Episode 108: Pediatrics Reimagined: An Integrative Approach
Pediatrics is evolving and Dr. Ellie MacGregor is at the forefront of this change, integrating functional medicine and holistic wellness practices into child care. Alongside host Dr. Lara Salyer, they explore the critical role of the vagal nerve in children’s health, discussing its impact on conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADD.
After recognizing the limitations of conventional methods in addressing the root causes of health issues, Dr. Ellie transitioned from traditional pediatrics to an integrative approach.
Her relocation from California to North Carolina marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career, where she established a practice dedicated to providing holistic care. This care focuses on uncovering and treating underlying problems, which are often traced back to early life experiences.
Addressing broader challenges within the healthcare system, Dr. Ellie discusses physician burnout and the necessity of extending patient visit durations to ensure comprehensive care. The conversation also highlights the importance of play in child development and the recovery phase of the brain’s flow cycle, advocating for increased unstructured playtime.
This episode makes a compelling case for the integration of holistic health principles into medical education, suggesting that such an integration could bridge the gap between conventional and integrative medicine, mitigate misconceptions, and foster wellness among physicians.
About Dr. Ellie MacGregor, DO, FAAP:
Dr. Ellie MacGregor is an integrative/functional medicine pediatrician specializing in brain health. She is not just a pediatrician, she’s a yogi, celiac warrior and hiking enthusiast who shares her 750 square foot cottage with both her husband and three obnoxiously loud shepherd mixes. Check out her free guide to enhancing brain health via gut health to learn more about what she does.
In This Episode We're Talking About:
- Embracing a new approach to medicine is entirely feasible, freeing you from systems that no longer serve your needs.
- Providers have the opportunity to skillfully blend holistic and conventional health practices, eliminating tension and fear from the equation.
- By adopting a holistic perspective on brain health, we effortlessly integrate both conventional and holistic options, fostering harmony in treatment approaches.
Quotes:
- “I’m extremely passionate about treating ADHD, anxiety, and depression from a functional medicine perspective because of a few things. In functional integrative medicine, there’s so much that we can do for kids in those areas. And ranging from lifestyle to supplements to advanced diagnostic testing, we don’t always have to rush to medication necessarily or if your child is on medication, there may be a way to reduce those medications.” (06:05 | Dr. Ellie MacGregor)
- “I’m not disparaging sports at all, but it doesn’t give the opportunity for the brain to relax, be bored, or be creative as much as if you’re just kind of out in nature, digging in the dirt, playing in the sand, climbing a tree. So those are some really nice ways to go about kind of resetting the vagal nerve at a young age.” (11:06 | Dr. Ellie MacGregor)
- “There can be tension between holistic practitioners and conventional medicine and I think that may come from some sort of fear. That fear may come from a lack of understanding or lack of education around the modalities.” (25:09 | Dr. Ellie MacGregor)
- “We need to be able to get back to that route of actually healing patients by allotting the time that physicians need to do the work and also to recover from the work such that they can come back in their full capacity to do the work again as their best selves.” (28:02 | Dr. Ellie MacGregor)
Links for this Episode:
Connect with Dr. Ellie MacGregor, DO, FAAP:
Website: https://www.
Guide to Brain Health Through Gut Health: https://www.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
Facebook: Middle Path Integrative Pediatrics
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/
Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer:
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
Catalyst Kit: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/catalyst_kit
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
Thank You For Listening!
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About The Catalyst Host, Dr. Lara Salyer:
I worked as a family physician for 15 years until burnout changed the trajectory of my career. I realized I wanted to start a holistic functional medicine practice in my rural hometown and made it happen. In addition to practicing functional medicine, I now mentor practitioners who are looking to change their paths in healthcare by using what I refer to as the “Catalyst Roadmap”. I share each step of this framework with listeners so that they may apply it to their careers, relationships, personal goals, and projects.
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