351. The Dark Side of Spirituality and Alternative Health: How to Spot and Avoid Manipulation - Dr. Leland Stillman Pt 1

Meditation Conversation

How familiar are you with these myths about spiritual and alternative health spaces?

Myth 1: Spiritual and alternative health spaces are always safe and trustworthy.

Myth 2: All practitioners in these spaces have the best intentions for your well-being.

Myth 3: Engaging in spiritual practices and alternative health automatically leads to positive outcomes.

In this episode, Dr. Leland Stillman and I share the truth and our experiences that debunk these myths. Let's uncover the reality together.

Note: This is a 2-part episode with Dr. Stillman. In Part 2 we explore his work in functional and integrative medicine directly. This episode is focused more on the red flags and watchouts in spiritual and alternative health spaces.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand the potential risks in spiritual and alternative health spaces to make informed decisions about your wellness journey.

• Explore the functional medicine approach to gain insights into personalized, holistic health care.

• Discover the impact of minerals and heavy metals on your health for a deeper understanding of environmental influences on well-being.

• Embrace the benefits of meditation for mental health to enhance your overall well-being.

• Learn effective ways to navigate sales tactics in the wellness industry to make empowered choices for your health journey.

Dr. Leland Stillman's journey into functional medicine is deeply rooted in his personal encounters with the complexities of alternative health and spiritual spaces. His diverse background in biology, environmental health, and internal medicine, coupled with a rich history of exploring various healing modalities, has uniquely positioned him as an advocate for discernment in personal wellness decisions. Through his own experiences and professional expertise, Dr. Stillman offers a candid perspective on the risks and watch outs within spiritual and alternative health spaces, empowering individuals with the knowledge to navigate these domains with clarity and insight. His commitment to integrative medicine, coupled with a genuine passion for holistic well-being, makes him a trusted voice in the pursuit of balanced and informed health choices.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:06 - Introduction to Functional Medicine 00:01:31 - The Influence of Meditation 00:06:29 - Risks and Watch Outs 00:10:56 - Authentic Communication 00:13:55 - Ethical Sales Tactics 00:15:35 - Connecting with Patients 00:16:41 - Connection Between Heart and Mind 00:18:09 - Manipulative Coaching Programs 00:22:24 - Financial Exploitation in Spiritual Groups 00:26:31 - Mental Map and Narcissistic Manipulation 00:30:34 - Navigating the World with a New Map 00:31:32 - Mentorship and Authenticity 00:32:41 - Unplanned Two-Part Episode 00:33:28 - Shifting Focus to Guest's Work

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Pure Leaf - Alternative and complementary approach to conventional plant care and pest control methods. Use code KaraG20 for a 20% discount on your order. https://pureleafgardens.com?p=cz1xKOyZ-

• Explore Dr. Stillman's site: https://stillmanmd.com
• Read Dr. Stillman's book Dying to be Free

• Don't You Know Who I Am? by Dr. Ramani Durvasala - A book on narcissistic personality disorder and toxic interpersonal relationships.

• Human Heart, Cosmic Heart by Dr. Tom Cowan - A book delving into the concept of the heart and its role in memory and emotions.

• Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) - A valuable tool for understanding mental maps and communication patterns.

• Hypnosis - An interesting concept worth exploring for its potential insights into the subconscious mind and behavior patterns.