In this episode, I am joined by specialty pharmacist Michaela Wachal, PharmD, CSP, to discuss the safety concerns regarding aluminum adjuvants used in vaccines. We explore adjuvant levels present in vaccinations that exceed the FDA’s stated safety limits, differences in bioavailability between ingested vs. injected aluminum, and research findings showing elevated aluminum levels in post-mortem brain tissue of individuals with autism and other neurodegenerative disorders. This conversation emphasizes the importance of transparency, informed consent, and continued research into aluminum exposure.

Show Sources:

• FDA limits on aluminum exposure via parenteral nutrition to less than 5mcg/kg/day https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-1-4614-7836-2_77
• CDC FOIA request response – CDC Unable to locate safety studies for aluminum adjuvants: https://icandecide.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20190314-CDC-Final-Response-No-RecordsIR0083.pdf
• High levels of aluminum in brain tissue for autism and neurodegenerative disorders: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0946672X17308763

Follow Michaela Wachal, PharmD, on Instagram:

• https://www.instagram.com/yourclinicalpharmacist.wachal/
• https://yourclinicalpharmacist.start.page/

Functional medicine training for nurses:

• Interested in becoming a functional medicine nurse? Join Melissa live at the next webinar www.functionalnurseacademy.com/webinar-registration
• Learn more about the Functional Nurse Academy https://www.functionalnurseacademy.com

Functional medicine training for all other healthcare specialties and health and wellness coaches:

• https://www.christianfma.com

In today’s episode, I sit down with Functional Nurse Ashley Caputo to explore what happens when women are dismissed by conventional medicine despite ongoing symptoms. Ashley shares her personal experience with fatigue, weight gain, and burnout, along with the heartbreak of watching her mother navigate cancer in a system focused on symptom management. We unpack perimenopause, menopause, adrenal dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, and HPA-axis imbalance—and why these root causes are so often overlooked. Ashley also explains her ROOT Method and how Functional Nurse Academy helped her build a thriving functional medicine practice.

Ashley's Practice: https://www.rootedwellnessfunctionalhealth.com/

Interested in enrolling in Melissa’s functional medicine training programs?

Functional medicine training for nurses:

www.functionalnurseacademy.com

Join the next Functional Nurse Academy Informational Webinar: www.functionalnurseacademy.com/webinar-registration

Functional medicine training for all other healthcare specialties and health and wellness coaches www.christianfma.com

Melissa is joined by Jamie, also known as The Florida Functional Nurse, for a powerful conversation about healing, purpose, and building a life beyond the broken healthcare system. After surviving a devastating car accident and later developing debilitating autoimmune symptoms while working at the bedside, Jamie discovered functional medicine and made a full recovery, transforming both her health and her career. Today, she runs a thriving functional health consulting practice and uses her expertise in social media marketing to help nurses strengthen their online presence, expand their reach, and grow their businesses in the digital space. Together, they explore the massive opportunity for nurses outside of traditional healthcare and how nurses can lead the change toward a more ethical, sustainable model of care.

Connect with Jamie

Online Store and Platform
https://stan.store/flfunctionalrn

Digital Product
https://stan.store/flfunctionalrn/p/functional-medicine-guide--freedom-formula-combo

Instagram
https://instagram.com/floridafunctionalrn

Interested in enrolling in Melissa’s functional medicine training programs?

Functional medicine training for nurses: www.functionalnurseacademy.com

Join Melissa live for her next webinar www.functionalnurseacademy.com/webinar-registration

Functional medicine training for all other healthcare specialties and health and wellness coaches www.christianfma.com

This episode explores why gluten intolerance and chronic gut issues are increasingly common, and how modern, industrialized wheat may be a major contributor. Melissa is joined by Lori Krol, Registered Nurse, Functional Nurse Academy graduate, and founder of Krol Wellness, to discuss how aggressive processing of commercial wheat alters protein structure, depletes key nutrients, and disrupts digestion and immune function.

Lori shares her personal journey through years of gut dysfunction, chronic fatigue, and sleep challenges, and how functional medicine testing and root-cause healing transformed her health. She explains why freshly milled wheat and whole wheat berries are often better tolerated than commercial flour. Lori also shares how she now teaches families practical, kitchen-based strategies to restore gut health through real, nutrient-dense foods—offering both clinical insight and hope that the body is designed to heal when properly nourished.

Lori’s website

https://krolwellness.com/

Book a free discovery call with Lori

https://my.practicebetter.io/#/6648ddba602ab214e232effa/bookings?s=673b8311654a4c2b4e85f0fd

Interested in enrolling in Melissa’s functional medicine training programs?

Functional medicine training for nurses: www.functionalnurseacademy.com

Join Functional Nurse Academy's next informational webinar www.functionalnurseacademy.com/webinar-registration

Functional medicine training for all other healthcare specialties and health and wellness coaches www.christianfma.com

This episode reveals why weight loss and chronic health struggles may not be solved with diet and exercise alone. Melissa is joined by Kerri Takata, Functional Medicine Nurse and founder of One Together Coaching and Consulting to explore how root-cause medicine, nervous system regulation, emotional healing, and faith create true, sustainable wellness. Kerri shares her transformation from years of chronic illness and medication dependence to restored metabolic health through functional medicine and faith. Kerri also explains how integrating functional medicine into her coaching practice not only transformed her own health, but significantly enhanced the outcomes for her clients and supported the growth of her practice.

Work With Kerri
Kerri’s Website
https://OneTogetherCoaching.com/
Schedule a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call
Call 423-777-6597

Interested in becoming a functional medicine practitioner?
Functional medicine training for nurses:
www.FunctionalNurseAcademy.com
Functional medicine training for all other healthcare specialties and health and wellness coaches:
www.christianfma.com