About - Martina Harms

About Martina Harms

Just a few years ago, I was a different person.

I mean, not literally, but it certainly seemed that way!

I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep, overwhelmed and anxious with a touch of unpredictable rage, I was in constant pain from an old back injury that I never really addressed, and all the relationships in my life were suffering.

I was a mess. All the while I was chugging along, working night shifts as a Physician Assistant in the Emergency Room, and parenting my two little girls with my saint-of-a-husband.

When I finally decided it was time to DO something about this, I quit my stressful job, started going to therapy, practiced meditating, made self-care a priority, started exercising, tried “eating healthy,” but I was still carrying 25 pounds of baby weight that wasn’t budging. I was feeling a little better, but something was missing.

I went to my primary care doctor looking to see if there was something medically “wrong with me,” but ended up with “normal labs” and a prescription for antidepressants. I felt like I had exhausted all other options and this was my only choice. I was doing all the things!! But the prospect of starting a medication that would potentially change my personality and alter my mood was terrifying. I knew that depression wasn’t just a deficiency in SSRI’s, so I kept looking for other options. And eventually, I found a Functional Medicine practitioner who changed my life.

I finally made the connection that the “healthy food”
I was eating was actually a problem for me.

Considering that 90% of the serotonin in your body is made in your GI tract, it made sense that my mood had everything to do with my diet.

Specifically, I learned I had nutrient deficiencies that I never would have found with conventional lab testing, and food sensitivities that I never could have guessed. And my gut? Leaky and wrecked.

No wonder I felt so bad.

Finally, it all made sense, and I had hard data to prove it.

Today, I am healthier and happier than I’ve been in years.

My exhaustion and anxiety are things of the past, and my body finally feels GOOD again — the way it was meant to feel. By learning the true cause of my physical issues, I was able to conquer them, once and for all.

Armed with this powerful knowledge, I knew I had a new mission in life — and a new career path. I had always been interested in more holistic approaches to medicine. Even as an undergrad getting my degree in Exercise Science, I wrote my honors thesis on the applications of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. When I was pregnant, I was super focused on minimizing my toxic exposures, eating organic, and doing everything I could to grow perfect humans, but I was pretty bad about doing these things for myself.

So here I am! I’m “walking the talk.”

My training at the Institute for Functional Medicine has opened my eyes to the possibility of wellness for so many clients and their puzzling conditions, including myself. Through the treatment of my Functional Medicine Practitioner and my own personal research and education, I’m on a new path in my life and I couldn’t be more excited.

I have always had a life mission to help people, but this is on another level and I’m so honored to be entrusted with this work.

The one-size-fits-all approach to health will soon become a thing of the past and the advent of bio-individualized, intelligent health solutions will change the health of our communities.

But it starts with you!

If you feel like your health concerns have not been adequately addressed in the traditional medical model,
or you’re just tired of not feeling well, reach out to me!

Schedule your free 20 minute consultation so I can answer your questions and you can get started on your own journey to wellness.

Certifications

Martina Harms is a certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) with over 13 years of clinical experience. She has a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. She has a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, also from GWU. She is a Certified Practitioner with the Institute for Functional Medicine, as well as the School of Applied Functional Medicine.

Speaking Engagements

Inquire below to hire Martina for a live or virtual training on the benefits of functional medicine for your company or event.

Speaking engagements and trainings can focus on your groups’ individualized needs, including: increasing energy & work productivity, effective ways to manage stress, gut-brain connection, healthy metabolism, nutrition & mood, daily routines for increased productivity and more.

Book your 20 minute Free Call Here!