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