In this lecture, Dr. Dave Rakel explores the placebo effect—"the ability to stimulate self-healing without deception"—and reveals how perception, connection, and empathy are among the most powerful healing mechanisms available to practitioners.

Dr. Rakel unpacks the neuroscience of perception, showing how our conditioned minds create physical responses that determine health or disease. He shares groundbreaking research: optimists live six years longer than pessimists, stress perception correlates with fibromyalgia pain severity, and how we view food (guilt vs. celebration) affects cortisol and weight gain.

Through compelling studies, he demonstrates that therapeutic touch activates healing more effectively than pills, that clinician empathy measurably shortens the duration of the common cold and boosts immune markers (IL-8 and neutrophils), and that perceiving a caring connection can equal 8mg of morphine for pain relief.

This guest speaker Master Class is part of the Kharrazian Institute Functional Medicine Education Program.

To become a Certified Functional Medicine practitioner, visit https://kharrazianinstitute.com/⁠. Try our 7-day free trial, no credit card required.

0:00 - The Placebo Effect: Self-Healing Without Deception

8:20 - Perception Science: How Beliefs Create Physical Responses

16:15 - Stress Perception & Disease: The Cortisol Cascade

22:50 - Why SSRIs Barely Beat Placebo

26:35 - Psychedelic Placebo Study: 65% Had Spiritual Experiences

34:10 - Why Touch Beats Pills: Manual Therapy vs. Drugs

42:30 - The Clinician Effect: Empathy = 8mg Morphine

46:50 - Common Cold Study: Empathy Reduces Duration & Boosts Immunity

55:40 - Patient 406: The Cost of Disconnection

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/solving-the-puzzle-with-dr-datis-kharrazian.

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In this Practitioner Spotlight, Dr. Dave Boyton—a Cincinnati-based functional medicine specialist—shares how he transformed his practice by integrating neurological assessment with functional medicine. After his wife was misdiagnosed with multiple autoimmune conditions, Dr. Boynton dove deep into functional medicine and discovered what most practitioners miss: the neurological component.

Dr. Boyton reveals why hypoglycemia isn't just "getting hangry"—it's frontal lobe dysfunction that sabotages healing. He explains why most functional medicine exams are inadequate, how he turned his intake into a "show and tell" experience that builds patient confidence, and why cookie-cutter protocols fail chronically ill patients.

To become a Certified Functional Medicine practitioner, visit https://kharrazianinstitute.com/⁠. Try our 7-day free trial, no credit card required.

00:00 Functional Medicine Journey

05:46 "Chiropractic, Neurology, and Individualized Care"

10:00 Ambassadors of Hope in Healthcare

11:59 Tinnitus Neurology Exercises Explained

17:13 "Prioritizing Health and Wellness"

21:20 Passion Key for Functional Medicine

22:58 Evolving Functional Medicine Insights

26:36 "Functional Medicine Training Resources"

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/solving-the-puzzle-with-dr-datis-kharrazian.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our guest speaker, certified physician assistant Danielle Valoras explores breast implant illness (BII)—a clinical reality that remains widely misunderstood despite affecting millions of women. She unpacks why BII lacks an official diagnosis code, yet presents with a consistent constellation of symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, rashes, anxiety, and autoimmune-like conditions that are frequently misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or menopause.

Danielle emphasizes the need for practitioners to consider implantable devices as contributors to immune burden. She discusses pattern recognition, the role of explantation in recovery, and why normal lab work doesn't rule out BII.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, someone affected by breast implants, or curious about the intersection of implantable devices and chronic illness, this episode offers evidence-based insights you can use right away.

Join us as we explore the structural and immunological mechanisms driving breast implant illness, providing practitioners with evidence-based insights to support the millions of women affected worldwide. Register at https://pages.kharrazianinstitute.com/breast-implant-illness

For patient-oriented functional medicine courses, visit https://drknews.com/online-courses/⁠

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For practitioner functional medicine certification courses, visit https://kharrazianinstitute.com/⁠

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For Certified Functional Nutrition education for both practitioners and lay people, visit https://afnlm.com/⁠

00:00 Breast Implant Illness Symptoms Data

03:41 Breast Implants and Hidden Symptoms

07:10 "Understanding Breast Implant Illness"

13:00 Navigating Breast Implant Shame

16:04 Breast Implant Illness Awareness Growing

17:26 "Understanding Symptoms and Triggers"

20:55 Explantation for Improved Health

24:20 Health Advice: Consult First

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/solving-the-puzzle-with-dr-datis-kharrazian.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.