Rethinking ADHD: Root Causes, Real Healing, and the Power of Functional Medicine

ADHD and other brain-based conditions such as depression, autism,
and even schizophrenia are increasingly understood as inflammatory
disorders of the brain—deeply rooted in the complex interplay
between genetics, environment, and lifestyle. Many individuals go
undiagnosed for years, internalizing harmful labels like “lazy” or
“difficult,” until the weight of unaddressed symptoms finally
becomes too much. But there is hope: Functional Medicine offers a
radically different approach by uncovering and addressing root
causes such as nutritional deficiencies, gut microbiome imbalances,
food sensitivities, toxin exposures, and lifestyle factors. Stories
of transformation emerge when these root drivers are
corrected—children once labeled disruptive begin to thrive, adults
regain focus and emotional balance, and families find relief. This
emerging paradigm offers not just symptom management but the
possibility of genuine healing through personalized, whole-body
care. In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. George
Papanicolaou and Dr. Jaquel Patterson, how ADHD and other mental
health challenges are often rooted in inflammation and imbalances
in the body—and how addressing diet, lifestyle, and root causes can
lead to real healing. Dr. Papanicolaou is a graduate of the
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is Board Certified
in Family Medicine from Abington Memorial Hospital. Over time as
the healthcare system made it harder for patients to receive
personal care, Dr. Papanicolaou decided a change was needed. He
began training in Functional Medicine through the Institute of
Functional Medicine. In 2015, he established Cornerstone Personal
Health—a practice dedicated entirely to Functional Medicine. In
August 2017, I invited Dr. Papanicolaou to join The UltraWellness
Center and we’ve been successfully helping people together ever
since. Dr. Jaquel Patterson is a nationally recognized naturopathic
physician, success coach, three-time Amazon bestselling author, and
Forbes contributor. She owns a successful medical practice,
Fairfield Family Health in Connecticut, and brings over 16 years of
clinical experience, specializing in Lyme disease, autoimmune
conditions, integrative psychiatry, and environmental medicine. A
sought-after speaker, Dr. Patterson has been featured in USA Today,
New York Magazine, and Forbes, and on CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. She’s
the past president of the American Association of Naturopathic
Physicians and currently serves on the board of the American
Academy of Environmental Medicine. Certified by the Institute for
Functional Medicine (IFM), she’s also completed a fellowship in
functional medicine with a focus on psychiatry and ADD/ADHD. In
addition to her naturopathic medical degree, Dr. Patterson holds an
MBA in Healthcare Management from Quinnipiac University and an
undergraduate degree from Cornell University. This episode is
brought to you by BIOptimizers. Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and
use code HYMAN10 to save 10%. Full-length episodes can be found
here:Why ADHD Is Not A Psychiatric Disorder Or Brain Disease What’s
Fueling Our Mental Health Crisis and How Can We Fix it? 7
Strategies To Address ADHD