Third Opinion MD

In season 3 finale (Episodes 8 and 9), Ramey reflects back on her journey to form her unique Health Strategy.She now understands health in a whole new way. The key ingredient is noticing.Going Over Ramey's Health Strategy In Episode 9, Ramey completes her Health Strategy consult, and reflects on all the components that inform her health now and in the future. She understands the power and value she brings to her health through balancing lifestyle, relationships, and nutrition.Ramey gains confidence on how to tap into her best medicine.She draws from what she needs, whether it's Western or Eastern medicine, and she plans to use more self-care methods.Season 3 is Dedicated to Christina Stemmler, MDSeason 3 is a narrative that was born from the inspiration that my mother started. She was also the number one fan who supported me to think outside the healthcare box and ask questions.Christina was the pioneer who offered new ideas about healthcare before people were ready to hear them. But I think you're ready to hear them now.Health Strategy at Third Opinion MD is about manifesting a quiet revolution in healthcare. I'm continuing a family legacy to spark a wave of change in the way we practice medicine, how you can care for yourself, and how you can navigate the healthcare system. It's about searching inward for your strength, discovering your innate ability to heal, and expanding the window to be in charge of your health again. So, here's to my mom. Episodes 8 and 9 were published on the 15-year anniversary of her death, but she will live on with what we do together.Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3My client, Ramey, reached a point where she wanted to go deeper than that with the Health Strategy Consult program. Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with Ramey on how to form a unique health strategy.ResourcesThank you for Subscribing/Following the podcast and leaving a review! It means the world to this independent podcast host and producer. Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletterFollow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/Book a Complimentary consult meeting with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contact

Imagine a healthcare system where you actually matter. Not just the symptom you walk in with, but who you are as a person, the struggles you face, your family legacy, your family secrets. Imagine all of these things matter. In the season 3 finale, Episodes 8 and 9 reveal Ramey's layers of family history in the context of relationships and identity. By looking backward, Ramey moves forward with the knowledge and confidence to form her own Health Strategy.The GenogramIn Episode 8, Ramey takes a deeper dive on how people and events influenced her life experience and identity. No one lives in a vacuum. Family diseases, events and relationships contribute to your emotional and physical states of health. The word, Genogram, is just a fancy term for a family tree that maps out who you belong to and some basic patterns of these relationships. Genograms include biological and legal members of a family, but they can also include pets, friends, and other relationships. They reveal clues about family secrets and mythology, since families usually modify what is painful or embarrassing in their history.You draw from your point of view as the key person at the center of the map, going back at least two generations and forward to your children and grandchildren.I use genograms with my clients as a building block to fully know who they are in their environment. With context, there is meaning.With reflection, there is growth and potential for healing.Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3My client, Ramey, reached a point where she wanted to go deeper than that with the Health Strategy Consult program. Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with Ramey on how to form a unique health strategy.ResourcesThank you for Subscribing/Following the podcast and leaving a review! It means the world to this independent podcast host and producer. Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletterFollow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/Book a Complimentary consult meeting with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contactReferencesMcGoldrick, M. (2020). Genograms: Assessment and Treatment (4th edition). W. W. Norton & Company.Launer, J. (2022). Why Doctors Should Draw Genograms—Including Their Own. In Reflective Practice in Medicine and Multi-Professional Healthcare. CRC Press.

Sometimes good medicine is so simple that people don't even try it. In Episode 7, Ramey is prepared to practice a powerful self-care tool for emotional balance called EFT. When you learn to become a systems thinker, becoming healthier is not only possible, you believe in yourself again.Be sure to also listen to Episode 6 on Ramey's preparation for this transformative tapping experience.Ramey Discovers the Power Within Ramey has years of experience in therapy, as a teacher, and now working in the healthcare system. She reached a place in her life when she was ready to develop her Health Strategy, including a cultivation of mental and emotional well-being.After her first experience with a tapping technique called, EFT, Ramey said:“I just feel like this is just more immediate and just something I can immediately take in. And it's not a pill and it's not something that's going to have some side effect. It's for me, and it's also made by me… I'm part of it too.”Move Beyond the Traditional Mental Healthcare “Hamster Wheel”My client, Ramey, as she states it best, wants to avoid the “hamster wheel” of “therapy, pills, therapy, pills.”There's so much more to mental health treatment than just medications and therapy. There are so many amazing and dedicated people in the mental health field, but they can only treat so many people at a time. The healthcare system is fragmented and rewards specialists over prevention and self-care. The best person to get off the hamster wheel between meds and therapy is You.Based on the current healthcare system, it might seem normal that trauma is permanent, that everyone has to suffer if they've had trauma, or that it takes years of therapy and medications to relieve the suffering. But seeing and hearing are not always believing. You have the freedom to take care of your health according to what's best for you. It's time to build back the resilience and the strengths in your system. Your body, mind and spirit have powerful tools to do that.And one of the ways to access these tools is through tapping. Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3My client, Ramey, reached a point where she wanted to dig deeper to find more health solutions through the Health Strategy Consult program at Third Opinion MD. Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with Ramey on how to form a unique Health Strategy.ResourcesPlease Subscribe/Follow Third Opinion MD podcast and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts! It will mean the world to this independent podcaster!Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletterFollow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/Book a Complimentary consult meeting with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contact

In episodes 6 and 7, Ramey discovers a self-care technique for tapping acupuncture points to relieve negative emotions.One of the most studied methods is called EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT is an emerging, research-based example of how Eastern medicine bridges beautifully with Western psychology.Listen to how Ramey prepares for her first tapping experience.Mental Healthcare in America Could Use a Healthy Dose of Chinese Medicine Most mental health treatment in America includes prescription medicine and psychotherapy. But results in the last century show that the biomedical healthcare system, alone, can't fully manage America's mental health needs. Since the pandemic, the number of people suffering from emotional and mental anguish is staggering. More than 1 in 5 adults in the United States live with a mental illness.[1] Just imagine, in the wake of modern life and current events, how many people live with a negative emotion like anger, sadness, anxiety or fear. The numbers are likely much higher! You are fortunate to be in charge of your own health and have the power to add self-care skills to your life.The challenge lies in how to choose what's best for you. You can go to therapy to treat your negative emotions. You can also combine psychotherapy with prescription medication. And if this combination works for you, that's wonderful! But there are 4 reasons why these two options might not work for everyone: Not Enough Healthcare PractitionersPoor Access to CareTreatments are Not Unique to YouToo Much of the Same Thing Leads to Overtreatment The ultimate goal is to minimize your need to see a doctor. One technique that can help reduce your emotional burden is a self-care method called EFT. What is EFT? Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), is also known as tapping. It's a rapid and simple technique that involves tuning into an intensely stressful thought while tapping acupuncture points in a sequence. EFT combines the effects of stimulating acupoints with Western cognitive behavioral therapy, desensitizing techniques, and imagined or actual exposure therapy. The results, if EFT is correctly applied, lead to long-lasting or permanent relief from negative emotions connected with a thought or situation. But how is it possible for a simple method to help with depression, anxiety, addiction, and phobia? Don't complex problems require complex solutions? Listen to how my client, Ramey, discovers EFT and shares her experience in Season 3, Episodes 6 and 7. Consider Ramey's health story as a way to witness how to expand your thinking about mental health from mental disorders being a problem of the mind to a more systematic approach to achieve emotional balance. Never forget that the potential and simplicity of healing lies within you. A Few Words of Caution EFT is not meant to replace your mental health care like therapy or medication, but it can enhance and potentially liberate your dependence on them.Third Opinion MD values education, and does not take the place of clinical decision-making by healthcare providers. Please consult with your doctor for your health issues.Do not learn EFT without supervision and guidance by a trained individual in this technique. Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3 Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with my client, Ramey, on how to form a unique...

In episode 5, Ramey starts her six-week Health Strategy program, and she's ready to work on her wellness unlike any health visit she's had before. It starts with the skills to become a systems thinker. This mindset doesn't just expand outside the box. Embracing the best of traditional and nontraditional medical models is both an art and skill you need to navigate today's fragmented healthcare systems.How Did We Get Here?To understand your current state of health, you need to look back in time to the root causes. Roots are easier to find in the earth when you have the right tools to dig for them and know enough about the plant to avoid causing harm. You wouldn't think to treat the leaves to nurture a tree back to health. Why, then, would you just focus on your symptoms?The answer is in the culture we live in. Symptoms matter more than the root causes of illness. The healthcare system in the United States is failing you by remaining stagnant and holding tight to their biomedical model as the dominant narrative – specialist-driven care, mostly time-limited appointments, focusing on the symptoms. This a big reason why you can't afford to fail yourself. Transcending ParadigmsRight now, a lot of healthcare practitioners are siloed in their own specialties, both on the Western and Eastern medicine side. Most don't communicate with each other, and that still leaves you in the passive role. That really didn't sit well with me as a second-generation physician with Board certification in traditional Family Medicine and in Medical Acupuncture. To truly change a system in the most profound way, you must transcend medical systems in order to gain the most from them.Blended medicine is good medicine. And I believe you deserve to have the best that multiple medical systems can offer. The dominant medical system won't serve it to you. You need good strategy to access what you need.Systems Thinking Improves Your Health That's why I created the Health Strategy Consult program. It's almost like a boot camp to be the CEO of your health now and in the future. Join Ramey and me in Episode 5 to start the journey to become a systems thinker. It's never too late to get to a place of knowledge and power for your health. You can have all the best tools, but you need a good strategy to know which tools work best for you. Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3My client, Ramey, reached a point where she wanted to dig deeper to find more health solutions through the Health Strategy Consult program. Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with Ramey on how to form a unique Health Strategy.ResourcesThank you for Subscribing/Following Third Opinion MD podcast and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts!Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletterFollow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/Book a Complimentary consult meeting with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contact

In Episode 4, Ramey is at a crossroads with her health, and she is ready to learn about the Health Strategy program at Third Opinion MD. What's motivating Ramey to take this giant step now more than before? Listen to our conversation on how you can achieve so much more when you move beyond a linear and passive way to address your health.The Bird's Eye ViewPart of forming a Health Strategy involves taking a step back to get the broad view of what's going on with you, health wise, and exploring the best options based on your ability and the existing options in the system. But there are two major issues with healthcare today. One you already know about is that the healthcare system is fractured, and it still operates with competing and potentially wrong goals for you individually. This situation can't be “fixed” by one person or organization. Unfortunately, most healthcare organizations still operate in a linear and restricted way. The other healthcare “elephant in the room” is you. In order for any system to function well, it has to serve the lowest denominator. But, in order for you to be served well by the system, you must serve yourself first. Remember, you are a system, too! If you don't serve the parts of you best – your organs, your emotions, your unique window to remain balanced – the larger systems like insurance, clinics, and pharma can't help you best. The Path Forward In order to improve the healthcare system, it must always start with your self-cultivation. I'm calling on you to start listening, ask questions, and take action to be in charge of your health again. No one else will do this for you. This doesn't mean abandoning the healthcare system and going out on your own. The more you learn health strategy, the more you will be empowered and knowledgeable to benefit from the existing system as well as becoming self-reliant. Healthy individuals build healthier communities. And healthier communities help to heal the world around you. Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3 My client, Ramey, took one of my classes to learn about eye health qigong, and she reached a point where she wanted to go deeper than that with the Health Strategy Consult program. Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with Ramey on how to form a unique health strategy. Resources Thank you for Subscribing/Following the podcast and leaving a review! It means the world to this independent podcast host and producer. Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletter Follow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/ Book a Complimentary consult meeting with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contact

In Episode 3, my client, Ramey, shares how she feels after learning a qigong form in class for the first time. And there's a very special surprise in the second half of the episode where we go over how Ramey responds to practicing qigong for the last two months. I also reflect on my health journey with qigong because, in community, we can achieve much more than we can alone. The Power of Self CultivationThe healing path is usually not a straight line, but a cycle of ups and downs. I like to call it the “yin and yang” of what it means to be healthy. Empowerment to care for yourself doesn't just come from the times you're healthy, but also when you're sick. The first step is about listening to what your inner doctor is telling you.It's about noticing what takes place in your healthy and unhealthy states without judgment. The key ingredients include making time for stillness, adaptation, and kindness towards you.I'm here to share my clinical and personal health experience and wisdom. There are many lifestyle methods you can learn to be in charge of your health again. Chinese medicine is not the only way to achieve health, but it's what I know best as a Qigong Master Certified instructor, Acupuncturist and Western Family Physician. This ancient and timeless technique belongs in modern mainstream medicine.Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3My client, Ramey, took one of my classes to learn about eye health qigong, and she reached a point where she wanted to dig deeper through my Health Strategy Consult program. Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with my client, Ramey, on how to form a unique health strategy.Join Ramey and me in episode 3 to learn about the power and wisdom that qigong can offer you for your health journey. ResourcesAre you interested in learning qigong? Stay informed when classes are available in person and online! Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on classes, workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletterThank you for Subscribing/Following the podcast and leaving a review! It means the world to this independent podcast host and producer. Follow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/Book a Complimentary consult meeting with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contact

When is it the best time to work on your health? When you have more time? After you get sick? Welcome to modern life! But real preventive medicine always starts and ends with YOU. And the best time to address your health is NOW. Listen to this episode on how the practice of qigong puts you back in charge of your health.Self-Care is EverythingJust look at what the ancient physicians wrote over two thousand years ago about their ancestors:“In the past, … [t]hey understood the principle of balance as represented by the transformations of the energies of the universe [Nature]. They formulated exercises to promote energy flow to harmonize themselves with the universe. They ate a balanced diet at regular times, arose and retired at regular hours, avoided overstressing their bodies and minds, and refrained from overindulgence of all kinds.” (translated by Maoshing Ni)Energy flow (the smooth circulation of qi) is the key to a long and healthy life. And those “exercises to promote energy flow” are collectively called qigong (pronounced chee-gong.) Qigong is a branch of Chinese medicine that offers tremendous opportunity to improve your health and, perhaps, help improve the healthcare system itself. Follow Ramey's Health Journey in Season 3My client, Ramey, took one of my classes to learn about eye health qigong, and she reached a point where she wanted to go deeper than that with the Health Strategy Consult program. Season 3 is about pulling the curtain back so you can learn the process with Ramey on how to form a unique health strategy.Join my client, Ramey, in episode 2 to learn about the power and wisdom that qigong has to offer in your health journey. ResourcesThank you for Subscribing/Following the podcast and leaving a review! It means the world to this independent podcast host and producer. Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletterFollow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/Book a Complimentary consult meeting with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contactReferencesNi, M. (1995). The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary(Revised ed. edition). Shambhala.The definition of qi mentioned in the podcast comes from esteemed scholar, Ed Neal, who wrote that all different types of qi “can be understood as being different manifestations of the primary fabric of space/time.” Neal, E. (2012). Introduction to Neijing Classical Acupuncture Part I: History and Basic Principles.pdf. Journal of Chinese Medicine, 100. https://neijingstudies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/JCM-Article-1.pdf

The power of healing is in the “Why.” In a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes, you'll get to join Ramey on a unique health journey. Ramey is a healthcare worker for eye issues. But she's also someone who's had eye problems for most of her life. She has that special insight from both sides of the healthcare fence. In this episode, she's taking my class on self-care and prevention for the eyes. Now Ramey wants to become a client and dig deeper. Through my Health Strategy Consult program, she learns to better manage her health by moving beyond the diagnosis and into why and how she developed her conditions.Explore Beyond What You SeeIt starts with understanding health differently by stepping outside the healthcare expectations set for you. Witness how one person starts to reset her entire health perspective, expands possibilities, and restores hope on what it means to be healthy.The Health Strategy Consult at Third Opinion MD is an opportunity for you to share with me everything that contributes to the state of your health. To form your own Health Strategy, you must first open your eyes and your heart to the possibilities.It's not just about your diagnosis or about the lab tests that you're getting. So many things are involved in understanding your health story: your emotions, family upbringing, environment, nutrition then and now, and your lifestyle.Your symptoms are not the problem, but they are messages from you about potential root causes. Good detective work requires collecting all the clues and facts into a meaningful and effective strategy. The current healthcare systems are not doing this. Hospitals, clinics, insurance and pharmaceutical companies tend to act in their own best interests, not yours.Blended medicine, from East and West, is good medicine and helps you form your own Third Opinion.Join Ramey in episode 13 to learn why Chinese medicine is one of the most elegant and accurate medical systems to put you back in charge again.What You'll LearnThe definition of a complex system, and how it applies to you and your healthHow Chinese medicine is an elegant example of an efficient medical systemWhy learning fundamental Chinese theories are so important to gain more control over your healthStart learning about two of the most important theories in Chinese medicine: Yin Yang theory and 5-element theoryHow to look at eye conditions as more preventable than inevitableResourcesDon't forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!Sign up for the Third Opinion MD Newsletter to stay up to date on workshops, podcast news and more: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/newsletterFollow Third Opinion MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/Book a Complimentary Health Strategy consult with Barbara de la Torre: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contact

Creating a Health StrategyIn Season three, all episodes will follow one guest's journey to understand and achieve her best health potential. Each episode is recorded in a real-time sequence over the course of a 6-week consult to show how you can address your health in a more creative and individualized way.My client, Ramey, graciously offered to share her time and health story with you as we work together on her Health Strategy from start to finish.This approach doesn't exist in current mainstream healthcare, which is largely about gathering the information they want and not what you truly need.Become a Systems ThinkerI founded Third Opinion MD so I can work with people who reach a health crossroad or want to expand their skills at self-care and navigating the healthcare system. They enroll in my Health Strategy program to get to a place of empowerment, wisdom, and hope. And you can get there, too. It can be frustrating if you depend only on traditional healthcare's linear approach, which tends to be one size fits all. But you can achieve greater success by becoming a systems thinker.The Impact on Your Third OpinionWhat is systems thinking for your health? It means taking a step back to look at the big picture in your life. It's not as simple as "eat this or do that." It's really about trying to understand all of you with a comprehensive approach. This includes your medical history, family patterns and relationships, innate and acquired patterns of health and disease, your lifestyle and your environment.Join me on Tuesdays, starting September 5, 2023, to explore Ramey's journey through the Health Strategy Consult from start to finish. This approach to health is what healthcare should be and how you can achieve your healing potential.ResourcesClick here to learn more and to schedule a Complimentary Consultation: https://www.ThirdOpinionMD.org/contact

Self-care and lifestyle medicine are undervalued in the current healthcare systems. But I believe that you can redesign these systems that are not working for you by forming your own third opinion. When you learn how to think critically about the systems of healthcare and how to navigate through them, you now have the power to take care of yourself and be in charge of your healthcare journey. In this episode, I review the first two seasons, which helps you start the process to develop your health strategy. How I Started Third Opinion MD PodcastThe idea for Third Opinion MD started in 2020 when I decided to leave corporate medicine. I wanted to speak out on matters in healthcare that needed reform. As an employed physician, however, I had little impact despite my efforts that included working in a leadership role. I wanted to find ways to inspire change, start conversations, and promote curiosity about achieving and maintaining health according to your design. Third Opinion MD podcast was my first opportunity to speak directly to you. With almost three million podcasts out there, it's tempting to think that making a podcast is easy. Some podcasts come with big sponsors, celebrities and teams to distribute episodes weekly and sometimes daily. When I decided to produce a podcast, I was and remain determined to produce quality content and sound. I spent time learning the tricks of the trade, including finding guests, interviewing, recording, editing, and publishing. Is this a lot of work? Yes! Has it been worth the effort? Absolutely! Podcasting for me, like other art I've created in the past, is a labor of love. Even if I make a difference in just one person's life from an episode, that matters deeply to me. But I intend to share my messages of hope with as many people who want to listen. Stay tuned for season 3 this Fall! Be sure to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast player. Be well, Barbara   Here are the episodes from Seasons 1 and 2: Episode 1: https://thirdopinionmd.org/an-introduction-to-third-opinion-md/ (An Introduction to Third Opinion MD: Time to Take the Doctor Out of the Equation and Put You in Charge of Your Health) Episode 2: https://thirdopinionmd.org/thinking-outside-the-healthcare-box-systems-theory-discussion-with-guest-dr-shelly-smith-acuna-part-1/ (Thinking Outside the Healthcare Box: Systems Theory Discussion with Guest Dr Shelly Smith-Acuña – Part 1) Episode 3: https://thirdopinionmd.org/thinking-outside-the-healthcare-box-systems-theory-discussion-with-guest-dr-shelly-smith-acuna-part-2/ (Thinking Outside the Healthcare Box: Systems Theory Discussion with Guest Dr Shelly Smith-Acuña – Part 2) Episode 4: https://thirdopinionmd.org/introduction-to-qigong-master-liu-he/ (Making Health Simple: An introduction to Qigong with Guest Master Liu He) Episode 5: https://thirdopinionmd.org/the-scavenger-hunt-of-your-familys-historical-past-to-find-your-inner-doctor/ (The Scavenger Hunt of Your Family's Historical Past to Find Your Inner Doctor) Bonus Episode: https://thirdopinionmd.org/inner-smile-meditation/ (Inner Smile Meditation: A Bonus Guided Qigong Meditation) Season 2 Trailer: https://thirdopinionmd.org/season-2-trailer/ (Imagining Integrative Healthcare, From the Inside Out (Season 2 Trailer)) Episode 6: https://thirdopinionmd.org/portland-people-experience-with-doctors-healthcare/ (Taking to the Streets of Portland to Ask People About Their Experience with Doctors and Healthcare) Episode 7: https://thirdopinionmd.org/how-do-the-doctors-of-tomorrow-train-in-the-us-today-behind-the-scenes-of-integrative-medical-education-with-alisha-harrington/ (How Do the Doctors of Tomorrow Train in the US Today? Behind the Scenes of Integrative Medical Education with Alisha Harrington) Episode...

The elegant language of Chinese medicine starts with Yin Yang. Don't let the Taiji (Yin Yang) symbol deceive you into thinking it's only black and white. Yin Yang dates back to ancient times, and it still offers solutions for the world we live in now. It's a significant foundation for Chinese medicine. In this episode, you will learn the major principles of yin yang and how it informs your health in the modern world. Restore Rhythm and Connect Through Language:We are all little ecosystems inseparable from where and how we live. We can refuse to learn the patterns or we can learn to live in rhythm again. In the world of qigong and Taoist philosophy, one part of understanding the universal order, or “The Way,” is to discover nature's rhythm, abide by it, and live in accordance with its patterns. By doing so, you become healthier, more intuitive and creative. The patterns actually stay the same. It is up to you to rediscover these patterns by changing and adapting to your environment.  Language also holds the key to healthier living. Too often, trying to discuss your health in the healthcare system gets lost in translation. Yin Yang theory is one of the languages spoken in the field of Chinese medicine, which is sometimes misunderstood or dismissed for lack of knowledge of the foundational principles. Yin Yang analyzes the general nature of something while taking into account the constant tendency to change.  The Impacts on Your Third Opinion:It's just as important to speak the language of your health as easily as you speak your native tongue. You might think it's too hard to learn a new language, a waste of time, or that someone will translate it for you. Don't let this mindset control your health, too! Learning the language of your health can help you live to your greatest potential. Yin Yang is one helpful way to put your health in perspective. There is an inseparable relationship between two parts of a whole. One part of your body cannot be well unless the other part is thriving. This is why you have to understand the big picture, and not just your illnesses as separate conditions on a list. The mind, body and spirit are connected to define your state of health. In this episode, I discuss: The relationship between rhythm and health Understanding language of Chinese medicine, starting with Yin Yang Introducing yin yang theory and how it applies to your health Covering the four yin yang principles, which include: Opposition Interdependence mutual consumption intertransformation  States of health imbalance related to yin yang theory Bonus interview with qigong master, Master Liu He, on the definition of yin and yang (Don't miss the first interview in episode 4) Recap from the interview with acupuncturist and educator, Alaine Duncan on yin yang and the approach to trauma (full interview in episode 9) Resources:Speaker Opportunities: If you are looking for a speaker at your next meeting or event, click https://www.coachaccountable.com/offering/PfTWJZXwB77X4ZwV9zq3org1hsFt6kS (here) to send requests and schedule a call. Follow me on Instagram to receive updates on podcast episodes and more! https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/ (#thirdopinionmd) Find out more about the https://thirdopinionmd.org/consults/ (Health Strategy Consult) Schedule a https://thirdopinionmd.org/contact/ (complimentary call) with Barbara to clarify your unique health needs for a 1:1 Health Strategy Consult Hill, Sandra. Chinese Medicine from the Classics., 2014. For more information on Yin-Yang principles, go to the Third opinion MD blog post for this topic: https://thirdopinionmd.org/how-the-yin-and-yang-principles-apply-to-your-health/ (How the Yin and Yang Principles Apply to Your Health). Please Rate and Review Third Opinion MD on your favorite podcast player !

A 15-minute appointment with the doctor rarely allows you to discover the root behind the decisions you make with your health unless you are prepared. This is why I approach clients with a thorough curiosity about who they are, who they were, and who they wish to be in order to live a healthy and purposeful life. Strategy goes beyond the symptoms and diseases. It relieves the fear and stress that come with your health going out of balance. In this episode, I have the opportunity to sit with one of my clients to really talk through how we work on a Health Strategy Consult.  My guest today is Arlene, and she gave permission to talk about her health and about her experience in developing a Health Strategy to navigate the healthcare system effectively and become the confident leader of her health journey.    Getting to the Root of Keeping the Doctor AwayArlene is 75-years old, and came to see me at a crossroads. Before Arlene started working with me, she struggled to communicate with medical professionals. She felt dismissed, and really hoped to have a collaborative experience. She was motivated to make changes, and was eager to learn about her health. But she was limited by her distrust and fear of the medical system, and she was not familiar with how the healthcare system worked.  Arlene prefers to “go natural” with her medical care, but understands that traditional care is sometimes necessary. She has had life-long anxiety and fear around going to the doctor because of her childhood upbringing, experience with medical errors, side effects from medications, and how doctors treated her when she expressed interest in alternatives to taking pills. Listen to Episode 10 to discover how Arlene develops a Health Strategy to understand and take charge of her health.  The Impacts on Your Third OpinionHealthcare operates, to a large extent, as a passive-aggressive system. The patient is trained to be passive, and the natural reaction of the medical system is to be aggressive in order to reach health goals. The medical marketplace adopted this model over a century ago. This system of care isn't sustainable, and it's actually really bad for your health. In order to break free from the passive role, you can train your own natural leader and inner doctor. It takes a strategy, or a plan of action. You are in a perfect position to learn this strategy because you know yourself best. Getting sick does not have to be your path or destiny. You have options to choose where and how to reach and maintain your health. Like any team sport or battle plan, a captain or general unites and takes action. Why would you choose anyone else to lead the way? ResourcesFollow me on Instagram to receive updates on podcast episodes and more! https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/ (#thirdopinionmd) Speaker Opportunities: If you are looking for a speaker at your next meeting or event, click https://www.coachaccountable.com/offering/PfTWJZXwB77X4ZwV9zq3org1hsFt6kS (here) to send requests and schedule a call.  Schedule a https://thirdopinionmd.org/contact/ (complimentary call) with Barbara to clarify your unique health needs for a 1:1 Health Strategy Consult Find out more about the Health Strategy Consult: Third Opinion MD website

When a word like trauma is used frequently in society and in the media, we think we know what it means. But, when we apply more than one medical model to understand trauma, it's an opportunity to go “back to the drawing board” to understand and treat trauma more compassionately and effectively. As we emerge from the pandemic's toll of loss and isolation, a growing mental health crisis surrounds us. The status quo for treating mental illness is no longer sustainable. This crisis is the best time for reflection and integrative approaches to healing. In this episode, I sit down with my guest, Alaine Duncan, to discuss her innovative and integrative approach to understand and treat complex trauma. Alaine Duncan is a licensed acupuncturist, a Somatic Experiencing practitioner, and a very gifted educator. She has a unique approach to acupuncture that integrates modern understandings of the neurobiology of traumatic stress with ancient healing principles from Chinese medicine. She co-authored the book, The Tao of Trauma: A Practitioner's Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory in Trauma Treatment. Chinese and Western medicine operate from different foundations, but they are compatible with each other to give the best possible outcomes for your health. The journey to understand Chinese medicine starts with an introduction to two major principles called Yin-Yang theory and Five-Element theory. Alaine Duncan and I discuss these two principles in this episode as well as the influence of Taoist philosophy on Chinese medicine's approach to health.  The Impacts on Your Third OpinionThere is an inseparable relationship between two parts of a whole. One part of your body cannot be well unless the other part is thriving. This is why you have to understand the big picture, and not just your illnesses as separate conditions on a list. The mind, body and spirit are connected to define your state of health, which is why mental illness should be treated in the context of the whole person. In this episode, Alaine Duncan and I discuss: Acupuncture's core value in restoring essential regulation in the body that becomes dysregulated from disease The introduction of Chinese medicine principles of Yin-Yang and Five-Element theories Taoist philosophy and how it pertains to the Chinese medicine principles Polyvagal theory and the role of the autonomic nervous system in responding to a perceived threat, which includes Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system (dorsal and ventral vagus nerve) The definition of complex trauma, sympathetic arousal and parasympathetic collapse The zone of resiliency and regulation that all people have and the zone that healthy people operate within The five steps to the self-protective stress response and how any of these steps can be thwarted from completion with experiencing complex trauma The role of epigenetics in creating transgenerational trauma and re-establishing resilience and growth in future generations  ResourcesFollow Third Opinion MD on Instagram to receive updates on podcast episodes and more!  https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/ (#thirdopinionmd) https://bookshop.org/a/81739/9781623172220 (The Tao of Trauma: A Practitioner's Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Treatment), by Alaine D. Duncan with Kathy l. Kain, Berkley: North Atlantic Books, 2019. You can purchase through this link (supports independent book stores) or anywhere you choose to shop online. Review and Join Alaine Duncan's Newsletter: https://integrativehealingworks.net/ (News & Views on acupuncture and integrative medicine, bridging worlds for trauma survivors). Linear and Circular thinking explained: Western Medicine's philosophical approach is partly influenced by Aristotle's concept of noncontradiction. An example would be how the concepts of A (presence) and non-A (absence) cannot exist at the same time. This differs from the...

In this episode, I turn to history to find out why and how selective types of healthcare become mainstream. Do you ever wonder how some medicines are acceptable and other medicines are alternative or fringe? Who made these decisions and how did we get here? What does this have to do with your access to good healthcare and your ability to care for yourself? Everything. What Makes Medicine Mainstream?There's plenty of health fraud to go around since humans first tried to heal other people. In fact, health fraud was hard to manage even before the internet. Now that we live with more information than anyone could ever digest in a lifetime, it's much harder to know what is truly good for us. Starting with the industrial revolution, healthcare converted to a commodity. Towns and cities grew larger and when the care of the sick changed from families (the home) to professionals and institutions. Several individuals and companies tried to sell “snake oil” remedies and cures. Medical care needed to be standardized to a large extent for public safety and to make sure a drug or a nondrug treatment worked. But, casting a wide net to fight health fraud potentially limited access to good medical care that was not labeled as mainstream medicine. My guest and historian, Dr. Eric Boyle, shares his research on the history of trying to control health fraud, also known as quack medicine. The title of his book is Quack Medicine: A History of Combating Health Fraud in Twentieth-Century America. He reviews the attempts to eliminate health fraud while exposing the strengths and weaknesses of managing healthcare in the medical marketplace. I confess that I first judged this book by its cover. I grew up in a household with an integrative doctor who practiced both traditional and nontraditional medicine. I heard some doctors, who never studied Chinese medicine, judge this type of medicine as quackery. I also trained in two models of medicine to be a doctor, and one model was acupuncture. But Dr. Boyle's research opened my eyes to how we are influenced to judge medical models that are not mainstream like acupuncture, osteopathy, naturopathy, and chiropractic medicine. He said, “I've always thought of myself as a little bit of a medical agnostic…I'm always fascinated by the way that people's world views unavoidably, in ways that people don't really understand, end up shaping their approach to medicine and how they think about medicine.” https://thirdopinionmd.org/combating-health-fraud-in-america-why-and-how-the-boundaries-of-orthodox-and-unorthodox-medicine-were-established-with-guest-historian-dr-eric-boyle/ (Read the Full Show Notes and Transcript on my Website) In this episode, Dr Eric Boyle and I discuss: definition of quack medicine, or health fraud how boundaries between orthodox and unorthodox medicine were established reasons for sectarian (nontraditional) medical groups forming in the 1820s as a response to “heroic” medicine combative relationships between different medical groups like traditional physicians, osteopaths, chiropractors, naturopaths anti-quackery operation launched by the American Medical Association and the reasons for their efforts (protect the public, political and economic gains) self-reliance for one's health and how it's changed over time the challenges in combating quackery in the twentieth century ResourcesFor more information on the topic of quackery in 20th-century American healthcare, read: https://bookshop.org/a/81739/9780313385674 (Quack Medicine: A History of Combating Health Fraud in Twentieth-Century America) by Eric Boyle Follow on Instagram to receive updates on podcast episodes and more! https://www.instagram.com/thirdopinionmd/ (#thirdopinionmd)

This marks the beginning of season 2 where I explore how to make integrative medicine possible in our healthcare system from the inside out. In this episode, I sit down with my guest, Alisha Harrington, to talk about how doctors are trained today, how we combined two models of medicine in our training to deliver whole-person care, and how we imagine changing medical education to create the integrative physicians of tomorrow. Alisha and I are each trained in Chinese and Western medicine, but we had to gather our training in different ways. Alisha is currently a fourth-year medical student at Western University COMP Northwest, an osteopathic school in Oregon. She is training to become a board-certified family physician after practicing as a licensed acupuncturist for nine years. I, on the other hand, went to medical school and residency, first, to become a family doctor, and then trained in Chinese medicine to become board certified in both fields.  Rethinking Medical Education  Imagine a healthcare world where you have the choice to get healthcare from one doctor with training in both traditional Western medicine and Chinese medicine. I'm not talking about a wellness clinic because most of these clinics are made up of practitioners trained in different ways and they bill you separately. If you have struggled to coordinate your healthcare team or spent as much on your health from both conventional and unconventional practitioners, you are not alone. In fact, this problem has been around for decades.  A 1993 landmark study from the New England Journal of Medicine reported that in 1990 “Americans made an estimated 425 million visits to providers of unconventional therapy. This number exceeds the number of visits to all US primary care physicians (388 million.)” Nearly 30 years later, little has changed in the demand for additional types of care and there are far too few medical doctors who practice more than just traditional medicine.   The Impacts on Your Third Opinion  Integrative medicine is an approach to healthcare that brings together conventional ( or Western medicine), lifestyle and complementary medicines (like Chinese medicine) in a strategic way to address the whole person. That's like giving your auto mechanic more tools and knowledge to choose from when working on your car rather than having to take your car to two different mechanics to fix it. If your doctor knows about other types of medicine, especially ones you are seeking, they are more likely to listen to you and guide you to a healthier self.  If you want your physician to be able to practice integrative medicine, a lot needs to change in the healthcare system. The most fundamental changes have to start with the way people are trained as doctors. Did you know that there are no medical schools in the US that offer both kinds of training unless someone does this on their own by completing separate programs? That's not only expensive, it's preventing most physicians today from even considering it. The history of this is really complex, the separation of these types of medicine was intentional, and it's worth knowing about how and why it happened. You can learn about it in an upcoming season 2 episode. Stay tuned!  In this episode, Alisha Harrington and I discuss:  The definition of an osteopathic doctor The difference between how medical and osteopathic doctors are trained The difference between training as an acupuncturist and as a physician How rigorous medical training is for traditional doctors and the sacrifices they make to their personal health, which leads to: Increased rate of physician suicide Poor lifestyle Not being a good role model for patients What makes integrative training so beneficial for patients and doctors How integrative medical schools might be possible More reform should happen in the way doctors are trained in order to: build resilience prevent burnout...

Season Two of Third Opinion MD launches on May 10, 2022. For this second season, the overall theme is the true integration of our healthcare system, from the inside out. I'm excited about where this theme will take us! I'm bringing guests to share insights about how doctors are trained today, and give you an idea of how integrative healthcare can happen with how we train doctors. I'll be talking with an expert on how to take an integrative approach to trauma. And I'll be digging deeper into the history of how we inherited the healthcare system we have, and why some medicine is considered traditional while other medicine is considered alternative. I will take a look at who decides which label (“traditional” or “alternative”) gets placed on certain types of medicine, and how a type of medicine is determined to be mainstream or fringe. Join me next week, when I have Alisha Harrington join me to talk about how doctors are trained today, as we take a look at the potential for integrative medical education.

Part of my mission in starting Third Opinion MD is to offer you a blended perspective about healthcare, and to provide you with simple tools to restore and maintain your health. In this short guided meditation, I'm introducing you to something that I learned from my studies with qigong: the Inner Smile Meditation. I first learned this from qigong master, Lee Holden, who had learned it from his mentor, Mantak Chia. In this bonus episode of my podcast, I'm sharing my version of this meditation with you. The Inner Smile Meditation As part of the introduction to this meditation, it's important to keep your mind focused and listen to my voice as I guide you through it. You will be smiling just slightly on the outside, and you will be sending your smile to five important organs in your body. I think this meditation is one of the most loving and adorable meditations. Why? Once you've smiled at your organs, your organs will start to smile back at you. Each of them has a life of their own, they're a part of you, and you will get to visualize them in a new way as you smile at each other.  There's research that shows that doing this type of visualization work helps with mind-body work. It also helps quiet the “monkey mind,” which is what Qigong https://thirdopinionmd.org/introduction-to-qigong-master-liu-he/ (Master, Liu He), calls the racing thoughts that are often taking up space in our heads. I like the Inner Smile Meditation because it provides a single thing for your mind to focus on, while also setting the “Yi,” or intention, to guide your Qi (your life force energy) in a positive and healthy way through your body. If you have felt challenged by meditation in the past because you've been told you need to empty your mind, I invite you to try this approach. In this guided meditation, I'll walk you through the steps, and I think you'll find it to be very beneficial and quite different from other sitting meditations. Please find a quiet place when you are just starting out. When you're ready, I invite you to join me for the Inner Smile Meditation. If you love this meditation, and would like to have me speak about health or teach a workshop for your group or organization, please reach out. I'd love to learn more about your group and find ways to best serve you. You can go to the https://www.coachaccountable.com/offering/PfTWJZXwB77X4ZwV9zq3org1hsFt6kS%20 (speaker inquiry page). Here are key timestamps to refer to when you listen to this episode repeatedly for practice: 00:15  Introduction 02:49  Inner Smile introduction 03:04  Preparation for meditation 04:35  Inner Smile guided practice I hope you enjoy this meditation, and may you have many days of smiling inside. https://thirdopinionmd.org/inner-smile-meditation (You can find the full show notes, and learn more over at my website by clicking here.) – Barbara

In the season 1 finale of Third Opinion MD podcast, I'm taking to the streets of Portland, Oregon with my friend and colleague, Alisha Harrington, to speak to real people about their experiences with the healthcare system. You see, I strongly believe that true healing comes from real listening, and I wanted to hear the unfiltered stories of people in everyday settings. Alisha and I visited food carts and a local park and interviewed people about their experiences with doctors and healthcare. I know that many of their stories will sound familiar to you, and you may have experienced something similar in interacting with the healthcare system. In this episode, I'm also sharing 8 “dos and don'ts” for you to use on your own healthcare journey, so you can get the best results possible. You can find these listed below, as well. https://thirdopinionmd.org/podcast/ (Read the full show notes, and transcript on my website.) Some of my pearls of wisdom around how to best interact with your healthcare system: Write down the specific department, and the direct phone number for the doctor you are working with, or have been referred to. It's easy to get lost in a phone tree or get bounced around in referrals. Request and keep a copy of your health records, preferably every year or six months. Read through them. Ask questions or ask for revisions if something is incorrect or no longer accurate about your current health status. Maintain your records because you will likely change doctors. In being your own best advocate, it's important that you also keep the records and understand your own health history. Remain calm and in control of your emotions when you are working with people in healthcare. It's reasonable to be frustrated and feel overwhelmed. For the best care, keep to the golden rule of “treat others as you'd like to be treated.” It goes a long way with doctors who are limited by time to engage with you.. Don't let insurance coverage dictate what you should do for your health. Self care is the key to supplementing what insurance won't. Use the Patient Elevator Speech to use your time at your doctor's appointment wisely and efficiently. You'll want to consider 10 points, some of which include: When your symptoms started, and where they are located (pain, nausea, anxiety, etc). The quality and intensity of a symptom, especially regarding pain.  What you were doing when the symptoms started.  If there is anything that makes the symptoms better or worse. If you've had the symptoms before (a prior episode).  Resources https://mailchi.mp/90dc847faab5/welcometothirdopinion (Sign up for my newsletter to receive the 11 Dos and Don'ts to Get the Best Results from Your Healthcare System) https://mailchi.mp/90dc847faab5/welcometothirdopinion (Download the full Patient Elevator Speech)

In this episode, I want to take you with me on a scavenger hunt, to look  at my past, present, and future. In episode 1, I talked about my mother, Christina Stemmler, M.D., who was an integrated physician. She studied Chinese medicine, she was a family physician, and she had a profound effect on me and my interest in healthcare. She died in 2008. Throughout her career, she gave several talks and was a prolific writer; so, I have the opportunity to introduce you to her in this episode from rare audio recordings. I'll be talking about her because I'm, right now, at the point in my life where I really want to understand the “before and after” of me. In looking to the future, I am also introducing you to my nephew. He is my sister's son, and he is 7 years old. One of the things that fascinates me about him is that I've never taught him the concepts of energy medicine or Qi, that life force energy that is so essential to health according to Chinese medicine. However, in this interview you will hear his wisdom as he talks about energy with an unfiltered understanding, and the connection he has to his environment of before and after. It's profound to hear him speak about his experience, and I'm delighted to share it with you. Moving forward in this podcast, I'm going to continue to uncover clues about my mother's life and her legacy before she died. This is more than just detective work. It's a gift left in her writing, in her recordings, and from my memories. It's a treasure not just for me to understand my true essence and calling, but an opportunity for you to learn from two generations of women propelled to make changes in the understanding and delivery of healthcare. If you haven't had a chance to listen to episode 1, https://thirdopinionmd.org/an-introduction-to-third-opinion-md/ (An Introduction to Third Opinion MD: Time to Take the Doctor Out of the Equation and Put You in Charge of Your Health), I introduced my mother as one of the reasons why I am producing this podcast. In this episode, I share: Looking forward and backward in my family's timeline to see how our lineage has connected with healing and energy. What it means to be an integrated physician. Recordings from my mother, Christina, when she gave lectures to her patients as an integrated physician. An introduction to the future through my 7-year old nephew. I sent questions to my sister to interview him about his grandmother, Christina. His answers demonstrate how easily children can understand energy and healing. My family's history of trauma, including every generation moving to find a better future. My mother's history of having been a doctor and a healer. She studied both Eastern and Western medicine, much like I did. How our history can inform our present, and how it can impact our future. Why the entirety of a person's history (personal, family, social, cultural, spiritual) is important in understanding their current health. Review the steps I teach you when we work together so you can form your own third opinion.

In this episode of the Third Opinion MD podcast, I'm honored to be interviewing a renowned qigong master, Master Liu He. Master Liu is a part of the Ling Gui lineage of qigong, a school with teachings that have been passed down for 2,000 years. I have worked with Master Liu since 2015, and have found that her presence and teachings guide me and ground me in profound ways. Master Liu began her training at the age of 4 under the guidance of her grandfather, a highly respected qigong master and Chinese medical doctor who treated the last Emperor of China. By age 14, Master Liu attained the level of qigong master and was given permission by her grandfather to teach others; a privilege traditionally reserved only for men. Her life has been dedicated to sharing with others all that has been given to her. She teaches medical qigong and healing techniques extensively throughout China, Europe, and the United States, and is currently on the faculty of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon. In this episode, Master Liu and I discuss: The definition of Qigong (Qi is translated loosely as “energy” or “life force”, and Gong as “practice” or “cultivation”) The role Qigong plays in your energy and health Some of the differences between Eastern and Western Medicine How integrating Eastern and Western practices in medicine can help us better develop our own third opinion in medicine Cultivating good health Our minds as fourth-dimensional space, and how this is different from the standard Western thinking The roots of Qigong, and its relationship to Traditional Chinese Medicine, yoga, Yin Yang theory, and Five Element theory Approaching Qigong from a beginner's mindset Learning to trust our senses and bodies Resources: Master Liu's Website:https://linggui.org/ ( https://linggui.org/)  Master Liu on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masterliuhe/ (https://www.instagram.com/masterliuhe/)  https://thirdopinionmd.org/introduction-to-qigong-master-liu-he (Read a transcript, and the full show notes for this episode on my website.) To learn more about Third Opinion MD, please https://thirdopinionmd.org/ (visit my website by clicking here.) I offer one-on-one integrative health consultations blending Eastern and modern medicine philosophies, putting you in charge of your health management and prevention. https://thirdopinionmd.org/consults/ (You can learn more by visiting my website, here. ) Dr. Barbara de la Torre started Third Opinion MD as a way to spark a wave of change in the way we practice medicine, how we care for ourselves, how physicians are treated, and how we can navigate through the existing healthcare system. Information on this podcast is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. 

This is the second part of a two part interview with Dr. Shelly Smith-Acuña. You can read about, or listen to, the first part of this conversationhttps://thirdopinionmd.org/thinking-outside-the-healthcare-box-systems-theory-discussion-with-guest-dr-shelly-smith-acuna-part-1/ ( here). I highly recommend tuning in to part one first. For both parts of this interview, I've proposed that Dr. Smith-Acuña and I take a unique look at the health care system. We are blending her background in Psychology and Systems Theory with my own experience of the healthcare system as a doctor. We set the scene for this discussion by having all of the “family members'' of the healthcare family attend an intensive psychotherapeutic session together. We are sending all the players of healthcare to get therapy because, let's face it, healthcare systems are really dysfunctional.  In this episode, Dr. Shelly Smith-Acuña and I discuss: Structure as the fifth principle, and the hierarchy that comes into play within the healthcare system. Structure encompasses sharing power and sharing responsibility, along with good communication. How definition and clarity around the structure of a system gives everyone working within it a better sense of how to interact and work. History and development is the sixth principle of Systems Theory. This involves understanding both the history of the doctor's profession, or health history of an individual patient. Events such as trauma are not always considered when approaching care, and they have an impact on outcomes. The role of transference and countertransference: unconsciously patients and doctors experience and react to one another based on their past personal experiences and what they encountered in their families of origin. Social and cultural narratives is the seventh principle of Systems Theory. Each of us has encountered both social and cultural experiences that inform who we are now, and how we understand any given situation. These narratives also impact language shaping experience and form dominant narratives. One example of this is a dominant narrative around passive-aggressive care. Within a healthcare system, the patient is often expected to be a passive recipient of care, with doctors using aggressive approaches and language around care. Resources https://bookshop.org/books/systems-theory-in-action-applications-to-individual-couple-and-family-therapy/9780470475829 (Systems Theory in Action: Applications to Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy) by Dr. Shelly Smith-Acuña, 2011.  https://youtu.be/-UnCu5xgChE%20https://youtu.be/-UnCu5xgChE (Wise Mind), as explained by the founder of DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), Marsha Linehan in this short YouTube video. This Venn diagram is an amazing summary of where two people can be in healthcare interactions, from successful to polarized. Correction and more information on the 20th-century physician, William Osler. Dr. Osler was actually one of the four founders of The Johns Hopkins Hospital rather than Johns Hopkins University as explained in the episode. For more information about William Osler, click http://www.americanosler.org/about/about-william-osler.php%20http://www.americanosler.org/about/about-william-osler.php (here). https://thirdopinionmd.org/thinking-outside-the-healthcare-box-systems-theory-discussion-with-guest-dr-shelly-smith-acuna-part-2 (Read a transcript, and the full show notes for this episode on my website.) To learn more about Third Opinion MD, please https://thirdopinionmd.org/ (visit my website by clicking here.) I offer one-on-one integrative health consultations blending Eastern and modern medicine philosophies, putting you in charge of your health management and prevention. https://thirdopinionmd.org/consults/ (You can learn more by visiting my website, here. ) Dr. Barbara de la Torre started Third Opinion MD as a way to spark a wave of change in the way we practice medicine, how we care for ourselves,

Recently, I discovered a fascinating book, https://www.amazon.com/Systems-Theory-Action-Shelly-Smith-Acuna/dp/047047582X (Systems Theory in Action: Applications to Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy) by Dr. Shelly Smith-Acuña. She is the dean of the Graduate School for Professional Psychology at the University of Denver, and is a licensed  psychologist who specializes in couple and family therapy. While I was reading her book, I couldn't help but imagine how each of these different players in the healthcare system struggle for different reasons. In this episode, I'm sending all the players of healthcare to get therapy because, let's face it, healthcare systems are really dysfunctional.  In this episode, Dr. Shelly Smith-Acuña and I discuss: The definition of Systems Theory, and how it relates to psychology The healthcare system as a family unit includes: the server (healthcare workers), the bureaucrat (administrators), the patient, the guard (insurance companies), the dealer (Big Pharma), and the judge (state medical boards). The seven principles of systems theory: context, causality, communication, change, structure, history, and the social cultural narratives ( first four reviewed in this episode, part 1):How context can give us a better understanding of the relationship between the parts and the whole in healthcare systems The nature of causality (or cause and effect), andhow we tend to blame from a linear perspective rather than consider a more shared responsibility. Communication: the inconsistency between message sent and message received, the intent and the impact of communication, and how communication can have various purposes like: establishing status, solving problems, creating emotional bonds How the healthcare system both creates and resists change Resources https://bookshop.org/books/systems-theory-in-action-applications-to-individual-couple-and-family-therapy/9780470475829 (Systems Theory in Action: Applications to Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy) by Dr. Shelly Smith-Acuña, 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7604257/pdf/lra-13-171.pdf (Burnout in Healthcare Workers: Prevalence, Impact and Preventative Strategies). Local and Regional Anesthesia 2020:13, pp.171-183. A graph called the job demand-control model, introduced by Karasek in 1979 focuses on the balance between the magnitude of the demands (height of strain) and the level of control (decision latitude) in a person's work situation. This article refers to the research on burnout in the 1970s mentioned in the episode. https://thirdopinionmd.org/podcast/ (Read a transcript, and the full show notes for this episode on my website.) To learn more about Third Opinion MD, please https://thirdopinionmd.org/ (visit my website by clicking here.) I offer one-on-one integrative health consultations blending Eastern and modern medicine philosophies, putting you in charge of your health management and prevention. https://thirdopinionmd.org/consults/ (You can learn more by visiting my website, here. ) Dr. Barbara de la Torre started Third Opinion MD as a way to spark a wave of change in the way we practice medicine, how we care for ourselves, how physicians are treated, and how we can navigate through the existing healthcare system. Information on this podcast is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. 

Welcome to the first episode of the Third Opinion MD podcast! As a medical doctor with a background in the American medical system, I'm concerned by the level of care that patients receive and more informed of the constraints in the current medical system. I've left the traditional medical world to create something new because I want more for all of us as patients and more for myself as a professional. My guess is that you also experienced some of the setbacks of our current healthcare system, and that you want to find something that supports you in a more holistic way. This podcast is part of my mission to change healthcare for the better while helping all of us to return to the basics of good health. In this episode, you'll learn more about forming what I call “your own third opinion.” I want you to trust your instincts, and for you to become your own best advocate. This takes understanding the current system, knowing how to navigate it, and learning how to speak up for what you need in a way that gets better results. I'm just as frustrated as you are about the system and the way it works. The pandemic shed light on how bad things were and how healthcare can become worse. You might jump to the conclusion that the healthcare system is broken and that we have to replace it. You'll discover in this episode that the better thing to do is to discover what works well within it, what we can do to navigate through it, and how to find ways to bring in other systems.  In this episode, you'll learn about: -        Creating your own third opinion -        My background as a doctor -        Why I've chosen to focus on educating rather than treating -        The events and people who have influenced how I practice medicine -        How my mother's death changed how I understand medical care -        How to fix what is not working in healthcare -        A parable about what happens when we just look at one part of a larger ecosystem https://thirdopinionmd.org/podcast/ (Read a transcript, and the full show notes for this episode on my website.) To learn more about Third Opinion MD, please https://thirdopinionmd.org/ (visit my website by clicking here.) I offer one-on-one integrative health consultations blending Eastern and modern medicine philosophies, putting you in charge of your health management and prevention. https://thirdopinionmd.org/consults/ (You can learn more by visiting my website, here. ) Dr. Barbara de la Torre started Third Opinion MD as a way to spark a wave of change in the way we practice medicine, how we care for ourselves, how physicians are treated, and how we can navigate through the existing healthcare system. Information on this podcast is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. 

Season 1 trailer introduces an innovative podcast on how to liberate your perspective of health through a better understanding of Chinese and Western medicine. Recognize what your body tells you, know what to do. It's time for a Healthcare Evolution in each of us. Listen to episodes about the existing healthcare system (the good, the bad, and the ugly), how to navigate through it to get the best care, understand the differences between Eastern and Western medicine, and what makes Chinese medicine unique and important for being and staying healthy.