Why True Health Means Less Dependence on Medication
Most people are taught that managing symptoms is the same as being healthy—but what if that’s not true?
In this episode, Dr. Mark Sherwood breaks down how functional medicine shifts the focus from symptom control to root cause healing—empowering people to reduce or eliminate unnecessary medications and take back control of their health.
If you’re trying to understand why so many people stay stuck on medications long-term, this episode explains what’s missing—and how to fix it.
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mark Sherwood shares his journey from professional athlete and SWAT team member to functional medicine practitioner helping people reclaim their health.
The discussion dives deep into the difference between conventional medicine and functional medicine, highlighting how modern healthcare often treats symptoms rather than addressing underlying causes. Dr. Sherwood explains why many chronic conditions are driven by lifestyle inputs—and how correcting those inputs can restore the body’s natural ability to heal.
You’ll also learn why lab numbers don’t always tell the full story, how medications can sometimes create new problems, and the key foundational habits that have the greatest impact on long-term health.
This episode is both practical and empowering—offering a clear path for those who want to move from dependency to independence when it comes to their health.
RESOURCES
- Visit Dr. Mark Sherwood’s clinic: https://fmidr.com/
- Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fmidr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarksherwood/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/fmitv
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/MarkSherwood4E
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sherwood.tv
- Watch: Lou Ferrigno Interview https://youtu.be/HG0_dCCqHvA?si=2rIhir_Yp91bE8hb
- Watch this episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVljFuO49Y
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Foundational health habits that actually work
00:43 – Introduction to Dr. Mark Sherwood
01:14 – Background: athlete, SWAT, and transformation
04:00 – Why perspective changes everything in life
06:26 – Early life experiences that shaped success
08:53 – The defining moment: a childhood belief carried forward
11:57 – Transition from baseball to law enforcement
14:13 – SWAT team realities vs Hollywood
15:07 – The Power Team and influencing lives
20:07 – The mission: helping people get off medication
21:23 – What’s wrong with modern medicine
22:35 – What real health actually means
23:48 – Functional medicine explained
27:11 – When medication is useful (and when it’s not)
29:43 – How medications affect natural body functions
31:52 – Hidden risks of common medications
33:19 – Why symptoms don’t equal health
34:11 – The problem with lab numbers
35:00 – Why “normal” may actually mean unhealthy
39:19 – The real drivers of health (you control these)
41:53 – The biggest obstacle: misinformation
45:34 – Stress is a verb, not a noun
48:36 – Why failure should never be the focus
50:35 – How to work with Dr. Sherwood
52:15 – The Kingdom supplement line origin
55:02 – Final advice: start today
| Topic | Key Insight |
|---|---|
| Functional Medicine | Focuses on root causes, not symptoms |
| Medication Use | Should be temporary, not lifelong |
| True Health | Ability to live fully without pain or dependence |
| Root Causes | Lifestyle inputs drive most chronic disease |
| Lab Testing | Informational, not absolute |
| Biggest Problem | Misinformation about nutrition |
| Core Habits | Diet, sleep, movement, stress |
| Empowerment | Individuals have more control than they think |
TRANSCRIPT
Below is the “full meaning” transcript of this episode, where Dr. Mark Sherwood explains how functional medicine addresses root causes of disease, reduces dependence on medication, and helps restore true health through lifestyle, nutrition, and mindset. It has been “cleaned up” to improve readability and decrease reading time.
We have control over what we put in our mouth—whether that be food or liquid. We also have control over supplements. We can control what we do with our body. We can move more, sit less, and make sleep a priority. These are foundational truths. They’re not flashy, and they don’t sell TV shows, but they do create health.
You are listening to The Dr. Haley Show, the podcast dedicated to helping you optimize your health. Each episode brings you interviews and insights to help you discover better health. Your host is the founder of Haley Nutrition, Dr. Michael Haley.
This is The Dr. Haley Show. I’m Dr. Michael Haley, your host. Today, we have a great interview with someone I’ll call a friend I haven’t fully met yet—Dr. Mark Sherwood.
I discovered him in an interesting way. When I see new customers for my company, Haley Nutrition, I sometimes look into who they are. Occasionally, I’ll notice a doctor or clinic email address and do a little research. That’s how I came across Dr. Mark Sherwood—someone who has done incredible things: SWAT team member, athlete, author, speaker, and media personality. I found him on YouTube and saw his interviews, including one on Christian television and more. He’s been in a lot of places, and I’m excited to have him here. Dr. Mark, thank you for joining me.
It’s my pleasure. Thanks for having me.
There’s something magnetic about what you do—what I’d call excellence. It’s very clear in your content. There’s authenticity, trust, and a sense that what you’re sharing comes from something deeper.
I appreciate that. A lot of that comes from life experiences—pain, challenges, and the things you go through. I’ve seen people in both the best and worst situations. In my previous career, I saw people die in front of me. That changes your perspective. It makes you care more deeply about people. Right now, I’m fully engaged in this conversation. I want to do a great job and help inspire the people listening.
I can see that. I also came across a video where you interviewed Lou Ferrigno. I had the chance to meet him about 20 years ago. He’s a massive guy—one of the few people who made me feel small. But what stood out was how kind and gentle he was.
That’s exactly who he is. Lou is a great guy with a good heart.
In your interview, you explored what shaped him into who he is today. So I want to ask you—what shaped you?
It starts with childhood and early experiences. You’re going to face ups and downs in life—that’s inevitable. But you have a choice in how you respond. I was adopted. I had great parents, but my upbringing wasn’t typical. I had to figure a lot out on my own. There was a moment in elementary school that changed everything. A teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. When she called on me, I said I wanted to be a professional baseball player. The entire class laughed. I was crushed. Then we were told to write our goal on a piece of paper and keep it with us until it came true. As I was leaving, my teacher pulled me aside and said, “Don’t let anyone determine your future. Your job is not to prove them wrong—it’s to prove yourself right.” I never forgot that. Years later, I was sitting in the dugout during one of my first professional baseball games in Australia. I suddenly remembered that note. I checked my wallet—and there it was. “I will become a professional baseball player.” That moment shaped everything. If you have a dream, hold onto it.
That’s powerful.
After baseball, I transitioned into law enforcement. I wanted something meaningful—something that allowed me to serve and solve problems. I became a police officer in Tulsa and eventually joined the SWAT team, where I spent 10 years of my 24-year career.
What about your time with the Power Team?
That started when I was working security for one of their events. I watched these men do incredible feats of strength—breaking bricks, bending steel—and then use that attention to deliver a message of hope. That stuck with me. A few years later, I got an opportunity to join a similar team locally. Eventually, I was invited to try out for the Power Team itself. At my tryout, I failed at almost everything. But I gave it everything I had. Instead of being sent home, I was welcomed onto the team. They weren’t just looking for success—they were looking for persistence. I stayed with them for ten years.
That says a lot about resilience.
It does. Failure is part of life. What matters is how you respond to it.
Now you’re helping people get well and reduce dependency on medication. Let’s talk about that.
First, we need to redefine health. Health is not just the absence of symptoms. True health is having the ability to live fully—doing what you want, when you want, without pain or limitation. In conventional medicine, we often treat symptoms rather than addressing root causes. Functional medicine works differently. We look upstream. Symptoms are signals. They’re telling us something. Our job is to understand what the body is trying to communicate. When we fix the root cause, the symptoms often go away—and the need for medication becomes unnecessary.
So medication isn’t always the answer?
Medication has its place. In acute situations, it can be life-saving. But long-term dependency is often unnecessary. Most medications either start or stop a natural function in the body. That creates imbalance. For example, certain medications can deplete nutrients, disrupt hormones, and create new problems downstream. We have to look at the full picture.
Another issue is that people rely on medications instead of changing their habits.
Exactly. If you remove symptoms without addressing the cause, nothing changes. People need to look at their lifestyle—nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress.
What about lab numbers?
Lab numbers are just information. The problem is when we treat the numbers instead of the person. “Normal” ranges are often based on a population that is already unhealthy. So being “normal” doesn’t necessarily mean being healthy.
That’s a critical distinction.
It is. We need to shift our focus to optimal health, not just average.
So where do people have the most control?
We have control over our thoughts and mindset, what we eat and drink, our movement and exercise, our sleep, and our stress response. These are foundational. When you get these right, your body has a much better chance of functioning properly.
What’s the biggest thing holding people back?
Misinformation—especially around nutrition. We’ve been taught to eat things that aren’t real food. Highly processed, nutrient-poor foods are everywhere. If something is heavily marketed, subsidized, and sitting on the end cap of a grocery store, it’s probably not good for you. Real food comes from nature.
That’s simple, but powerful.
It is.
You also mentioned stress in an interesting way.
Yes—stress is not a noun. It’s a verb. It’s your response to a situation. You can’t control everything that happens, but you can control how you respond. That mindset shift is critical.
That reminds me of the Serenity Prayer.
Exactly. You need the wisdom to know what you can control and what you can’t.
Let’s talk about your clinic.
We work with people across the country using a personalized approach. We focus on nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, genetics, and hormones. We also measure biological age—not just chronological age—so people can see how their body is actually functioning. Our goal is to improve quality of life and help people become independent from the system.
Final thoughts?
Don’t wait. What you do today affects your tomorrow. Don’t live in the past or worry about the future. Focus on today. Do the right things today, and your future will take care of itself.
Dr. Mark Sherwood, thank you so much.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than simply treating symptoms.
Can functional medicine help reduce medication use?
Yes. By correcting underlying issues such as diet, lifestyle, and stress, many people can reduce or eliminate unnecessary medications under proper guidance.
Is conventional medicine bad?
No. It is valuable for acute situations and emergencies, but it may fall short in addressing chronic conditions at their root.
What are the most important health habits?
Nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and mindset are the core pillars that influence long-term health outcomes.
Are lab numbers always accurate indicators of health?
Not always. Lab values provide snapshots, but they must be interpreted in context of the whole person.
