Between 2020 and 2023, I was a certified holistic nutritionist–an achievement born out of desperation moreso than interest. In short, I was sick of being sick, and traditional medical solutions just weren’t working. During this time, I absorbed countless hours of lectures, books, research, and podcasts produced by functional health educators and lifestyle medicine practitioners like Trails to Health Founder, Dr. Michael Henderson.
Naturally, when it came to the Wellness Issue of Bentonville City Lifestyle, I was eager to pick Dr. Henderson’s brain about why he decided to shift from his safe and cushy career in traditional medicine to opening a concierge-style, functional medicine clinic in Bentonville.
“I had it good,” he shared. “But there was this pressure to see more patients in a short amount of time. As a physician in traditional insurance-based healthcare, the more time you take with them, the less you’re reimbursed.”
Dr. Henderson explained how traditional, western medicine rewards physicians for having unhealthy patients. “The sicker the patients are, and the more meds you prescribe, the more money you get. My patients wanted more, so I got certified in lifestyle medicine in 2023. It got to the point where I knew how to help them, but I literally couldn’t in that model.”
Dr. Henderson’s wife and son are living with type 1 diabetes, so there’s no denying his appreciation for western medicine. His shift to lifestyle medicine isn’t a snub, but rather, a mission to provide a more balanced approach to healthcare that utilizes the best of both traditional and functional medicine to treat the whole person.
“Our body is not an instrument, we’re an orchestra,” he said. “There has to be harmony.”
Recognizing the limitations of his environment, Dr. Henderson started creating educational resources and tools for patients interested in lifestyle medicine, which can most easily be described as a preventative approach to health with functional, everyday life applications. *This is why we often see the terms lifestyle medicine or functional medicine used interchangeably.
“I’ve just been on a search for truth,” he said. “How can I help individuals apply the laws that govern the body to achieve harmony in their health and life?”
It was during a spring break trip that Dr. Henderson discovered the unicorn that is Bentonville and felt he had finally found a place where a functional medicine practice could thrive. “The people here are just genuinely kind people who give hugs and handshakes, and will talk with you on the porch for hours,” he said. “It seems a lot of individuals here have a strong interest in health and healthcare innovation.”
Today, Dr. Henderson is offering comprehensive care and personalized wellness plans to the Bentonville community via Trails to Health, Concierge & Functional Medicine. Locals are invited to begin their journey by, first, following @trailstohealthnwa on social media for regular wellness tips, and, second, scheduling a free consultation where they’ll meet Dr. Henderson and discuss both their background and purpose for healthy living. By identifying your unique health needs and goals, he is able to offer proactive insights to treat current health conditions and prevent illness so you can add vitality to longevity.
“For most patients, by the time they come to me, they’ve tried ten things and they’re exhausted,” he shared. “Most think their goal is to be healthy, but I don’t think it stops there. I think it’s, ‘I want to be healthy…so I can be a better mom, or friend, or sister. If we look at the ‘Why?’ behind it, the changes become rich and purposeful.”
“Our body is not an instrument, we’re an orchestra. There has to be harmony. How can I help individuals apply the laws that govern the body to achieve harmony in their health and life?”