The Root Causes of Hair Loss (And How to Reverse It) | Dr. Mark Hyman

On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m rejoined by psychiatrist and Harvard professor Dr. Chris Palmer for a conversation that challenges how we’ve been taught to think about mental illness. For decades, psychiatry has focused on managing symptoms—often without asking what’s actually driving them. We discuss a different way of understanding mental health, one that looks beyond diagnostic labels and considers how whole-body biology influences brain function, resilience, and recovery.  Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. In this conversation, we explore: • Why mental illness is rising alongside obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases • How whole-body biology influences mood, focus, and emotional resilience • The link between inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and conditions like depression and bipolar disorder • How nutrition, testing, and lifestyle changes can support real recovery If mental health has ever felt close to home for you or someone you care about, this conversation is meant to offer clarity, compassion, and a place to start. This episode was recorded live at the Eudēmonia Summit, a conference exploring the future of health, longevity, and well-being. Learn more at eudemonia.net. View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hymanhttps://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Timeline, BON CHARGE, Qualia, Paleovalley, Pique and Korrus. Receive 35% off a subscription at timeline.com/drhyman. Upgrade your routine. Head to boncharge.com/hyman and use code DRMARK for 15% off. Go to qualialife.com/hyman and use code HYMAN at checkout for an extra 15% off. Head to paleovalley.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off your first order. Secure 20% off your order plus a free starter kit at piquelife.com/hyman.Upgrade your lighting. Enjoy 15% off at korrus.com/drhyman. (0:00) Introduction to mental health crisis and guest Dr. Christopher Palmer (1:31) Eudaimonia Summit and psychiatric revolution (3:06) Traditional and systemic views on psychiatric disorders (7:23) Misconceptions and stigma surrounding mental disorders (10:15) The impact of childhood experiences on mental health (13:28) Root causes of mental illness: Inflammation and brain dysfunction (21:23) Metabolic dysfunction in mental illness (24:15) Significance of metabolism in mental health (27:47) Metabolic nutritional psychiatry and premature mortality (32:34) The mental health revolution and metabolic treatments (34:16) Ketogenic diet as a potential treatment for mental disorders (37:18) Functional and network medicine in mental health (41:13) Biomarkers and potential treatments in metabolic mental health (49:07) Ketogenic therapy and its anti-inflammatory effects (50:12) Historical and emerging paradigms in psychiatry (54:38) Integrating functional medicine into mainstream psychiatry (56:20) Addressing chronic disease in national health discussions (58:22) Closing remarks and further resources (59:02) Podcast outro and call to action

Most of us don’t realize how much alcohol affects our bodies until we take a break. In this first episode of Office Hours, I break down what really happens when you give up alcohol for 30 days. Alcohol impacts nearly every system—from your brain and hormones to your gut, liver, and immune system—but the good news is your body begins repairing itself far faster than most people expect. I discuss: • What alcohol really is—and why the “buzz” is actually your brain slowing down • How alcohol affects neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and glutamate • Why even moderate drinking disrupts sleep, mood, hormones, and metabolism • How alcohol impacts the liver, gut microbiome, immune system, and cancer risk • Why hangovers feel like the flu—and what’s actually happening in your body • What happens when you stop drinking, week by week, from detox to deep repair • The surprising benefits to energy, focus, skin, sleep, and emotional resilience • Practical tools to manage cravings, social pressure, and sleep disruption • Why community support makes behavior change easier and more sustainable Your body has an incredible ability to heal and often, it just needs you to take your foot off the gas. Try it for 30 days. You may be amazed by how different you feel. If you want extra support, join us for the Hive January Challenge, where we’ll guide you through the process, track progress, and share experiences together. Visit functionhealth.com for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year. Helpful Resources: Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive Have a question you’d love answered on the podcast? Submit it here 👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNF2y4lFWEOMLlzVNlFDpJ4xl7oOpH9NlImMoHr5mHggL_Ww/viewform?usp=header (0:12) Introduction and the power of personal health agency (0:51) Joining the Hyman Hive community and dry January benefits (2:07) Understanding the broad effects of alcohol on health (7:27) Long-term health consequences of alcohol use (13:13) Alcohol's link to hangovers and cancer risk (15:31) The positive changes from abstaining alcohol (17:13) Emphasizing mindful alcohol consumption and community support (18:45) Conclusion and invitation for listener feedback

This week, in another holiday edition of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m highlighting a conversation with Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a leading expert in nutritional science and aging — a discussion that still feels incredibly important today. We dig into how hidden micronutrient deficiencies can influence metabolism, mood, longevity, and long-term health. Here’s to supporting our health in the year ahead. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why vitamin D is essential for longevity, immune health, and mood • How magnesium influences metabolism, blood sugar, and brain function • Why even “healthy” diets can leave us undernourished • What it takes to test and personalize your micronutrient intake Better aging starts by giving your cells what they’re missing. When your body has the right nutrients, it can repair, renew, and thrive at any stage of life. Here’s to a healthy start to the new year — I’m excited for what we’ll explore together. View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Healthhttps://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Resultshttps://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Seed, PerfectAmino, Function Health, AirDoctor, LMNT and Pique. Visit seed.com/hyman and use code 20HYMAN for 20% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic. Go to bodyhealth.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off your first order. Join today at functionhealth.com/mark and use code MARK2026 to get $50 OFF toward your membership. Get cleaner air. Right now, you can get up to $300 off at airdoctorpro.com/drhyman. Get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order—just head to drinklmnt.com/hyman. Receive 20% off FOR LIFE + a free Starter Kit with a rechargeable frother and glass beaker at piquelife com/hyman.

As we wind down for the holiday season, we’ll be taking a short break. But I didn’t want to leave you without something meaningful to explore. So for today’s Monday episode, we’re revisiting one of our most powerful deep-dive topics of 2025.Thank you for being part of this community. We’ll be back in the new year with brand-new episodes and I truly can’t wait to share what’s coming next. In today’s episode, we feature four segments about hitting the reset button on our diet and lifestyle choices and establishing new behaviors for our overall wellbeing. We all get off track sometimes. Life gets busy, we indulge a little too much during the holidays, or we ignore the messages our body is sending us to sleep more and eat better. This can leave us feeling super sluggish, run-down, or unable to think clearly. This is what I call FLC syndrome? It’s when you feel like crap!  This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers. Head to ⁠⁠bioptimizers.com/hyman⁠⁠ and use code HYMAN to save 15%. Full-length episodes can be found here: How To Do The 10-Day Detox Are There Any Healthy Sugars And Sweeteners? How Much And What Types Of Exercise Are Needed To Age Well? The Surprising Key To Longevity

This week, in a special holiday edition of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m revisiting a powerful conversation with Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a leading cardiologist and advocate for ethical, evidence-based medicine, where we unpacked the uncomfortable truths about cholesterol, statins, and what really drives heart disease. Wishing you a peaceful holiday week. We unpack: • Why LDL cholesterol isn’t the whole story when it comes to heart disease • How reducing inflammation and insulin resistance can better protect your heart • What statins can—and can’t—do to improve real cardiovascular outcomes • How industry influence shapes the prescriptions patients receive Better heart health starts with better information and real progress begins when we stop treating numbers and start treating what’s actually causing disease. Hope you have a peaceful holiday week. I look forward to continuing this journey together in the new year. View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Big Bold Health, Sunlighten, Function Health and Pique. Get 20% off HTB Immune Energy Chews at bigboldhealth.com and use code DRMARK20. Head over to sunlighten.com and save up to $1400 or more this holiday season with code HYMAN. Join today at functionhealth.com/mark and use code MARK2026 to get $50 OFF toward your membership. Receive 20% off FOR LIFE + a free Starter Kit with a rechargeable frother and glass beaker at piquelife com/hym