When you’ve been knocked down in life, you either stay down or get back up and fight harder. For Dr. Josh Himes, that’s not just a metaphor; it’s his story. A retired professional boxer turned clinical scientist, Dr. Himes spent years fighting in the ring before stepping into a different kind of battle: the fight for people’s health. He recently sat down with Sam Tejada, CEO and Founder of Liquivida®, on “A Healthy Point of View” podcast to talk about his journey from the boxing ring to the lab, and how he’s redefining what it means to be a healer, bringing the discipline, grit, and heart of a fighter into the world of functional medicine.
From Boxer to Doctor: The Fighter Who’s Changing Modern Medicine | Dr. Josh Himes | Ep. 93
From Boxer to Doctor: A Second Chance at Life
Himes didn’t lace up his gloves until he was 19, a late start for a sport that usually begins in childhood. After losing his college baseball scholarship and spending time in jail for fighting, boxing became his redemption.
“Boxing gave me a second chance at life,” he told Sam. “It made my life because I had to fight for everything I had.”
That same fighter’s spirit eventually led him to pursue a new purpose: helping others heal. “I wanted to stop hurting people and start helping people,” he said. “That was the goal to help people live optimally.”
The Knockout That Changed Everything
During an amateur fight early in his career, Himes cut six pounds in a single day to make weight. Hours later, he was dropped in the ring. Dehydration had left his brain vulnerable.
“I wasn’t injured, just dehydrated,” he said. “But it was a wake-up call. I learned the hard way that I can’t take my health for granted.”
That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding the human body and preventing others from making the same mistakes.
Healing the Brain from the Inside Out
Now a clinical scientist and founder of ProHealth Place, Himes works with athletes and patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Utilizing cutting-edge modalities such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy, and functional medicine, his mission is to bridge the gap between traditional and integrative care.
“When someone suffers a brain injury, not all tissue is lost,” he explained. “There’s still salvageable tissue, what we call the penumbra, that can be healed through oxygenation. Where there’s breath, there’s life.”
At his clinics, he uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy to “feed the brain what it’s starving for” – oxygen – and restore vitality at the cellular level. Combined with personalized nutrition, bloodwork analysis, and functional diagnostics, it’s an approach that focuses on root causes, not just symptoms.
Fighting the Sick-Care System
Both Sam and Himes agreed that modern medicine is often reactive instead of proactive, a “sick care” system that treats illness only after it appears.
“People wait until something’s wrong to take care of their health,” Himes said. “You have to be proactive, not reactive. Prevention and early detection are everything.”
He urges everyone, especially athletes and high performers, to be their own health advocates. “If something feels off, don’t wait. Don’t brush it under the rug. Your health deserves your aggression.”
The Power of Simple, Sustainable Health
Dr. Himes believes that true wellness isn’t expensive, it’s intentional.
“You don’t need a mansion or endless money to live healthy,” he said. “Get sunlight first thing in the morning. Take cold showers. Move your body. Eat real food.”
His nutrition philosophy is simple: the “JERF” diet, Just Eat Real Food. If it’s manmade or doesn’t rot, it’s not nourishing your body.
He also warns against the processed foods flooding grocery store shelves. “It makes me angry seeing people with a cigarette in one hand and a shopping cart full of chemical-filled junk. Our country is poisoning itself.”
Faith, Family, and Fighting for a Purpose
Beyond medicine, faith grounds Dr. Himes’ mission. Every morning, he starts his day in prayer. “Half the battle with healing is spiritual,” he said. “Faith and mindset are as powerful as any treatment.”
As a father of four, Himes leads by example, modeling a lifestyle of movement, clean eating, and gratitude. “Legacy isn’t just about what you build; it’s about what you pass down. I want my kids and grandkids to remember that I didn’t just talk about health, I lived it.”
A Movement for a Healthier America
When asked about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, Himes didn’t hesitate. “We’re finally going in the right direction,” he said. “We need more testing, more transparency, and more accountability in medicine. Your diagnosis is not your definition.”
His clinics in Pittsburgh and Charleston have already earned recognition, recently named Best Functional Medicine Clinic in Charleston. And he’s just getting started. “The future is in bringing healthcare home,” he said. “One day, every household will have the tools to take charge of their health.”
The Final Round: Don’t Settle
As the conversation wrapped, Dr. Himes shared a powerful closing message:
“Don’t let your diagnosis define you. Don’t settle. Keep fighting. Your health is worth it.”
It’s a message that transcends medicine, one rooted in resilience, responsibility, and the relentless will to rise after every fall.
Because for Dr. Josh Himes, the fight never ends.
It just found a new ring.