Made for Health | Medical Gaslighting | Lyme | Chronic Infections | Metabolic Syndrome | Insulin Resistance | Mystery Illness

Aaron Hartman, MD
  • 4.7 (15)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You were made for health—vibrant, thriving, and full of possibility. But navigating today’s broken healthcare system, endless misinformation, and confusion can feel overwhelming. On Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman cuts through the noise to deliver science-backed solutions that restore your health and reignite your hope. Join us each week for expert insights, practical tips, and inspiring conversations that empower you to harness your body’s incredible power to heal. Whether you're seeking clarity, direction, or just a trusted voice, this podcast is your roadmap to the vibrant life you were made for.

  1. Doing Everything Right Still Is Not Enough – Why Patient Advocacy Changes the Outcome | Stress | E115

    6D AGO

    Doing Everything Right Still Is Not Enough – Why Patient Advocacy Changes the Outcome | Stress | E115

    What if healing is not about finding the perfect protocol, but learning how to become an informed and engaged patient? In this UnCurable audiobook episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman shares reflections drawn directly from his book UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds. Through patient questions, personal stories, and decades of medical experience, he explores how nutrition, environment, self education, and advocacy shape real world healing. This episode walks through common challenges people face when shifting toward natural and integrative care, while also confronting a harder truth: the modern health care system has blind spots that can place patients at risk. Dr. Hartman explains why becoming an informed, engaged participant in your care is not optional, especially for those navigating chronic or complex conditions. Key Topics Covered How to transition toward real food nutrition without overwhelmWhy small, consistent lifestyle changes matter more than perfectionAddressing skepticism from friends and family while staying groundedWhy healing often unfolds slowly and how to recognize early progressCommon nutrient deficiencies in modern diets and how food diversity supports resilienceDetox reactions during lifestyle changes and how to support the body safelyBalancing natural healing approaches with conventional medical careHow fear, liability, and fragmented care shape medical decision makingWhy medical error remains a leading cause of deathThe importance of patient advocacy, second opinions, and informed consentHow medical blind spots have delayed life saving discoveries throughout historyRecognizing red flags in providers, protocols, and rushed careWhy integrative and functional medicine aim to bridge gaps between specialties 📖 About UnCurable UnCurable blends memoir and medicine, weaving personal family experience with decades of clinical insight. It challenges conventional models of chronic illness and empowers patients to pursue healing through personalized, root cause focused care. Discover the book: 📘 Amazon: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds🎧 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/UnCurable-Audiobook/B0G4NNPSF2?srsltid=AfmBOoqovf36lmHnQPTbTM9YhGlzJ40P8kCAnzrGjXknVrygXQ7az_y4 Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine Website:a href="https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/"...

    54 min
  2. It Looks Like Flexibility but Acts Like Stress – Why Hypermobility Can Disrupt Sleep, Anxiety, and Healing | Sleep | E114

    JAN 23

    It Looks Like Flexibility but Acts Like Stress – Why Hypermobility Can Disrupt Sleep, Anxiety, and Healing | Sleep | E114

    What if hypermobility is not a problem to fix, but a pattern that needs the right support to become a strength? In this minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman explores hypermobility as a commonly overlooked pattern that can influence coordination, sensory input, nervous system regulation, and long-term health. He explains how hypermobility can function as a strength when supported, but may contribute to anxiety, poor sleep, inflammation, and chronic symptoms when paired with nutrient deficiencies, environmental exposures, or infections. This conversation helps listeners understand why hypermobility often shows up alongside chronic inflammatory conditions, neurodivergence, autonomic symptoms, and heightened stress responses, and why supportive foundations like nutrition, environment, and self-regulation matter so much for these individuals. Key Topics Covered What hypermobility is and why it is more common than many people realizeHow connective tissue and fascia send constant sensory input to the nervous systemWhy hypermobility can increase coordination and reaction time, but also overstimulationThe link between dysregulated hypermobility and anxiety, sleep disruption, and hypervigilanceHow nutrient depletion, especially vitamin C and B vitamins, can worsen tissue resilienceWhy environmental stressors like mold or chronic infections may compound symptomsThe role of trauma and emotional stress in shifting sensitivity from strength to vulnerabilityHow intuition and emotional intelligence may be heightened in some hypermobile individualsWhy addressing environment, nutrition, movement, and self-regulation is foundational 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. Dr. Hartmans wrote UnCURABLE to help you take back control of your health and your hope. Visit the link below ⬇️ to get your copy and start your transformation today. Get the new book UnCURABLE

    10 min
  3. Nothing Is Wrong or Everything Is Missed? – The System Failure Behind Chronic Illness with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Gut | E113

    JAN 19

    Nothing Is Wrong or Everything Is Missed? – The System Failure Behind Chronic Illness with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Gut | E113

    What if the biggest threat to your health is not your diagnosis, but the blind spots of the system treating it? In this segment of the UnCurable audiobook series, Dr. Aaron Hartman zooms out from his family story to expose how modern healthcare often fails complex patients, especially those with “unrelated” symptoms that never get connected. He introduces a patient case that mirrors what he sees daily: fatigue, brain fog, body aches, and a long trail of normal tests, dismissed concerns, and dead-end specialist visits. This segment argues that healing often begins when you stop chasing labels and start investigating root causes like gut dysfunction, toxin exposure (including mold), nutrient status, thyroid autoimmunity, and sleep. It also traces how one small shift toward real food opened a much larger journey into environmental health, soil quality, and nutrient density, showing why foundations matter more than protocols. Key Topics Covered Why many patients are told “nothing is wrong,” “it’s all in your head,” or “you can’t be helped”A real-world example of missed root causes: mold exposure, SIBO, and chronic inflammatory responseGut health as a long ignored driver of chronic illness, including intestinal permeability and dysbiosisWhy insurance, procedure-based medicine, and pharma incentives can sideline root-cause careHashimoto’s and the problem of not screening for autoimmunity until symptoms are severeA root-cause framework for autoimmunity: predisposition, trigger, gut permeability, and infection or colonizationSleep deprivation as a hidden epidemic that disrupts immune function, hormones, and agingWhy many “sleep solutions” can create new problems when they do not address the causeHow nutrition, toxins (like glyphosate), and food quality reshape healing potentialThe soil–plant–animal–human health connection, and why micronutrient deficiencies are so commonWhy patient insight matters, and how listening can change outcomes Concepts and Tools Mentioned Advanced stool testing and inflammatory markersSIBO, chronic gut dysfunction, and intestinal permeabilityMold exposure and chronic inflammatory response patternsThyroid antibody testing and early autoimmune signalsSleep as a core pillar of immune and metabolic repairFood sourcing, regenerative principles, and nutrient density 📖 About UnCurable UnCurable blends memoir and medicine, weaving personal family experience with decades of clinical insight. It challenges conventional models of chronic illness and empowers patients...

    40 min
  4. Why Everything Feels Connected - The Hidden Role of Connective Tissue in Chronic Disease | Inflammation | E112

    JAN 16

    Why Everything Feels Connected - The Hidden Role of Connective Tissue in Chronic Disease | Inflammation | E112

    What if many chronic, seemingly unrelated symptoms share a single hidden root?In this Friday minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman explores how connective tissue health and generalized hypermobility quietly sit at the center of many chronic health struggles. From joint pain and early arthritis to gut dysfunction, autoimmune conditions, mast cell activation, anxiety, and even neurodivergence, hypermobility often explains what traditional medicine treats as separate problems. This conversation reframes hypermobility not as a rare or fringe diagnosis, but as a common, underrecognized driver of complex symptoms, affecting an estimated 20 percent of the population. Dr. Hartman walks listeners through how loose connective tissue impacts joints, organs, nerves, and the nervous system, creating ripple effects throughout the body. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, this episode encourages patients and clinicians alike to step back, connect the dots, and ask a critical question that is too often overlooked. Key Topics CoveredWhy connective tissue may be the “one ring” linking many chronic conditionsThe difference between generalized hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndromeHow hypermobility accelerates joint wear, arthritis, and chronic painThe connection between hypermobility and gut issues like IBS, dysbiosis, and food sensitivitiesWhy hypermobility is commonly associated with autoimmune diseaseThe role of mast cell activation and chemical sensitivitiesLinks between hypermobility, anxiety, nervous system activation, and panicWhy hypermobile individuals are far more likely to be neurodivergentHow heightened sensory awareness and intuition may relate to connective tissue and nervous system wiringWhy hypermobility is frequently missed, dismissed, or misdiagnosed in modern healthcare 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. Dr. Hartmans wrote UnCURABLE to help you take back control of your health and your hope. Visit the link below ⬇️ to get your copy and start your transformation today. Get the new book UnCURABLE

    8 min
  5. Just Because It’s Standard Doesn’t Mean It’s Right – The Turning Point That Changed Everything with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Stress | E111

    JAN 12

    Just Because It’s Standard Doesn’t Mean It’s Right – The Turning Point That Changed Everything with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Stress | E111

    What if blindly following “standard of care” is sometimes the very thing that stands in the way of real healing? In this segment of the UnCurable audiobook series, Dr. Aaron Hartman confronts one of the most dangerous myths in modern healthcare: the illusion that medicine is always right simply because it is “standard.” Through a deeply personal family experience, this episode explores what happens when rigid medical protocols collide with parental instinct, lived experience, and individualized care. What began as a recommendation for a feeding tube quickly revealed how easily systems can overlook nuance, ignore context, and punish families who ask questions. This reflection exposes the pressure parents face to comply, even when something feels wrong, and how saying no became a defining turning point in Anna’s healing journey. More broadly, it challenges listeners to reconsider blind obedience in healthcare and to reclaim their role as active participants in medical decision making. This segment reinforces a core UnCurable truth: healing often begins when curiosity replaces compliance and foundations are prioritized over convenience. Key Topics Covered The danger of unquestioned “standard of care” in complex casesWhy medicine has a long history of blind spots and evolving truthsThe feeding tube recommendation and the meaning behind “failure to thrive”How chewing and swallowing support brain development, speech, and motor milestonesThe emotional and systemic fallout of challenging a medical recommendationHow critical information, like condition specific growth charts, is often overlookedWhy families without medical training are especially vulnerable to pressureThe moment Dr. Aaron Hartman realized no one else would personalize Anna’s careThe shift from protocol driven medicine to individualized, root cause focused healingWhy foundations like nutrition, environment, movement, and support come firstThe importance of asking better questions and trusting informed instincts Therapies and Concepts Referenced Neuromuscular stimulation (NMS)Hyperbaric oxygen therapyNutrigenomics and SNP guided nutritional supportPersonalized medicine versus one size fits all careFoundational healing principles before advanced interventions 📖 About UnCurable UnCurable blends memoir and medicine, weaving personal family experience with decades of clinical insight. It challenges conventional models of chronic illness and empowers patients to pursue healing through personalized, root cause focused care. Discover the...

    45 min
  6. Generalized Hypermobility vs Ehlers-Danlos – The Shocking Difference That Explains Chronic Pain and Fatigue with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Inflammation | E110

    JAN 9

    Generalized Hypermobility vs Ehlers-Danlos – The Shocking Difference That Explains Chronic Pain and Fatigue with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Inflammation | E110

    What if the symptoms you’ve been chasing for years aren’t random at all, but signs of a common and misunderstood connective tissue trait most doctors never explain? In this episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman breaks down the often misunderstood difference between generalized hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). While EDS represents a severe and disabling connective tissue disorder, hypermobility itself is far more common and frequently overlooked in everyday medical care. Dr. Hartman explains why many people with hypermobility struggle with chronic pain, fatigue, neurological symptoms, gut issues, and recurrent infections, yet never receive a clear explanation for their symptoms. He also explores why hypermobility can be both a risk factor and, in some cases, a biological advantage, especially in athletics, emotional intelligence, and coordination. This episode offers practical education, prevention strategies, and early-intervention guidance for adults, parents, and clinicians seeking a deeper root-cause understanding of connective tissue health. 🔍 Key Topics Covered The difference between Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and generalized hypermobilityWhy EDS is rare, but hypermobility is far more commonHow the Beighton score is used and where it falls shortSecondary diagnostic features of EDS, including joint dislocations and tissue fragilityWhy hypermobility affects more than joints, including:Nervous system regulationEmotional processing and trauma sensitivityGut motility and digestionBlood flow and oxygen delivery to tissuesThe connection between hypermobility and:Chronic pain syndromesFatigueHeadachesMast cell activationTick-borne illness susceptibility, including Lyme diseaseWhy hypermobility can enhance athletic performance, coordination, and emotional intelligenceThe role of environment, including mold exposure, in worsening symptomsWhy early awareness matters more than late diagnosis About the Host Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD is the founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine and specializes in root-cause, systems-based care for complex and chronic conditions. His work focuses on the intersection of connective tissue health, nervous system regulation, nutrition, and environmental medicine. Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional

    10 min
  7. They Told Us It Was Incurable – The Moment That Changed Everything About Healing with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Trauma | E109

    JAN 5

    They Told Us It Was Incurable – The Moment That Changed Everything About Healing with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Trauma | E109

    What if the moment medicine calls something “incurable” is actually the moment real healing begins to be possible? In this segment, Dr. Aaron Hartman begins a new audiobook based podcast series by sharing a powerful excerpt from UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds. This deeply personal reflection introduces the life changing moment that reshaped his family, his faith, and ultimately his entire approach to medicine. Through the story of adopting their daughter Anna, Dr. Hartman invites listeners into an intimate journey that exposes the limitations of conventional medical thinking and challenges the idea of “incurable” diagnosis. What began as a foster care decision became a turning point that forced him to question rigid medical protocols and search for answers beyond standard care. This segment sets the emotional and philosophical foundation for the UnCurable series, offering hope, perspective, and a reminder that healing often begins when curiosity and individualized care replace resignation. Key Topics Covered The moment Dr. Hartman first met Anna and the severity of her early medical diagnosesHow early prognoses revealed critical blind spots within the healthcare systemThe role of parental intuition, faith, and advocacy in challenging medical limitationsWhy the word “incurable” often reflects system constraints rather than biological realityHow this experience transformed Dr. Hartman’s medical philosophyHistorical examples of medicine being proven wrong over timeThe shift toward functional, personalized, and root cause driven careThe importance of questioning dogma while respecting scienceWhy real healing requires looking beyond standardized protocolsA message of hope for patients who feel dismissed or out of options 📖 About UnCurable UnCurable blends memoir and medicine, weaving personal family experience with decades of clinical insight. It challenges conventional models of chronic illness and empowers patients to pursue healing through personalized, root-cause-focused care. The book chronicles how Dr. Aaron Hartman’s own daughter was labeled “incurable” and how that experience reshaped his entire approach to health, medicine, and healing. Amazon Discover the book here: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds on Amazon Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative &...

    25 min
  8. The Hidden Condition Behind Chronic Pain and Anxiety – Why Hypermobility Changes Everything with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Stress | E108

    JAN 2

    The Hidden Condition Behind Chronic Pain and Anxiety – Why Hypermobility Changes Everything with Dr. Aaron Hartman | Stress | E108

    What if the flexibility that once felt like a strength is actually a hidden driver of pain, gut issues, and nervous system overload later in life? In this episode of Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman takes a deep dive into hypermobility, a commonly overlooked condition where connective tissues like joints, ligaments, and fascia are unusually loose. While hypermobility can offer advantages such as enhanced athletic performance, faster reaction times, and heightened nervous system awareness, it can also contribute to joint instability, chronic pain, digestive issues, anxiety, and increased injury risk over time. Dr. Hartman explains why generalized hypermobility is far more common than most people realize and why it often goes undiagnosed as people age and become stiffer. He explores how connective tissue health influences nearly every system in the body, from digestion and hormones to the nervous system and musculoskeletal function. This episode introduces a holistic framework for understanding hypermobility and outlines practical nutritional, therapeutic, and lifestyle strategies to support connective tissue resilience and long-term health. Key Topics Covered What hypermobility is and how it differs from Ehlers-Danlos syndromeWhy hypermobility can act as both a performance advantage and a health vulnerabilityThe surprising prevalence of generalized hypermobility across children, college students, and adultsHow loose connective tissues increase nervous system activation, alertness, and anxietyLinks between hypermobility and gut issues like constipation, diarrhea, and fermentationWhy many hypermobile individuals become stiffer and more injury-prone with ageThe role of nutrition, especially vitamin C, trace minerals, and real food, in connective tissue strengthWhy hypermobility is often missed in conventional and integrative medicine trainingSubtle signs of connective tissue instability, including joint shifting, rib pain, and pregnancy-related complicationsTherapeutic approaches including fascia work, nutritional support, and targeted physical therapies About the Host Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD is the founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine and specializes in root-cause, systems-based care for complex and chronic conditions. His work focuses on the intersection of connective tissue health, nervous system regulation, nutrition, and environmental medicine. 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. Dr. Hartmans wrote UnCURABLE to help you take back control of your health and your hope. Visit the link...

    9 min
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4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

You were made for health—vibrant, thriving, and full of possibility. But navigating today’s broken healthcare system, endless misinformation, and confusion can feel overwhelming. On Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman cuts through the noise to deliver science-backed solutions that restore your health and reignite your hope. Join us each week for expert insights, practical tips, and inspiring conversations that empower you to harness your body’s incredible power to heal. Whether you're seeking clarity, direction, or just a trusted voice, this podcast is your roadmap to the vibrant life you were made for.

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