What if your fatigue isn't simply about needing more sleep—or getting older? On this episode of Maximum Medicine Radio, Dr. Sharon Martin welcomes Dr. Evan Hirsch, functional medicine physician and author of Fix Your Fatigue, for a powerful conversation about chronic fatigue, energy, the mitochondria, toxins, mindset and the many factors that can leave the body struggling to function at its best. Dr. Hirsch shares his own story of experiencing profound fatigue while already practicing functional medicine. Despite eating well, meditating and addressing nutritional, hormonal and other deficiencies, his energy continued to decline until he began looking more deeply at the underlying causes. His investigation ultimately revealed more than 30 contributing factors and became the foundation for the work he does today. Rather than looking for one diagnosis or one simple solution, Dr. Hirsch describes a comprehensive approach that looks at deficiencies, toxicities, infections, lifestyle and nervous system dysfunction and how these factors can interfere with the body's ability to produce energy. Sharon and Dr. Hirsch also explore the critical role of the mitochondria, why supporting the body's energy-producing systems is only part of the equation, and why identifying and addressing the underlying factors that are damaging those systems is so important. And this conversation isn't only about physical health. Dr. Hirsch explains how mindset, gratitude, limiting beliefs, visualization and empowering questions can play a role in retraining the nervous system and changing the way we experience our lives and our health. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Dr. Hirsch's personal journey with debilitating fatigue - Why chronic fatigue can have many different contributing factors - The relationship between toxins, infections, inflammation and energy production - Why mitochondrial health is so important - The role of vitamins, minerals, hormones, nutrition, sleep and movement - The "Toxic Five" Dr. Hirsch looks for in his approach - How nervous system dysfunction and trauma can affect the body - The connection between mindset and physical health - How gratitude can help shift your mental and emotional state - Why changing limiting beliefs can be an important part of healing - Simple practices you can begin today, including a daily gratitude or "thank you" practice Dr. Hirsch is the author of Fix Your Fatigue, originally published in 2017, and continues to work with people dealing with chronic fatigue and persistent symptoms through his functional and integrative approach.
