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What does alcohol have to do with functional medicine?
More than you might think.
In this episode, Dr. Mark Su sits down with patient and guest MaryJo for one of the most honest, human conversations the Functional Medicine Reality Podcast has had yet. No agenda, no judgment, just two people peeling back a topic that comes up in almost every social setting, yet rarely gets talked about with any real depth.
MaryJo has been sober for ten years. Her journey away from alcohol didn't start with a dramatic rock bottom, it started quietly, with her body telling her something wasn't right. When she was deep in her Lyme disease journey and fighting to feel well again, anything that wasn't helping her heal had to go. Alcohol was one of the first things out the door. And looking back, that clarity, that decision to listen to her body, was one of the most powerful things she did for herself.
Dr. Su brings his own honest reflection too, including his own gradual shift away from alcohol, the growing conversation he's having with patients about it, and why he thinks this topic belongs squarely in the root cause medicine conversation.
Because here's the thing, functional medicine isn't just about your labs. It's about your whole life.
4 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Root cause goes deeper than symptoms. Alcohol use is often a form of self-medication, sometimes for anxiety, ADD, stress, or emotional pain that hasn't been addressed yet. When the root cause gets treated, alcohol often stops being such a pull.
- Your body has been giving you signals all along. MaryJo knew from her teenage years that alcohol never quite served her. That quiet internal knowing, when you finally listen to it, can be the beginning of real change.
- Sobriety doesn't have to be a dramatic story. Some people don't drink because it genuinely doesn't add to their life. That's a valid, even inspiring, path, and it doesn't require a crisis to get there.
- Self-awareness is a root cause tool. Whether it's alcohol, doom scrolling, or emotional eating, we all self-medicate with something. The question Dr. Su keeps coming back to is: does this serve you? That one question can change everything.
IN THIS EPISODE
Dr. Su and MaryJo talk about what it's actually like to be the person not drinking in a room full of people who are. They talk about the social pressure, the curious questions, the moments of clarity, and what it feels like to show up for your life completely present. MaryJo shares what ten years of sobriety has taught her, including watching her sister walk through a serious substance struggle and come out the other side into a life that is, as MaryJo puts it, fruitful and beautiful in ways she never could have imagined.
Dr. Su connects it all to the bigger picture of root cause medicine, the idea that our emotional and behavioral health is just as important as our physical health. A patient who is depressed enough doesn't care about treating their labs. Mental and emotional health comes first. Always.
This one is worth a listen, and probably worth sharing with someone you love.
Ready to stop guessing and finally get a clear plan?
Join Dr. Su for the Ask Dr. Mark Clinical Q&A Call, a small-group call limited to about five people each month where you can bring your real questions and get real direction.
Book your spot: https://go.rootseekhealth.com/askdrmark
Or download the free Lab Results Guide if you have ever been told your labs are normal while still feeling terrible:
https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/labs/
Connect with Dr. Su: IG | @rootseekhealth
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.
