Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Alejandro Junger, author of the book Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself and respected physician to the stars, about his own uncommon life and what he thinks is essential to pursuing your passions and succeeding.
Dr. Junger’s cleanse system and alternative health programs have recently garnered a lot of attention due to the endorsement friend and patient Gwenyth Paltrow gave to the book in one of her recent GOOP newsletters. However, the Ironman star is not the first celebrity to sing the praises of Dr. Junger’s system: Lauren Conrad of The Hills fame, and superstar designer Donna Karan also swear by Clean ideology.
Today, Dr. Junger is a successful, respected, and well known leader in his field and his passion. Below are a few choice excerpts from my interview with the intriguing and very uncommon doctor, along with his tips on how to live – and succeed – uncommonly.
Nacie Carson: What event or experience do you credit with shifting your life’s focus away from just medicine to the “Open Minded” medicine you now strongly advocate? Why did it affect you so strongly?
Dr. Alejandro Junger: Soon after I graduated from Medical school in Uruguay I moved to NY for my postgraduate training. The change in diet and lifestyle left me with severe allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and depression. After visiting an allergist, a gastroenterologist and a psychiatrist, I was left with 7 prescription medications. The shock of suddenly being condemned to chemicals in order to function was not as shocking as the fact that I was practicing the same kind of medicine with my patients. A pill for an ill.
I was completely oblivious to the fact that my body could heal itself, if only the right conditions were created, the removal of obstacles and the addition of whatever was lacking so that my cells could do what they were born to do and were trying to do all along, to heal themselves, regenerate, restore function and even rejuvenate themselves. I came crashing to this conclusion once I desperately embarked on an intense search for a different solution to my health problems than the one my teachers were offering me, and I was offering my patients.
NC: From your personal experience, what do you think is the most important skill or trait an individual needs to develop and advocate something outside of mainstream thought like you have done?
AJ: Finding what one really, really wants to do, that which one would be doing regardless of how much money it makes you, that which makes you vibrate, is the most important thing in the world. Because once you really, really WANT to do something, who can stop you
NC: Do you have anything you would like to say to individuals who are interest in pursuing their life’s passions like you have? Any words of wisdom, warning, or humor?
AJ: If you don’t go to sleep most nights with gratitude for your day, if you don’t wake up with the desire to do what you do, if you are waiting for the end of the business hours to get the hell out of work, I suggest you take a good look at what you are doing, why you are doing it and how you are doing it.
Thank you, Dr. Junger for taking the time to chat with me about your uncommon experiences. There are some incredibly valuable pieces of wisdom in your words, and I for one feel very inspired by them! Here’s to your continued success, and it is my pleasure to dub you an honorary Uncommoner!
Here’s to your Uncommone Life,
