Ever felt overwhelmed by the endless list of supplements and protocols in the functional medicine world—and wondered if there was a better way?

This week on The Herbalist’s Path, I sat down with Dr. Nikki DiNezza, chiropractor, nutritionist, and gut microbiome queen, to talk about her journey from chronic pain and burnout to vibrant health—and how herbalism completely changed the game.

From Back Pain to Gut Healing

Dr. Nikki didn’t set out to be a gut health expert. In fact, her journey started with years of chronic back pain that no amount of stretching, PT, or spinal adjustments could fix.

The surprising fix? Healing her gut. And it happened almost by accident—when she cut gluten and suddenly noticed her back pain disappeared... then came roaring back after she got accidentally glutened.

That “aha” moment sent her deep into the world of functional medicine, where she learned about autoimmune conditions, leaky gut, and food sensitivities. But what she found was a system that, over time, started to feel a little too familiar.

“We say we’re treating people, not the disease… but most functional medicine practitioners still give everyone the same leaky gut formula or SIBO protocol. It’s just another pill-for-an-ill approach—but with herbs in capsules.”

Discovering Real Herbalism

Dr. Nikki’s true shift happened when she stumbled into the world of brilliant herbalists. At her first herbal conference, she met some of my teachers like David Winston and Jim McDonald—and everything changed.

“These people were asking different questions. Instead of throwing 10 herbs at a diagnosis, they were asking: What’s the person like? What’s their constitution? Their story? Their relationship with food and healing?”

It was herbalism as a whole system of healing—not a substitute supplement aisle.

Since then, Nikki has embraced a more intuitive, food-as-medicine, person-centered approach to gut healing. And let me tell you—her results speak volumes.

Real Gut Healing (Without the $88 Curcumin Capsules)

We talked about how most gut healing programs overlook one critical thing: your nervous system. Food fear, guilt, and shame can keep people stuck in a stress response that shuts down digestion—no matter how “clean” your diet is.

We also nerded out on:

• Why diversity (in your diet AND your microbiome) is key
• The sneaky downside of elimination diets
• Herbal prokinetics and how they can radically improve digestion
• That one time Nikki helped a patient ditch $88 curcumin capsules for a $25 turmeric tincture—with better results

Want to Learn More from Dr. Nikki?

Dr. Nikki runs an incredible program called FODMAP Freedom, where she teaches people how to truly heal their gut—not just mask symptoms. She blends science-backed strategies with herbalism and intuition.

Her program opens again soon and it’s perfect for you if you’ve been stuck in food fear, dealing with SIBO or IBS, or just want to feel good in your gut again.

You can also find her on Instagram at @gut.microbiome.queen. 

Herbalism is more than remedies

It’s a way to reconnect with your body, your intuition, and the earth. Dr. Nikki’s story is proof that healing doesn’t have to be overwhelming—or expensive. Sometimes, it just takes the courage to simplify, listen, and trust in nature’s wisdom.

If you're feeling the nudge to go deeper—beyond bandaids and protocols—and truly understand how to support your body, mind, and spirit with plants, you're exactly who I built the Community Herbalist Certification Program for.

We explore the entire body—one system at a time, from the gut and immune system to brain health, skin, nerves, and more. Each month we dive deep into one focus area so you can understand how to support real healing with herbs, food, and lifestyle—without the overwhelm or confusion.

Our gut health month is just one example of how we blend modern science with traditional wisdom in a way that’s practical, empowering, and rooted in nature.

Learn more about becoming a Community Herbalist here

The world needs more healers now more than ever! If you’re feeling the call, let’s chat!