BAL “Quick Bites” Series
“If you have an autoimmune disease, our allopathic system does not have great answers that are solution-based or root cause-based to chronic complex illness.”
– Jill Carnahan, MD
In this edition of our Ticktective video and podcast series, Dana Parish sits down with Jill Carnahan, MD, a functional medicine doctor specializing in Lyme disease, tick-borne illnesses, mold toxicity, and other complex chronic health issues. Carnahan discusses her background growing up on a farm and how it influenced her approach to medicine. She shares her experience being diagnosed with breast cancer and the potential environmental factors, such as atrazine, that may have contributed to it. Carnahan talks about her cancer treatment and her belief in finding and addressing root causes in medicine. She then discusses her expertise in Lyme and tick-borne diseases, explaining how she evaluates and treats these conditions. She emphasizes the need for a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease due to the limitations of mainstream tests. Carnahan also sheds light on the connection between mold exposure and chronic illness, including dementia and psychiatric disorders. She provides insights into testing, detoxification, and treatment strategies for mold-related illnesses. The interview concludes with information about connecting with Dr. Carnahan’s clinic, her book, and her documentary.
Carnahan and Parish discuss the following topics in-depth, with Carnahan giving explicit information about treatment approaches that will be valuable for patients. To find specific topics within the video/podcast, we recommend that you scroll to the timestamp indicated:
- As she grew up on a farm, Carnahan believes this background gave her valuable insights into health and the root causes of illness. [01:43]
- At age 25, Carnahan was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she believes was linked to exposure to the herbicide atrazine on her family’s farm. She discusses her views on exposure to environmental factors that may contribute to disease and poor health [05:17]
- Carnahan talks about her approach to diagnosing and treating Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, even when standard tests come back negative. [17:49]
- In her practice, Carnahan relies on a combination of clinical symptoms and specialized testing to diagnose patients. [22:48]
- Carnahan discusses how she uses a variety of herbs, supplements, and other natural therapies to treat infections and support the body’s detoxification and immune function. [25:52]
- Carnahan emphasizes the importance of addressing mold toxicity, which she believes is a major underlying driver of many chronic illnesses, including neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. She provides guidance on how to properly test for and remediate mold exposure in homes and workplaces.[35:57]
- The impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on reactivating Lyme and other infections [52:11]
Overall Dr. Carnahan takes a comprehensive, integrative approach to chronic health issues, focused on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms. To watch or listen to this Ticktective conversation, click here.
Jill Carnahan, MD, is a functional medicine doctor with a huge media presence, board-certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Holistic Medicine. She is the Medical Director of Flatiron Functional Medicine, a sought-after practice with a broad range of clinical services. As a survivor of breast cancer, Crohn’s disease, and toxic mold illness, she brings a unique perspective to treating patients in the midst of complex and chronic illness. Her clinic specializes in searching for the underlying triggers that contribute to illness through cutting-edge lab testing and tailoring the intervention to specific needs. Featured in People magazine, Shape, Parade, Forbes, MindBodyGreen, First for Women, Townsend Newsletter, and The Huffington Post, as well as seen on NBC News and Health segments with Joan Lunden, Dr. Jill Carnahan is a media must-have. Her YouTube channel and podcast features live interviews with the healthcare world’s most respected names. This blog is part of our BAL Quick Bites series. If you require a copy of this article in a bigger typeface and/or double-spaced layout, contact us here. Bay Area Lyme Foundation provides reliable, fact-based information about Lyme and tick-borne diseases so that prevention and the importance of early treatment are common knowledge. For more information about Bay Area Lyme, including our research and prevention programs, go to www.bayarealyme.org.