“Look Upstream” and “Less is More” are two mottos embedded into Dr. Amber Walker's clinical lexicon. Once sidelined by the perfect storm of chronic inflammation and boasting a resume of dozens of diagnoses, Dr. Walker made it her mission to figure out the root issues behind her suffering and that of her patients with the ultimate goal of empowering others to heal themselves. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, she pursued additional training and certifications in functional medicine, nutrition, autonomic response muscle testing, sound healing, nervous system rewiring, and emotional release along her career path. When she realized how possible it is to reverse labels and diagnoses, turn back the clock on aging, and help people thrive again, she dedicated her practice to helping others do just that.
In this interview, Dr. Walker expands on the back story behind her drive to help others get their lives back.
Amber Walker, Owner of Origin Wellness
What is your origin story?
I’m in my 40s now and hit rock bottom with my health a decade ago, but truthfully, I’d been experiencing puzzling and often debilitating symptoms since childhood. In an interesting parallel, as a physical therapist working with patients who experienced chronic pain, I became disenchanted with the conventional medical system model that (to me) felt like putting Band-Aids on inflammation instead of putting out the original fire. As I bounced from practitioner to practitioner for my own concerns, I eventually discovered clues from the functional and then foundational medicine approach.
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), hereditary angioedema, Lyme disease and coinfections, Hashimoto’s, chronic inflammatory response syndrome from mold exposure, long-Covid, multiple chemical sensitivity, ME/CFS, Raynaud’s, SIBO, MALS, primary hyperparathyroidism with kidney stones and frequent fractures, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, Chiari, craniocervical instability, celiac disease: these labels (and more) gave validation and clarity to what I was experiencing, but felt insurmountable.
Underneath all of this, I discovered that nervous system dysregulation and trauma wiring, trapped emotions, heavy metals, mycotoxins (toxins from mold), industrial and environmental chemicals, parasites, dental cavitations, and other factors were upstream and tied to my physical inflammation. Ultimately, I discovered that by addressing them gently in the right way, I was able to completely reverse the labels and diagnoses I had collected.
As I discovered clues and helpful resources, I began to write, first in a blog and on websites and later in several published books. I knew that I wasn’t alone; I also knew that most people with these conditions had few messages of hope (and even fewer affordable treatment options.)
How did you open up your own practice?
As my body healed, I obtained more training and certifications and opened up a holistic clinic called Origin Wellness, offering video calls to clients all over the world. While I started out specializing in conditions like MCAS, POTS, EDS, mold illness, and Lyme disease, I’ve recently found a knack for helping people with autoimmune conditions, fertility concerns, and post-viral struggles, too. Today, it’s still hard to put into words how impactful it is for me to help point others in the right direction to heal themselves.
There’s a lot of conflicting messaging out there and misinformation. Many patients with chronic diagnoses believe that they must manage or live with the condition for the rest of their lives. Many patients feel like they are playing a game of whack-a-mole trying to put out migrating fires instead of looking at what in the terrain is fueling the fire in the first place.
The conventional system throws medications and toxins at people. The functional medicine system attempts to “spot-treat,” often replacing medications with supplements, without necessarily going upstream. The foundational medicine approach focuses on the upstream issues of toxic burden (and the parasites that feed on and store toxins in the body) and, in my opinion, is the most fruitful approach for long-lasting healing.
Why is it important to go beyond the physical?
For many cases that feel stuck, there are layers of trapped emotions imprinted into the body from personal experiences, projections, or family line trauma that need to be released. This is where techniques like Mind Body Spirit Release™ (MBSR™) can be beneficial to support the physical detoxification and drainage pathways.
Most cases also benefit from working on healing and rewiring the autonomic nervous system. While many formal and web-based programs exist with this goal, I find an approach that involves customized somatic exercises and sound healing most powerful. Often, a state of subconscious autonomic nervous system hypervigilance is holding people back from seeing the progress in their physical detox work.
Putting it all together can feel daunting as a patient, and I appreciate being able to connect the dots and come up with a comprehensive plan that is unique to each individual. For those who don’t have the budget for one-on-one care, I’m also passionate about sharing information via courses, retreats, and group sessions.
While I have extra knowledge about conditions like mold illness, MCAS, Lyme disease, and POTS, I’ve seen a recent explosion of people seeking care for autoimmune diagnoses, frustrating mystery symptoms, long-COVID cases, and rare diseases. Any chronic (or acute) inflammatory condition is welcome and tends to respond well to this approach.
How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Over the years, my journey led me from places like Alaska (my home state) and Colorado to Peru and most recently, Mexico. I find that inner work and the process of shedding layers of things that no longer serve me are crucial components of my health. Cultivating daily life in a place that helps me balance my circadian biology with year-round sunshine, embrace nature and clean lifestyle practices, and find a like-minded community is icing on the cake. I transformed from a type-A ultramarathon runner to a (hopefully) more laid-back surfer. Connecting with water and the ocean has been one of the best sources of life and rejuvenation for me in this process, helping me stay energized, grounded, and present.
What advice do you have for people who feel stuck?
Healing and complete reversal of symptoms and diagnoses is possible. Do not give up. Symptoms are signals. Toxicity creates deficiencies and imbalances. Don’t get bogged down chasing and spot-treating. Go upstream and the symptoms will resolve.
If you feel like you’re one of those people who feel worse trying to detox or take supplements, do not lose hope! That means your pathways are extra clogged, and you may need to go slower or more gently, but it is still possible. Healing is never linear. And sometimes less is more.
There is no quick fix. Trust the process and the body’s innate ability to heal. The answers are already within you. Trust your intuition. (And as your inflammation lowers, your intuition will shine stronger.)
The end goal is not to maintain, manage, or survive. The end goal is to thrive, to reverse the clock on aging, and to experience new levels of abundance, joy, and empowerment.
For readers inspired by this conversation and eager to start their journey, what first steps would you recommend?
For the most updated information, head over to my website to look at options for customized care, groups, retreats and events, book publications, and courses.
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