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Andrea Nakayama is a leading functional health educator and founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance.

In this episode, you’re going to learn what narrative medicine is and why it matters for patient-centered care, why understanding your personal story is crucial for addressing chronic illnesses, how to identify the mediators and triggers affecting your health, and practical ways to build a therapeutic partnership with your healthcare provider.

Andrea Nakayama is the host of the 15-Minute Matrix Podcast and founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance. Andrea is leading thousands of students and practitioners around the globe in a revolution to offer better solutions to the growing chronic illness epidemic. By highlighting the importance of systems biology, root cause methodology, and therapeutic partnerships, she helps historically underserved individuals reclaim ownership of their health.

Timestamps:

[04:12] What is narrative medicine

[05:33] Why patient stories matter in healthcare

[06:48] The role of humanities in narrative medicine

[08:29] Functional medicine’s limitations and gaps

[09:49] The multi-narrative approach in medicine

[11:07] Key tenets of functional medicine

[12:18] Issues with overuse of medical testing

[13:57] Systems-based approaches in functional medicine

[15:30] Why diagnoses don’t define individual cases

[16:36] The importance of understanding personal health stories

[18:33] How to identify health mediators and triggers

[19:13] Empowering patients with agency over their health

[20:37] What antecedents mean in functional medicine

[22:16] Case study of connecting life events with health issues

[25:08] The difference between healing and curing

[27:28] Using timelines for better patient outcomes

[28:53] Recognizing personal health patterns and connections

[30:25] Uncovering childhood experiences affecting adult health

[32:31] Tools for increasing patient self-awareness

[34:41] How the environment impacts chronic symptoms

[35:42] Personal example of mindful coffee consumption

[37:57] Understanding truth and perspective in health decisions

[38:57] Aligning therapeutic partnerships with patient goals

[41:48] Challenges in teaching functional medicine frameworks

[43:26] Adapting teaching styles for different learners

[45:24] Building trust and safety in patient relationships

[47:16] How to join Andrea’s narrative medicine workshops

[48:26] Tools for practitioners to help diverse populations

Connect with Andrea on Instagram, Facebook and her Website!

Resources Mentioned:

15-Minute Matrix Podcast by Andrea Nakayama | Website

Functional Nutrition Alliance | Website

Compassionate Inquiry Training with Dr. Gabor Maté | Website

Find more from Michael on the Rebel Health Tribe’s Website and Instagram and be sure to join their Facebook Group.