The world of holistic healing, Chinese traditional medicine, and functional medicine is fascinating but often misunderstood. Many people don’t know where to find practitioners, who to trust, or whether these practices truly work. Dr. Michelle Iona, a doctor of acupuncture in Chinese herbal medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and experienced clinical herbalist has been on a personal journey with endometriosis since her teen years. Her journey shaped her approach to medicine, driving her to explore alternative and holistic healing methods. She emphasizes the importance of a patient-centric approach to healthcare, one that goes beyond treating symptoms and seeks the root causes of health imbalances. In this episode, Dr. Michelle talks to Jen about the importance of nutrition, her personal journey with endometriosis, and her approach to healing chronic illnesses.  Key Takeaways [01:44] - Dr. Michelle talks about her patient-centered approach. [03:06] - How Dr. Michelle learned about how nutrition affected her. [04:26] - Why wheat, barley, and oats weren’t good for Dr. Michelle. [07:07] - Dr. Michelle describes traditional Chinese and functional medicine. [08:43] - Why many Americans have celiac disease. [10:10] - Where to start when you want to heal yourself. [11:35] - How to tell if a functional medicine doctor is qualified. [12:17] - Dr. Michelle talks about the elimination diet and eliminating specific food. [18:39] - Five foods to stock up on this fall. [20:32] - Two common myths about acupuncture. [21:31] - Acupuncture and herbal services offered by Dr. Michelle. [22:54] - Why certain herbs may not be suitable for everyone. [23:23] - Dr. Michelle’s Wake-Up moment. Quotes [05:51] - “I always tell patients the less you eat out of a box, the healthier you will always be.” ~ Dr. Michelle Iona [11:07] - “I think it’s hard to self-diagnose, no matter how knowledgeable a person may be.” ~ Dr. Michelle Iona [18:32] - “A lot of people were brought up to believe that milk is good and we should be having it, but it doesn’t work for everybody.” ~ Dr. Michelle Iona Links  Dr. Michelle Iona LinkedIn Dr. Michelle Iona Instagram Healing Points Acupuncture  The Institue for Functional Medicine  Connect with our host Jen on Instagram Jen on Facebook Wake Up and Read the Labels! Schedule a 15 Min Breakthrough Chat with a WURL Food Coach! Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts