Beyond Pills and Protocols: A Functional Medicine Doctor’s Path to... - Talk with Dr. Richard Chen

Food, Sleep, Stress: The Real “Prescription” for Prime Health - Talk with Dr. Ryan Tomlins

In this episode of the Prime Health Podcast, Dr. Derek Baron interviews Dr. Ryan Tomlins, a physician and founder of Summit Health. In a modern medical landscape where patients frequently feel dismissed or rushed out the door, Dr. Tomlins has completely redefined the standard clinical encounter by building an entire practice around listening first and treating second. He discusses why conventional reference ranges on blood panels are often misleading, the vital distinction between baseline "normal" and biological optimization, and why lifestyle factors like food, sleep, and targeted stress management serve as the true prescriptions for long-term healthspan. Key Takeaways: * A Practice Built on Listening: Most patients leave traditional 15-minute insurance checkups feeling unheard; Dr. Tomlins purposely structures his clinical model around extended consultations to give individuals the dedicated space to thoroughly explain how they feel. * Normal Is Not Optimal: Standard laboratory brackets indicate where the average population sits, but falling inside a "normal" reference window does not equal peak physical performance or cellular vitality. * Treat Patients, Not Lab Numbers: Dr. Tomlins stresses that if a patient's lab panels look clinically flawless but they continue to feel exhausted or deal with chronic symptoms, there is still critical root-cause work left to do. Connect with our Guest Website: http://www.summithealthks.com [http://www.summithealthks.com] Secondary Site: http://www.thrivemdkc.com [http://www.thrivemdkc.com] LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tomlins-m-d-949b2053/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tomlins-m-d-949b2053/] Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/summithealthks [https://www.facebook.com/summithealthks] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summithealthks/ [https://www.instagram.com/summithealthks/] To be a guest or suggest an episode, email: info@primehealthpodcast.com [info@primehealthpodcast.com] Connect with us: Website: https://primehealthpodcast.com/ [https://primehealthpodcast.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/] LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions [https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/primehealthpodcast [https://www.facebook.com/primehealthpodcast]

Robots in Rehab: How Non-Invasive Deep Muscle Therapy Is Replacing Brutal... - Talk with Elliot Raj

In this episode of the Prime Health Podcast, Dr. Derek Baron interviews Elliot Raj, the CEO of Muscle Delta Robotics. Stemming from his own corporate technology background and severe, unresolved musculoskeletal pain, Elliot spent over a decade automating and perfective a repeatable deep muscle therapy robot. He explains how advanced robotic technology acts as a non-invasive, precise tool to systematically lengthen shortened muscles, restore proper alignment, and eliminate pain from the root. The conversation covers the physiological importance of deep myofascial therapy, the critical difference between Class I devices and high-risk imported machinery, and how automating manual therapy protects providers from intense physical burnout. Key Takeaways: * Treating the Root, Not the Symptom: Chronic back and shoulder pain is often just a downstream symptom. Elliot explains that shortened, tight muscles on the front or side of the body (like the pec minor or anterior serratus) pull bones out of alignment, creating severe stress on the back. * The Power of Robotic Precision: Unlike manual trigger-point work or scraping techniques that can over-exert pressure or cause dermal trauma, the Muscle Delta robot delivers consistent, safe, and controlled pressures customized entirely to the patient's pain threshold. * Instant Strength and the Joy of Motion: Shortened muscles have a severely restricted power band and reduced cross-bridges for energy creation. Non-invasively lengthening these structures instantly doubles or triples their force production, returning physical strength without taxing gym sessions. * Class I Safety Over High-Risk Fads: Elliot raises a vital safety alert regarding modern clinical lasers and machinery imported without proper regulatory tracking. The Muscle Delta robot operates strictly as a Class I device—the safest category approved by medical regulatory standards. Connect with our Guest Website: www.muscledelta.com [http://www.muscledelta.com] LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliotraj-muscle-delta-robot/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliotraj-muscle-delta-robot/] LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107763987 [https://www.linkedin.com/company/107763987] Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/muscledelta [https://www.facebook.com/muscledelta] YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MuscleDelta [https://www.youtube.com/@MuscleDelta] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muscledeltarobot [https://www.instagram.com/muscledeltarobot] X/Twitter: https://x.com/MuscleDelta [https://x.com/MuscleDelta] To be a guest or suggest an episode, email: info@primehealthpodcast.com [info@primehealthpodcast.com] Connect with us: Website: https://primehealthpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/ LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/primehealthpodcast

Stigma, Science, and a Nun on Fentanyl: How Cannabis Nursing Changes Lives - Talk with Sherri Mack

In this episode of the Prime Health Podcast, Dr. Derek Baron interviews Nurse Sherri Mack, a veteran registered nurse with 37 years of clinical experience in Boston’s premier teaching hospitals. After surviving a life-threatening, hospital-acquired bacterial infection that obliterated her gut microbiome and left her taking 18 daily pharmaceuticals for severe chronic pain, Sherri completely shifted her perspective on health. Today, she serves as a leading cannabis nurse specialist, patient advocate, and operational leader for Bloom Hemp CBD alongside Holistic Caring and The Green Nurse. Key Takeaways: * The Core Difference Between Hemp and Cannabis: While both originate from the Cannabis sativa plant, industrial hemp is legally classified as containing less than 0.3% THC. This structural parameter allows hemp-derived CBD to be distributed transparently as a zero-THC or trace-THC medicinal supplement rather than an intoxicating recreational agent. * The Anatomy of the Endocannabinoid System: The ECS operates as the largest neuroregulatory framework in the body, regulating 11 distinct organ systems, cellular immunity, and neurotransmitter signals. The body naturally produces anandamide—our internal "bliss" molecule—which shares an identical molecular structure with the plant’s THC compound. * The Entourage Effect and Pleiotropy: Sherri breaks down the "entourage effect," explaining how combining multiple plant cannabinoids (like CBD, CBG, and CBDA) targets several biological receptors simultaneously. This multi-targeted functionality delivers an exponentially greater response than utilizing single, isolated compounds. Connect with our Guest Website: https://bloomhemp.com/ [https://bloomhemp.com/] Holistic Caring Core Site: https://holisticcaring.com/ [https://holisticcaring.com/] LinkedIn Profile: Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegreennurse-sherritutkus/] LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-green-nurse/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-green-nurse/] Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bloomhemp [https://www.facebook.com/bloomhemp] YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thegreennurse [https://www.youtube.com/@thegreennurse] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloom_hemp/ [https://www.instagram.com/bloom_hemp/] Ask The Green Nurse Substack: https://thegreennurse.substack.com/ [https://thegreennurse.substack.com/] Free Community Network: https://network.holisticcaring.com/ [https://network.holisticcaring.com/] To be a guest or suggest an episode, email: info@primehealthpodcast.com [info@primehealthpodcast.com] Connect with us: Website: https://primehealthpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/ LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/primehealthpodcast

Heal Without the High: How Cannabis Fits Into Modern Healthcare - Talk with Elisabeth Mack

In this episode of the Prime Health Podcast, Dr. Derek Baron interviews Elisabeth Mack, MBA, BSN, BA, RN, the CEO and founder of Holistic Caring, The Green Nurse, and Bloom Hemp CBD. After spending over three decades in conventional healthcare—including twenty years navigating clinical operations and insurance sales—Elisabeth experienced a profound personal health transformation using plant therapeutics after a major bicycle accident. Today, she bridges the gap between conventional medicine and cannabis care. She discusses the physiology of the endocannabinoid system, the crucial pharmacological differences between CBD and THC, and how the formal recognition of cannabis nursing as an official medical specialty is paving the way for safe, nurse-guided medicine. Key Takeaways: * The Ultimate Regulatory Overlay: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) acts as a master regulatory framework sitting directly on top of the body's other eleven organ systems, using retrograde signaling to downshift inflammation and bring cells back to balance. * Heal Without the High: Elisabeth addresses the pervasive recreational stigma surrounding cannabis. Her clinical protocols leverage sub-perceptual doses of THC alongside CBD to maximize therapeutic outcomes for chronic pain, insomnia, and neurodegenerative decline without inducing intoxication. * The Pharmacological Distinction: CBD serves as a broad anti-inflammatory blanket and neuroprotectant antioxidant. In contrast, THC acts as a direct receptor agonist that can be micro-dosed to optimize neurotransmission or scaled to trigger cellular apoptosis in advanced cancer care. Connect with our Guest Website: https://holisticcaring.com [https://holisticcaring.com] CBD Store: https://bloomhemp.com [https://bloomhemp.com] LinkedIn Profile: Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabeth-mack-mba-bsn-ba-rn-17a5436/] LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/holistic-caring/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/holistic-caring/] Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenNurses [https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenNurses] YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thegreennurse [https://www.youtube.com/@thegreennurse] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreen_nurse/ [https://www.instagram.com/thegreen_nurse/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.green.nurse [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.green.nurse] To be a guest or suggest an episode, email: info@primehealthpodcast.com [info@primehealthpodcast.com] Connect with us: Website: https://primehealthpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/ LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/primehealthpodcast

Beyond Pills and Protocols: A Functional Medicine Doctor’s Path to... - Talk with Dr. Richard Chen

In this episode of the Prime Health Podcast, Dr. Derek Baron interviews Dr. Richard Chen, a veteran functional medicine physician and the founder of Focused Wellness. With thirty-two years of medical experience, Dr. Chen shares his profound shift from traditional, fast-paced family medicine to becoming a root-cause detective specializing in complex chronic illnesses, cognitive decline, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Key Takeaways: * The Path Beyond Pills: Dr. Chen highlights that long-term relief does not come from a magic prescription or a single supplement. True healing requires strategic lifestyle modification, targeted clinical support, and identifying why the biological system is failing. * Reversing Alzheimer's via ReCODE 2.0: Moving past conventional pharmacology, Dr. Chen implements the Bredesen ReCODE 2.0 protocol. Recent multi-center data demonstrates an eight-fold clinical improvement in cognitive markers compared to standard high-cost pharmaceuticals. * Unlocking Pediatric Neurodevelopment: Certified through the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS), Dr. Chen treats children on the autism spectrum by addressing underlying biochemical imbalances. Using targeted protocols like prescription folate (Leucovorin), he helps clear receptor blockages to improve verbal comprehension and communication in 70% of responsive kids. Connect with our Guest Website: https://focusedwellness.net [https://focusedwellness.net] LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrichardchen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrichardchen/] LinkedIn Page: Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/company/focused-wellness/about/] Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DrRichardfw/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrRichardfw/] YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@drrichardc [https://www.youtube.com/@drrichardc] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focused__wellness [https://www.instagram.com/focused__wellness] Linktree: https://linktr.ee/drrichardc [https://linktr.ee/drrichardc] To be a guest or suggest an episode, email: info@primehealthpodcast.com [info@primehealthpodcast.com] Connect with us: Website: https://primehealthpodcast.com/ [https://primehealthpodcast.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/] LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions [https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast]