Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Glenn Harrison

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Glenn Harrison.

Hi Dr. Harrison, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story about the pursuit of my passion for helping others started when I was 19 years old and working as a laborer in the mining industry.

At the age of 19, I seriously injured my back and could not work and therefore could not save for my pursuit of postsecondary education. After pursuing regular conventional medicine and alternative medicine specifically physical therapy–the only treatment that helped me was chiropractic.

Only after chiropractic treatment, I was able to get back to work and start saving up for school again, and with time I pursued postsecondary education in the field of organic and inorganic chemistry. It did not take long to realize that I wanted to pursue the profession of chiropractic which had such an impact on my health. So, I changed all my courses and started the laborist efforts of taking prerequisite courses to qualify and apply to chiropractic school.

During the first year of chiropractic school, I started to become very sick, only some of the symptoms included brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues, depression, and anxiety. My blood chemistry revealed significant problems including prediabetes. The emotional burden of stress which compromised almost everything in my life continued and I did not look to change or improve my health (at the time) because I felt I did not have the time or energy to take on more.

The following year of chiropractic college my blood chemistry became even worse, I was a full-blown type II diabetic, my brain fog was severe and I was barely getting through my classes; my emotional health was so compromised that it affected my relationships and my friendships. When looking back, I now realize this was really where the “rubber met the road” and I realized that change was necessary.

At the same time being at the peak of my health crisis, I took on an internship with a chiropractor who also practiced a form of natural medicine called functional medicine. At this time, I was not interested in another form of medicine other than getting through school and acquiring the clinical hours I needed for graduation.

The doctor (who was a doctor of chiropractic), and specialized in functional medicine saw patients from around the country and was successful in helping them overcome disorders like mine, and many other chronic health disorders that conventional medicine failed at helping them. On the second day in the clinic, the doctor (without any discussion of my health), knew I needed help, and told me that if I was going to work in his clinic I needed to improve my health.

Since I did not have any choice, and I knew I needed help, I complied with all of his recommendations. Over time, with patience, discipline, and consistency I was slowly able to adapt to the changes required, and all of my symptoms including being a diabetic reversed. It took years to completely implement everything and see the changes I have now, but I am not a diabetic, my health is the best it has ever been and I owe him more than he could ever know.

The impact on me from this form of medicine was so great, that when I graduated I could not look at health as only musculoskeletal dysfunction and chiropractic manipulation therapy – so I immediately started advancing my clinical and academic education in the pursuit of functional medicine and everything that it entailed. Moist. Once I started my clinical practice, everything that I did revolved around functional medicine.

I have been involved in functional medicine for a decade, and I see clients who fly in from out of state and out of the country. The cases that I work with are people who have been suffering like I have but for much longer. Many of these individuals have very complex health conditions and have been suffering for 10, 20, 30, and even 40 years.

I can say confidently, that all of them have improved, and some of course have improved much more than others–but everyone has been able to improve to some extent and change their lives forever.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the major struggles of my profession have included the challenge of changing the message and belief systems that the population receives regarding chronic illness.

Many people who are suffering from chronic health problems believe they have to make a choice. The choices are either to pursue natural medicine or pursue conventional pharmaceutical medicine.

People must know that they need to have access to both sides of the medicine aisle. Natural medicine does not have all the answers nor does conventional/pharmaceutical medicine and they need access to both.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I practice a form of natural medicine called functional medicine, also known as functional diagnostic medicine.

Functional medicine and natural lifestyle medicine with very advanced laboratory diagnostic testing. The patients that I work with her struggling with chronic and autoimmune conditions for anywhere from 10 to 50 years.

What sets me apart from any other practices is that I do not only focus on diagnostics and finding the root underlying polyp problems and causes of their chronic disorder but–educating and helping them understand why they have this problem, what caused the problem, and how we are going to take the steps to overcome it.

The educational component of my care helps people achieve, what I believe is true medicine which is health independence for life. I am very proud that my clinic does not have a revolving door where there is a dependency model. The practice and how I practice revolves around the principle of -health, life, and empowerment to take control of your health and become health-independent for life.

I am very proud of my patients, who have trusted me by flying across the country and out of the country to see me for care. And have not only had the courage but who have had the willpower to hold the line (focusing on their health) in the face of adversity to change their lives forever- when they were told that nothing could help and nothing could be done.

Services–functional medicine, which includes diet, nutrition, lifestyle, and advanced laboratory diagnostic testing. My philosophy includes what I call 6 critical components of health. #1–digestive and detoxification, #2–nutrition, #3–hormonal health, #4–nervous system health, #5–emotional and spiritual health, #6–physical health/physical fitness.

Many of these 6 pillars of health sometimes need to be referred to specialists in their respective fields.

A critical component of the success of my patients has to do with the elaborate nature of my case workup/investigation. The clinical case work-up requires 3 appointments and the steps.

Step 1–History appointment that is one of our looking at all past medical records and 1 hour of intake paperwork that is completed in advance.

Step 2–An examination appointment in the office to identify any additional physiological problems that cannot be identified in past lab work or through a video appointment. This gives us the confidence to know what further advanced laboratory tests are required specific to the individual.

Step 3–Review the new advanced functional medicine lab tests and put together a timeline of care based on the objective data found in the lab tests/examination findings.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am not able to take on all cases, so I offer a free phone call where we can discuss the needs of the patient and we can see if we are a good fit. People can visit https://drgharrison.com/consultation to get directly on my calendar and schedule a free conversation to see if I can help them.

I am constantly looking for professionals in different fields of medicine whom I collaborate with and whom I can refer to. I am also very passionate about educating the public on many health-related disorders with the focus of understanding why the problem is rather than just a problem.

Currently, I have over 300 videos and podcasts on many different topics that are all freely accessible on different social media platforms.

Pricing:

• Hourly rate – $347
• History apt (initial apt-1 hr) $247

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drgharrison.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.glennharrison/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drgharrison/
• Twitter: @drGHarrison1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfl3W3k_Znjp4_UwdM8esRw/videos
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nZLLlzVCY1Br9kPvnsDCB