Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark joins the Root Cause Medicine Podcast to discuss ideas from her book, Medicine for All People: Science and Ancient Wisdom for Revolutionary Healing. Drawing from family medicine, integrative medicine, culinary medicine, community health and her own upbringing, she explores a broader view of medicine that includes food, plants, nature, community, service, trust, dance, gratitude, and play.
The conversation centers on a simple idea: health is shaped not only by what happens in the clinic, but also by the environments, relationships, resources, cultural traditions, and daily practices that surround a person. Dr. Maker-Clark organizes these ideas into three areas—medicines of the earth, medicines of connection, and medicines of spirit—and discusses how practitioners can think about them alongside conventional medical care.
Clinical Takeaways
Guest: Geeta Maker-Clark, MD
Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark is a family and integrative medicine physician whose work spans patient care, nutrition education, culinary medicine, and community health. In the episode, she describes early clinical work in high-risk obstetrics and underserved communities as formative in expanding her understanding of health beyond the clinic.
She co-developed culinary medicine programming connected with the University of Chicago, including medical student education and community-based nutrition programs. Her book, Medicine for All People: Science and Ancient Wisdom for Revolutionary Healing, brings together themes of ancestral knowledge, scientific research, social justice, connection, and accessible approaches to well-being.
Clinician FAQ
1. What does Dr. Maker-Clark mean by “medicine for all people”?
She uses the phrase to describe a broader framework for health that includes conventional medicine alongside food, nature, relationships, community, cultural knowledge, and everyday practices. Accessibility and social justice are central themes in the framework.
2. What is culinary medicine?
Culinary medicine combines nutrition education with practical food preparation and cooking skills. In the program discussed in the episode, medical students learn nutrition counseling and cooking skills while community and middle school programs focus on nutrition literacy, food preparation, food justice, and culturally relevant education. (Maker-Clark 2023)
3. What does research say about nature exposure and stress?
Research generally supports an association between exposure to natural environments and improvements in some measures of perceived and physiological stress. Results vary across studies, and the effects depend on factors such as the population, type of nature exposure, comparison environment, and outcome measured. (Shuda 2020)
4. Why are loneliness and social connection clinically relevant?
Social isolation and loneliness have been associated with poorer cardiovascular and brain health and with some inflammatory markers. However, loneliness and objective social isolation are distinct concepts, and evidence does not establish that every health effect attributed to social disconnection operates through inflammation. (Cené 2022) (Smith 2020)
5. Can dance support brain health?
Dance combines physical movement with rhythm, learning, coordination, and sometimes social interaction. Systematic reviews have reported changes in cognitive and neuroplasticity-related outcomes, particularly among middle-aged and older adults. The magnitude of benefit and the cognitive domains affected vary across studies. (Teixeira-Machado 2019) (Hewston 2021) (Fong Yan 2024)
6. Does practicing gratitude improve mental health?
Gratitude interventions have been associated with small improvements in well-being and, in some studies, psychological symptoms. Results are heterogeneous, and gratitude should be viewed as a supportive practice rather than a substitute for appropriate mental healthcare. (Diniz 2023) (Kerry 2023)
Timestamps / Key Moments
00:01:41 Fullscript and whole-person care
00:02:39 Introducing Medicine for All People
00:03:09 How the book’s title and philosophy developed
00:06:07 Family medicine, obstetrics, and community health
00:07:18 How living conditions shaped Dr. Maker-Clark’s view of medicine
00:10:00 Food as a central part of whole-person care
00:11:02 Growing up with food and traditional practices
00:13:19 Bringing nutrition back into clinical practice
00:15:14 Culinary medicine and medical student education
00:16:03 Bringing food education into Chicago public schools
00:17:23 Plants, ancestral knowledge, and connection with the natural world
00:20:29 Developing relationships with plants in everyday environments
00:22:49 Plants and the history of medicines
00:24:52 Nature, stress regulation, and belonging
00:27:19 Access to nature as a health-equity issue
00:31:26 Community as a medicine of connection
00:35:16 Service, or seva, and connection with others
00:41:31 Trust in healthcare relationships
00:45:22 Rebuilding trust in the body during chronic illness
00:46:39 Small practices for rebuilding self-trust
00:49:21 Why dance, gratitude, and play are “medicines of spirit”
00:50:36 Dance, movement, and neuroplasticity
00:53:28 Dance as culture, ancestry, and expression
00:54:27 Gratitude without toxic positivity
00:58:22 Why adults still need play
01:00:44 Different adult play personalities
01:03:20 Play and social development
01:05:56 Where to find Dr. Maker-Clark and her book
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Disclaimer
The views expressed on this podcast are those of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect those of Fullscript or affiliated organizations. This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Practices discussed in the episode should not replace individualized medical assessment or treatment. Patients should consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to their healthcare routine.
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