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65 ratings | 30 reviews | avg rating:4.92

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Stephan Neff

Goodreads Author

Born

Germany

Website

https://www.nefffunctionalmedicine.com

Genre

Nonfiction, Science, Self Help

Member Since

February 2015

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Dr Stephan Neff is a New Zealand medical doctor practising functional and integrative medicine, with a particular interest in metabolic health, environmental medicine, healthy ageing and integrative cancer care.

His medical career began in conventional hospital medicine. He trained as a specialist anaesthetist and subsequently worked for many years in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative care. This background gave him a deep respect for modern medicine and what it can achieve, particularly in acute illness, surgery and complex disease.

Over time, however, his work with patients increasingly raised a different set of questions. Why do some people develop chronic illness while others remain well? Why can symptoms persist despite apparen Dr Stephan Neff is a New Zealand medical doctor practising functional and integrative medicine, with a particular interest in metabolic health, environmental medicine, healthy ageing and integrative cancer care.

His medical career began in conventional hospital medicine. He trained as a specialist anaesthetist and subsequently worked for many years in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative care. This background gave him a deep respect for modern medicine and what it can achieve, particularly in acute illness, surgery and complex disease.

Over time, however, his work with patients increasingly raised a different set of questions. Why do some people develop chronic illness while others remain well? Why can symptoms persist despite apparently reassuring investigations? What roles do metabolism, nutrition, sleep, inflammation, environmental exposures, psychological stress and lifestyle play in the development and persistence of disease?

These questions led Stephan into further training in functional and integrative medicine and ultimately changed the direction of his medical practice.

Today, his approach brings these worlds together. He uses conventional medical assessment and investigation alongside a broader examination of the biological systems that influence health. Rather than viewing functional medicine as an alternative to conventional medicine, he sees it as an extension of the clinical toolkit: another way of asking why illness has developed, what may be perpetuating it, and which modifiable factors can reasonably be addressed.

His clinical interests include metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, environmental illness, hormonal and nutritional health, healthy ageing, chronic pain and complex multisystem illness.

A growing area of his work is integrative cancer care. His approach is explicitly complementary to conventional oncology rather than a replacement for it. He is particularly interested in the biology of cancer, the metabolic and physiological health of the person living with cancer, treatment resilience, supportive therapies, and the careful evaluation of emerging or complementary interventions. He believes that promising ideas deserve investigation, but that biological plausibility should never be confused with clinical proof.

This reflects a broader principle that runs through his work: medicine should be scientifically rigorous without becoming intellectually narrow, and open-minded without abandoning critical thinking.

Stephan is also an author, educator and speaker. His earlier writing explored mental health, adversity and recovery, drawing in part on his own life experience. Those experiences have continued to influence the way he practises medicine, particularly his appreciation of the relationship between physical health, psychological wellbeing, environment and the circumstances in which people live.

His current educational work focuses increasingly on helping patients understand complex medical science well enough to participate meaningfully in decisions about their own health.

At the centre of Stephan's work is a simple idea: excellent medicine should not require a choice between conventional medical care and a broader understanding of the person receiving it. The two can coexist.

His aim is to help build that bridge.
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Stephan Neff’s books

Average rating: 4.85 · 20 ratings · 5 reviews · 11 distinct works

	Dangerously Good German Cheesecakes 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Depression Lied to Me by Stephan Neff (Goodreads Author), Taimi Allan, Julia Barton it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Steps To Sobriety: Living a fantastic life without alcohol it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	German Christmas Traditions it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dangerously Good German Christmas Cookies it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hunting Dama Wallabies in New Zealand it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dangerously Good German Gluehwein: And Other Hot Drinks For Cold Days it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	For Kaiser and Reich: If you were born to heal, could you kill to survive? really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Steps To Sobriety: Live Happy, Choose Clarity & Be Your Best Self Without Addiction 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Flammkuchen - Dangerously Good German Pizzas 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Stephan Neff…

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The Heterogeneity of Cancer Metabolism (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Book 1311)

by Anne Le

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Mar 02, 2026 12:25AM

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VASSILI ZAITSEV: Secrets from a Sniper’s Notebook (Best Snipers Series 5)

by Robert F. Burgess (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 30, 2024 12:45AM

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Armageddon: The Battle for Germany 1944-45

by Max Hastings

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Nov 14, 2024 11:59PM

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Stephan Neff is currently reading The Heterogeneity of Cancer Metabolism (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Book 1311) by Anne Le	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 02, 2026 12:25AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Heterogeneity of Cancer Metabolism by Anne Le. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Heterogeneity of Cancer Metabolism by Anne Le <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Stephan Neff is currently reading VASSILI ZAITSEV: Secrets from a Sniper’s Notebook (Best Snipers Series 5) by Robert F. Burgess (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 30, 2024 12:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of VASSILI ZAITSEV by Robert F. Burgess. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — VASSILI ZAITSEV by Robert F. Burgess <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Stephan Neff is currently reading Armageddon: The Battle for Germany 1944-45 by Max Hastings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 14, 2024 11:59PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Armageddon by Max Hastings. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Armageddon by Max Hastings <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Stephan Neff is currently reading Tweak: Growing up on Crystal Meth by Nic Sheff	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Stephan Neff is currently reading Helga: Growing up in Hitler's Germany by Karen Truesdell Riehl (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Stephan Neff is currently reading Alarmstart East: The German Fighter Pilot's Experience on the Eastern Front 1941-1945 by Patrick G. Eriksson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Stephan Neff rated a book it was amazing An Eagle's Odyssey: My Decade as a Pilot in Hitler's Luftwaffe by Johannes Kaufmann	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Stephan Neff is currently reading The Warrior's Meditation: The Best-Kept Secret in Self-Improvement, Cognitive Enhancement, and Emotional Regulation, Taught by a Master of Four Samurai Arts (Total Embodiment Method TEM) by Richard L. Haight (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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