experience treating Lyme disease and tick borne illnesses. She brings a patient centered, systems based approach to complex infections, autoimmunity, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Lyme disease affects nearly half a million people annually in the US
• The economic and personal cost of missed Lyme diagnoses
• Why standard Lyme tests often produce false negatives
• Differences between antibody testing and direct testing methods
• How early antibiotics can suppress antibodies without clearing infection
• Why Lyme is known as the “new great imitator”
• Conditions commonly misdiagnosed instead of Lyme disease
• The role of Babesia and Bartonella as common coinfections
• Classic symptoms of Babesia including night sweats and air hunger
• Signs of Bartonella such as foot pain, bladder irritation, and unusual stretch marks
• Why coinfections are often treated clinically rather than by lab confirmation
• The controversy between IDSA and ILADS diagnostic perspectives
• How immune suppression can worsen undiagnosed infections
• The link between chronic infection, autoimmunity, and immune dysfunction
• Why persistent inflammation may signal an underlying infection
• The importance of a holistic, patient centered approach to tick borne illness

📲 Follow & Resources

Dr. Aaron Hartman & Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if the fats you eat are either fueling your inflammation or repairing your cells, depending entirely on which ones you choose?

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman breaks down one of the most confusing topics in modern nutrition: fat. From omega threes and omega sixes to saturated fats, seed oils, and trans fats, Dr. Hartman explains what these fats actually do in the body and why the right balance is essential for healing. Drawing on his clinical experience using lipid therapy for neurological issues, traumatic brain injury, and chronic inflammatory conditions, he shows how healthy fats support cell membranes, hormone signaling, mitochondrial function, and inflammation regulation. This short but powerful episode cuts through the noise and gives listeners a clear, science based framework for choosing fats that truly support long term health.

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD, founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine, specializes in root cause medicine and complex chronic illness. Through advanced testing, personalized nutrition, and innovative therapies such as lipid medicine, he helps patients restore cellular health and unlock their innate healing potential.

Key Topics Covered

• Why healthy fats are essential for every cell, membrane, and mitochondrial function in the body
• How saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats differ
• The role of phospholipids in cell signaling and “cell vibration”
• Why omega threes calm inflammation while omega sixes support the early healing response
• How oxidized or industrially processed fats disrupt cell function
• The surprising medical uses of phosphatidylcholine in hospitals
• Why trans fats and hydrogenated oils are harmful at a molecular level
• How seed oils become toxic when industrially heated or chemically extracted
• The unique benefits of butyrate and short chain fatty acids for gut and brain health
• What makes extra virgin olive oil a powerful anti inflammatory fat
• How MCT oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee support metabolic and neurological health
• A functional medicine approach to choosing fats that heal rather than harm

Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

💻 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

What if the key to human health starts not with supplements, superfoods, or lab testing, but with the soil beneath our feet?

In this episode, we explore the remarkable connection between soil quality, nutrient density, physical development, and long term wellness. Drawing from the groundbreaking work of agricultural pioneer Sir Albert Howard and nutritional researcher Weston A. Price, the speaker uncovers how traditional farming practices once produced vibrant, disease resistant populations — and how the shift to chemical fertilizers silently eroded soil biology, plant nutrition, and ultimately human health.

From rare earth minerals and bone broth to organ meats and Ayurvedic ghee, this conversation connects ancient traditions with modern functional medicine to reveal why so many people today struggle with nutrient deficiencies, structural development issues, and chronic illness. This powerful episode encourages listeners to rethink where their food comes from and understand why soil stewardship is essential for human vitality.

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD, founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine, is a leader in root cause medicine and environmental health. He uses advanced testing, ancestral nutrition principles, and evidence based lifestyle medicine to help patients restore cellular health and overcome chronic illness.

Key Topics Covered

• Sir Albert Howard’s discoveries in India and why traditional farming produced healthier animals and healthier people
• How chemical fertilizers acidify soil and destroy beneficial microbes essential for nutrient formation
• The role of humic and fulvic acids in breaking down minerals so plants (and humans) can use them
• Why mammals need up to 98 trace minerals — and how modern grain based agriculture leaves us deficient
• How ruminants concentrate soil minerals into nutrient dense foods like milk, bones, and meat
• The disappearance of organ meats and bone broth from modern diets and the health consequences
• Weston A. Price’s global research showing how traditional diets shaped strong facial structure and cavity resistance
• How malnutrition leads to smaller jaws, crowded teeth, and higher risk of sleep apnea
• Ancient Ayurvedic wisdom about ghee and its surprising alignment with modern mitochondrial science
• The speaker’s ongoing journey of learning from historical wisdom, patient experience, and functional medicine research

🔗 Links & Resources

📘 Book: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds

👉 https://a.co/d/8sqjZNF

🌐 Website: Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if the earliest clues to your chronic health issues aren’t in your labs or symptoms at all, but right inside your mouth?

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Aaron Hartman sits down with Dr. Mary Ellen Chalmers, one of the nation’s leading functional dentists, to explore how oral health directly shapes overall wellness. With more than 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Chalmers explains how seemingly simple dental issues like periodontal disease, canker sores, and white enamel spots can signal deeper systemic concerns such as gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular risk, and chronic inflammation.

 She also uncovers how advanced diagnostics, oral microbiome testing, nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste, and functional medicine principles can transform the way we approach oral and whole body health. This episode is an essential guide for anyone searching for integrative answers to chronic health conditions.

Key Topics Covered

• How oral health reflects systemic inflammation and chronic disease
• Mercury amalgam fillings and their connection to hypertension, autoimmune disease, and neurological disorders
• Why periodontal pathogens influence gut health, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and autoimmunity
• The power of oral microbiome testing and DNA PCR screening
• Root canals: modern technology, risks, and who should consider removal
• How children’s jaw development and airway shape long term health
• Gluten sensitivity and celiac disease signs found inside the mouth
• Nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste and why it outperforms fluoride for remineralization
• The link between occlusion, chewing, and cognitive function
• Why dentistry must partner with functional medicine to improve outcomes

📲 Follow & Resources

• Dr. Mary Ellen Chalmers, DDS, ND — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ellen-chalmers-54296415/
• Dr. Aaron Hartman & Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine
• Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/
• YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if a few simple changes in your daily routine could dramatically lower your EMF exposure and support a calmer, healthier nervous system?

In this quick and actionable minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman shares simple, science-backed strategies to reduce electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure in your home, workplace, and everyday environment. Whether you're EMF-sensitive or simply want to prevent nervous system dysregulation, these practical tips help you minimize unnecessary exposure without making drastic lifestyle changes. From managing Wi-Fi and cell phones to choosing the right lighting and understanding shielding, this episode breaks down what actually matters when it comes to EMF safety.

 Key Insights

• Your home is where half of your EMF exposure happens, making nighttime habits especially important.
• Turning off Wi-Fi at night and keeping your phone in airplane mode while you sleep can dramatically reduce EMF load.
• Avoiding Bluetooth earbuds inside the ear canal helps limit direct EMF exposure to the head.
• Brick, concrete, and certain paints naturally block EMFs better than wood or vinyl structures.
• Fluorescent and LED lighting contain transformers that emit EMF; incandescent bulbs emit far less.
• Smart meters matter only if they're placed near sleeping areas.
• Shielding methods work best when they involve physical barriers, not “frequency-modifying” gadgets.
• Cars and workplaces are overlooked sources of EMF due to electronics and lighting systems.
• EMF sensitivity is more common in individuals with chronic inflammation, mold illness, CIRS, or nervous system dysregulation.

What You’ll Learn

• Practical steps to reduce EMF exposure at home
• How distance, unplugging, and nighttime habits make the biggest difference
• Best and worst headphones for EMF exposure
• Building materials and renovation hacks that lower household EMF
• How lighting, smart meters, laptops, and routers contribute to overall exposure
• Which shielding approaches work and which are mostly ineffective
• How to evaluate whether EMF reduction is important for your health

Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

💻 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if the real barrier to healing chronic illness isn’t your labs or treatments, but a stressed nervous system that keeps your body from ever fully recovering?

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman unpacks one of the most overlooked factors in chronic illness: the nervous system and the mind-body connection. Drawing from decades of clinical experience with patients struggling with Lyme disease, mold illness, long COVID, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, and more, he highlights a powerful truth: these conditions are interconnected through the nervous system. Dr. Hartman explains how trauma, both big and small, can trap the body in a chronic stress state that blocks healing, sleep, gut repair, and cellular regeneration. He breaks down the “Triangle of Health,” showing how gut health, stress, and sleep must work together for true recovery. This episode offers a compassionate, trauma informed perspective and actionable tools to help listeners break through healing plateaus and reclaim long term wellness.

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD, founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine, specializes in root cause medicine and complex chronic illness. He integrates advanced testing with lifestyle, nutrition, and trauma informed care to help patients unlock the body’s innate healing capacity.

Key Topics Covered

• How chronic conditions like Lyme, mold illness, autoimmune disorders, long COVID, and fibromyalgia are linked through the nervous system
• Understanding psycho neuro immuno gastro endocrinology and how the mind influences immunity, inflammation, gut health, and hormones
• Big T trauma vs. little T trauma and how both disrupt healing
• Why many patients improve 60 to 70 percent and then plateau
• How chronic illness becomes a form of trauma itself
• The cell danger response and why stressed nervous systems block cell turnover
• Real patient stories illustrating trauma triggered setbacks
• How caregiving, childhood stress, and narcissistic family dynamics create long term physiology changes
• Why gut health, sleep, and stress form the Triangle of Health
• Trauma therapies that support healing including EMDR, tapping, somatic work, and family systems therapy
• A functional medicine approach to reconnecting the gut, nervous system, and immune system

🔗 Links & Resources

📘 Book: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds

👉 https://a.co/d/8sqjZNF

🌐 Website: Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE

If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.

Get the new book UnCURABLE