Let's Talk Wellness Now

Dr. Deb Muth 00:03Welcome to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. I am your host, Dr. Deb.And today, I have the pleasure of meeting with Dr. James Greenblatt. I’ve known Dr. Greenblatt for a very long time. We, started lecturing together, gosh, over 15 years ago.And he is an amazing practitioner. Dr. Greenblatt is dual board certified in psychiatry and internationally recognized.as a pioneer in functional and integrative psychiatry. He’s widely regarded as the leading expert on the clinical application of low-dose lithium for mental health.Dr. Greenblatt has spent more than 30 years advancing precision medicine-based approaches that move beyond symptom management to address the root causes of mental illness.And after earning his medical degree at George Washington University.Dr. Greenblatt completed his psychiatry and residency there as a fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry.Joined John Hopkins Medical School, and he currently serves as an assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University. He is a prolific author. Dr. Greenblatt has written 9 books, including his newest book, Finally Hopeful. in… available in January of 2026. We can ask him about this today.And his bestsellers finally focused the breathwork, natural treatment plan for ADHD,Answers to anorexia, Functional and Integrative Medicine for Antidepressant withdrawal, and nutritional lithium, and Untold tale of Mineral and Transforms Lives, that heals the brain.He has founded, in 2019, the Psychiatry Redefined, a leading educational platform training clinicians worldwide in functional and integrative psychiatry. He is a sought-after international speaker. Dr. Greenblatt regularly lecturesOn nutritional psychiatry and the transformative role of functional medicine.I am super excited to have him here with us today. This is going to be a pleasure. You guys are going to love this conversation that we are going to have. And I am going to pick his brain today on functional and integrative psychology and psychiatry, and combining nutrition, biochemistry, and lifestyle with mental health care.I’m really, really happy to have Dr. Greenblatt with us, so I am going to bring him on, and we are going to have this amazing conversation with my friend.Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. I’m your host, Dr. Deb, and I have with me Dr. James Greenblatt, who I have followed for… we were just chatting about this for over 20 years.He is amazing in what he is doing, and we are going to have this conversation today about integrative psychiatry and the future of mental health. So, welcome to the show, Dr. Greenblatt. James greenblatt md 03:20Thank you, Dips, good to be with you. Dr. Deb Muth 03:22Now, you’ve been pioneering this integrative psychiatry for decades. What really inspired you to bridge nutrition and psychiatry long before it’s become mainstream? James greenblatt md 03:35You know, I developed an interest in college, you know, studying nutrition, and then I remember writing papers on orthomolecular psychiatry, high dose, vitamin B3 for schizophrenia.So, I really did not think I’d be a psychiatrist. I wanted to be a pediatrician when I went to medical school, but, just early interest in nutrition and brain function.And it’s been my career now for 30-plus years. Dr. Deb Muth 04:05Wow. Can you define what integrative psychiatry actually means, and how it’s different from traditional psychiatry for most people who wouldn’t be familiar with that term? James greenblatt md 04:17Sure, I mean, I have to add the word functional as well. I mean, I think, you know, I call myself a functional psychiatrist, but for most of my career, and every book, and everything I did, I would have to use words like functional and integrative.Medicine for mental illness. And, you know, I define integrative medicine as the… Adjunctive lifestyle, mindfulness. And diet, sleep, and exercise. Dr. Deb Muth 04:46Mmm. James greenblatt md 04:46And I kind of use the term functional for kind of a deeper root cause dive, looking at nutritional deficiencies, looking at hormones, looking at genetics. And, you know, to treat patients with mental health challenges, we need both integrative and functional medicine. Dr. Deb Muth 05:05That’s awesome. You know, in our integrative space, we often kind of joke that there’s no such thing as a Prozac deficiency, right? Can you explain to our listeners how nutrient deficiencies, gut health, or inflammation can play a role in mental illness? James greenblatt md 05:23Sure, I mean, I think the most importantBeginning of this conversation would be that, you know, 10 people with depression, there might be 10 different underlying factors. Dr. Deb Muth 05:35Yeah. James greenblatt md 05:35And we do know that there’s not an antidepressant deficiency, so we have to look deeper. And… and that’s,just different than our current psychiatry model, where it’s just symptomatic-based medicine. Everyone who’s depressed. It’s an antidepressant.And by looking at functional integrative medicine, we’re looking at B12 and vitamin D and zinc and magnesium. We’re looking at hormones, we’re looking at the gut, and we’re trying to determine what might be either causing or contributing to that person’s depression. Dr. Deb Muth 06:10Is there a particular, flavor that you see more commonly with others, like depression versus anxiety versus bipolar. Is there a particular underlying factor that you see more commonly than others? James greenblatt md 06:27Well, the short answer is no, and that’s why this work takes time, because you have to think.You know, every patient that walks in the office is different. I mean, I think the overarching umbrella is nutritional deficiencies, you know, whether… regardless of weight, regardless of diet. I mean, I have people coming in who’ve been eating…You know, these ketogenic or paleo diets, you know, perfect organic foods, and are profoundly nutritionally deficient.So I think nutritional deficiencies would be number one, and then, you know, the whole host of, you know, infections and hormone problems and inflammatory issues related to celiac disease is really common in the mental health space that’s ignored. Dr. Deb Muth 07:14Yeah. Celiac disease is really not paid attention too much, other than thinking that it’s damaging the gut. They don’t really think about all the other aspects of the body that are being affected by the gut not being able to absorb the nutrients properly and then utilize them properly. It’s really sad. James greenblatt md 07:34we find out… and there’s research to support it. That’s the tragedy. This is not something, as clinicians, that we found. We have many, many years of research showing high rates of anxiety and depression, you know, amongst those with, celiac disorder because of this chronic malnutrition, and many patients present without any GI symptoms, just mental health complaints, but nobody’s looking at celiac. Dr. Deb Muth 08:02Yeah. You know, I’m sure there’s people that are listening to us thinking, there’s no way thatEverybody who’s depressed or anxious has a nutritional deficiency. When we’re… live in a country where there’s so much abundance of food, and the obesity rates are high, and most people are very plump, how could those people be deficient in nutrients? What do you say to people who think like that? James greenblatt md 08:28Yeah, I mean, I think that, you know, we have, what’s called high caloric malnutrition, so regardless of weight, I would say the vast majority of patients with a mental health issue I would say my best guess would be 90-plus percent. Dr. Deb Muth 08:47Wow. James greenblatt md 08:47We would find nutritional deficiencies. Dr. Deb Muth 08:51And part of this, we’ve discovered, is genetics. James greenblatt md 08:56People having, kind of, genetic needs for Higher amounts of certain micronutrients. Some of it is just the kinds of foods people are eating. The kind of ultra-processed food actually strips the body of micronutrients. So, it is just so common, and many of these tests are pretty simple that your primary care doctor could do in the office. Dr. Deb Muth 09:22So, traditional labs can identify some of these nutritional deficiencies. They don’t necessarily have to invest thousands of dollars in advanced nutrient testing to find these things out. James greenblatt md 09:35Absolutely. I mean, I think, you know, oftentimes when we’re working with a patient who has failed traditional psychiatric treatment, we do need some functional, testing, but I’m quite convinced we could change the trajectory of our mental health epidemic in this country by some labs that are covered by every insurance company on the planet. Like, people think of vitamin D as, you know, building bones or immune function.It has dramatic relationships to mental health problems, demonstrated over 30 years of research. So vitamin D and B12 and folate, all simple blood tests that are covered by all health insurances. Dr. Deb Muth 10:18You know, with the change of genetics, MTHFR is so popularly known these days. It’s probably the most popular genetic mutation that people know of.And in the mental health space, it plays a significant role as well in that absorption of B12 and folate. How do you look at MTHFR mutation with inside the mental health world? James greenblatt md 10:43Well, I think it’s, It’s critical, it’s required on every patient that I see, and I’ve been, known to say it would be considered malpractice for psychiatrists not to test for the MTHFR gene. Because most of my career, I’ve spent working in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and residential. So seeing those individuals that have failed outpatient treatment, so really struggling.And one of the most common things I’ve been seeing for 30 years are those psychiatric patients not responsive to traditional treatment. oftentimes have one of the more significant MTHFR variants. And so we started doing the testing in the hospital, and they came back with these you know, variants and treated with folate, the medicines worked better, and their depression got better. It is simple. And essential. So, the integrative community, our community is aware of it, but our conventional psychiatrists are not testing for MTHFR. Dr. Deb Muth 11:50Yeah, it’s so sad, isn’t it? Because it’s such a simple test, and can make such a big difference in people’s lives. I know even in the OBGYN community, we’re not looking at MTHFR, and yet we’re giving women all this folic acid that many of them might not be able to actually utilize.And we’re… in my opinion, we’re doing a disservice to those women and the children that are being born to them for that. James greenblatt md 12:15Yeah, no, it’s frustrating, when there are clear, simple, treatment interventions that could make major difference in people’s lives that are just not incorporated into, kind of, routine treatment models. Dr. Deb Muth 12:31How come we see some people with MTHFR mutations, or gene mutations, have depression and anxiety that is so severe, and then other people seem to have absolutely no problems with mental health at all, and they have a similar profile? James greenblatt md 12:47Yeah, I mean, that’s just a great example, as, you know, genes aren’t our destiny, it’s just kind of a vulnerability.And, you know, we actually, when we were in the hospital, we tested, you know. hundreds of people and staff as well. And, you know, people are going to be lived to 100 and have these very vulnerable MTHFR genes. So it’s not the genes, it’s… I call it that genetic-environmental dance. So if we add… that genetic vulnerability, and maybe we add a, you know, a Lyme infection, or a chronic stress, or a B12 deficiency, or celiac, or we could list a hundred things, stress and inflammation probably being the most significant. With that genetic vulnerability, that’s where, you know, the implications of treatment come more defined. Dr. Deb Muth 13:45Yeah. What do you think the role of trauma plays in all of this, too, with the genetics? Do you think that trauma that people are living with today makes a big impact on their genes and how their genes are being turned on or off? James greenblatt md 14:01Yeah, I mean, we know trauma is kind of, you know, sets the stage for so much psychiatric illness. I think in my… Community of mental health professionals. we kind of use the trauma as an excuse to not think of the biology. And trauma… Affects the biology. Dr. Deb Muth 14:21So… James greenblatt md 14:22without negating the past trauma or current trauma, we still need to dig deep into the B12 and MTHFR and vitamin D. But… the trauma does affect the expression of certain genes. It also ex… we see a lot of, nutritional deficiencies after trauma due to poor digestion, because the Digestive enzymes and the hydrochloric acid kind of just shut down. And so, again, eating great food, but not absorbing these micronutrients. So I’ve seen that years after trauma. Dr. Deb Muth 14:5Yeah, it’s really hard. I’ve worked with Dr. Mark Gordon, and he does a lot of trauma work for veterans, and he focuses a lot on the hormones that get affected because of the brain trauma and the head trauma that people experience in combat. Or the repetitive shot firings and things like that, and how it correlates to anxiety. And then just balancing out some of those hormones can make a significant difference for them, and he’s actually been tracking the reduction of some of the hormones as a result of those traumas. Have you seen similar things like that with mental health and hormones? James greenblatt md 15:36Not… I haven’t made that direct correlation, but what we see when we evaluate somebody with trauma is just, you know, a kind of very wide range of metabolic abnormalities from Hormonal, to insulin resistance, to nutrient deficiencies, again, that aren’t dietary related. Dr. Deb Muth 15:57So… James greenblatt md 15:58Definitely, somehow, some path from the trauma. Dr. Deb Muth 16:03Yeah. If you had to choose your most favorite cutting-edge research or biomarker that you’re most excited about right now in the world of nutritional psychology or psychiatry, what would that be? James greenblatt md 16:19Well, you know, I counted as 250 that we look at when I evaluate a site patient, but there’s one… That is so simple, and has such profound implications, and that’s looking at levels of cryptopyrrol in the urine. Dr. Deb Muth 16:36Oh, yeah. James greenblatt md 16:37urine test. It measures this, molecule, a pyrole derivative, and Most of us would have normal levels. And if it’s elevated, It is, it’s likely a genetic vulnerability, but this, cryptopyrrol just binds B6 and zinc. So you have this tremendous deficiency of B6 and zinc. And elevated cryptopyril is always associated with psychiatric symptoms, usually anxiety, but we’ve seen depression and panic and even paranoia. And it’s simple to treat. We’re talking about, you know, pennies a day, B6 and zinc. Dr. Deb Muth 17:20The marker comes down. James greenblatt md 17:23And symptoms improve. I mean, it is really stunning and dramatic. Dr. Deb Muth 17:28That is amazing, because you’re right, I mean, in something that seems so simple and so inexpensive oftentimes gets dismissed, because we think that it’s not going to do enough, but some of these things that biochemically are happening to people Really need to start being addressed, because the side effects that they’re having with multiple layers of medications is not good for them either. James greenblatt md 17:52Yeah, the amount of medications now, because of our kind of ineffective model, is just exploding, so people are taking 3, 4, 5 psychiatric medications to treat a problem that sometimes there might be a simpler solution. Dr. Deb Muth 18:11Yeah. Can you share a case example of where an integrative approach really transforms someone’s mental health when medication alone wasn’t working? James greenblatt md 18:22Sure, you know, many, but there’s one that I just talked about, A couple nights ago about a gentleman who, you know, traveled around the country seeing integrative doctors, as well as traditional doctors, had a bag full of supplements, because every Doctor put them on a different regimen. And, strong family history of depression and addiction. He struggled with depression and addiction. And, you know, could not get off antidepressants. So, he had a lot of blood work, everything was normal, and the one test that we found in our battery was low levels of essential amino acids. Dr. Deb Muth 19:08Wow. James greenblatt md 19:09So this was, someone who was eating, you know, organic foods and grass-fed protein, so he was eating the perfect diet.But he was completely deficient in amino acids. So, again, that inability to digest and absorb, so just by giving this individual hydrochloric acid. Free-form amino acids. He was able to begin to feel better, and eventually we were able to taper him off these medications. So it was just, it wasn’t dietary intake, it was a problem of digestion and absorption. Dr. Deb Muth 19:50That is incredible, because I don’t think, even in the functional medicine world, where we’re focused so heavily on gut health, we are not making that correlation that people are not digesting their proteins to make amino acids, to make neurotransmitters. That… that thought process isn’t happening with a lot of functional medicine practitioners either. James greenblatt md 20:11No, it hasn’t, and maybe because it’s too simple, you know? It’s not trying to look at 75 markers on organic acid, it’s just… Dr. Deb Muth 20:21Yeah. James greenblatt md 20:21Looking at, you know, 9 essential amino acids. And usually there’s a pattern. They’re either all low, you know, or normal, or high, and that means something. So, I remember when I first did amino acid testing, it was by mistake. I remember in the 90s, I checked the wrong box in a lab company. And it didn’t make sense to me when I first started doing it, but now it is one of the most important tests that I do for adult depression. Dr. Deb Muth 20:49Yeah. How do those amino acids, work with, like, that resistant depression, anxiety. What do they actually do that makes the anxiety and the depression worse? James greenblatt md 21:02Well, the essential amino acids, essential meaning our body needs to get them from our diet, are the precursors to every protein in the body, but in psychiatry, they’re the precursors to the neurotransmitters.So, tryptophan, precursor to serotonin, phenylalanine, the precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine. So if those are deficient.And we have studies in humans and animals, going back, I think, to the 70s, that we can affect the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. So low levels of these amino acids affect neurotransmitters. It’s actually a research protocol called tryptophan depletion studies. Where we give people in the lab low levels of tryptophan, and we watch them get irritable, depressed, and angry. Dr. Deb Muth 21:51It’s interesting that we’re willing to do that to people, right? But you’ve got to figure it out sometimes. You have to know that what you think is actually working. James greenblatt md 21:58Absolutely. Dr. Deb Muth 22:00Yeah. How do you guide patients to safely combine their natural approaches with their psychiatric medications? James greenblatt md 22:09I think the vast majority of the, the work that we’ve been doing, is all nutritional supplements or interventions that can be done with medications. So it’s not an either-or model when we think of functional psychiatry. It’s just kind of adding tools you know, to the toolbox. There are very few interactions with medications. Sometimes high-dose amino acids we won’t use with certain medications, but all the Vitamins and minerals and gut support that we’re recommending can be utilized with medications. Dr. Deb Muth 22:49That’s awesome, because I think there’s a lot of fear around that, right? Like, if I take this, it’ll interfere with that. And some things, yes, they do interfere, but it’s good for people to understand that they can do these things safely, but they need to work with somebody knowledgeable, like yourself, or somebody that has come from one of your training programs that really, truly understands this. James greenblatt md 23:10Yeah, absolutely. It’s, it’s an integrative model where individuals can Sometimes it’s just the medications work better. Other times, it’s a path to tapering someone off the medications. Dr. Deb Muth 23:24Yeah. For patients or families that are listening, and they’re really feeling frustrated by medication-only solutions, where do you recommend that they start? James greenblatt md 23:36Well, I have to say my book. So, you know, the book I just wrote, Finally, Hopeful, is written for patients, and I think the title is the best part of it, you know, Hope. I think as you begin to appreciate the role of nutrition and depression. So, there are some, some good books out there, that, on my website, psychiatryRedefine.org, there’s a list of clinicians, and, in the next month, I’ll be setting up a network of functional psychiatry clinicians, So, around the country that have been trained, so that program is called Finally Living Now, I think, Finally Living Now, so…People, want the information. Too many of our traditional docs just don’t have the training, so we’ll hopefully be able to provide a network of clinicians who can help. Dr. Deb Muth 24:30That’s fantastic, and for those of you who are driving or didn’t catch those links, don’t worry about it. We will have them in the show notes for you, so you can find these people that have been trained and understand what to do to help you. What gives you optimism about the future of psychiatric and mental health care? James greenblatt md 24:51Well, the explosion of research is really, have given me some renewed energy at this point in my career, because in the last 5 years. There are just hundreds of incredibly well-written academic articles, references that our traditional researchers have kind of just validated everything that we’ve been saying for 30 years. So we have studies on vitamin D deficiency, and suicide, and zinc deficiency, and suicide, and folate, and the gut. And the most significant for me is, I’ve been talking about lithium orotate. Dr. Deb Muth 25:34Print this. James greenblatt md 25:34years as a nutritional intervention, probably the most important in my practice, and a study came out of Harvard. This year, Describing lithium orotate, the only lithium preparation that was able to reverse Alzheimer’s pathology in mice models. and prevent it in these models. It was a pretty dramatic study. Dr. Deb Muth 25:57Oh. James greenblatt md 25:58So… Long-inded answer, but it’s the research now that is just supporting everything we’ve been yelling about for 30 years that just is going to make it much easier to train doctors and nurse practitioners so we can help more patients. Dr. Deb Muth 26:15Oh, that’s fantastic. That’s an… I’m going to look up that study, that’s amazing. So, one last question for you is, if someone was listening today, and they’re really struggling with anxiety and depression, and they’re out of answers, what would you tell them to give them hope? James greenblatt md 26:32I think that, you know, I’ve been doing this 30 years, and I have colleagues around the globe, and Everyone would kind of just echo that there are some simple interventions, and to try to find either your primary care doctor, or a mental health professional, or a naturopath who will dig deeper and look at some objective tests, and I’m positive that if you’re struggling with depression, that they’ll find something to help you. Dr. Deb Muth 27:06That’s awesome. Thank you so much for joining us today. Are there any last thoughts that you want to leave with our listeners? James greenblatt md 27:13Well, just to repeat two things I’ve said a couple times is, hope, you know, finally hopeful is the book, and then everyone’s different. And your neighbor might be taking, you know, found out that they had a vitamin B12 deficiency, and that cured their depression. it doesn’t mean you have a B12 deficiency, but there are many. a path towards looking deeper. Everyone’s different, but there is hope. Dr. Deb Muth 27:44Thank you so much for joining me today. James greenblatt md 27:46Thanks for having me, nice talking with you. Dr. Deb Muth 27:52Thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now and Dr. James Greenblatt for the insightful conversation on integrative psychiatry and the future of mental health.If you’ve ever felt dismissed, over-medicated, or frustrated by cookie-cutter approaches to mental health, remember, there is always hope. Healing begins when we look deeper at nutrition, environment, biochemistry, and the unique story within every patient. That’s the art and the science Dr. Greenblatt calls us back to. If today’s episode resonated with you.Share it with someone who needs to hear that mental health illness is not a life sentence. It’s a message from the body, asking to be completely understood. Remember, wellness isn’t just about feeling good, it’s about thriving in every area of your life. If you’re ready to explore how root cause psychiatry or functional medicine can help you or a loved one find hope again, visit DrGreenblatt.com and check out his new book that is just out. Until next time, I’m Dr. Deb, reminding you to take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Be well, and I will see you in our next episode.The post Episode 263 – Functional and integrative psychiatry: combining nutrition, biochemistry, and lifestyle with mental health care first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth 0:03What are the answers to your child’s chronic allergies, ADHD, or autism?weren’t just in another prescription, but in restoring balance to their body chemistry. Today’s guest has spent nearly two decades uncovering those answers through integrative and biomedical medicine. That’s a mouthful, isn’t it?Helping children heal when nothing else seemed to work.This is the conversation about science, compassion, and changing the future of pediatric care.Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. The show where we uncover the root causes of chronic illness, explore regenerative breakthroughs, and empower you with the practical tools to heal. I’m your host, Dr. Deb, your medical detective, and today’s episode is one every patient should hear.My guest is Dr. Anu Usman Singh, Medical Director of True Health Medical Center in Naperville, Illinois, and the owner of Pure Compounding Pharmacy.And for over 17 years, she has been pioneering evidence-based integrative interventions for children with ADD, autism, allergies, and complex gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders. She’s not only a practicing physician, she’s a researcher who’s investigated copper-zinc imbalances.metallonine dysfunction, biofilm-related infections, vitamin D in pregnancy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.Dr. Usman serves on the executive board of TACA, and is a faculty member at MAPS, training other practitioners in pediatric integrative care. So get ready for a conversation that will open your mind and heart to the possibilities of when medicine truly becomes holistic.If you guys can insert the ad in here, that’d be great.Well, welcome back. I’m so excited to have Dr. Usman with me today. I have known her for, oh my gosh, 15, 17 years, something like that. We’re aging ourselves. Anju 02:32Oh, yeah, when we were in our 20s, right? Dr. Deb Muth 02:35Yes, exactly. So, welcome back, and I am so excited for you to be here, because you have literally helped thousands of families over the years.But I’d love for you to share a little bit about your journey, kind of who you are, what drew you into exploring integrative and biomedical approaches for helping children and families. Anju 02:58I think my journey is similar to a lot of you out there, the audience. I mean, we’re looking to help our families, and our kids, and ourselves, and I was doing my residency at Cook County Hospital, downtown Chicago, in the 80s.And I thought, oh my goodness, if I could take care of the sickest patients, then I can take care of anybody. So I came from Indiana, and I went to Cook County, and my children, my eldest daughter, started having, severe allergies and asthma, really, really at a young age.And I went to, like, my residence, and I went to my attendings, and I said, this baby is wheezing. And they told me, babies don’t have asthma.And I said, she has all the symptoms of asthma. She has asthma. And I remember with, in her crib, I would just nebulize her, you know, and I was like, what is going on?And I figured out that she had a lot of food allergies, and I was nursing her, eating the foods that she was allergic to, and back then, in the 80s, you know, we didn’t have the internet, we didn’t have Whole Foods, and I just…being a doctor, and I didn’t even know what to do, and I felt so hopeless. And I thought, gosh, you know, I’m a doctor, I have these, like, skills, I have… people I can talk to, and I still feel so… it’s so difficult. And then this… my particular daughter, the oldest one, her name is Priya, and she developed severe, asthma, and I couldn’t figure it out. She was in junior high. Every time she would walk into the lunchroom, she would have a severe asthma attack.And I’ll be like, what’s going on? What’s going on? I kept her home over the weekend, she was better. I sent her back to school, she was bad again.And we figured it out that it was other people eating peanuts. Dr. Deb Muth 04:54Severe peanut allergy. Anju 04:56And I went to the school, and I said, she…can you, like, put her somewhere else? Can… they said, oh, no, that’s not fair to other kids and their food. And this was in the 90s. Dr. Deb Muth 05:10Yeah. Anju 05:10And so, I just…You know, my heart goes out to families who are struggling to find answers for their kids, and my daughter Priya, the one I told you about, she ended up passing away from a peanut allergy.And so, I’ve just… Dr. Deb Muth 05:26Yeah. Anju 05:27My heart goes out to parents and my own kids and their illnesses.And so I just started working with families, with kids, andIt just kind of grew from there. Dr. Deb Muth 05:40Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and I think being a mom who went through that yourself, and…was seen but not heard, and turned away from the traditional medical community, you’re forced to start finding answers on your own. And we always feel like we’re on an island by ourselves in the medical world when we’re doing that. Anju 06:01Yeah, I, it was really hard when I found out, you know, about…Integrative medicine, and just different…ideas and approaches to diet and supplements, I thought, how come I wasn’t trained in any of this?And… Dr. Deb Muth 06:21So angry when I learned some of the things that I learned in the beginning. I was like, same thing, like, how did they not teach us this? And then I think, you know, it’s my fault, was I asleep, was I not paying attention, whatever. And then you just realize, like, there’s this whole part of the human body.That they just didn’t teach us. Anju 06:42Yeah, so then I… I, probably like you, we had to learn it on our own. There weren’t, like, classes or any way to learn this stuffAnd I just reached out. There’s a clinic that,I don’t know if you’ve heard of the Pfeiffer Treatment Center? Dr. Deb Muth 07:00No. Anju 07:01Do you know Carl Pfeiffer from the attendees.He has a clinic called the Pfeiffer Treatment Center in New Jersey. It was called the Princeton Brain Bio Center. Dr. Deb Muth 07:12And in the 70s, they did orthomolecular medicine for patients with ADD. Anju 07:18And schizophrenia. Dr. Deb Muth 07:20Mmm… Anju 07:21and depression.And they used to categorize them in 3 categories, and at the time, they called them histopenics, histidelics, and pyrolurics. Dr. Deb Muth 07:31Okay. Anju 07:32Histapenix were low histamine patients.Delix were high histamine patients, and pyrolurics were their own kind of category. We added another category of copper-zinc imbalances, and then we would categorize that population into high histamine, low histamine, pyrolurics, and copper-zinc.Now we talk about under-methylation, over-methylation. Sure. So, under-methylation is the, you know, the high histamine people, they can’t clear the histamine. And the over-methylators are, you know, what we call about low histamine now.And, and then pyrolurics and copper zinc. So…I lost my train of thought, but in the 80s, when I was going through this, in the 90s, I reached out to the Pfeiffer Treatment Center.He’s like, can I calm and just hang out and, like, see what you guys do? Because I need some answers.And I started working there and, started doing research on copper-zinc imbalances, and I did it in children with autism.And that’s how people started coming to me, and I kinda got, like. not famous, but I, you know, the word spread about, okay, we could talk about it, and Dr.Walsh was the, you know, PhD there that did a lot of the research, so we worked together for 8 years. Dr. Deb Muth 09:05Isn’t it crazy to think that we knew about histamine issues way back in the 70s? You know, I got the pleasure of being trained by, environmental medicine doctors. Dr. Wayne Konetsky and Glenn Toth taught me about environmental medicine, and what we called histamine issues that we call it today, mast cell, right? But when I was learning in the early 2000s, it was labeled as chemical sensitivity. And so it was just people that would react to everything, and we really didn’t know why, and they didn’t necessarily have this very specific allergic reaction, but we knew they were reacting, and we would try to treat them, to lower the histamine way back then. And it’s taken all these years, 25 years, to get to a point where we understand mast cell activation now, and histamine issues.And it’s really sad to me that it’s taking this long for us to identify things.And we’ve all got our journey, and I loved back in those days, too, because as I learned, I would call people up and say, hey, I just got a patient from you, and they told me this great story, and I have other people, can I come see what you were doing? And back then, everybody was very open. They were like, yes, please, come, learn. Now everybody’s like, oh, we can’t teach you, we can’t give you our secrets, but…Or pay me $20,000 to come learn with me. But back then, I mean, everybody was just… we were all in the same boat. We were all just trying to learn from each other. Anju 10:36Oh, yeah, oh yeah, and any bit of knowledge you got, you’re like… Dr. Deb Muth 10:41Yes. Anju 10:41God, you know, I learned this piece, and… Dr. Deb Muth 10:43Hmm? Anju 10:44We just kind of built from that. I keep thinking about back then, you know,the under-methylators, over-methylators, copper, zinc, and then I learned about metals.And then, as a physician, I was like, oh, okay, well, there’s mercury in vaccines, there’s aluminum in vaccines, and now I’m seeing these high levels. Dr. Deb Muth 11:04In my patients, now what happens? Anju 11:07And then we started, kind of, trying to get the word out about those things. Dr. Deb Muth 11:13Yeah. Anju 11:13And in 2000, a lot of the people that I knew put out a paper about, you know, mercury. Dr. Deb Muth 11:22And then… Anju 11:22And we all got on the Mercury bandwagon. Dr. Deb Muth 11:25Yes. Anju 11:26And did that for a while, and then we started learning about other things, like mitochondrial issues in chronically ill people, and these chronic infections, like Lyme disease, and so… and then now, you know, understanding mast cell activation, cell danger response. Dr. Deb Muth 11:44On endocrine, and adrenals, and hormones, and… Anju 11:48Yeah. Dr. Deb Muth 11:49biofilms. Anju 11:50Biofilms, I started talking about that in 2007. Dr. Deb Muth 11:54And so then… Anju 11:56It just… it just kind of keeps adding, and keeps adding, and keeps adding, and it’s like…Sometimes you think, how come I didn’t know about this back then? But I feel like it’s a process. Dr. Deb Muth 12:06It definitely is a process, and it’s amazing to seehow many people are researching different things, and they’re all, like, putting a piece of the puzzle together. And I think this is really important for our listeners to understand, is when you see a practitioner and they don’t have all the answers, this is why. It’s very complicated, it’s not black and white. And I’ve had patients over the years say to me, well, why didn’t you say this to me 6 months ago? And the truth of the matter was, I didn’t knowabout it 6 months ago. Like, all of this stuff is just… it’s evolving constantly, and when you’re a practitioner like Dr. Usman and myself, you are learning every single day. Our training has never stopped from the day we stepped into integrated medicine, and you just… you keep learning new things, and sharing new things, and talking to new people, and that’s what expands our knowledge base. Anju 12:57Yeah, the more I learn, the less I feel like I know. Dr. Deb Muth 13:01Yes, me too. Every time I go to a conference, I’m like, how did I not know this? How am I stupid? And I know we shouldn’t say that word and call ourselves that, but sometimes you feel like that. It’s like, how did I not know? Anju 13:14Or you’ll see a patient, and you’ll look at them, and you’re like, how come I didn’t realize this about this particular patient? Dr. Deb Muth 13:20Yes. Anju 13:21Yeah, they present differently, see things differently. I think that’s why it’s good to find a doctor that you trust and that you can work with, because it’s evolving. Dr. Deb Muth 13:31Yes. And, you know, we have those patients that they come, and I get those. I call myself, like, a tertiary care center. Anju 13:38You know, you get those patients that have been everywhere, and seen every doctor, and then they’re like, you’re my last hope, you’re gonna solve all my problems, and…I say to them. We’re a team, like, we’re gonna solve these together, but it takes time for me to unravel this puzzle. Dr. Deb Muth 13:54Excuse me? Anju 13:54And it… and sometimes, you know, there’s a few hits and misses along the way. Dr. Deb Muth 14:00Yup, but if. Anju 14:00If we keep at it, you know, we also say it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Yes. You know, if we keep at it, we can kind of figure it out together. Dr. Deb Muth 14:09Yeah, and a partnership, for sure, because without the feedback of the person you’re working with.understanding, like, we do this, and this happens to you, it’s very complicated as a practitioner to then be able to figure out, what do we do next? I see more and more clients these days, they come in and they just want to ask me within the first 5 minutes of, what am I changing? And I’m like, I have no clue yet. Like, you have to tell me what’s happened since the last time we did something, and then we have to look at labs, and we have to look at this, and we… it’s a synopsis.that we have to look at. You know, it’s not that black and white for us to be able to put the pieces together for them. Anju 14:47I think my most successful patients are the ones who are able to communicate with me.Their ups and downs. Yeah. And they also use their own intuition. Help me guide them. Dr. Deb Muth 15:06Yeah. Anju 15:07So, there are some people that they just hear, you do it, and you tell me.There are people who try to tell me everything. Dr. Deb Muth 15:15Okay. Anju 15:15Say, I want you to do this, do this, do this. Dr. Deb Muth 15:17Yeah, so I was like, okay. Anju 15:19I can do those things, but, you know, like. Dr. Deb Muth 15:21Yep. Anju 15:22think about blah blah. But, like, this… that collaboration.and, intuition. I kind of feel like even thoughI’ve trained allopathically as a traditional medical doctor. I feel like as I learn, I learn that being open and,Letting go of fear. Dr. Deb Muth 15:46Yeah. Anju 15:47And, not trying to jump on every, like, new thing, and being. Dr. Deb Muth 15:53consistent. Anju 15:54and diligent. really helps. Dr. Deb Muth 15:58It helps a ton. We see that, too, you know, the latest…Instagram influencer that’s talking about the latest topic, and all of a sudden, everybody sees themselves in there, and they must have that, but not realizing putting those connections together. It’s like when MTHFR came out, right? We were all so excited that this was going to be the detox gene.And then we learned so much more about genes, and now MTHFR is very popular again, and everyone’s talking about it, but they don’t understand how some of those other genetics fit together. And if you don’t understand that, we’ve all done it, we’ve all made people worse instead of better, sometimes when we’ve given too many methyl groups together, or this supplement without this support before we knew that there was another gene that we had to support for that.And I think it’s really important for people that are listening to us today talk about this, is don’t just jump on the bandwagon. Like, you really want to work with somebody seasoned who understands how all these pieces fit together. Anju 16:57Yeah, and I think that’s what individualized medicine is about.And there is no magic here, a magic bullet.I think that example of MTHFR is really good. Now, President Trump talked about Leukovorin. Dr. Deb Muth 17:14Yes. Anju 17:15in, and, you know, he’ll get up and say something like, leukovorin cures autism.And then the rest of us are like…Did you just say that? Dr. Deb Muth 17:26Yep, he did. Anju 17:30It’s folinic acid, it’s calcium folinic acid, it’s been around a long time. We’ve been using it for 20 years. Dr. Deb Muth 17:37Yeah. Anju 17:38But it does help a subset of people who potentially have what we call cerebral folate deficiency.And some of those people are misdiagnosed as autism. Dr. Deb Muth 17:50Yeah. Anju 17:51So, are you treating autism, or are you treating cerebral folate deficiency?same thing I could say about… I have a lot of cases of kids who recovered from autism.and severe ADHD using chelation type of. Dr. Deb Muth 18:06up. Anju 18:06Approaches, or detox approaches.again, did we treat their ADD and their autism, or did we treat their lead…Toxicity or lead burden, and their symptoms of those things got better. Dr. Deb Muth 18:20Yeah. Anju 18:20So, like, to put a big, like, a label like, oh, ADD on something, or autism on something, I think it does a disserviceTo the individuals, because it’s such a broad issue. Dr. Deb Muth 18:35It is, and I think the diagnosis has gotten to be much more popular these days.And yes, thank goodness we’re getting better diagnostics, but sometimes we’re getting over-diagnosis, or like you said, it may look like one thing, but it could be something else, but because it looks like autism, they’re going to get labeled with autism.And in some respects, that’s good, they can get more services that way, but sometimes we’re missing the actual picture of it. Can you talk a little bit about how autism is different than the cerebral folate deficiency? Anju 19:11Yeah, so there are some people that make an antibody to their folate receptor. Dr. Deb Muth 19:18Hmm. Anju 19:20So, to get folic acid into your cells, there’s a receptor on your cells. Dr. Deb Muth 19:25And then the folate has to bind to it, and then it lets it enter into the cells. Anju 19:30And there’s these receptors that allow folic acid to get into your brain.Now, you and I know when you put folate in your brain.On one end of the folate cycle, you help make more neurotransmitters. You’ll make something called BH4, and that’ll help make serotonin and dopamine, and then norepinephrine and epinephrine. So folate is really important for making your neurotransmitters, folate and B12.On the other end, it’s like, another cycle on the other end of folate is our methylation cycle.And methylation is so important for our RNA and our DNA, and making choline, phosphatoly choline, and making creatine for speech.And helping us with all the precursors for detoxification.So without folate in our brain, we can’t make our neurotransmitters efficiently, we can’t break them down efficiently, and we can’t detox our brain.Imagine what that will do to your brain. Dr. Deb Muth 20:36Yeah, Anju 20:37And you will see symptoms like speech delays, cognitive delays, processing issues, poor attention.All of those things. Excitation, anxiety.All of those, and so if the folate isn’t getting into the brain efficiently, then we’ll have all these symptoms, and we’ll end up with diagnoses like these. Dr. Deb Muth 20:59Yeah, so is there a way that people who are listening to this can request a test to see if they make this antibody to folate, or is it more of a diagnosis of exclusion? Anju 21:14That’s a great question. When I first started doing this, like, 20 years ago, there was, like, a university that was doing this.studies, and it was Dr. Quadros. He was the guy, and we would take samples and send them to his lab, and he would tell us about these blocking and binding. Dr. Deb Muth 21:30folate antibodies. Anju 21:32And if patients had positive blocking or binding folate antibodies, we would follow his protocol. And he’s done papers on patients with severe autism.Where he found these folate antibodies, and then did spinal taps on the kids, and they were associated with this cerebral folate deficiency. the cerebral… spinal fluid.And in his papers, he gave .5 to 2 milligrams per kilogram of calcium folinic acid, which is leukovorin. It’s a vitamin. And over a 6-month to a 12-month period.The majority of those patients improved drastically.Some of them regained speech, and some of them lost their autism diagnosis. Dr. Deb Muth 22:26Because they never truly had autism. Anju 22:29Well, they have autism symptoms, and that’s what autism is, but we call it autisms. Dr. Deb Muth 22:36Yeah. Anju 22:37And so now, like, we need the research to categorize these people. You know, what percentage of autism is cerebral folate deficiency? Yeah. What percentage of autism is, heavy metal. Dr. Deb Muth 22:51Bourbon. Anju 22:52And what percentage of autism is Clostridia overgrowth, or… Dr. Deb Muth 22:57Hmm. Anju 22:57microbiome… Dysfunction, and then there’s overlap. Dr. Deb Muth 23:01Right, yeah, Lyme and mold and viruses. Anju 23:04and infections, and you can see… Dr. Deb Muth 23:07injury from medications and things like that that happen, or birth traumas. Yeah, I mean, it’s not… it’s not as simple as what people think autism is.Why do you think that we’re seeing so much more autism today than when you and I were kids? We didn’t see this that often. I know environment has a lot to do with it, but do you have a couple of things that you suspect are contributing to the rise of autism these days? Anju 23:38Yeah, I mean, that’s a million dollar question. Dr. Deb Muth 23:40Right. Anju 23:41And, just because I work with children, you know it’s not just autism that’s epidemic, and yeah. Dr. Deb Muth 23:49You know that. I mean, it’s… it’s probably… if you add all the epidemics that are happening to children. Anju 23:54Autism still supersedes it.Now it’s 1 in 33s, 1 in 35 boys, I mean, it’s…children. It’s really sad. When I was in med school, it was 1 in 10,000. Dr. Deb Muth 24:10That’s crazy. Anju 24:11What’s causing it? I mean, obviously it’s multifactorial. Dr. Deb Muth 24:15Yeah, 80,000 chemicals in the environment that we never had before. Anju 24:20I, I, I, look, I’ve… 219 million. Dr. Deb Muth 24:26Oh my gosh. Anju 24:27I looked it up today. Dr. Deb Muth 24:29119 million different chemicals in the environment. Wow. Anju 24:33We don’t know how many of those are super toxic. Dr. Deb Muth 24:36Yeah, and we don’t know what they do together. Anju 24:38A lot of them were, like, before, like, grandfathered in and all of that.Yeah, it’s really crazy about the chemicals. So, chemicals… I kind of… feel like…you know, this burden of all this, it’s not just on our children, it’s on our mothers. Dr. Deb Muth 24:56Yes. Anju 24:56oh my gosh, the moms of these children that… And they don’t even realize it, you know, we’re just so happy to be pregnant and have a kid.So I think it really, really starts with that piece. Care, good prenatal care, yeah. Yeah, and not just what we think is prenatal care, taking your prenatal vitamins. Dr. Deb Muth 25:18Yes. Anju 25:19And going to your gynecologist, but what you and I think is prenatal care, you know, before you get pregnant, let’s detox, let’s clean up our diet, let’s get rid of those chemicals, let’s make sure we’re not in a moldy environment.You know, let’s do our due diligence, clean air, clean water, clean food, sunshine. When I did my residency at county, I don’t think I saw the sun for 3 years. Dr. Deb Muth 25:44How?Yeah. Anju 25:46it’s just that intense, and I was pregnant twice, and my eldest hasthe allergies and asthma. Number 2 is type 1 diabetes and mold sensitivities and allergies and asthma. Number 3 has severe chemical sensitivities, mast cell activation,Hormonal issues. Dr. Deb Muth 26:09Yeah. Anju 26:09And… number 4 is my… Golden, baby. Dr. Deb Muth 26:15And those three, you know, those years that you’re there, and you’re not seeing the sunlight, there’s vitamin D deficiency, and we don’t talk about vitamin D that much during pregnancy.I still am appalled that we’re giving folic acid these days during pregnancy instead of folate, but… Anju 26:36Folenic, or methylfolate? Dr. Deb Muth 26:38Yeah, nothing. So, when, when you,discovered vitamin D in pregnancy, and it’s linked to neurodevelopment outcomes. How did you stumble across that? Anju 26:50Well, in… when I started working on Copper Zinc, Dr. Walsh and I would go to the, like, DAN conferences.Yeah. At the time, and it was interesting, because DAM conferences were a collaboration between parents.And practitioners, and researchers. Dr. Deb Muth 27:10Very unique for. Anju 27:11That’s how that new IACC committee is. It’s a collaboration of parents. Dr. Deb Muth 27:17Hmm. Anju 27:18Practitioners, researchers, And individuals with autism. Dr. Deb Muth 27:25Yeah, so for those of you who are listening to us, it’s… we’re talking about the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee that Bobby Kennedy just put together. It’s called IACC, and they are on a mission to try to do the research to figure out what’s causing autism. Anju 27:43Yeah, and not just causing it, like, these people have been living it, most of the people on that committee have been living it, and their whole lives, for some of them.And being able to bring forwardlike the question about vitamin D, we started seeing a lot of patients in Minnesota. Dr. Deb Muth 28:04Mmm. Anju 28:05who were from Somalia. Dr. Deb Muth 28:08Okay. Anju 28:09Who were… it was, like, 1 in 4 families with kids with autism.And the theory was that the vitamin D levels that they get in Somalia versus the vitamin D levels that the moms get in Minnesota. Dr. Deb Muth 28:27Hmm? Anju 28:28Affected the immune system. Dr. Deb Muth 28:31Yeah. Anju 28:32predispose them. So there’s a few papers on that. Dr. Deb Muth 28:36Yeah, that’s a… I mean, it would be a very significant difference, and when you’re thinking about genetically, like, what their culture, who they are as a species.was used to and adapted to with the sunlight and different things from a different region, geographical region, and then they moved to a new geographical region, that can take decades before the body adapts and readjusts.to that new environment. We don’t think about those things in…traditional medicine, and conventional medicine, as most people know it, but we do in functional medicine. Anju 29:14Yeah, so again, the clinicians were bringing this up, like, why am I seeing so many families? Dr. Deb Muth 29:18Yeah. Anju 29:18Then let me go to the… and then in the think tank, the vitamin D researcher said it’s vitamin D. Dr. Deb Muth 29:24Yeah. Anju 29:25And then they started researching it, and it was almost like a backwards… backwards. Dr. Deb Muth 29:31Thank you. You know, they didn’t first… Anju 29:33Think it. Dr. Deb Muth 29:34Think about it, yeah. Anju 29:35Until you start seeing… and that’s why I think that, like.clinicians like you and me, who are… I consider us on the front lines. We’re the front lines. We are seeing… we’re seeing this epidemic unfold. Dr. Deb Muth 29:46Yes. Anju 29:47front of our eyes, we’re seeing, like, the gut issues and the severe inflammation. We’re seeing the autoimmunity, and now they have to study it. Dr. Deb Muth 29:57Yeah. Anju 29:57They have to study this. They really, really, we really need, we really need protocols, we need tools, we need things that you and I have been figuring out anecdotally with our colleagues over the years, and, oh, how do we treat yeast? How do we treat Lyme? How do we treat metal burden?For this podcast today, I wanted to talk about low-level lead exposure, because for me.1 in 3 children have a lead level, above 5. 1 and 3. Dr. Deb Muth 30:31Yeah, that’s very high. Anju 30:33800 million children. Dr. Deb Muth 30:36And let’s clarify this, because the first thing people are going to think of is, what are they eating? They’re not eating lead paint to get this. That is not what’s happening here. They are getting lead from someplace else, and their bodies are not able to detox this. Anju 30:53And the reason I’m bringing this up is because when I was in residency at County in the 90s, I ran a… I worked at a lead clinic. Dr. Deb Muth 31:01And back then. Anju 31:03When we looked… we just diagnosed lead toxicity, the level was 60. Dr. Deb Muth 31:10Their level had to be 60 to diagnose them. Anju 31:13Correct. Dr. Deb Muth 31:13Oh my gosh. Anju 31:14And that’s when we would treat.And back then, there was a study, it’s called the TLC study, where they used DMSA, which is a drug to lower lead.And our goal was to get it from 60 to 20. Dr. Deb Muth 31:33And was the normal range the same back then as it is today? Anju 31:37The normal range has gone from 60 to 40 to 20 to 10 to 5 to 3.5.But you and I know I’m the normal range. Dr. Deb Muth 31:47Yes. Anju 31:47Zero. Dr. Deb Muth 31:48Zero. Anju 31:50So… so again, in my… in the lead clinic, we were given DMSA, and we got the lead from 60 to 20, and the number one thing was to get rid of the lead in the environment. Dr. Deb Muth 32:02Yeah. Anju 32:03But we haven’t evolved since then.Because in that study, It did not improve cognitive abilities. So if you think about what lead does, it causes attention issues, slow processing, it affects hearing, it can cause hyperactivity, it can cause impulsivity, it can cause aggression, it can cause constipation, it can cause hypotonia.So if you think about all these kids with ADD and autism, how many of them have low-level lead exposure from the lead pipes? In Chicago, it’s a big, a big problem. Dr. Deb Muth 32:37Yeah, Milwaukee. Anju 32:38Everybody thinks Flint, Michigan, but Flint, Michigan is not the only place. Dr. Deb Muth 32:42Right. Our infrastructure is so terrible, it has not been updated, and even though you might look in your house and you might see a white PVC or plastic pipe, what’s coming under the ground to the house in the cities is usually still lead. Anju 32:58Right. Right. Dr. Deb Muth 33:00Yeah. Anju 33:01So, I guess the point is, is that…the… the idea of, like, studying this. So, again, they study this, and they say, well, we’re not going to treat low-level lead exposure because it doesn’t improve their cognition.But did they really treat it? Dr. Deb Muth 33:18Right. We got it from 60… we got it from 60 to 20. Right. But when I know, where is the lead hiding? Anju 33:24So high. Look at the bones, it’s gonna be coming out. It’s gonna be coming out, especially during puberty. What happens to some of our kids during puberty? They just go a little wonky. Comes out again during menopause. Dr. Deb Muth 33:38Yes. Anju 33:39I don’t know, male menopause, too. Like, we’re all losing bone mass then, and our lead is coming out, our blood pressure goes up. So, again, these are some of the areas that I think, like, really need some… hard… looks. Dr. Deb Muth 33:53Right, yeah. So, what are you hopeful about this committee? Like, are you hopeful that this committee is going to be able to research some of these big things, and we’re really going to be able to find answers around some of the functional things and the biochemical things that we see, you and I know happen in the body, that might give some standardization and education to practitioners in the future. Anju 34:23Well, I think this committee understands the scope of the issues.And they’re coming from different perspectives, like I mentioned, research. Dr. Deb Muth 34:33Yeah. Anju 34:35really highly qualified MDs. MDs like you and me, who have been on the front lines. moms. Dr. Deb Muth 34:43Yeah. Anju 34:44dads, patience, And so, the strategy would be to get, again, their input, and then…get the places… people in places to do their research. And even make some guidelines and some, like, you know, thoughts about what we want to put out there. Dr. Deb Muth 35:05Yeah. Anju 35:05You know, how do we want to strategize for… Dr. Deb Muth 35:08Prevention. Anju 35:10Like, the pre-pregnancy thing. Dr. Deb Muth 35:12Yeah, I’m really hopeful that this doesn’t become a… political football,And it doesn’t get taken away if the administration changes or whatever, because people need to understand that this kind of researchthis is going to take decades for people to do. Granted, we have AI, and AI can help a little bit and get some things quicker.But trying to figure out all of these nuances to why the body does what it does is not gonna be, like, next week we’re gonna find out that this was the single cause, and I know a lot of people, they’re afraid of the vaccines, and that’s gonna be the sole answer.And that has a piece of it, but it is just a small piece of it for some people larger, but at the end of the day, that’s not what this is about. This isn’t about just labeling one thing that is the cause of autism, because it is not one thing. It is so multifactorial. Anju 36:09And I think that whole cause, I know,A lot of money has gone into. Dr. Deb Muth 36:16Yeah. Anju 36:16looking at that. They’re looking for the gene, right? The gene that causes it, and… Dr. Deb Muth 36:23answer. Anju 36:24They have not… they’ve spent millions of dollars looking for this.And it’s not gonna pan out. It’s not. Dr. Deb Muth 36:33I’m not. Anju 36:34pan out. It’s more complex, like we’re talking about. Dr. Deb Muth 36:38Yeah. Anju 36:38And, I do think that sometimes, you know.Even though, like, politically, it seems like it’s a political topic, but it has zero to do with politics. Dr. Deb Muth 36:52Yeah, exactly. This is our children. This is the future of our country, the world. I mean, America’s not the only place that has kids with autism. I mean, this is the future of humanity. If we don’t figure out what’s injuring our children, there will not be a humanity that you and I have seen. It will be different. And, and this is important, we owe it to the future of our generations, we owe it to our children to figure this out and clean up our environment, and make it safe for everybody. Anju 37:24Yeah. Clean up our air, clean up our water, clean up our food… Dr. Deb Muth 37:29Yeah. Anju 37:30You know, our lifestyle a little bit, but… Dr. Deb Muth 37:32hoodie? Anju 37:33It’s… it’s… it’s everywhere. I travel all over. Dr. Deb Muth 37:36Bye. Anju 37:37Consult with doctors in different countries, in Italy, in India, Bulgaria, Romania… Dr. Deb Muth 37:46Yeah. And. Anju 37:48we’re going to Australia for med maps to treat doctors in, in April. And it’s a problem everywhere. Dr. Deb Muth 38:00Yeah. Anju 38:01really big problem, and it affects everybody. Even if you don’t have a child with autism or a grandchild with autism, it’s still affecting families, becauseI kind of think of ADD as being on the spectrum, in the sense thatI think the same kind of positive issues that lead to the autism are causing the ADD, just to… you know, your genetics are playing a little bit of a different role, whatever… whatever protection you have is a bit more there, but we’re seeing kind of, like, similar metabolic… issues in our ADD population. Dr. Deb Muth 38:43Yeah. Yeah, there’s so many different levels of this, and it does affect everyone. Like, I think everybody knows… a family or someone in their classroom or their school or their community that’s affected by, definitely, ADHD, Asperger’s, autism, all of those things, whether you’re high functioning or not functioning or whatever.everything is affected. The school system is affected, your social circles are affected, your families are affected.the healthcare is affected. I mean, everything is affected. We owe it to our families and our communities to help people try to figure this out. Anju 39:22Yeah, and I think even if it’s not ADD, or ADHD, or autism we’re talking about, or even OCD, anxiety, depression, I mean, you know… Dr. Deb Muth 39:33Candace? Anju 39:34Any kind of chronic illness that people are dealing with has underpinnings of these kinds of, you know, issues. Dr. Deb Muth 39:43Yeah. Anju 39:44Any autoimmune issue? That’s great. Dr. Deb Muth 39:48inflammatory syndrome that we’re seeing these days, I mean, the pants-pandas piece, the biofilms, the strep, I mean, our environment is just so laden with infections and biofilms, and And, you know, when you and I first were learning about this, we never thought anything could cross the blood-brain barrier, right? It was pristine, there’s nothing getting in there unless you could drive it in there, and now we know that’s different, and now we’re seeing bugs in the brains of people who have had Alzheimer’s disease and dementia because they’ve donated their brains for research, and we can see what’s crossing the blood-brain barrier, and it’s really scary. Anju 40:24Yeah, yeah. There’s a lot of things we don’t know. Remember when we just found out that they… the brain had a lymphatic system? Dr. Deb Muth 40:33And that wasn’t About, what, 5, 6 years ago? 7 years ago, maybe? Yeah, not that long ago. Anju 40:38You’d be like, why wouldn’t the brain have a lymphatic system? Dr. Deb Muth 40:41Yeah! Yep. Anju 40:44Yeah, so things get in and out. Dr. Deb Muth 40:46They, they definitely. Anju 40:47You know, they get in easier than they get out, I think. Dr. Deb Muth 40:50I agree, I think they do, for sure, for sure. You know, when you’re talking to a family who’s undergoing issues like this, what’s the role, do you feel, in personalized nutrition to help them make things better? Anju 41:10I kind of go through, like, a little bit of a start here, start there, and then do this. I always start, number one, I say, okay, you gotta clean up your environment, because… We gotta do that. Dr. Deb Muth 41:24But that’s a… Anju 41:24process. And then number 2 for me is cleaning up the diet. And then, when you say personalized nutrition. To me, figuring out what is a good diet for the individual. Dr. Deb Muth 41:38Makes it a little bit difficult. Yeah. Anju 41:41I mean, there is, like, healthy eating concepts, where, you know, eat upside-down food pyramid kind of concept, I guess, is the new one, but whole foods, whole grains, organic as much as possible, especially for animal products, good fats, avoiding, you know, hydrogenated oils, and those seed oils, and… Just some basics, and then individualizing for my patients, a lot of people with any kind of autoimmune condition, and we kind of put autism in that neuroimmune, autoimmune, inflammatory That, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free kind of go there, like, as a given. If there’s a lot of gut issues, a lot of our folks have oxalate issues. And then we have to sometimes do low or limited oxalate diets. Many of my patients can’t convert glutamate to GABA efficiently. Dr. Deb Muth 42:44Yeah. So, high glutamates associated with OCD, and kind of looping or repetitive behaviors. Anju 42:51So, low-glutamate diets. And then some of my patients have SIBO, and then we do the low FODMAPs diet, and then some of my patients have messel, and we’ll do the fail-safe kind of concept with the fail-safe diet, so nutrition can get a little bit complex for certain people, but there are some basics, and then there are some, like, more of… Individual, kind of, diet approaches. And then there’s supplementation. There’s some things that I call foundational. For me, certain things most people need that have a chronic illness. Dr. Deb Muth 43:26Yeah. Anju 43:26Vitamin D3 is one of those. Omega-3s are another one for most. And then, because I did a lot of research on copper, zinc, I think 3 mineral… 4 minerals. I feel like people underdo minerals. They’re so important. Every single enzyme has a mineral cofactor, so… zinc is really important for my population with autism and ADD. 99% of them had high copper or low zinc in. Dr. Deb Muth 43:58Wow. Anju 43:59Over 400 patients that we tested. Dr. Deb Muth 44:01Wow. Anju 44:03And, magnesium.So, zinc, magnesium, and then the other two minerals I really like are selenium for glutathione. and molybdenum for sulfation, and glycolysis. So… So those are kind of my foundational pieces, and then I like to work on the gut next. So, from a nutritional perspective, prebiotics are my new favorite. Dr. Deb Muth 44:29Yeah, we go in and out with prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics. Anju 44:34Yeah, exactly, symbiotics. Dr. Deb Muth 44:36Yes, exactly, exactly. Anju 44:38demos, and… Dr. Deb Muth 44:40Yeah. Anju 44:40So yeah, biofilm busting, and all of that, so… And then I go into my other nitty-gritty stuff, like you probably do. Dr. Deb Muth 44:47individualized, right? So, you created, True Healing Nature, a supplement line, a supplement company, correct? Anju 44:56Yeah, True Hing Naturals. Dr. Deb Muth 44:58Truly Naturals, okay. Anju 44:59True, he is hard. Dr. Deb Muth 45:01Oats! Anju 45:01True! Dr. Deb Muth 45:01Healing natural. Got it, sorry about that. Tell us a little bit about what made you decide to create a supplement company. Was it because you couldn’t find formulations that you wanted? Couldn’t find clean products? That’s a big problem for people, for sure. Anju 45:19Yeah, a little bit of both. I told you that my kids were really sensitive, they had a lot. Dr. Deb Muth 45:23I know. Anju 45:24And when I would even try to give them things like ibuprofen. Dr. Deb Muth 45:28or Benadryl. Anju 45:30For allergies, they couldn’t tolerate the products that were over-the-counter. Dr. Deb Muth 45:35Yeah. Anju 45:35So, in 2007, I opened a compounding pharmacy so I could make things clean for them. Dr. Deb Muth 45:42Yeah. Anju 45:43And I thought it was so valuable. And so then I started seeing, like, certain issues with my patient population, for instance, say, mitochondrial issues. So, I would compound a mito cocktail. in my pharmacy. And then I had True Healing Naturals manufacture it, so I didn’t have to have patients get it compounded. Dr. Deb Muth 46:08Got it. Anju 46:09So that particular product’s called Mito Rescue. Okay. But then, I started… I do a lot of oats testing. Organic acid urine tests. Dr. Deb Muth 46:19Yeah. Anju 46:20But there’s, like, a marker on there for, oxalates, and I saw a lot of patients with oxalates, and oxalates inhibit some… an enzyme called, pyruvate decarboxylase. And that basically means you can’t take your carbs and turn them into energy. Dr. Deb Muth 46:38Okay. Anju 46:39So, if I saw this pattern with high oxalates and high pyruvic acid, I knew that that enzyme wasn’t working very well, and that enzyme is B1, molybdenum, and biotin dependent. So, I started compounding doses of that. And then I turned that into a product called Motor Connect, because high doses of biotin help with connectivity in the cerebellum. Dr. Deb Muth 47:08Got it. So, I did come… kind of start with the compounding pharmacy, try it, use it, and then turn it into. Anju 47:17products, and I have one for copper-zinc imbalances called True Minerals. Dr. Deb Muth 47:21Yeah, to fix the problems that were not commercially available. Could you talk a little bit for people who don’t understand what a compounding pharmacy is? Anju 47:32So, when you guys go to a pharmacy, you, you know, you send a prescription, and it’s already, it’s manufactured, and you get it. Well, a compounding pharmacy actually makes that for you. So they get the raw ingredients, and then they make that prescription. So it’s still prescription-based. But, for instance, say, I want Nystatin. And I go to Walgreens or CVS, and the nystatin there is a liquid, and it has yellow dyes and sugar. Dr. Deb Muth 48:02Yep. Or it’s a title, and it’s red. Anju 48:04or it’s bread, and a tablet, and I, like, oh, I want to treat the yeast, but I don’t want to use this. So I sent my nystatin prescription to a compounding pharmacy, and it’s Nystatin. That’s what you got. Yep. Dr. Deb Muth 48:17disappear. Anju 48:18So, pure compounding pharmacy, it’s pure, it’s pure stuff. Especially for our mast cell people. They’re so sensitive, and, you know, my kids are all mast cell, and so I just find that excipients, some people will say, oh, this doesn’t work, and I said, it’s probably the excipient that’s stimulating your mast cell activation. So, yeah. So, compounding pharmacies, You know, with all the big, kind of. conglomerates and big companies, they’ve become… they used to be, like, mom-and-pop kind of places. And my pharmacy is like that. It’s just… it’s… it’s a few of us, and we… we do it, and it’s nothing big or fancy, but we get the job done. So, we compound things like methylcobalamin injections, hydroxycobalamin, low-dose naltrexone. Different things for chelation. So, it’s nice. I love having it. Dr. Deb Muth 49:11Yeah, the compounding pharmacies really have made a huge difference for people who are sensitive. You know, so many ingredients are contaminated with corn and gluten and soy and dairy and all the big things that we want to stay away from, especially if we’re trying to treat the immune system. And even if the manufacturer says that’s not in our product. it’s contaminated, usually, because they’re usually preparing it in a facility that has those things floating around. Right. And for people who are really sensitive, that’s going to create some issues. Anju 49:45Yeah, people who are sensitive are sensitive to parts per trillion. Dr. Deb Muth 49:48Yeah. Anju 49:49I found that with my daughter with chemical sensitivity. You don’t have to see it, or you don’t have to smell it, but they could react to it. Dr. Deb Muth 49:55Yeah. And, a lot of these, like. Anju 49:58These different, substances, for instance, like enzymes, even the natural enzymes. Dr. Deb Muth 50:03They’re cultured in Aspergillus. Anju 50:07And so they’re extracted from mold. Dr. Deb Muth 50:10Yeah. Anju 50:11And so the really mold-sensitive people will maybe take a digestive enzyme, and they’ll have a reaction, and they’ll not understand why. Yeah. But it’s not because of the enzyme, it’s because of where it’s coming from. Dr. Deb Muth 50:22Yeah, where it’s cultured from. And if you have mold toxicity and mold sensitivity, and we’re looking at your mold test, wondering why are you getting a hit while we’re trying to clear it out, sometimes we forget that those products, and a variety of products that we used are cultured from molds. Yeah. Anju 50:40Yeah, yeah. It’s hard for the laypeople to understand all. Dr. Deb Muth 50:45You know. Anju 50:45of these pieces, but I think that… It used to be, like, the insurance companies would cover prescriptions from compounding pharmacies, but over the years, the lobbying and all of that has gotten so intense where, you know, a lot of that ends up out of pocket, but it’s really… it doesn’t really get that much more expensive than a copay would be. Dr. Deb Muth 51:05Right, right. Anju 51:06People just don’t know about it, yeah. Dr. Deb Muth 51:08Yeah, absolutely. So, you’ve been doing this now for more than 17 years, and you’ve made some remarkable progress with your patients. Can you share some success stories that still inspire you to do what you do every day? Anju 51:27I don’t know about you, but, like, when you first start, I think, God puts you… God puts all those really gray cases in front of you, because you’re like, whoa! Dr. Deb Muth 51:37Yes, and maybe… Anju 51:38I gave this patient methylcobalamin, and they started talking. Yeah. So methyl B12 back in the day was huge. you know, Dr. Nebrander’s protocol, and we would use that, and we would get speech, and… I mean, I’ve… it’s just… there’s hundreds of cases. There’s hundreds of cases, and same with Leukovorin now. Not for everybody, but when it really works, it’s really, really decent. Dr. Deb Muth 52:07Yeah, and worth a try, you know, if… if we suspect that’s what’s going on, these things are worth a try, because sometimes you just never know what’s going to be the key that unlocks the answer for them. Anju 52:19Yeah, but I think, you know, like, I can say… chelation, or… you know, I can, like, throw out a bunch of stuff. Dr. Deb Muth 52:26Okay. Anju 52:27In terms of, like, I’ve… I… I have those families, and I have those kids who are just… they’re just amazing, and they’re in college, and having jobs, and having kids, and… Dr. Deb Muth 52:38Yeah. Anju 52:38you know, all of that, but I think, you know, the ones that really strike me are the ones that I have to work really hard to get. Dr. Deb Muth 52:44And then we’. Anju 52:45they go, it’s not like, oh, I just did the diet, I’m cured, or I did this, and I’m better, or… Right. And I have those cases where the parents come to me and they say, I never thought my kid would Be going to college. And I never thought we would be here. So, those are the ones that really, like, when I get the little notes, or the, like, the college or the high school graduation pictures, and they… and some of them, you know, you lose touch with because they don’t need me anymore. Dr. Deb Muth 53:19Yeah. Anju 53:20And then you hear about it later. And then, I think the ones that don’t get better are the ones that, like, sit with me the most They just sit with me, and we’ve had this population of children with severe apraxia. So, apraxia is a motor planning issue, but if you saw these patients, you would think that they were… mentally deficient. Dr. Deb Muth 53:44Hmm. Anju 53:45Because they can’t talk. Dr. Deb Muth 53:46Yeah. Anju 53:47They’re the classic person that you would see that looks autistic. You know, running around, excited, verbal stimming, no speech. Dr. Deb Muth 53:57Hmm. Anju 53:58And that group of patients are incredibly Brilliant. And we are just finding out about how smart they are. There’s a book called Underestimated by J.B. Hanley and his son Jamie. JV has all the resources in the world. He used to put those ads in the New York Times about autism and vaccines. He could take his kid anywhere and do any treatment, and still, we… Blocked. Locked. Couldn’t get through. Couldn’t get through. And they started, spelling. To communicate, and this speller’s method, and it just opened a door. And it opened a door for so many of my patients who are metabolically challenged, so we do help them metabolically. Getting that ability to communicate. Some of them never got high school diplomas, and they went back to get their high school diplomas so they could go to college. Dr. Deb Muth 54:56Oh, wow, that’s amazing stories. Anju 54:59Yeah, and Elizabeth Bonker is one of those spellers, and she… she was a valedictorian in her high school, college. And she did a valedictorian speech that went. Viral, and she’s one of the people on that committee. Dr. Deb Muth 55:13That’s awesome. Anju 55:14He’s non-speaking. She… she can’t not speak. Dr. Deb Muth 55:20Wow. Anju 55:21But they asked her to be on this committee. Dr. Deb Muth 55:24That’s fantastic. Anju 55:26Huge. Dr. Deb Muth 55:27That’s huge. It is huge. There’s a way she can communicate, she just can’t verbalize the way you and I verbalize. Anju 55:34She’s brilliant. I mean, people on that committee, the, the individuals with autism on that committee, I know they’re brilliant people. Wow. But if you… if… If people saw them, they wouldn’t see that. Dr. Deb Muth 55:47Right. Anju 55:47So, I guess, for me, it’s like seeing the brilliance, seeing the competence in individuals, and as a practitioner, just trying to optimize it. But I know, like, the neurodiversity people say, okay, you know. We’re fine, and it’s like, yes, you are fine, you’re fine, and it’s okay. Whatever it is, it’s okay. But if you’re struggling metabolically, and we can help you feel better. What’s… what’s the harm in that? Dr. Deb Muth 56:13Right, let’s do that. Yeah. So you’re also part of something called MAPS, and you’re educating doctors worldwide. Tell us a little bit about MAPS, and how do you see the integrative pediatrics evolving in the next decade as a result of what we’re learning today? Anju 56:36I think we’re at a crossroads, and Maps is kind of in the middle of that crossroads. It used to be called Dan. Dr. Deb Muth 56:47Okay. Anju 56:47Autism Now. Dr. Deb Muth 56:48Yeah. Anju 56:49And then they kind of dissolved Dan and turned it into MedMaps. And MedMaps is Medical Academy for Pediatrics and Special Needs. So it’s not just special needs, it’s pediatrics. as well.So it’s kind of like the functional medicine for peds. And our goal is to train an army of clinicians to be the frontline. And how medicine should be, and how people should be trained. We should train them to do these types of things from the beginning. Because now it’s backwards. Dr. Deb Muth 57:28Right. Anju 57:30they come see us when nobody else can help them. But, so, we have some good leadership, and then… We are just trying to get people trained so that they understand that this is the future. Dr. Deb Muth 57:50If there’s a practitioner that’s listening to this, how do they get involved in MAPS? Anju 57:55They could come to a conference. Dr. Deb Muth 57:57Okay. Anju 57:58And the website is medmaps.org. And there’s 2 conferences a year. And we have scholarships, and we want people to come, so contact You know, the executive director, and… We just want people to come, share… their experiences, learn about functional medicine, it’s evidence-based, we try to… it’s really scientific, you know, we talk a lot of science. Dr. Deb Muth 58:25Oh yeah, a lot of science. Anju 58:26We talk a lot of science, and and so hopefully we can move all of this forward. Baster. Dr. Deb Muth 58:35I think the greatest thing, when you get into the functional medicine integrative space like this, and MAPS, and some of the other environmental academies and things like that. A lot of people might think it’s not science-based, and I’m always amazed at how much science we have, and it’s right, it’s all the things that you and I learned in biochem class, and chem class, and organic chem, and we were like, oh, let’s just learn this to be done with it. And then you get back, and you start doing integrated medicine, and you realize, like, all of that biochemistry stuff is what we needed to truly understand to fix people these These days, and you go back and you have to learn that in an intense version of it. Anju 59:18I felt like I finally understood the Krebs cycle, when I learned how it made metabolic stents, instead of just memorizing these cycles for… For the… Dr. Deb Muth 59:30Right? Like, they, like. Anju 59:32They just make sense to me. Dr. Deb Muth 59:34Yeah. Anju 59:35And I think that’s so important to understand, that all of this has science behind it, and it’s there, and the research is there. Dr. Deb Muth 59:46It’s just us having to learn how to utilize it, and recognize that not every person is going to be straightforward, and what we do for one might not work for another. There’s… It’s not as easy as prescribing a prescription and letting the person walk out the door in 10 minutes. That’s not what this is about at all. Anju 01:00:05No, and at MedMaps as well, they have a call for abstracts, and so we’re always looking for research, experience, so if any of the clinicians out there have, you know, things they want to share. then send an abstract to Maps. What a great blonde. I think, one of my doctor friends is doing an abstract on research that was done on sensory qigong massage. Dr. Deb Muth 01:00:34Oh. Anju 01:00:34And it helped with speech, and the theory was that, we were all thinking of the sensory system in the brain, the sensory system. In the periphery being affected neurologically, and how to turn that back on. So, it was… it’s… Dr. Deb Muth 01:00:51That’s neat. Anju 01:00:51Again, with the research, and with the science behind it, and with, like, clinical trials, and all of that. Dr. Deb Muth 01:00:58That’s awesome, I love that.For parents that are just starting in this journey, what would you recommend be their first one or two steps? Anju 01:01:10Educate, educate, educate? How do you get educated? I do think that, TakaNow.org is a good place for, like, a biomedical approach, or this functional approach for autism. It’s the Autism Community in Action. MedMaps is doing a parent conference in March. Dr. Deb Muth 01:01:31Oh, awesome. They usually do that around, Memorial Day, right? Anju 01:01:36They’ll do it around Labor Day in September. Dr. Deb Muth01:01:40Labor Day in September, okay. Anju 01:01:42Yeah, and then mid-March. Dr. Deb Muth 01:01:44Okay. Anju 01:01:45Yeah. And they hadn’t done a parent conference before, but we had parents that wanted to come to the conferences, and it was just for clinicians before. Dr. Deb Muth 01:01:54Got it. Is it Autism One that does theirs around Memorial Day? Anju 01:01:59Oh yeah, they don’t exist anymore. Dr. Deb Muth 01:02:01Don’t, really. Anju 01:02:03conferences. There was. Dr. Deb Muth 01:02:06NAA, the National Autism Association. Anju 01:02:09They don’t do a lot of parent conferences in functional medicine either, so there’s a few left. Documenting Hope. That’s another really nice one. Oh, that’s great. Dr. Deb Muth 01:02:21So, what last words do you want to leave with our listeners? Anju 01:02:29You know, that’s… people always ask that at the end of these… I, I do feel that, Listen to your heart, you know, follow your intuition. Dr. Deb Muth 01:02:40I’ll let that guide you. Anju 01:02:42There’s a lot of information, sometimes it gets to be too much information. It’s hard to process everything, try not to make impulsive decisions about things. And… If you have a child with special needs, or if you have a grandchild with, issues. Presume competence. There’s a lot there. Dr. Deb Muth 01:03:04Yeah. Anju 01:03:05Especially some of these kids with behavior issues. I don’t know how many patients of mine are… Put on psychotropic meds. Metabolic issues, and, you know… It’s like, a lot of them have pain, like headache, abdominal pain, and inflammation, and they’re treating them with psych meds. Dr. Deb Muth 01:03:25Yeah. That’s sad, isn’t it? Anju 01:03:28I think, you know, try to look for the underlying cause. Not just band-aid things. Dr. Deb Muth 01:03:34Where can listeners, learn more about your work and what you do? Anju 01:03:40Oh, that’s tough. I don’t have a book. One of these days. Dr. Deb Muth 01:03:48Yes! Anju 01:03:49Yes, one of these days. I think, you know, med maps, we have a… if they’re clinicians. Dr. Deb Muth 01:03:55Hmm? Anju 01:03:56I have lectured a lot. For, for, communities like Taka, so there’s just a lot of… lectures that I’ve given online. Dr. Deb Muth 01:04:09Awesome. Well, thank you for taking your time with us today. It’s been a great conversation with you. Anju 01:04:15Thank you so much for inviting me, Debra. I’m honored to be here, and thank you for doing the work that you do to put Put this out there for people, because it’s really important information. Dr. Deb Muth 01:04:27Thank you. Thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now. Today’s discussion with Dr. Usman reminds us that there’s always more we can do. We can look deeper into biology, environment, and lifestyle. to heal the next generation. If this episode inspired you, please share it with a parent or a practitioner who believes every child deserves a chance to thrive. And to learn more about Dr. Usman, you can visit TrueHealthMedical.com or TrueHealingnaturals.com. And if you’re ready to explore your own root cause healing, visit us at Serenityhealthcarecenter.com. You can also follow me on Instagram, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of Let’s Talk Wellness now. Until next time. I’m Dr. Deb, reminding you to nurture your body, mind, and spirit. Be well, and I’ll see you soon.The post Episode 262 – The Root Cause of ADHD & Autism: Beyond the Diagnosis with Dr. Anju Usman Singh first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth 0:03What if everything you’ve been told about getting healthy is backwards?What if chasing symptoms with pills, procedures, and quick fixes is exactly why you’re still sick? Tired, inflamed, and frustrated. Today, I’m sitting down with Dr. Holly Donahue, a naturopathic doctor who walked away from corporate burnout to discover the truth.Your body already knows how to heal. You just need to remove what’s blocking it, and give it what it’s missing. If you’re done with Band-Aid solutions and ready for real, lasting transformation, this conversation changes everything. Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, the show where we uncover the root causes of chronic illness, explore cutting-edge regenerative medicine, and empower you with the tools to heal. I’m Dr. Deb, your medical detective, and today, we’re diving into the hidden truth about whole body wellness, and why treating symptoms will never give you the vibrant health you deserve. I’m joined by Dr. Holly Donahue, a licensed naturopathic doctor with over two decades of clinical experiencing Helping high performers heal from burnout, chronic fatigue, hormone imbalance, and stubborn weight issues. She’s the founder of Simple Health, and she’s here to share the science-backed approach to root cause healing that addresses your body, mind, and spirit, not just your lab values. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, or is struggling with unexplained symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, hormonal chaos, or chronic inflammation. This episode is for you. Please share it with them. So, as usual, grab your cup of coffee, tea, or whatever helps you unwind, settle in, and let’s get started on your journey to deeper healing. And we’ll be right back after a word from our sponsor. All right. So, Dr. Donahue, let’s start with the question that’s on everyone’s mind, right? How did you transition away from corporate and into the world of, naturopath… natural medicine, naturopathic medicine, root cause medicine, all the wonderful terms we’re using for this these days? Dr. Holly Donahue 02:56Yeah, first of all, thanks for having me, Dr. Debb. I so appreciate it, and that is a beautiful question, and I will share with you my health journey and why I got into this, and… how I got to do this amazing work, right? Because I always believed, for me, my higher being is God, and it walked right into me, right? Because I was pretty happy in the apparel industry. So, just as you said, I was in the apparel industry, I, my education doesn’t really matter, but double, like, marketing and textile marketing, and I was in design, and I was working in design. from LA to London to the East Coast. And 2 days after September 11th, to sum it up, I got laid off. Even though I had been pulled out of a job where my vice president of the company was like, I want you to come down here with me, and the apparel industry, you’re switching every two to three years. For those that don’t know it, that’s just how the journey works, and I was known as a changemaker in the field. And so, here we are two days after September 11th, and I was seeing a naturopath, and I was, let’s see, 29 to 30, right? And so, prior to that, the reason why I searched out for a naturopath was because in my teenage years, and… Up until that time, I was suffering with horrible menstrual cramps and horrible depression, hence why I moved to LA, thinking if I was in the sun all the time, my life would change, which we all do, change our place, change our time, things will change. Had nothing to do with family or roots, but I thought, if I’m around sunshine all the time, I won’t be depressed. Well, wherever you go, there you are, because it went with me, right? So I had my foot down to the ground, and I was just like, I am committed to not living life like this, right? Even at 7 years old, I had strep ear all the time, and my mom’s like, we’re gonna have your tonsils out, and I’m like, no we’re not. And she goes, no, you’re gonna feel so much better, no more strep ear. And I’m like, God gave them to me for a reason, you’re not taking them out. She’s like, okay, like, I was really strong. And so, let’s wind up to 2 days after September 11th. Prior to that, I had started to retake chemistry and biology, because I haven’t taken it since my textile years, which was a different chemistry, right? And so, I thought, well, I’ll just start and see where it goes, because my naturopath at the time. Dr. Dadama was like, we need more naturopaths, and I’m like, I’m really good where I am. I love what I do, I love corporate America, I love designing, I love product development. And he’s like, no, no, no, so he kept talking. Well, when this all fell… And 2 days after September 11th, I raised my hand and I said, God, I hear you. I went off to naturopathic medicine school in my 30s. And I never looked back, and I just really believe the gift of healing was, put together for me in so many ways. And so, why do I love talking about natural medicine, naturopathic medicine? Because I was not gonna just take an antidepressant, which is what the medical world… they wanted to give me a pill for a nail, that’s what I call it. I didn’t need to be on birth control. I wasn’t sexually active. Right? So none of that made sense to me. And it wasn’t until I really changed my nutrition, began to understand who I am as a person, and what my body really needed, did I heal. Dr. Deb Muth 06:20Isn’t that amazing? Like, I think so many of us enter into the alternative quote-unquote world. Because what is happening over here in what is known as the traditional medicine world isn’t working for people, and no one’s listening to them, and we just follow the traditional protocol, whether it makes sense or not, this is the protocol, everybody gets it. There’s no individuality, no personalization, nothing that happens in that world. And so, people tend to go looking for that… that uniqueness that natural medicine and naturopaths allow to happen. And that’s where true healing actually begins, for so many people. Dr. Holly Donahue 07:02 Yes, and honestly, once my hormones were healed, hence why I talk about hormones all the time, and my thyroid was healed, and I was eating the right nutrition, and for those of you that are listening, please stop playing with nutrition, like, get on that… get on that connection of what works for you. And I’ll be honest, like, none of us as doctors can… we can guide you. what’s really good in eating, but figuring it out for yourself is important. And the other naturopath that I saw. Never healed me. I only got so far by just taking supplements and herbs. And I speak that into that, that’s why I’m so driven around the foundation of our medicine. I am not just saying this, is your nutrition. And until I changed my nutrition, and I figured out what workouts work best for me, and I took all the toxicity and mucus out of my body, I was just inflamed, and I didn’t really it. I was eating all the wrong foods. Right? My body can’t do searches and simple sugars, hence why I talk about it, and so many people are addicted to sugar, and they deny it. Dr. Deb Muth 08:11Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 08:11It’s a comfort food, right? So, I always say, I can’t heal you until I fix your nutrition and your sugar, and if that’s not something that you’re willing to work on with me with love, I am not the right practitioner. Because I remember it didn’t heal me. Dr. Deb Muth 08:29Yeah. I think we forget that nutrition is our medicine, right? Food is thy medicine. And it’s so easy for us to just say, but it’s easier to just take 10 supplements than it is to change my diet, cook for the whole family, and then cook for me. Nutrition is really, really difficult for people, because so much of who we are is born into nutrition, right? All of those family traditions of what we make at Christmas, or Easter, or what do you do for a celebration, when all of that changes, you kind of… you have a loss for things. So how do you work around that with people? Dr. Holly Donahue 09:12Yeah, so I look at that as, I’m always suggesting to individuals in all these different celebrations, like, if you’re the one, kind of. that is the pinnacle that’s creating the celebrations, could you change that, right? So maybe you always have people over for your children’s birthday parties, and you have cake, and, you know, you have a spaghetti dinner, whatever it looks like. I’m not judging, I’m not here to judge, I just know what works, right? Then maybe you get to change that. How about doing an outdoor activity with the children? Maybe choosing to go on a hike to the beach where they’re active. And then, you know, you do a healthy treat with them, or do we always have to have these celebrations around sugar? And I’m talking America, because I never saw this when I lived in Europe, like, the way it is here, right? Or, as adults, we’re celebrating with alcohol all the time, right? I removed sugar and alcohol from my diet years ago just because I knew I just didn’t feel good with it. I’m not judging that that’s what you need to do. So, back to your question, the other suggestion I say, if you can with your family, because I know there’s all sorts of… Hidden rules, quiet rules, ways you have to do things to be fit in. First of all, stand up for your own health, so I suggest that. And secondly, how about if you bring something to that meal that you can share with everybody that you know that you can eat? If that doesn’t work, I’m pretty sure, I’m pretty confident, unless I’m really not connected, and I’ve never had anybody not be able to maneuver this. When you go to a meal, look at where… what the protein is there, look at what vegetables are there. And if you’re wanting to have a piece of cake, or a bread, or whatever that looks like for you as you’re carbohydrate simple starch, choose one or the other, and make those choices. And secondly, never go to a holiday, or a meal, or a function, or a gathering starving. Dr. Deb Muth 11:22That is a great suggestion, because once you go there starving, it’s a smorgasbord of food, right? And you’re just grabbing whatever, because you’re so hungry. we don’t think about that. Most people do go to the party starving because they know there’s going to be all this amazing food there that tastes good but might not be healthy for us, but we’re looking forward to having those kinds of things. Dr. Holly Donahue 11:45And just have a little bit less, right? So, like, extreme, you know, maybe, like, grab 2 tablespoons of something if you want to have it, if that’s something. And the other truth is, is that I don’t want people to not live their life and enjoy their life because they’re learning what works for them. And when I say that, like, the 7 pillars of wellness, like. I’m saying movement, I’m saying relationships, I’m saying lifestyle, I’m even saying job, you guys, like, emotions, how you were born and raised, what that, like, that is all important for your health. And I always say, lots of times, I’m not even having constant medical conversations with patients, I’m really having discipline and connection. Like, how can you change how you’re doing things Because we’re so wired. to do… do it the way that we knew how to do it, and it’s really hard to change our neurological habits, and it’s really hard to change our wiring, especially if that’s how we were born and raised, right? And so, sometimes that can really trigger us. But, if you’re going to go to that meal, right, that we’re talking about. Then how about you can, like, encourage everybody afterwards, if it’s nice out, to go for a walk, or have some sort of movement together, so that you had what you wanted, you showed up, you didn’t feel like you were, like, out in left field, and you couldn’t have what everybody had, but you’re still grounded in your own truth, and making decisions, and then you’re like, hey, how about if we all go for a walk, like, and have a chat together? You know, like, you know, and you’re changing, probably, in the family, and then the deeper one that I love, Dr. Deb, the deeper one, is that ripple effect. Once people start to see you heal, they’re gonna ask you what you did. Dr. Deb Muth 13:42Yeah, that is so true. Dr. Holly Donahue 13:43effect is in the family. Dr. Deb Muth 13:45And people notice. We don’t always think people notice. They might not always say things, but they do notice when somebody’s changing. When they look better, their skin is better, their hair is better, they are more vibrant, they have more energy, they’re thinking better. They notice those types of things. Dr. Holly Donahue 14:04Yeah. And you’re not as short with loved ones, right? Because when you don’t feel good and you’re eating, you know, sugar, like, and I mean simple starches, because patients will be like, Dr. Donnie, I don’t eat sugar. And I’m like, okay, well, if you’re not eating sugar, why is your glucose 120 and your hemoglobin A1C 6?So the glucose is immediate, for those that are listening, don’t know. That’s an immediate reading of your glucose, or the hemoglobin A1C tells me what happened over the 3 months, right? A 3-month cycle, so then I get a clip picture of it, and I also test insulin as well, but what I say to them is, okay, you’re not eating sugar.But your body’s seeing something as sugar, because your glucose is still elevated, and your hemoglobin A1C is over 5.4 to 5.6, right? 5.8, you know what I mean? That’s when we start to look at prediabetes, and what people don’t understand is when those numbers, like hemoglobin A1C, are at that elevation, that didn’t just start yesterday. That has been fire in your body for a very long time. Same with cholesterol. Dr. Deb Muth 15:12Yeah.Yeah, we forget about that. You know, this is coming from decades of what we do, not 3 months of what we do. And most people, if we look back on their lifestyles. starting at a very young age, and it saddens me to see young little… little children, babies, right, 2 and 3 years old, that are drinking soda in a bottle. They’re drinking pure sugar everywhere, you know, Gatorade and all this stuff. That’s full of dyes and toxins and sugars, and then we wonder why they’re going crazy, driving mom and dad crazy, bouncing off the walls, or can’t sit still in school and can’t concentrate, because we’ve just fed them a drug that’s just wired them up. And then we just tell them to hurry up and be quiet, right? And that just doesn’t happen, but that… what we’re seeing now is starting at such a young age, you know? So many young people are feeding their kids just garbage all the time, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s terrible. Dr. Holly Donahue 16:14And it’s fascinating, because I’ll use an example of that. Every year, my family and I go to Antigua for a couple weeks, and I just got back a couple weeks ago, and we go in March, right? And so, when… I was at, like, I’ll say the breakfast buffet, right? It’s healthier foods, and I’m not judging, but, like, my family would grab eggs, and we’re like, where’s our protein? Okay, you can do yogurt, you know what I mean? Like, choosing, right? And then our fruit would be our carbohydrate, and then there was nuts there, and so we were really, like, being choice, and then we all do like coffee, right? And so, we chose… I was looking around at the children there that were beautiful, like, little kids, and they’re so sweet, and they’re on their vacation at this nice resort with their family, and they’re eating Froot Loops, and they’re eating all these sugary donuts. Of course, the resort makes them, right? Because a lot of those places, they’re made, they don’t bring them in. Dr. Deb Muth 17:14And they’re. Dr. Holly Donahue 17:14eating croissants and breads, and then they’re, you know, running around, and the families are, like, chasing them. And then, over in another corner.there was a very well-behaved little boy with a mother and father that you could tell was very quiet, very grounded in what they fed the baby, and I just happened to talk to them later. And she happens to be a holistic wellness, yoga and Reiki practitioner, and he happens to be a yoga instructor, and they’re very cautious what they eat, so I noticed they were asking for a lot of vegetables and protein like we were doing, even at lunch and dinner. And I said, you guys are so grounded. But there’s the difference. I’m not trying to compare, but the difference is, just give your kid whatever they want on vacation. Well, you can’t take them back and be like, okay, now you can’t have that at home. like, they’re gonna start to eat the way you eat, so if you don’t go up and get a donut and a croissant, I’m just using simple examples, you are really making the way for the health for your child for the rest of your life. Or for their life, I should say. Dr. Deb Muth 18:29And it’s so important, right? Because we see so much disease happening at such a young age. I don’t know how you are, but in my practice. We have so many young people, you know, 10, 12, 14, 16, that are sick. And really, really sick. And you… it kind of keeps going. We go back and forth with this, like. why do we see so many more young people? One of my doctors treats autism, so we’ve always had young people in our office. But now we’re seeing the young teenagers that are sick, that are not autistic, but they’re now sick, and it’s more and more and more of them, and we just haven’t seen that. I’ve been in practice 25 years. We didn’t see that before. You know, you didn’t see people that were sick until they were, like, in their 40s, because they were burning the candle at both ends, and they just got burned out. But now that’s happening younger and younger. Dr. Holly Donahue 19:24100%, and that goes back to everything that we were talking about. And if you want to step into the other piece of it, it’s all the chemicals and the toxicity that are around us, the radiation from the cell phones. We are vibrational frequency beings. That is not a woo statement, that’s true, that’s how our cell structure is. Then we’re putting all this unnatural makeup and fake eyelashes, a lot of people are wearing, non-organic, natural makeup, you know, underarm deodorant that has aluminum in it, cleaning products that are full of toxicity, we’re breathing them in, you know, there’s mold in so many houses as well. And really, if we don’t have a really strong nutrition protocol for ourself, sleeping well, sleeping soundly as a child, or even as an adult, we’re not spiking cortisol all the time. You know, how can we build up our immune system as a young person, or even as an adult? I mean, these young people are in, like, they tell me all these things they were in, and I’m just like, oh my gosh, I’d be exhausted before, like, 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Dr. Deb Muth 20:36Right? Right. Dr. Holly Donahue 20:38because their parents are trying to work two jobs, they think the more they do, the better they are, the more it’ll look better on the resume, or at school, or the college that they get into. And it’s like, we’re telling this messaging to go, go, go. When do we tell them to meditate and pray and just be quiet? Dr. Deb Muth 20:55Yeah, we never do. Dr. Holly Donahue 20:56Creative. Dr. Deb Muth 20:57We never do. I have a young man in my practice, and he’s just amazing. Typical Type A personality, mast cell. He’s out of college, he’s on a sports team.And they literally go from 5 in the morning until midnight, and then these kids have to stay up and study, get their homework done, and so they’re running on maybe, if they’re lucky, 2 to 3 hours of sleep, and this happens 5 to 6 days a week.How do we possibly think that this is healthy for these kids? Dr. Holly Donahue 21:27Hmm. Yeah, then they’re living in dorms that probably aren’t healthy. Like, my niece lived in a dorm that was full of mold, right? And my sister got her an air purifier, but still, it’s still coming in. And then the food that these institutions feed you, and then I’ll have these, you know, because I live near UNH, my clinic is near UNH, and they’ll be like, but we’re on the meal plan, do you know what I mean? And so I try to teach them the best way to maneuver, like, a buffet and a meal plan. But the truth is, is like, is it really organic foods? Healthy, quality foods? Probably not. So then it’s like, you can’t really… it’s hard for you to get off the meal plan, like, it’s all these, like… I call it the matrix kind of connections, like, you can’t… there’s not flexibility, and then if you have mast cell, it’s like, holy cow, your immune system is already overfiring itself, and now you’re burning the cortisol at all ends, like, how can you calm that flame down? Dr. Deb Muth 22:27Yeah, I remember when my daughter went to college, she had celiac disease, and they forced her to do the meal plan as a freshman, even though we said there’s not going to be anything she can eat, it’s all going to be contaminated. So they forced us to purchase the meal plan, even though she couldn’t have anything on the meal plan. And so she had to go outside of school to eat, which made it more difficult. And just all the way around, they don’t make anything easy for kids that have special dietary needs in these colleges. Dr. Holly Donahue 23:00It’s… it’s… It’s very unfortunate, you know what I mean? And then it… and then what is the first thing that people release, which they really need, is to move their body and do exercise and movement, so when they’re exhausted, they have to show up to so many classes, or they’ll get dinged, but yet they’re not getting sleep at night, and then they’re showing up exhausted, then they’re trying to eat, they’re trying to function. And then here we step in trying to help them, and it’s just like they’re already overloaded, and so to give them a protocol to follow. it’s just really hard for me to watch that maneuvering, so then I just say, okay, let’s just do one thing at a time. It’s gonna be a slow healing, but one thing is better than the other. Dr. Deb Muth 23:49Right. Dr. Holly Donahue 23:50Nothing. Dr. Deb Muth 23:51Yeah, let’s… let’s turn our conversation a little bit, because we’re already heading in that direction, to the burnout, you know?This is epidemic in our country, and especially among high-performing women, the college kids, even the high school kids, the leaders, the busy moms, and everybody’s trying to hold everything together. What are you seeing in your practice in this population? Dr. Holly Donahue 24:13Yeah, and I actually have a lot of entrepreneurs and, like, executives, and believe it or not, I have a lot of nurses and some doctors in my program. I am seeing aha moments that they, even though some of the medical practitioners I have know that sleep is important, they’re just like, I had no idea, right?that sleep was so important, and that shutting off the, light, and your computers, and your email and everything, like, to create a sleep ritual, right, for them. They are so shocked with that. But I am seeing, if you’re asking me diagnosis, I am seeing more autoimmunity than I’ve ever seen before, especially in women.I am seeing… I only used to see, because I do the blood type nutrition, because Dr. Dadamo trained me in that. Dr. Deb Muth 25:07I use… Dr. Holly Donahue 25:07to only see diabetes in O blood type. And prediabetes. I would see some sugar tweaks in A’s and ABs and B’s, but not too much. Like, I see more nervous system dysregulation in an A, and I didn’t see a lot of cardiac in A’s, I saw it more in O’s. That almost… he’d probably roll over in his grave, but that’s almost, like, debunked now, because I’m seeing diabetes in A’s all day long, I’m seeing it in B’s, I’m seeing insomnia like there’s no tomorrow, I’m seeing a lot of, you know, undiagnosed mold and Lyme, where people are completely exhausted, and I know the labeling of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia is just a catch-all diagnosis, so… Many of my patients know I don’t like to label, because if I tell you you have a condition, how many people hold on to that condition and use that as messaging for their life? And I… what I tell them is, let’s look at your labs functionally. I’m seeing very disrupt… I see a lot of mast cell now. I’m seeing a lot of long-haul COVID, or even lung conditions that… We have no idea where it’s coming from. Like, shortness of breath, wheezing, and they’re being diagnosed with asthma, but all the treatments that I’ve done over the years with asthma isn’t healing it. So I’ve got two people that are really at a risk, and have been on rounds of prednisone, and it’s really hard for me to watch, and so I’m stepping back into, you have to slow down, you get to do what you love, who are you being? everyday life, and how are you showing up? And your body, even though as an O, you can take a lot of stress. Dr. Deb Muth 26:57But yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 26:58your body is too stressed out. And it’s shocking that the first thing that… not really, but it still is to me, the first thing people let go of is the nutrition, and the movement, and the sleep. Dr. Deb Muth 27:13Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 27:14And the main things… Dr. Deb Muth 27:15We need to heal. Dr. Holly Donahue 27:16Exactly. So when you ask me that, the biggest piece is blood sugar and stress, cortisol, and adrenals. Dr. Deb Muth 27:24Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 27:24Without a label. Dr. Deb Muth 27:26Yeah, we’re seeing a lot of the same thing. The autoimmunity, the mast cell is huge. More recently, probably the last two months, we’ve been seeing a lot of, very rare, strange cancers that don’t make sense. Dr. Holly Donahue 27:38Oh. Dr. Deb Muth 27:38We’re seeing a lot of undiagnosed mold and Lyme and things like that as well. I mean, it’s just so much more unusual things than what we’ve seen before.and struggling with patients, like things that we used to do, kind of like what you’re saying with the asthma, things that we’ve always done that have worked are not working the same way as they used to, not responding the same way. Since 2020, things have really changed a lot. It’s very difficult.Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 28:07And I think we’re in such transition in the world itself, like, with the nutrient depletion of the soil. And so it’s like, okay, like, how much do we supplement? How much do we use herbs? Like, I love… I personally use a lot of homeopathy. You know, even… that was my go-to. I lost my dad a year ago, we, and I’ve been in a round of grief, and it’s real, you know, and so my go-to was homeopathy, because I had all the other pieces together. However, I did notice, like, the fatigue was real, like, I just kind of wanted to sleep more, you know what I mean? Because it was just, like… but I’ve allowed that to happen, right? And I’ve just had to pivot my schedule, but I know I can as an entrepreneur, but still, you can too. You just have to ask those questions. Do you know what I mean? Like, you gotta figure out what works for you. But if you keep in that go-go state, like you and I just mentioned, all these diagnoses, they’re all, like, almost to me, epigenetics from the outside world, and then the pressure that we’re putting on ourselves, and then when we put that pressure on ourselves, our cells are just completely disrupted. Our gut microbiome is off. If our gut is off. then our immune system can’t heal, so then if COVID or Lyme or something, we get reinfected, that our immune system knows, it almost doesn’t know it anymore, because it’s full of toxicity. Dr. Deb Muth 29:34Yeah, I agree. Dr. Holly Donahue 29:35People are constipated! Dr. Deb Muth 29:36Yes, yes, just about everybody we see is constipated these days, yeah.I really like your approach. I appreciate how you focus on not just supplements and protocols, but you address all of it, like sleep, nutrition, lifestyle. Why is that whole body approach so critical when you’re working with people that have either been burnt out or just have been ill for a while?What is it about that approach that makes it so, so much better than what we do traditionally? Dr. Holly Donahue 30:09Well, first of all, the first thing that comes to my mind is that, I don’t believe the body, you can use one system and one drug at a time. Pharmaceuticals are indicated when they’re indicated. I have somebody that came in with incredibly high elevated cholesterol and hemoglobin A1C, was put on Wegovy and was put on a statin, for example.Those were indicated then and there. Wegovy, I don’t know, but it’s okay, we can work through it, right?But if we just leave that individual there, whether I do herbs or drugs, I’m never getting to the root cause of what’s happening. I’m never getting to, what is your relationship with your wife? Do you enjoy work? Do you… what do you do? How many times do my patients, I say to them, don’t focus on weight.Like, what do you do for joy? So this, to me, is the whole person. The person is just not the pancreas, the blood sugar, the cardiovascular system, and the lungs. Those are very important in the whole arterial system, or we won’t. Dr. Deb Muth 31:18Right. Dr. Holly Donahue 31:18But, like, even the movement, if I don’t talk about movement, like, I don’t know about you, but after, like, a podcast, or after I go live, I have to get up and walk around. We’re not meant to be. It’s not good for our backs, right? Dr. Deb Muth 31:32Hmm? Dr. Holly Donahue 31:33And then if we don’t use the whole body approach, like massage, and I do colon hydrotherapies at the clinic, and muscle stim, and ultrasound, and visceral management, and craniosacral, like, but the biggest thing that heals is removing the toxicity, like with saunas, you know?And it’s like… If I just focused on… One system, for example.And, for example, thyroid. How many women have Hashimoto’s thyroid? Like, they’re gonna be on thyroid medicine for the rest of their life. Is that truth? No! I have gone on thyroid and come off thyroid when I was really sick, right? The receptors aren’t connecting to what’s going on, because my receptors, they’re all mooky, right? Dr. Deb Muth 32:19Like… Dr. Holly Donahue 32:20I’m using non-medical terms so they understand. It’s like, all of this toxicity, it can’t get to it, right? Because there’s so much toxicity in the body. So if I just focus on not doing the whole person… then I’m not getting to the root cause, and what’s gonna happen, and this is in my mind, because I’ve been through it, I’m just gonna only heal a little bit, like I did when I was a teenager. with… if I’m just giving supplements, and I’m not doing the whole body approach, right? And if I’m not looking at the bone health of women as they age, as estrogen and progesterone and menopause. Dr. Deb Muth 32:56cousin. Dr. Holly Donahue 32:56and I’m not focusing on that, then long-term, I mean, I’ve had my patients for 25 plus years, long-term.we’re gonna end up with bone challenges, osteopenia, osteoporosis, right? Placking of the arteries, so if I just do one system.I’m not doing you service. Dr. Deb Muth 33:17Yeah, I love that. I love that. And that’s so true, because we don’t think about, necessarily think about 10 years from now, 15 years from now. Everyone’s focused on.what’s going on right now, let’s fix right now. But that person still has to live in their body, no matter what we do right now. We’ve got to get them past that and get them to a place where they can function 10, 15, 20 years from now. And that makes a huge difference, and like you were saying, the toxicity, I mean, the toxins that we’re exposed to today are so much worse than they were 25 years ago when you and I started this. And it was bad then, but now it’s really bad, and trying to get these things out of people so they don’t develop autoimmune disease, they don’t develop cancer, they don’t get neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia and Parkinson’s. It becomes harder and harder, and the sooner you do that, the better success you have without getting those things later on, when you do get older and your immune system falls a little bit. Dr. Holly Donahue 34:11Yeah, and we are probably, even though most of our research is done on men, and thank God we’re, you know, getting more and more research on women, like the cardiovascular disease in women and heart attack myocardial infarctions. you guys is very different in women, so please ask and find out, because there’s a lot of women that we’re losing in the ER because they’re trying to do the diagnosing of a male, and that’s coming out now. I can’t remember the doctor that’s done several podcasts on it. I think she’s out of Stanford, and it’s like, she’s starting to speak up, right? This isn’t a gender thing, but it is a gender thing, right? And it’s not saying, poor me because I wasn’t research, I’m saying, like, we are different beings. When I treat a male.His wiring, when I treat him, is very different the way I treat a female.Right? A female’s ready to make changes, they’ve had to be flexible, you know, and a man is just wired very differently. Until they have an emergency, are they gonna jump on and really do something? And I’m not talking every man, if you have men that watch this. Dr. Deb Muth 35:18I’m tired. Dr. Holly Donahue 35:18We’re talking the average person. The other thing that I briefly want to speak into is, like, we have so much research on drugs. Why don’t we have more research on herbs, which actually start the beginning of drugs, often, with the synthetics, right? I would love to see that. Dr. Deb Muth 35:36Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 35:37I see so much crap being taken out of our food, and not that we’re talking about different people, because I don’t want to talk about them online, though it’s out there if you want to find it, creating and putting chicken in vats and feeding it to you. So, I don’t know about you, but I’m never eating chicken at a restaurant, unless I know the farm where my chicken came from. Right. Like, this is real, you guys, like, they are doing genetically modified food.The other question that I have is America’s such a growing, knowledgeable country, why do we have 1.3 trillion diagnoses and chronic disease? Dr. Deb Muth 36:11Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 36:11And climbing. Yeah. That’s what brings tears to my eyes every time. Dr. Deb Muth 36:15What am I saying? Dr. Holly Donahue 36:16Say it. Dr. Deb Muth 36:16I agree, I agree, and I’m right there with you on the research of women. I just wrote a book called Seen It Last, and when I did the research to see how do we research women and men and how different it is, it’s ridiculous. We just assume women are smaller versions of men. Half the time, women are not even involved in a study. They’re not allowed because of our reproductive abilities, and they don’t want anybody in there at that point.Which I totally understand. You want to try to, you know, prevent having something happen to somebody if they didn’t know they were pregnant, but that totally excludes us from the research to say, you know, does lisinopril work the same way for men as it does for women? If we don’t have women in the study, we have no idea. And we’ve been dismissed so many times over the years, and it’s like thalidomide, right? Like, hello? And it’s the same type of thing over and over again, year after year for women, and it is not right. It’s what we’re dealing with, but if we don’t all start speaking up, it’s gonna continue to be our legacy. Dr. Holly Donahue 37:17Yes, and it’s also, like, if we… even for both genders, if we give a drug, like. that person should understand the drug. Like, I just had somebody been given a drug, they gave Losartan, and then they also got ritorvastatin. They’re like, I’m on a statin, I don’t want to be on a statin, and I’m like, that’s what you were just given. Dr. Deb Muth 37:39Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 37:39And I’m the one who didn’t prescribe it, and I’m not feeling bad for myself, but I’m the one that’s the bearer of the bad news to be like, have you looked at the risks and benefits? You probably need it right now, but then do you also know how difficult it is to come off, like, lisinopril or Losartan? Dr. Deb Muth 37:59Right. Dr. Holly Donahue 38:00Like, once your body gets used to a lot of those calcium channel blockers, those beta blockers, it’s a lot of rebound blood pressure that you’re gonna be dealing with. So, I feel like the medical world should share that with them, and say, hey, do you want to do lifestyle first? And how about go see a naturopath, or we have a functional medicine practitioner on our team, are you willing to do the work? Unless they’re gonna… unless they’re We’re in an acute situation. And they’re gonna have a myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure, you know, which, don’t get me started on that diagnosis, like. Radiologists are like, congestive heart failure is… the wrong diagnosis in so many cases. All that means, you guys, is that your heart isn’t pumping the way that it should be. Why can’t we have different levels? And cardiologists will say the same thing, it’s an awful term. Dr. Deb Muth 38:55It is. We have cardiologists… we text a lot of D-dimers post. Dr. Holly Donahue 39:00Oh, night. Dr. Deb Muth 39:01post the you-know-what, and we have some of them that come back, almost all of them come back high, but some come back really high, like 5 or 6, and we send them to cardiology for a workup, and the cardiologists are like, we don’t care, it’s not high enough for us to do anything with. And I’m like…It’s five! Are you kidding me? It’s supposed to be less than 1, and we’re not concerned about it? And they’re like, no, we’re not concerned about it. And I’m like, until the person has a stroke, or a heart attack, or has something happen, they’re not doing anything about this stuff.And as naturopaths, you and I look at this and go, wait a minute, there’s something happening in the body. We need to fix this before we have a big event that occurs. But nobody is looking at that. They don’t care anymore. Dr. Holly Donahue 39:44Hmm. Dr. Deb Muth 39:46Frustrating. Dr. Holly Donahue 39:46so exhaust, you know, I’m not making excuses for them, but, you know, my dad had an amazing primary care physician, and now he stepped out of, being in the medical system, you know? And he went off, and he’s doing, concierge primary care, direct primary care with another female doctor, and I think that was the best thing, because when my dad passed away, how many doctors call your family and wanted to show up for the funeral, and then said to my mom, your daughter, just meaning me, because I happen to. Dr. Deb Muth 40:25Have a mess. Dr. Holly Donahue 40:25medical license. Of course, my other sisters were amazing love and care and. Dr. Deb Muth 40:29Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 40:29But from a medical perspective, he’d be like, ask… you know, ask her, what can she give him for, like, decreased motility and for constipation? He passed at 91… at 92, you know what I mean? And his body was shutting down, but he had a desire to live. But he also said, like, if it wasn’t for all those supplements and the food that you fed him, and the love that you gave him, he wouldn’t have lived as long as he did, and he might have had a cardiac event. and not just died at home with his lung… I mean, his lungs were… he only had a third of his lung on his left side that was still functioning. That’s not the point. The point is, is when you ask me, why do I do whole body medicine? He had wished he had listened to me years ago about his diabetes, but he was too busy… he was too busy building. Dr. Deb Muth 41:19building a. Dr. Holly Donahue 41:20Business Entrepreneurs, like we just covered. Dr. Deb Muth 41:22Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 41:22He was too busy making income for his family, and he couldn’t stop, because he had a commitment to be successful in business, and boy, was he. But at what toll did that take him? We never saw him when we were children. We… he knew we loved her, you know what I mean? Right. But there’s a price that you pay exchanging your health for time and your job that you don’t spend time with loved ones, and that’s why I do lifestyle medicine. Dr. Deb Muth 41:52Yeah, and that makes… that is so true. I mean, I think that statement is so powerful, because it’s easy for all of us to get busy and get tied up in chasing the dollar and chasing what we want to be known for. And just go, go, go, go, go. But just putting it into that simple framework. That, yes, you can chase that, but you’re giving up these things on the other side, and this is what your life may look like when you are retired, makes a huge difference, because you’ve lost out on so much of that life then, as a result. Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 42:27Yeah, and then when he got to the point where he was doing really well, he’s like, let’s all go on vacation, let’s… and we’re like, honey, we have jobs. Dr. Deb Muth 42:34Yeah, can’t do it now. Dr. Holly Donahue 42:36You know? Like, we have to, like, make the time, and then let’s do it, you know what I mean? Dr. Deb Muth 42:40Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 42:41You can’t just, like, up and be like, okay, we’re outta here, like. Dr. Deb Muth 42:43Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 42:44Since we gotta go now, you know. Dr. Deb Muth 42:45Yeah, right? We think that someday when we have money, it’s like that, but it isn’t like that, unfortunately.Well, this has been such a great conversation. I have one last question for you. It’s the question that we ask everyone. If you had an opportunity to sit down with the changemakers in this country for healthcare, what would be the number one thing you would ask them to change? Dr. Holly Donahue 43:09The nutrition and how we grow it, and, you know, the toxicity, and the pesticides that are being sprayed, and all the farmers that are really being put out of business, because bigger, faster, you know, we werewe would feed more people by doing this. We have people that are starving every single day, and I… and I just think, like, if we were healthier on that movement, then we would have a healthier culture. And, you know. Everything would flow so much easier. Dr. Deb Muth 43:43Yeah, I agree. I think that’s where it has to start, really. Like, we can talk about all these other things that we could change, and yes, it makes great things and great sense, but the foundation has to be solid so people stop getting a lot of these diseases because they’re nutrient deficient and they’re full of toxins and everything else.That’s how we truly change the world of health and wellness, is nutrition out of the gate. Dr. Holly Donahue 44:07Yes, and, you know, with that being connected, I also wish that we could tell people, just because they have this label and diagnosis, that they can heal. as long as they get the foundation and the lifestyle pieces that you and I covered with the nutrition, which goes back to my answer, you don’t have to carry a label and a diagnosis the rest of your life. Dr. Deb Muth 44:35Yeah. Dr. Holly Donahue 44:36you have to ask yourself, how did I allow this in my body? How did it come in? And then work with practitioners to remove it. Dr. Deb Muth 44:44Yeah, that’s often.So… Dr. Hawley, how can people find you? And you have a big event coming up, so… Dr. Holly Donahue 44:51Cheers, man. Dr. Deb Muth 44:51information about that with our listeners. Dr. Holly Donahue 44:53Thank you so much. So, you can, you can actually find me on, Instagram at Dr. HollyDonoghuend and Facebook, so I’m in both of those, you know, both of those arenas all the time, my team, we’re out posting. And I also, thank you for asking, I also am doing a, summit, where I bring on speakers, which we love to have you sometime, where I bring on speakers, and it’s my give back. And we are hosting a 5-day summit, one day live on the 20th through the 24th, and it’s all about hormones. And we’re saying, like, we’re bringing on these medical detectives as practitioners that are speaking into how your vitality, you know, your hormones are disrupted. from all the pieces that you’re doing, whether it’s blood sugar, whether it’s your actual hormones, your hunger hormones, and how to actually solve that problem and have the energy and the desire to actually heal yourself. So we’re going to walk everybody on a journey on different arenas that will talk about, really the truth that doctors aren’t talking about, because they don’t share this information. They’re always constantly putting outAnd then with that, when we’re going to step into a metabolism reset challenge right after the summit, it’s a 5-day challenge that will go even deeper. And my goal is there’s a lot of people on GLP-1s, Ozempic, Wegovy, Moderna, and all of that, and they really don’t know, A, why they’re on it, they think they’re on it for weight loss, which could be true, but it does have really good benefits that weWe do see.But do you really have to be it on the rest of your life, right? Or if you’re not on it, and you really want to learn how to balance your metabolism, I’m gonna walk you through 5 days of teaching you all the pieces of the puzzle that I taught about today in a much deeper way, so that at the end of the actual challenge, you’ll have tools that you can actually make changes for yourself. Dr. Deb Muth 46:57Oh, that’s awesome. I love that idea. That is a great thing, because people need to learn that. And we do a lot of GLP-1 support, too, but the big, big question that everybody has is, do I have to be on this forever? And the answer is no, as long as you’re using it as a toolto make the changes that you need to change your metabolism, then you don’t need this forever. But if you’re not making the lifestyle changes, then yes, then you’re going to have to be on it forever, because you haven’t done the work to change it in the first place. So, that sounds awesome. Thank you. Dr. Holly Donahue 47:27Yeah, you’re welcome. Dr. Deb Muth 47:29Anything else you want to share with our listeners? Dr. Holly Donahue 47:31No, I just, you know, I don’t say no, but what I would love everybody to hear is, like.Natural medicine, and what Dr. Deb and I do, it’s not a magic bullet, but it… all the efforts that you put in to change your life and adjust your nutrition and change your habits, like I talked about in the very beginning, it becomes a ripple effect, and the more people that you bring on board to follow you on natural wellness and healing.you’re gonna hear comments like, what are you doing? You know what I mean? Your life is better, your sex life is better, your energy is better, your relationships are better, work is easier, there’s more joy in your life. And who doesn’t want to have all that? And it just is putting those pieces together, but you can have that as well. Like, anti-aging is all over the place, and biohackingBut what if we just go back to the basics so you learn how to become your own doctor and, like, what you need and can advocate for yourself? That’s my goal long-term. Dr. Deb Muth 48:36I love that, and that is so true. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for joining me. Dr. Holly Donahue 48:41Thank you so much for having me, I really appreciate it. Dr. Deb Muth 48:47Thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who could benefit from learning the truth about root cause healing and whole body wellness. A huge thank you to Dr. Holly Donahue for sharing her wisdom with us today, and her clinical expertise. If you want to learn more.About her, or explore how naturopathic medicine can help you heal from burnout, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, or chronic illness. Visit simplehealthnh.com.Or you can reach out to Dr. Donahue directly at DrDonahue at SimpleHealthNH.com. We will have those links for you below in the show notes as well. And remember, wellness isn’t just about feeling good. It’s about thriving in every area of your life.If you’re ready to explore how root cause medicine can help you break free from the symptom chasing, cycle, and build real sustainable health.Visit Serenityhealthcarecenter.com. And remember, no supplement, no hormone, no protocol can overcome ongoing toxin exposure, chronic stress, poor nutrition, gut dysfunction, and inadequate sleep.True healing requires your active participation. You have to be willing to address the root causes and change the lifestyle factors that disrupted your health in the first place.Root cause healing amplifies your body’s natural healing capacity, but you have to create the internal environment where healing can actually happen.Until next time, I’m Dr. Deb, reminding you to take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Be well, and I’ll see you on the next episode.The post Episode 261 – Root-Cause Healing and Whole-Body Wellness first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth February 2026, 3 million documents released, a network exposed. But here’s what no one is sayingThe trauma of trafficking doesn’t end when the victim escapes It doesn’t even end when that survivor’s lifetime. It writes itself into DNA. It alters the stress response of children not yet born. And it creates epigenetic markers that echo through 3, 4, and even 5 generations. This is not a metaphor, this is molecular biology. And if we don’t understand how deeply trauma sees itself. Biologically, genetically, and spiritually, we will never understand why autoimmune disease, addiction, and chronic illness are epidemic in families that carry this hidden history. Today, we’re going deeper than headlines. We’re going into the cells, the genes, and the soul. Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. We’re here to uncover root causes, explore regenerative medicine, and empower you to heal from the inside out. I’m Dr. Deb, your medical detective, and today we’re confronting one of the most important and least discussed wellness topics of our time. How the exploitation and trafficking of women and children doesn’t just harm individuals, it damages bloodlines. And if you’re someone who carries an unexplained chronic illness, autoimmune disease, addiction, or trauma that seems to have no clear origin, this episode may finally connect the dots. Grab your cup of tea or coffee, settle in, and let’s go deep into this subject. Can you put an ad sponsor right here before we get started? Let’s start with what just happened. In February of 2026, the Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. According to The Guardian, on February 2nd, 2026, these files contained allegations that Epstein didn’t just abuse women, he provided them to other powerful men. One accuser identified Harvey Weinstein from a photo lineup. Describing coercion and payment. Another FBI document described threats of force. Lativia launched a criminal investigation after the files linked Epstein’s network to modeling agencies overseas. But here’s what I need you to understand. As a practitioner who treats trauma survivors, Epstein’s operation was not new. It was ancient. From Mesopotamian slave codes to Roman markets to the transatlantic trade, trafficking has always been about the same thing. Power, and exploiting vulnerability for profit. The tools change. Private jets instead of ships, social media instead of market squares. But the wound, it’s identical. And that wound… It doesn’t heal when the victim is freed. It embeds itself into biology. Let me explain what happens when a human being experiences the kind of trauma that trafficking creates. The immediate biological response. When someone is trafficked, their body enters a state of chronic survival mode. The autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious functions like heart rate, digestion, immune response, it gets locked into a fight or flight. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, floods the system. At least, at first. This is protective. But when the threat never ends, when abuse is daily, when escape is impossible, cortisol stays elevated for months and even years. And here’s what chronic cortisol does. It suppresses immune function, making the body vulnerable to infections, cancer, and autoimmune disease. It disrupts the gut microbiome, leading to leaky gut, food sensitivity, and systemic inflammation. It dysregulates hormone production, thyroid sex hormones, insulin, and it creates metabolic chaos. It damages the hippocampus, the part of the brain region responsible for memory and emotional regulation. But it goes deeper than that. Cellular memory, trauma written into our tissues. Research published in the Biological Psychiatry of 2025 and Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025 shows that trauma doesn’t just affect the brain, it reprograms cells throughout the body. Mitochondria, the energy factories inside every cell, shift from producing ATP energy to producing reactive oxygen species, stress signals. This is why trauma survivors often develop chronic fatigue syndrome. That cortisol, over time, starts to dive down, and eventually can’t be produced when it’s supposed to be during a traumatic episode, and it stays at this low level, creating what we now know as chronic fatigue syndrome. Inflammatory genes turn on and stay on, even after the threat is gone. This is why we see such high rates of autoimmune disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, inflammatory bowel disease, in trafficking survivors. The fascia, the connective tissue that wraps every muscle and organ, stores trauma physically. This is why survivors develop chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and tension that no amount of massage can release. The body literally remembers the violation at a cellular level. The ACE study, Childhood Trauma as a Disease Predictor, the CDC’s Adverse Childhood Experiences Study in 2025, showed that 64% of the U.S. adults had experienced at least one ACE abuse. neglect, or household dysfunction. And nearly 1 in 6 has experienced 4 or more. And the data is devastating. The ACE that you have maybe experienced, if you have had this, you have a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disease, depression, suicide, and addiction. Trafficking survivors often score 8, 9, or 10 out of a 10 on the ACE scale. Their bodies are biologically aged by trauma. And according to the VA’s National Center for PTSD, PTSD is associated with excess mortality, meaning survivors die younger, not just from suicide, but from the stress related to chronic disease. Now, here’s where it gets even more profound. What is epigenetics? Well, your DNA is like a library of instructions, but not every book is open all the time. Epigenetics is the system that decides which genes get turned on. or off, without changing the DNA sequence itself. And here’s the critical discovery. Trauma can change those epigenetic marks, and those marks can be passed to your children. The Science of Inherited Trauma. The studies on the Holocaust survivors and their descendants showed that children and grandchildren of trauma survivors had altered stress hormone regulation, even though they never experienced the original trauma themselves. Research on famine shows in the Netherlands during World War II, Found that children born to mothers who were pregnant during starvation had higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease decades later. This happens because stress during pregnancy alters the developing fetus’ stress response system, and when a pregnant woman is trafficked, abused, or living in chronic fear, her elevated cortisol levels cross the placenta, and the baby’s developing brain is bathed in stress hormones. And the child’s HPA access, the stress regulation system, Is programmed for hypervigilance. The child is born with a biological predisposition to anxiety, depression, autoimmune disease, and addiction. And it doesn’t stop there. That child grows up, and if they have children, their altered stress response can influence the next generation through epigenetic inheritance, and through the environment they create. This is why we see patterns of addiction, autoimmune disease, and mental illness running through families, even when there’s no clear genetic mutation. It’s not just genetics, it’s inherited trauma written into gene expression. There is also a spiritual dimension to this. There’s something beyond biology here, something that science is only beginning to touch. Survivors often describe feeling disconnected from their bodies, as if their spirit left during the abuse. And never fully returned. This is disassociation, a survival mechanism. But in many healing traditions, somatic therapy, internal family systems, even ancient spiritual practices, there’s recognition that trauma fragments the self. And healing isn’t just about regulating cortisol or repairing the gut, it’s about reuniting the spirit with the body. It’s about teaching the nervous system that it’s finally safe to be fully present once again. And when that happens, when one person heals that fracture, it changes the trajectory for everyone else who comes after them. So what do we do with this knowledge? Well, first. Trauma-informed root cause medicine. Healing trafficking survivors and their descendants requires more than talk therapy. It requires nervous system regulation, vagal nerve stimulation, somatic experience, breathwork. Gut healing, repairing the microbiome, addressing that leaky gut, and reducing the inflammation. Hormone balancing, supporting adrenal function, thyroid, and sex hormones, detoxification, clearing accumulated toxins that the stressed body couldn’t process, both physically and emotionally. Nutritional restoration. Replenishing the nutrients depleted by chronic stress. This is functional medicine. This is what I do every day with my team. Second, we need epigenetic reversal, and that is actually possible. Here’s the hope. Epigenetic marks can be changed. Studies show that meditation therapy, safe relationships, and even nutrition can reverse some of the epigenetic damage caused by trauma. Every time a survivor learns to regulate their nervous system, they’re not just healing themselves, they’re changing what gets passed to the next generation. Third, we have to speak the truth. Silence protects the perpetrators. Truth-telling breaks generational curses. And every time we name trafficking for what it is, a crime that damages biology, genetics, and spirit, we create the space for healing. Thank you for going deep with me today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now. If this episode moved you, share it, because healing begins when we stop pretending trauma is only psychological, and we start treating it as a biological, genetic, and spiritual crisis that it truly is. If you or someone you love needs trauma-informed care, visit serenityhealthcarecenter.com or explore our functional medicine platform at venari.com. Survivors seeking support can reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Join our Seen at Last Facebook group, which is a free community where we support women to be seen at last. I’m Dr. Deb. Take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Be well, and we’ll see you on the next episode.The post Episode 260 – How Trauma Passes Through Generations: Epigenetics, Trafficking and Chronic Illness first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Deb (00:03.606)Within the next seven months, up to 1.5 million Americans could lose access to a medication that they’ve relied on for decades. Not because it’s dangerous, but because a pharmaceutical giant may have lobbied the FDA to eliminate their competition. And if you’re one of them, your doctor may already have told you about this issue and stopped prescribing it.This isn’t a conspiracy theory. This is documented in federal court filings. This is happening right now. And the company that stands to profit, well, they’re the same ones manufacturing the only product that might survive.Today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now, we’re exposing the desiccated thyroid extract crisis, the corporate manipulation behind it, and what you need to do right now to protect your health. Stay with me because I’m about to share what could save your access to the medication keeping you alive.Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, the show where we uncover the root causes of chronic illness, expose regulatory capture in healthcare, and empower you with the tools to advocate for yourself. I’m Dr. Deb, naturopathic doctor, your medical detective, and today we’re diving into one of the most consequential and corrupt healthcare decisions affecting patients right now. If you or someone you love takes Armour thyroid, NP thyroid, or any desiccated thyroid extract,for hypothyroidism or if you’ve struggled to find a thyroid medication that actually works for your body, this episode is absolutely critical. And if you have celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or corn allergies, what I’m about to reveal will make your blood boil. Now grab your cup of coffee, don’t forget your notebook and settle in because what’s happening to this medication right now is a masterclass in how pharmaceutical companies use regular Deb (02:06.544)agencies to eliminate competition, control markets, and price gouge patients. And I have all the receipts. Deb (02:20.982)Let me start with what might surprise you. Desiccated thyroid extract, or DTE as we call it, is actually one of the most oldest thyroid medications in the world. And I mean old. From the 1890s through 1970, this was the standard treatment for hypothyroidism.Now let’s really dive into that. From the 1890s to the 1970s, this was standard hypothyroidism treatment.In 1965 alone, and this is documented in peer-reviewed literature published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, approximately four out of every five prescriptions for thyroid hormone in the United States were of natural desiccated thyroid preparations.The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism is a very high-end journal. Now think about that. This wasn’t some fringe therapy. This was mainstream medicine. Armour Thyroid, the most recognizable brand name, has been manufactured since the early 1900s, well over a century ago.and this is cited again in NIH bookshelf. When the FDA was officially established in 1938, Arbor thyroid was already on the market. And this is important and I want you to understand why. Under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, any drug that was already being marketed before 1938 was automatically grandfathered into the system. That means it didn’t have to Deb (04:08.112)go through the formal FDA approval process. And this again is cited under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, grandfathered drugs and exemptions. And this is crucial to understanding what happens next. By the 1970s, synthetic levothyroxine, brand name Synthroid and generics became the preferred treatment. Hmm, wonder why?It was easier to standardize, came into consistent doses, and worked well for most patients, and could be mass manufactured. By the 1980s, levothyroxine had largely replaced desiccated thyroid in clinical practice, according to the American Thyroid Association 2014 guidelines for the treatment of hypothyroidism. But here’s what matters. Some patients…a very significant minority of them, never felt right on levothyroxine alone. Despite their lab work looking normal, they still had fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, cold intolerance, and depression.These patients often found relief when they switched back to their desiccated thyroid, which contains both T4 and T3 hormones, the way human thyroid naturally produces them. And this is not anecdotal. This is documented in randomized double-blind crossover studies published in Endocrine Practice.For decades, that was fine. Their doctors prescribed it, insurance sometimes covered it, patients were getting better, and the system worked really well. Until August 6th of 2025, just a short time ago, everything changed. On that date, the FDA sent letters to manufacturers, importers, and distributors of desiccated thyroid extract products stating that these medications would need an approval. Deb (06:04.654)a biologics licensed application, a BLA, to remain legally on the market. And this is cited in the FDA’s official statement, FDA’s actions to address unapproved thyroid medications. understand it says unapproved thyroid medications. However, desiccated thyroid, specifically Armour, has been approved since 1938. And this was dated August 6th through 7th, 2025.This wasn’t a guideline. This wasn’t a suggestion. It was an endorsement of action. And the timeline they gave them? Well, just 12 months to transition patients to another medication before enforcement action could begin.This was also cited by an FDA notice to the industry, animal derived thyroid products notice to industry, August 6th, 2025. Now do the math, that means August 2026, seven months from now, 1.5 million Americans currently taking this medication. And this number comes from the FDA official statement, citing that it’s an estimation of 1.5 million patients receiving prescriptions for these medications.could potentially lose their thyroid access. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The FDA didn’t wake up in August of 2025 and decide to regulate desiccated thyroid after a century. This decision has a much longer backstory. And understanding that backstory is critical to understanding what’s really happening in this industry.The shift started in 2022. Back in September of 2022, over three years ago, an FDA branch chief sent a letter to the National Associations of Boards of Pharmacy noting that the agency had decided to designate DTE as a biological product, which would affect its eligibility for compounding. Deb (08:13.972)This also is cited in an FDA letter to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy September 2022.Then two months later, in November of 2022, the FDA’s Office of Compounding Quality and Compliance sent a softer letter acknowledging that many Americans take medication to treat hypothyroidism and some choose to take DTE products. The letter stated that the FDA would focus enforcement on cases that pose the greatest public health risks, such as serious adverse offense or serious product quality or adulteration.also is cited by an FDA letter from Francis G. Bromel, the director, Office of Compounding Quality and Compliance, November of 2022. Now, let me just think about this for a second. If this drug has been on the market since the 1800s, been FDA approved since 1938, would we not have seen a health crisis long before 2022?I honestly don’t know of any other drug that’s been around this long that’s used by this many people. Now granted, I haven’t done the research on it either, which I can do for you guys, but I’m just thinking if a drug is on the market today and it causes harm, it doesn’t make it three years, five years before you see lawsuits everywhere. Why are there no lawsuits on this drug? Why are there no major reactions that people are seen having?Hmm, just thought. But here’s the pattern. The FDA was already laying the groundwork back in 2022, testing the waters, signaling where this was headed. The August 2025 action. Then this came down. Deb (10:09.806)August 6, 2025, the FDA announced its position publicly and sent formal letters to all DTE manufacturers, importers, and distributors. This was cited by the FDA Enforcement Action August 6, 2025, letters to manufacturers, importers, distributions of DTE products. The agency stated several concerns. First, DTE products have experienced quality and dosing issues.The FDA cited, and I’m quoting directly from their statement, over 500 adverse events reported associated with DTE products from 1968 to 2025. From 1968 to 2025, we had 500 adverse reactions? What is that math equate to?A couple a year? Come on guys, this is insane! With a substantial increase, you, between 2019 and 2020 that the agency suggested was related to voluntary recalls of sub-potent or super-potent products.This was cited in the FDA statement, over 500 adverse events reported associated with ADT products from 1968 through 2025.Second, the agency expressed concern about batch inconsistency. According to the FDA’s official statements, tablets made from the same manufacturing batches may not always provide the same thyroid hormone levels. Okay, this was cited in the FDA statement, tablets made from the same manufacturing batches may not always provide the same thyroid hormone levels. Thirdly, and I want to actually let’s back up. I want you to remember I said that Deb (12:11.216)because further down in this podcast, we’re going to talk about this. This is an important point to remember. Thirdly, the agency raised concerns about potential impurities from animal source material, including potential for viral contamination due to the animal source and supraphysiological levels of T3.the FDA statement on impurities, viral contamination and super physiological T3 levels. Now I will tell you, I’ve been prescribing armarithograde for 20 years. I’ve rarely seen a super physiological dose given of T3 in lab results, unless the patient takes their medication like four or five hours before you do the blood test, then you’ll see a false rise because you’re actually seeing the medication. You’re not seeing people walking aroundsuperphysiological T3 levels. Nobody would like that feeling. So anyway, I digress. Now let me pause here because this is where I need to give you some context that the FDA hasn’t quite emphasized yet. Of course, we have another connection and it is the China connection.So the FDA’s concerns about contaminated drugs and quality issues don’t exist in a vacuum. In 2024, the U.S. over 828,000 metric tons of pharmaceuticals, seven times the level from 2000. And here’s the kicker. China and India supply the majority of active pharmaceutical ingredients. APIs for U.S. generics accounting for 70 to 80 % of the total genericdrug supply. According to Reuters industry report in 2024, they state that China supplies 82 % of the APIs for critical drugs. Deb (14:08.204)Got to question that, right? Why are we giving all of our drug formulas to China and allowing them to import them into our country? In fact, roughly 20 % of the critical drugs have APIs exclusively sourced from China. And China controls 80 to 90 % of the global production for antibiotics and other key compounds. This was also cited by Reuters industry data thatcontrols 80 to 90 percent of the global production for antibiotics and other key compounds. Now just think about this. They control 80 to 90 percent of our medication. They control 20 percent of our critical drugs and we just put what kind of tariff on them? Hmm.In 2025 alone, the FDA issued multiple warning letters to foreign manufacturers for contamination issues and failure to follow good manufacturing practices. This is also cited by the FDA warning letters 2024 through 2025 and multiple citations to foreign manufacturing facilities. This is a systematic problem affecting the entire US drug supply, not just desiccated thyroid.So when the FDA suddenly became concerned about DTE quality and contamination, part of that concern was legitimate. But this is crucial. The same inconsistencies and contamination issues exist across the entire generic drug supply. And the FDA has not taken the same enforcement action against them. Let that sink in.They have not taken the same enforcement action against the other drug companies. So what’s behind all of this? Where is this all coming from? Hmm. Let’s address something directly, because you deserve to know it. And I’m going to cite my sources precisely so that when the medical boards have something to say about this, and they might, I have a documentation for every single word that I am about to speak. Deb (16:24.878)According to the court documents filed in October 2025, in the case ofa urine, a urine. I’m going to say that wrong. Pharmaceuticals versus Dr. George Tidmarsh from ABBV, the multinational pharmaceutical company that manufactures armor thyroid, reportedly petitioned the FDA in 2024, asking the agency to reclassify DTE as a biologic and to prohibit other manufacturers from selling unlicensed DTE products unless they havehad an investigational new drug application, we call this an IND, and a clinical development program aimed at eventual approval. This is cited in the court filing a Urena pharmaceuticals lawsuit versus Dr. George Tidmarsh, October 2025, reported by Fierce Pharma. Now let me explain why this matters and why this is one of the most brazen examples of regulatory capture I’ve ever seen in my career.AbbeVee is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. In 2024, they reported over $54 billion in revenue. Drop the mic on that one.They have the resources, the regulatory expertise, the legal teams, and the financial capacity to navigate a biologics license application process that costs between $500 million and $1 billion. Let that sink in. Deb (18:07.882)A drug that’s been on the market since the 1800s that was grandfathered in 1938 that’s making plenty of money right now. They’re going to spend 500 million to $1 billion to get a biologics license application. Why would they do that? Well, we’re about to find out. Most otherDTE manufacturers, smaller companies like Acela Pharmaceuticals, which makes NP-thyroid, and RLC Labs, which made WP-thyroid, do not have those same resources. And this is cited in Pharma Voice in 2025. Why a treatment older than the FDA is getting new regulatory scrutiny. So when you petition the FDA to reclassify a drug in a way that requires this type of expensivetime-consuming biological approval, you’re not just asking for safety. You’re asking to eliminate your competitors from the marketplace. Now, I want to be very precise here. These allegations are documented in federal court filings, and it hasn’t been approved in court. It’s also been reported by multiple industry sources, including Fierce Pharma. But I’m telling you,what has been reported in legal proceedings, not stating it as an absolute fact because you deserve to know the difference and because I have to protect my license. Now, what do we know for certain?AbbeVee is working on a biologics license application for Armour thyroid through clinical trials called Avantia. This is cited by the AbbeVee corporate statement 2025 Avantia clinical trial for Armour thyroid. A cell of pharmaceuticals has been pursuing BLA approval for NP thyroid for seven years since 2017 and it completed its phase two trials successfully in 2025. They’re now moving Deb (20:15.448)into Phase 3 trials. This is also cited by the Acela Pharmaceuticals CEO statement 2025 seven-year pursuit for BLA approval completed Phase 2 trials moving to Phase 3.RLC Labs, which manufactured WP thyroid, has made no public announcement about pursuing BLA approval and really probably don’t have a plan to do this since they’ve been off the market for some time now. About five years, I think maybe a little longer. Here’s the market manipulation.If only ABBV is successful and obtains a BLA approval for Armour thyroid, that company would effectively have a monopoly on the DDT market. And in pharmaceutical markets, monopolies historically lead to price increases.We’ve seen this pattern over and over again when turning pharmaceuticals acquired Daraprim and raised their price from $13.50 to $750 per tablet overnight. When Myelin raised EpiPen increased prices by 400 % when insulin manufacturers colluded to raise prices in lockstep. This is the playbook.use regulatory barriers to eliminate your competition and then exploit pricing power. For a drug that’s been on the market since the 1800s, guess corporate greed is everywhere. They’re not making enough money on this product already and they’re taking advantage of the rules that they can manipulate their competition by. And here’s what really makes me furious. The American Thyroid Association, the professional organization Deb (22:06.672)representing endocrinologists sent letters to the FDA commissioner on October 8th of 2025 and September 18th of 2025.advocating for continued patient access to DTEs. This is cited in the American Thyroid Association statement and letter to the FDA commissioner dated October 8th, 2025 and September 18th, 2025. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists issued a statement on September 9th of 2025 supporting equitable access and personalized medicine for DTE. This was also cited in the American AssociationAssociation of Clinical Endocrinologists, AACE, statement dated September 9th, 2025. Even the medical establishment, which has historically favored levothyroxine, is saying, wait, this is going too far. Patients need access to this medication. But the FDA is moving forward anyway. Why? Well, where does it always lead us? Follow the money trail.Okay, so I need to explain what a biologics license application actually is because this is where the rubber meets the road for what’s going to happen to pricing and availability. What is a BLA?A BLA is a biologics license application. It’s a formal request submitted to the FDA to market a biologic product in the United States. A biologic is defined under the Public Health Service Act section 351 as a product derived from or made using living material, in this case, animal thyroid glands. And this is cited in the FDA definition for biologic products. So they’re putting armor thyroid right Deb (23:57.377)right up with stem cells and exosomes. Think about that. Stem cells and exosomes cost thousands of dollars per application because of how they have to be harvested, stored, freezed, all of that. But we’re talking about a thyroid gland. Good Lord, people.Unlike regular drug applications for synthetic medications which follow a simpler pathway, the BLA process is designed for complex biological products like monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and gene therapy products. It’s a much more expensive, much more time-consuming process. The BLA processis what manufacturers have to do. And we’re going to talk about that. So according to Reprocell and Forge Biologics analysis of the FDA’s BLA process, here’s what companies need to submit. First, they need to complete a clinical trial data, phase one, two, and three trials, proving safety and efficacy for desiccated thyroid. Haven’t we done that since it’s been on the market since the 1800s? Just saying.This means they have to conduct large randomized controlled trials comparing it to levothyroxine, measuring safety outcomes, efficacy outcomes, and quality of life metrics. Second,Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls, CMC’s data. Detailed information about how the product is manufactured, quality control measures, stability testing and specifications that must be met for every batch. Third, preclinical and animal safety data. Fourth, labeling and product information. Now, I think we have labeling and product information. Deb (25:53.717)since the 1800s? But just saying. Fifth, they need Pharma Covigilance Plan, a detailed plan for monitoring safety after the product is on the market. Haven’t they had to do that since the 1800s? And they have to have a timeline. And this is the critical part. The FDA’s standard review time for a BLA is 10 months.That’s after the application is deemed complete and accepted for filing. So this is cited by the FDA standard review timeline, BLA submission, and FDA review.Now, before you even get to filing, you need to conduct the clinical trials and compile all the data that’s typically several years of work. How are you going to prove safety and effectiveness in a large clinical trial long term? What do they consider? What do they deem long term? Three months, six months, a year, two years. These companies had 10 months.Well, maybe 12. They did it a year in advance. But unless you knew this was coming, how are you going to put together a trial, enroll the people, have all the trial components set up and ready to go in less than 12 months unless you knew it was coming beforehand? Even ifhad started all their clinical trials in 2024, completing them, compiling the data, and getting a complete application ready for submission, this would likely take you through mid-2026, then add another 10 months for FDA review. We’re looking at 2027 at the earliest for most of these companies to receive a BLA application. Deb (27:54.319)But the FDA gave the manufacturers until August of 2026. That’s approximately 19 months from when the August 2025 letters were sent. Most companies cannot reasonably complete the BLA approval in that timeframe. And when I’m talking about the 19 months, I’m talking about the information they would have had earlier. Now the cost.This gets me even more frustrated. Why are we spending this kind of money? The BLL process is extraordinarily expensive. The current FDA user fee for a BLA submission is approximately $483,560 just for the filing fee. And this is cited at the FDA user fees prescription drug user fee rates for 2025.The full cost of conducting clinical trials, CMC studies, and all the supporting documentation typically ranges from $500 million to over $1 billion, depending on the scope of the trials and the complexity. And this is cited in JAMA’s network, Open2023. A cell of pharmaceuticals has been pursuing the BLA approval since 2017. That’s eight years. And it’s just now.moving into phase three trials with a planned enrollment of approximately 300 patients. This is cited by the Acela Pharmacies CEO statement of 2025. Now that’s unusual. That’s typical for this process. This is not unusual. This is typical for this process to take seven, 10 years to get approval for this. So if Abby’s the one that requested this,Abby V. And Acela started this in 2017. Was Abby V threatened by Acela that Acela might get this approval and it would be quietly done without anybody seeing it? And maybe Abby V would be left out of the market after a century? Who knows? It’s possible. Deb (30:13.112)But for smaller manufacturers without billions in revenue, this cost is completely prohibitive. And this is why this matters. When you push an old established medication through an extraordinary, expensive approval process with a compromised timeline, one of three things happen. First, only the largest companies can afford it, creating a monopoly. And when that happens, the company that holds the only approved product can set pricing withminimal competitive pressures. Two, smaller manufacturers can’t afford it and their products disappear and the market shrinks and access decreases. Three, we see a combination of both and who pays the price? Literally, patients do. Now here’s whereThere’s something I want you to really think about because this is where the regulatory argument falls apart when you look at it carefully. The FDA’s concern about DTE is that, and I’m quoting their official statement, tablets from the same manufacturing batches may not always provide the same thyroid hormone levels. This is from their FDA statement.And that’s a legitimate quality concern, right? It is. Thyroid medications have a narrow therapeutic window like any other hormone, meaning the difference between an effective dose and the dose that causes problems can be quite small. But here’s what the FDA doesn’t emphasize. Generic drugs have the exact same dosing inconsistency issue, and it’s considered acceptable and has been since we allowed generics on the market.So how does a generic drug dose work anyway? Well, for generic drugs to be approved as bioequivalent to a brand name medication, the FDA requires that the generic drugs bioavailability fall within 80 to 125 % of the brand name product. Isn’t that a dose inconsistency? Deb (32:22.894)from the brand name medication? 800 or sorry, 80 to 125%. According to the pharmacy times analysis of the FDA’s bioequivalent standards, the 80 to 125 % bioequivalence rule means that a generic drug can have 20 to 45 % variability compared to the original brand product.Now, most generics are much closer than that. The FDA study data shows that the mean difference for an AUC value between generic and reference products is about three and a half percent in the two year post-Waxman hatch period, and 80 % of the generics fall within a five percent range. But the FDA’s regulations allow for that much higher variability. And this is cited in an FDA study data mean difference for AUC.Now, let me put this in plain language. A patient could take a generic levothyroxine tablet where one batch provides, say, 75 micrograms of an active thyroid hormone. And the next batch from a different manufacturer, a different generic manufacturer, could provide up to 93.75 micrograms, 125 % of that 75. That’s an 18 microgram difference.in the same prescribed dose. Now, this is considered acceptable and patients tolerate it and this system works.Yet the FDA’s argument against DTE is that batch-to-batch inconsistency is unacceptable and requires this expensive biologic approval? That’s a double standard. So why is batch inconsistency acceptable for generic levothyroxine, but supposedly unacceptable for desiccated thyroid? I’ll give you the regulatory answer. Deb (34:29.366)because DDT is a biological product derived from an animal tissue and the FDA considers biological products to require more rigorous control. That’s the regulatory answer, but I’ll give you the real answer.because there’s no billion dollar pharmaceutical company with a patent pending on generic levothyroxine who petitioned the FDA to regulate their competitors more strictly. The inconsistency argument is legitimate, but it’s selectively applied. And that matters when you’re trying to understand whether this is really about patient safety or whether it’s about market control.Now I want to talk about something that hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention in this discussion and it’s something that makes me absolutely furious. What is Armour Thyroid? According to the official prescribing information published by AbbeV and available through rxabbev.com and the FDA’s daily med database, Armour Thyroid contains the following inactive ingredients. Calcium steroid,dextrose derived from corn, mycocrystalline cellulose,sodium starch glycolate and a opadri white coating. Now let’s talk about dextrose. Dextrose is a sugar derived from corn and while manufacturers claim that the corn derived dextrose in armor thyroid is gluten free, here’s the problem. Cross contamination during corn processing can introduce gluten proteins especially if the corn is processed in facilities that also handle Deb (36:18.808)wheat, barley, or rye. Corn sensitivity is extremely common in patients with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and studies show that up to 50 % of the celiac patients react to corn proteins due to molecular mimicry, and the corn proteins look similar enough to gluten that the immune system attacks them. And this is cited by RestartMD.com.And here’s what’s documented in peer-reviewed medical literature in a 2023 case report published in Case Reports in Endocrinology. These researchers documented five patients with gluten intolerance or celiac who were taking natural desiccated thyroid. Three of those patients also reported lactose intolerance. Now these patients had to switch from DTE to liquid levothyroxine formulations to avoid the inactiveSo here’s my question. If AbbeV becomes the only manufacturer with an approved DTE product and their formulations contain corn-derived dextrose that triggers reactions in celiac patients, what are those patients supposed to do? They can’t take armor because of the corn. They can’t take compounded DTE because the FDA is banning compounding of these biologics. They can’t take NPKsor WP thyroid because those companies may not survive the BLA process. So they’re left with a synthetic version of levothyroxine which may not work for them.Now the NP thyroid and WP thyroid difference. Now here’s what’s interesting according to drugs.com comparison of inactive ingredients and P thyroid and P thyroid has calcium steroid dextrose also derived from corn, mineral oil, multi-crystalline cellulose. Deb (38:19.31)cross carmelicin sodium and a opadri to white. So NP thyroid also has corn-derived dextrose. WP thyroid on the other hand was specifically formulated to be hypoallergenic according to ROC labs, but it’s no longer available and its ingredients were inulin from chicory root and medium chain triglycerides. No corn, no gluten, no common allergies. So todayWe do not have a glandular thyroid, a DTE, that is not potentially contaminated with gluten. Yet, patients with autoimmune thyroid disease are supposed to avoid gluten.Now, some of these people can handle a DTE and many cannot, so that argument could be a mute point. But at the end of the day, the one product that we had that was designated for patients with multiple chemical sensitivities, celiac disease and coron allergies, has been off the market for a long time already.We have a monopoly problem. So if ABBV becomes the only approved manufacturer, patients with these celiac diseases and corn allergies will either be forced to take a medicine that makes them sick and triggers their immune reaction or switch to a synthetic that doesn’t adequately treat their hypothyroidism or choose to go without treatment. This is not hypothetical. This is real patients with real medical needs who are about to lose accessto the only formulation that works for their body. And the FDA’s response is silence. Deb (40:07.69)Now I want to highlight something that hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention in this discussion. Compounding pharmacies. What is a compounding pharmacy? Compounded medications are custom made by licensed pharmacists to meet a patient’s specific needs. Maybe you need a different strength that was commercially available, but you have an allergy to a filler or a dye in the commercial product. Maybe you need a liquid formulation or instead of a tablet or you need a capsule. That’s when compoundingin. And the FDA’s, this is the FDA’s definition of compounding. And for decades, compounding pharmacies have been making desiccated thyroid extract for patients who needed customization. Some patients couldn’t take the commercial products because of the dyes and the fillers, and some needed strengths that were not available. And these compounding pharmacies filled the gap.But reclassification changes everything. When the FDA reclassified DTE as a biologic in 2022 and reinforced that decision in August of 2025, explicitly stated, and I’m quoting directly from the FDA’s official statement, these unapproved animal-derived thyroid medications are not eligible for compounding because these products are regulated as biologic products under the Public Health Service Act.How can that be? These products have been approved since 1938 and the Biologics Act didn’t go into effect or doesn’t go into effect until August of 2026.So how in 2022 were they able to say that the compounding pharmacies could not make these products? Anyway, what this means is after August 2026, compounding pharmacies will no longer be permitted to compound a desiccated thyroid extract, even for patients with specific medical needs. Now, compounding pharmacies can still compound T4 and T3 separately, synthetic versions of levothyroxine and liothyronine, according to Deb (42:12.728)healing dose compounding pharmacy. These pharmacists can create custom ratios of these two synthetic hormones to approximate what a patient was receiving from a DTE. But that’s not the same thing. Some patients respond better to the whole DTE preparation than to a compounded synthetic combination. And for patients with specific allergies to standard fillers like your celiac patients that I just talked about, losing the ability to get a compounded DTE alternative isreal hardship. This is going to be a ripple effect. For a subset of patients, maybe 5 to 10 percent of those on DTE compounding was their lifeline and it was their way to get a medication formulation that worked for their unique body. When compounding goes away, these patients lose that option as well and for some it will be a significant problem. Now let’s talk about what this likely means for your wallet.The current pricing right now, according to SingleCare and GoodRx, Armour Thyroid costs approximately $150 to $157 for a 90-day supply of 60-milligram tablets, about $1.67 per tablet. With discount cards, some patients can get it down to $101 to $152 for a 90-day supply.Generic levon thyroxine costs about $70 for a 90 day supply, less than half that price. And p-thyroid costs approximately $133 for a 90 day supply of 60 milligrams with a discount card about $83 to $101.What happens after we get BLA approval? Well, here’s the pharmaceuticals pricing model. When a company spends 500 million to $1 billion to bring a product to market, including conducting massive clinical trials, the cost tens of millions of dollars they recoup in that investment through pricing power. And this is cited in the pharmaceutical pricing models. If ABBIEV is the only company with an approved BLA of DTE, Deb (44:18.248)They have pricing power. They don’t have competitors. They can set their price, whatever they want. And historically, when drugs transition from grandfather status, which is basically unregulated to formal formally approved status, prices often increase significantly, not always, but often. And typically they have to get re-approval for insurance. SoTouring Pharmaceuticals acquired DARPM and raised the price again from $1,350 to $750 overnight, a 5,000 % increase. This is the playbook.Let’s talk about insurance coverage. This is the other consideration. Insurance companies sometimes have different coverage policies for approved versions versus unapproved drugs. And right now, many insurance plans cover armor thyroid or NP thyroid, even though they’re technically unapproved because they’ve been on the market for decades and patients are on them. Once a drug becomes formally approved, insurance companies may have new contractual relationships, prior authorization requirements, or preferred drugs.list that could affect your coverage. If 1.5 million people have to get a prior auth for their insurance to cover this new medication, this is going to drive the doctor’s offices crazy. We do not have the staff to man this. We do not have the manpower. We do not have the time. This is going to interrupt people’s ability to get their medications. This is going to create chaos within the system. And some patients might see better coverage, but manymost likely are going to see worse coverage and some might find themselves in a situation where they need to try to get the drug approved first or get an approval for something else like levothyroxine and they’re going to have to document that it didn’t work and the documentation that they had from 20 years ago is probably not going to be enough because it’s not documented anywhere. It’s lost in the system after 10 years. So for patients the practical takeaway is expect Deb (46:25.774)a price increase. I would say possible, but I don’t think that’s true. think you’re going to see a price increase if they get approved. Expect possible insurance complexities, budget accordingly, talk to your insurance company now about what your coverage is going to look like in 2027 if they even know. And if you want my honest assessment of what is likely to happen,I’ll give you a scenario, 30 % likelihood. The FDA enforces the August 26 deadline and DTE products not approved by then are pulled from the market. Patients will have 30 to 90 days to transition to other medications. Some patients suffer significant symptom relapse. Compounding for DTE becomes illegal and this disruptiveness of the system creates a real hardship. Scenario two.which is 50 % likely. This is actually what the FDA commissioner, Marty McCreary suggested on August 13th of 2025 when he posted on social media. The FDA is committed to pursuing the first ever approval of desiccated thyroid access pending results of the ongoing clinical trials. In the meantime, we’ll ensure access for all Americans. Hopefully that continues. What this likely means is the FDA uses enforcement discretion to allow continuedsales while approvals are being pursued and the deadline gets extended. Maybe patients get access for another two to three years while companies work on a BLA approval. This would be the least disruptive scenario, but it’s also legally uncertain because the enforcement letters have been formally rescinded. And scenario three, which is 20 % likelihood, one or two companies get BLA approval. Those products stay on the market at higher product prices and companies, products, other companiescompanies, products are pulled, the market shrinks, availability is limited, prices are higher, but patients can still get something. This is likely if a seller successfully completes phase three trials for NP-thyroid. And my assessment is based on the regulatory language and the enforcement letters that have not been rescinded yet, that the pattern of FDA enforcement, I believe scenario two enforcement discretion with an extended time frame is most likely what we’re going to see. Deb (48:49.488)doesn’t mean patients should sit back and do nothing. It means you should be prepared for change while advocating for access. If you want to keep Arm or Thigh Right on the market, 1.5 million people need to start talking about this publicly and flooding our Congress people, Bobby Kennedy, the FDA, with what you want to see happen. We have the ability to shape this and to change this with our voice. But if we sit back on our laurels and we do absolutelynothing. What is going to happen is what the FDA wants to have happen and ABV wants to have happen because they’re going to simply think people don’t give a shit. And if the American people are going to be lazy and not want to step forward and actually start using their voice for some good and instead of just going to social media and bitching and hoping something is going to happen, well, then we’re going to get what we deserve. But if you start taking someaction and you start advocating for the things that you want. Contacting your representatives, contacting your U.S. tell them the FDA has done this. Many of them may not know this, may not be on their radar. Tell them what you want. Start going after this. Start writing to the FDA Commissioner’s Office. They have a website. They have a Commissioner’s Office at fda.hhs.gov. Be responsible.respectful, but be firm. Explain your scenario. How long you’ve been on DTE. Why levothyroxine doesn’t work. What symptoms you experience when not adequately treated. How this decision will affect your quality of life and your pocketbook. Let’s do something proactive. So let’s consider this. Moving forward, work with your provider who understands the regulatory landscape around DTE. You can discuss the evidence for and against combination therapy.You can monitor for thyroid function with free T3 and free T4 testing, not just TSH. If you’re willing to try individualized approaches, you can do that. If you need help finding a functional medicine provider who understands this issue, come to serenityhealthcarecenter.com or explorethevanari.com. It’s a self-directed functional medicine support group. And right now what is happening is going to shape how history Deb (51:19.024)is made with not just armor thyroid, but many drugs to come. And it is important for you to take action. So I want to thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now. This episode is about far more than thyroid medication. It’s about your right to personalized medical treatment. It’s about your regulatory capture and corporate influence. And it’s about what happens when billion dollar companies shape healthcare policy in ways that reduce patient choice and increase their profits.this episode resonates with you or you know somebody who’s going to be affected by desiccated thyroid, please share it. Post it on social media, send it to your doctor, email it to your representatives, tag AbbeVee, tag FDA. Make noise because the only way we stop this is if we make it too politically costly for them to continue. Your voice truly matters. Your health truly matters and you deserve access to treatments that work best for your unique body.If you’re ready to explore comprehensive personalized health care that puts you in control, visit us at SerenityHealthCareCenter.com. Learn more about functional medicine approaches to thyroid and beyond and explore my new platform, Venari.com, which is a self-directed functional medicine tool. Thank you for joining me today. Until next time, I’m Dr. Deb reminding you, your health is your responsibility, your choice, and your right. Be well, stay informed, fight back.and I’ll see you in the next episode. And if you’re looking for a full citation list of this episode, you can head over to letstalkwellnessnow.com and I will post all the citations for you so you have them in your arsenal as well. Thank you again.The post Episode 259 – The Desiccated Thyroid Crisis: FDA’s Unseen Impact & Corporate Manipulation first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr Deb Muth 00:03Well, welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. I am your host, Dr. Deb. And what is the most talked-about peptides in functional medicine? aren’t actually FDA approved. Not because they don’t work, but because no one’s funded the research to prove it yet. The truth is, some of the compounds that dominate wellness forums, BPC-157, TB-500, thymosin beta-4, epitalin, occupy a fascinating space between breakthrough science and unregulated experimentation. In today’s episode, we’re stepping into that grey zone, the world of investigational peptides, to separate mechanism from marketing. I’m going to walk you through the science that actually shows and where it stops, how to evaluate claims when human data don’t yet exist, and the quality, purity, and safety red flags that you need to recognise. Dr Deb Muth 01:06I created it in a previous episode, so go check that one out. And why honesty is the most important prescription in peptide medicine. If you’ve ever wondered whether these research-only peptides are the frontier of healing or the next functional medicine fad, this episode is for you. So grab your cup of tea or coffee, get comfortable, and let’s talk about what it really means to use peptides that are promising but still under investigation. So we’re going to break just for a second here and have a word from our sponsor. It is because of them that we stay on the air. So thank you for this. And we will be right back. Did you know sweating can literally heal your cells? Infrared saunas don’t just relax you. They detox your body, balance hormones, and boost mitochondrial energy. I’m obsessed with my Health Tech sauna. And right now, you can save $500 with my code at healthtechhealth.com slash dr-muth-req-25. Dr. Deb Muth 02:15All right, guys, welcome back. Let’s dive into investigational peptides, the evidence gap. So the following peptides we’re about ready to discuss are extensively in integrative, functional, and regenerative medicine circles. They may have intriguing mechanisms and promising preclinical data. However, they lack FDA approval, and the evidence quality varies dramatically. from interesting preliminary research to essentially no human data at all. And this distinction is really critical for maintaining scientific integrity. So let’s talk about immune-modulating peptides. There’s thymus and alpha-1, and this is an international story on the thymic peptides. Thymusin alpha-1, known as TA1, is marketed internationally as zidaxin. Dr. Deb Muth 03:16It’s a 28-amino acid polypeptide originally isolated from thymusin fraction 5, which was extracted from bovine thymus tissue. Modern production uses synthetic peptide synthesis. The thymus gland is located behind the sternum and is the primary site for T cell maturation, and thymic peptides like TA1 play roles in human system development and regulation. Now, I love thymus peptides. I love thymus glandular products. I’ve used thymus glandular products for decades. Ground-up animal thymus gland is basically what it is. There are a couple of different supplement companies that I’ve used over the years that are amazing with this. And they do a fantastic job, and they really do help to support the immune system. So when thymus peptides came out, it was really exciting because it took the whole idea of thymus support to a new level. Dr. Deb Muth 04:17The mechanism actually behind the thymus in alpha-1 is complex and involves multiple aspects of immune function. At the cellular level, TA1 enhances T cell maturation and differentiation, particularly the development of helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells. It modulates T cell receptor expression and can influence the balance between Th1 cell-mediated immunity and Th2 humoral immunity responses. And it also enhances the natural killer cell activity and modulates dendritic cell function, which are critical for antigen presentation. and initiation of adaptive immune responses. And on the cytokine level, TA1 influences production of interleukin-2, IL-2, interferon gamma, IFN-γ, and interleukin-10, IL-10. Dr. Deb Muth 05:19These create immune modulatory rather than simple immune stimulatory effects. This is a very important distinction because TA1 appears to help balance the immune system rather than simply ramping this up, which theoretically makes it safer in conditions where immune overstimulation would be a problem, such as an autoimmune disease. Hashimoto’s, autoimmune, lupus, Sjogren’s, any of those autoimmune diseases, we don’t want to overstimulate their immune system. So you want to use a product like this that’s non-stimulating. Now, the regulatory status on TA1 is geographically variable and represents one of the challenges in discussing this peptide with patients. It is not FDA-approved in the United States. However, it is approved in several other countries for specific conditions. Dr. Deb Muth 06:19In Italy, it’s approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In China, it’s approved for chronic hepatitis B and adjunct immune compromised patients receiving vaccinations or suffering from certain infections. It has an orphan drug designation in the United States for certain cancer indications, but its designation does not constitute approval. It simply provides regulatory incentives for further development. So the evidence base for thymosin alpha-1 is substantial in some areas but comes primarily from non-US populations and research groups, which creates challenges in evaluating quality and generalizable information. So in hepatitis B and C, multiple clinical trials, many conducted in China and Italy, have examined TA1 as an adjunct to antiviral therapy. Dr. Deb Muth 07:21A meta-analysis by Wu and colleagues published in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis in 2013 examined 23 randomized controlled trials, including over 2,000 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The analysis found that combining TA1 with nucleoside analogs like LAMVDUDE or an and TCAVAR improved the hepatitis antigen seroconversion rates by HBV DNA clearance compared to its nucleoside analogs alone. And the effect sizes were modest but statistically significant, with the HBE-AG seroconversion rates improving from about 24% with antivirals alone to 38% in combined therapy. Now in hepatitis C, early trials before the development of direct-acting antivirals showed that TA1 combined with interferon alpha improved sustained virological responses, and compared to interferon alpha, Dr. Deb Muth 08:30Furon alone, particularly in difficult-to-treat populations like those with a genotype one or a high viral load. However, the advent of highly effective direct acting antivirals that achieve SRV rates, sorry, SVR rates exceeding 95%, the role of TA1 in hepatitis C has become less clear. Now in sepsis and critical illness, more recent interest has focused on TA1 in severe cases of sepsis and septic shock. Ren and colleagues published a systematic review and meta-analysis in the Frontiers of Immunology in 2022, analyzing 18 randomized controlled trials, including 1787 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock the pooled analysis showed that ta1 administration was associated with reduced 28-day mortality relative risk at 0.70 meaning a 30 reduction in mortality compared to the standard care alone and the effect appeared Dr. Deb Muth 09:39most pronounced in patients with sepsis-induced immunosuppression measured by HLA-DR expression in monocytes. Now, this is amazing because going forward, we’re going to talk about something that’s commonly known as cytokine storm. Now, cytokine storm really became apparent since 2020 with the viral infection that we’re dealing with in the world today. But they were already looking at this kind of cytokine storm produced by sepsis or sepsis-induced immunosuppression. And it triggered this hyperinflammatory response called the cytokine storm. And many patients who survived the initial phase of the immune suppressed stata, characterized by a T cell exhaustion, reduced antigen presentation, and increased susceptibility to secondary infections. Thymusin alpha-1, TA1, may help restore this immune competence in this phase. However, it’s important to note that patient selection and timing are critical. Dr. Deb Muth 10:43Giving this immune stimulant during a hyperinflammatory phase could theoretically worsen outcomes. So you don’t want to give it to them while they’re in the flare up or the sepsis or the infection, but given to them during the immunosuppression phase afterwards might be beneficial. Now there is also some cancer immunotherapy that we see with TA1 and has been studied as an adjunct in cancer treatment with the hypothesis that it could enhance immune surveillance and response to tumors. And a comprehensive review of Garci and colleagues published in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy in 2007 examined multiple trials in melanoma, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and other malignancies. And the results were mixed. Some trials showed improvement in the immune parameters, increased CD4 in T-cells. improved lymphocyte proliferation responses and some actually showed trends toward improved progression free survival but overall survival benefits were inconsistent and the heterogeneity of the cancer types treatment protocols and outcome measures makes a definitive conclusion difficult as a vaccine adjunct several studies particularly from china have examined ta1 as an adjunct to enhance vaccine responses Dr. Deb Muth 12:11in immune-compromised populations, including the elderly, dialysis patients, and transplant recipients. The rationale is sound. These populations often mount suboptimal antibody responses to vaccines, and TA1’s immune-enhancing effects might improve protection. There are small trials. They have shown improvement in seroconversion rates of hepatitis B vaccines and influenza vaccine in these populations. And though large-scale confirmatory studies are limited, there is a possibility here. Now, on their safety profile, one of the appealing aspects of thymusin alpha-A TA1 is that it’s apparently favorable safety profile in clinical trials. There are some injection site reactions with a little redness, a mild discomfort, and most commonly reported adverse effects. is that their severe adverse events attributable to TA1 have been rare in published trials. However, comprehensive long-term safety data are limited Dr. Deb Muth 13:13And theoretically, concern exists that immune modulation could potentially trigger or exasperate autoimmune conditions in susceptible individuals. Though this hasn’t been clearly demonstrated in clinical trials, integrative medicine considerations for integrative practitioners concerning the thymus and alpha-1, several factors require careful thought. First, sourcing and quality control are critical concerns. Since it’s not FDA approved, TA1 available in the United States typically will come from a compounding pharmacy or an international supplier with variable quality assurance. And pharmaceutical grade product with certificates of analysis showing purity, sterility, and endotoxin testing is essential, but it is readily available from many of these companies. Second, patient selection matters immensely. TA1 should be considered in complex cases where conventional approaches have been insufficient, such as chronic viral infections not responding adequately Dr. Deb Muth 14:21to standard antivirals, post-viral syndromes with evidence of immune dysfunction, cancer patients with immune suppression in consultation with oncology, and it should generally be avoided in active autoimmune disease unless there’s a compelling rationale and close monitoring. Now, TA1 is not a standalone therapy. In cases of chronic viral infection, Comprehensive immune support includes addressing nutritional deficiencies, optimizing vitamin D levels to be between 50 and 80, adequate zinc, selenium, and vitamin A, optimizing gut health since 80% of our immune function is in the gut, you need to optimize gut function. Managing stress from the HPA access dysfunction, chronic cortisol elevation, suppression, and immunity, ensuring adequate sleep, immune memory consolidations during sleep, addressing any metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, repairs in the immune function, and the bottom line on thymus and alpha-1 is Dr. Deb Muth 15:26is that it represents legitimate medicine in other countries with a substantial evidence base in specific contexts, but it remains experimental in the U.S., and practitioners using it should provide comprehensive, informed consent about its regulatory status, evidence quality, and source verification. while ensuring it’s part of comprehensive protocols. It is not a magic bullet. And again, what you’re gonna hear me say quite often here is that many of these peptides should be used in conjunction with something else. They should not be used alone. And can peptides be stacked? The answer is yes, they can. So if somebody has an insulin resistance, or a metabolic dysfunction, they can tier TA1 with a GLP-1 like terzepatide or semiglutide. That is not a problem to do that. You need to just work with a practitioner that understands how to do that effectively. So let’s look at BPC-157. Dr. Deb Muth 16:26This is a phenomenon I love BPC-157. Let’s separate it from marketing to actual mechanism of actions here. So BPC-157 stands for Body Protection Compound 157. It is a chain of 15 amino acids that are described as a partial sequence of body protection compound, a protein found in human gastric juice. It has become one of the most hyped peptides in regenerative medicine inside the athletic performance and biohacking communities with claims ranging from healing tendons and ligaments to repairing gut lining or reversing organ damage. The challenge is separating the legitimate mechanisms of science from the marketing hype. The proposed mechanism of BPC-157 are biologically plausible and intriguing. The research suggests that it may influence several growth factor pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF, which promotes new blood vessel formation and has improved better supply of blood flow to injured tissues, theoretically accelerating healing. Dr. Deb Muth 17:40It may also affect fibrous blast growth factor, FGF, and transforming growth factor beta, TGF beta pathways. both involved in tissue repair and remodeling. And some studies actually suggest that BPC-157 modulates inflammatory cascades, potentially reducing excessive inflammation while promoting the resolution phase that allows tissue rebuilding. Now I want to talk just a few moments here about these different tests that we’re talking about tgf beta veg f for those of you who are in our mold world you are very familiar with these uh lab tests we do this to see if you have a mold exposure what’s happening to your body and it’s been very challenging to try to heal this part of the mold illness and manipulate these VEGFs and TGF betas. And so with the fact that BPC helps us modulate this inflammatory cascade, BPC can be very helpful in the world of mold or mycotoxin illness in repairing those parts of the body that have been damaged by the mycotoxins. Dr. Deb Muth 18:48Now there is animal research on BPC-157. It is extensive and primarily from a research group led by pre-drag, oh, I can never say these names, Cyrek at the University of Zagreb in Croatia. Published studies in animal models have shown accelerated healing in a remarkable variety of injury types. A 2011 paper by Chang and colleagues in the Journal of Applied Physiology demonstrated that BPC-157 improved therapy tendon healing in rats with Achilles tendon injuries, and the treated rats showed increased tendon outgrowth, better cell survival in the injured area, enhanced cell migration to the injury site, and improved biochemical strength of the healed tendon compared to controls. Multiple other animal studies have shown similar promising effects. Ligament tears, healing faster in rabbits, muscle damage recovering more quickly in rodent models, gastric ulcers healing in rats given experimental induced ulcerations, inflammatory bowel lesions improving in mouse models of colitis, and even bone to tendon healing showing enhancement in animal studies. Dr. Deb Muth 20:02The breadth of injury types showing benefit in preclinical models explains the enthusiasm of this peptide. However, this is critical. These animal studies, primarily in rodents and rabbits, animal models of injury healing don’t reliably translate to human clinical outcomes. And the doses used in these animal studies when converted to human equivalent doses vary widely. And optimal human dosing is completely unknown at this point. it is all considered experimental and perhaps most importantly there are essentially no peer-reviewed controlled clinical trials in human published in humans published in major medical journals in a 2001 review of arthroscopy and the journal of arthroscopic and related surgery specifically examined in the evidence of bpc 157 and other peptides in musculoskeletal medicine The authors concluded bluntly that BPC-157 lacks evidence from randomized controlled trials and has an unknown safety profile in humans. Dr. Deb Muth 21:09 They emphasized that the jump from animal data to recommending peptides for humans use bypasses the fundamental requirement for Phase I safety studies, Phase II dose-finding studies, and Phase III efficacy trials that would establish whether BPC-157 actually works in humans and whether or not it’s safe. The absence of human safety data is particularly concerning given BPC-157’s proposed mechanisms. Peptides that influence growth factor signaling and angiogenesis could theoretically have off-target effects. Uncontrolled angiogenesis, for instance, is a hallmark of cancer progression. Tumors require blood vessel formation to grow beyond a certain size. And while there’s no evidence that BPC 157 promotes cancer, The complete absence of long term human safety studies means we simply don’t know. This isn’t fear mongering. It’s acknowledging uncertainty and uncertainty exists and understanding that if you’re choosing to use peptides like BPC 157, you are doing it in an experimental model. Dr. Deb Muth 22:17We’re experimenting with the doses that are being used. And there is potential for it to cause cancer cells in your body to grow. And you need to be aware of this and understand the risks that you’re taking when you’re using an investigational or off label use peptide. Now, quality control issues with BPC also exist. It’s not FDA approved for any indication in the US. It’s not approved in any major regulatory jurisdiction worldwide. It’s marketed as a research chemical explicitly to bypass FDA oversight. And commercial sources selling BPC-157 range from compounding pharmacies, which have some quality standards but are not FDA inspected. You can take that for what you want to believe on that one. to overseas suppliers operating with absolutely no quality assurance whatsoever. If you are choosing to use BPC-157, you have to understand who’s manufacturing it for you, where you are getting it from, how pure it is. Dr. Deb Muth 23:26You want to make sure that you have the certificate of analysis and that it does not contain bacterial endotoxins that can contaminate the peptide or degrade the peptide and cause other issues for you. So when you talk about peptides with patients regarding BPC-157 or if you’re listening to this and you’re already using BPC-157 or other peptides, that are quote-unquote not for human consumption, an evidence-based response acknowledges both the appeal and the limitations. And you want to talk about the animal data that’s definitely showing some progress and some potential, but we don’t know what we don’t know in humans. If people are willing to take that risk, that is up to them to do that. But using BPC right now is experimental and people need to be aware of that. Are there evidence-based alternatives for patients with tendon or ligament injuries? Dr. Deb Muth 24:26And there are. There’s PRP, which has been studied in multiple randomized controlled trials. for conditions like lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow, Achilles issues, patellar issues, knee issues. However, I want to caution you on this too. So the study that was done by Cox and colleagues in muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the Journal of 2014 showed modest benefits in pain and function compared to controls. And though the effects vary by injury type, PRP preparations can be helpful. You have to understand that a lot of times when people are doing PRP injections in their office, they are not doing it exactly the same way it was done in the study. And not to mention, if you’re using your own PRP to heal a ligament or a tendon or help your arthritis and you’re 60 or 70 years old, That is not good quality protein rich plasma. It is old protein rich plasma. And you’re not going to see necessarily the same benefits that you would see if you were using placental tissue or umbilical tissue. Dr. Deb Muth 25:33You also want to address the nutritional deficiencies or support that’s needed for connective tissue healing. And these are collagen peptides dosed at 15 grams a day. And this has been shown in a study by Shaw and colleagues in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2017 to augment collagen synthesis when combined with intermittent loading. Vitamin C is also an essential cofactor for collagen production and stabilization of collagen structure at a dose of around 500 to 1000 milligrams a day to support this process. You also need to have good adequate intake of copper and zinc. These are cofactors in collagen. Silica is also important. This comes from horsetail extract. This provides additional support as well. So more importantly, I think remembering that rehabilitation matters as well. Doing these protocols without doing some rehab is not going to get you where you want to go. Dr. Deb Muth 26:33There’s a research study by Alfredson and others for Achilles tendinopathy using the control lengthening of muscle tendon units under load to promote tendon remodeling and healing. These protocols have solid evidence and cost nothing beyond professional guidance from a physical therapist. They are important for patients seeking cutting edge regenerative approaches. Stem cell therapies, growth factors, concentrates derived from patients’ own tissues like PRP. These have a lot of good endogenous materials and they have good safety profiles. BPC-157 represents the perfect example of how promising Preclinical science gets marketed far beyond the evidence and it may eventually prove to be valuable. I think it will. But right now that determination does require some human studies and hopefully with the administration that we have right now and Bobby Kennedy, we will actually start to see some of that occur. Now the next peptide I want to talk about is TB4, thymus and beta-4. Dr. Deb Muth 27:36This is a wound healing peptide. It is a 43 amino acid peptide that’s naturally present in virtually all human cells except red blood cells. It’s actually one of the most abundant peptides in the human body, particularly concentrated in blood platelets, wound fluid, and many tissues. It’s naturally ubiquity makes it mechanistically interesting. The body wouldn’t produce it in such abundance if it didn’t serve a function. So the primary role of TB4 involves building G-actin. It’s a form of monomeric actin. And it’s structural protein that forms the microfilaments within the cells, providing cellular structure and enabling cell movement. TB4 prevents from F-actin filaments. I’m not going to talk too much about this. It’s really critical for wound healing as cells need to migrate into the injury sites. Dr. Deb Muth 28:37so the cell shape changes and the cellular response to the injury. So think of this as though you tore your meniscus and the body created all this TB4 to come to that injury to try to heal that site. That’s exactly what the TB4 is doing inside the body when there’s an injury. It’s been shown in research to help produce new blood vessel formation, promote endothelial cells, It helps modulate inflammatory cytokines, potentially reducing TNF-alpha, IL-1, and possibly protecting in programmed cell death, which we call apoptosis. And some studies suggest that it is cardioprotective in its effects in animal models of myocardial infarction, so heart attack, and neuroprotective in other models for brain injury. Now, these remain to be preliminary, but they are being seen. So the regulatory status on TB4 can create some confusion. Dr. Deb Muth 29:40The natural TB4 molecule itself is not FDA approved as a drug. However, TB4 based drug candidates called RGN259, formerly TB4, has been in the development by regen tree for corneal injuries of the dry eye disease. And as of recent updates, this drug is completed phase three trials for its neurotrophic keratopathy, severe corneal condition. But the FDA approval is still pending. So that means that the most advanced TB4-based pharmaceuticals hasn’t yet crossed the finish line for approval. The commercial peptide market further muddies the picture with TB500, which is often described as the synthetic fragment of TB4. However, this extract’s relationship between TB500 and TB4 varies depending on the source. Dr. Deb Muth 30:41So some claim that TB500 is identical to TB4, but positions 1 through 4 suggest it’s a different fragment. and the quality control across suppliers is not existent. So this confusion is part of why recommending TB500 becomes problematic for practitioners and patients, often because they aren’t certain what molecule they’re actually getting. The evidence base for TB4 in humans is limited, primarily to eye research, and the studies from Sohn’s and colleagues published in journals like Vitamins and Hormones in 2016 have examined topical TB4 for corneal injuries and neurotrophic keratopathy, dry eye, and other surface diseases. Now, these studies showed some promise in promoting this, and there is, however, a topical application to the cornea that is vastly different from a systemic injection. So for systemic use in wound healing, musculoskeletal issues, Dr. Deb Muth 31:42cardiac protection, neuroprotection, human clinical trials. There is scarce to non-existent evidence in humans. Most of the evidence remains in animal models or cell culture studies. And a review by Flip and colleagues in the Journal of Investigational Dermatology in 2006 detailed TB4’s effects on the matrix remodeling during wound repair in animal models, showing effects on collagen disposition, granulation, tissue reformation, and wound contraction. Another review by Ho and colleagues in expert opinion on biological therapy in 2007 discussed TB4’s potential in tissue regeneration and regenerative medicine, but noted the field remained largely blank. preclinical. So this is really important again to understand that there is just not enough human data. So there is a concern with cell division and migration. This theoretically exists Dr. Deb Muth 32:45for the potential effects on cancer cells, which would also rely on migration and division and other intended consequences of disrupting normal cellular architecture. These aren’t proven risks, but they are unexplored questions that we need to be aware of when we’re using peptides. This can cause cancerous tissue to grow. Very similar to what we talked about with BPC-157. These are also sold as research chemicals. There is no FDA oversight. So purity, potency, contaminations all still exist for these peptides. Now from an integrative perspective, the natural presence of TB4 in wound fluid and its biological roles in healing are legitimate science. in presence does not equal therapeutic utility. The body tightly regulates where and when and how much TB4 is present through natural production and bypassing that regulation with external dosing may or may not cause us to have beneficial or introduce risk. Dr. Deb Muth 33:49So we need to know that this is experimental use. Those people who are seeking wound healing and tissue repair the evidence-based approach of the body’s own capacity to heal is huge definitely want to be increasing your protein intake optimizing your zinc copper vitamin c and vitamin a and then managing glucose is really important during this time as well so let’s talk about a fun topic now and that’s growth hormone secretagogues this is the anti-aging hype machine these peptides in this category are things like semoralin ipameralin cjc 1220 1295 and others and among the most aggressively marketed in anti-aging and longevity medicine they all share a common goal stimulating the pituitary gland to release more growth hormone and the appeal is understandable. GH levels decline with age, and this decline is associated with increased fat mass, decreased lean muscle, reduced bone density, and other aspects of aging. Dr. Deb Muth 34:55The other times we’ll see growth hormone levels decline significantly is with chronic illness, and the logic is to restore youthful GH levels and youthful physiology. Now, semirelin from an FDA approved diagnostic to compound anti-aging product. Semirelin is a 29 amino acid peptide representing the first 29 amino acids of the full 44 amino acid human growth releasing hormone, GHRH. We talked about this on another episode of the podcast. And you can go back and listen to that one a little bit if you want. This fragment contains the complete biological activity of the full GHRH molecule and it binds to GHRH receptors in the anterior pituitary and stimulates growth releasing peptides, growth hormone releasing peptides. Semirelin was previously FDA approved as diagnostic testing of growth hormone secretion, essentially, to determine if the pituitary could still respond to GHRH stimulation in patients being evaluated for growth hormone deficiency. Dr. Deb Muth 36:06However, the manufacturer was discontinued and there was no longer an FDA approved semirelin product on the market in the United States. What exists now is semirelin available from compounding pharmacies used off label for anti-aging, body composition, and general growth hormone optimization purposes. This represents a significant gray area. Again, compounding medications serve a very important role, but they need to meet certain recommendations and regulations, as we’ve talked about in the past. You want to make sure that your compounding pharmacy that you’re obtaining semirelin from is qualified to do that, that they are doing best practices, and that you’re getting a good product. The theoretical advantage to semirelin over direct growth hormone administration is that it preserves more of the physiological growth hormone secretion patterns. Natural GH is released in pulses, primarily during sleep, not as a continuous elevation. Dr. Deb Muth 37:07So semirelin stimulates the pulses rather than providing a constant super physiological growth hormone level. And that pulsatile pattern is thought to reduce some of the side effects and metabolic concerns that we have with continuous growth hormone exposure. However, the evidence supporting semirelin for anti-aging and body composition in healthy adults is minimal. Most of the data comes from studies conducted in the 1990s when the FDA approved product existed. Not that that means it’s bad. We have drugs that have been in the market for over a hundred years that are still there, that still have the research and are still being used successfully and safely today. So we don’t want to let that really make us think that this product isn’t safe. So a 2006 review from Walker in Clinical Interventions of Aging suggested that semirelin might be a better approach than direct GH for adult onset growth hormone insufficiency, but they do acknowledge that the evidence was limited. Dr. Deb Muth 38:12And although we don’t have any large scale trials that we can examine for semirelin’s efficacy, it is now commonly prescribed. And the optimal dosing for anti-aging purposes is still unknown. It is considered experimental and it does vary from person to person, but it is still unstudied. The effects on cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction over long time periods are also still unknown. I would argue that the side effects or the risk factors of not having growth hormone are equally as bad as the unknowns that we have here. We’re not looking to try to get super physiological doses. We’re trying to restore youthful GH levels. Typically, we’re not trying to restore back to a 20-year-old. We’re trying to restore back maybe 10 years. That is a better way of doing this. And I think that’s important for people to understand. Now, ipamirelin is the ghrelin mimicker. Dr. Deb Muth 39:12Ipamirelin is a pent-up peptide, five amino acid, that acts as a growth hormone secretagogue receptor, a GHS-R agonist. It mimics the action of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, that also stimulates growth hormone release. The proposed advantage over earlier secretagogues is that ipamirelin stimulates growth hormone release without significantly affecting cortisol, prolactin, or other glucose things, which can be increased by growth hormone secretagogues. The regulatory status is clear. Ipamirelin is not FDA approved for any indication. It’s sold as a research chemical. Human evidence is thin. It’s limited to single dose studies examining how quickly it’s absorbed and metabolized with minimal data on dosing and clinical outcomes. Now there are marketing claims for ipamirelin and they are extensive. Dr. Deb Muth 40:13It increases lean muscle mass, it decreases body fat, it improves sleep quality, faster recovery from workouts, enhanced injury healing, better skin quality. The evidence supporting these claims in humans is not available we don’t have it these are claims that are made by the effects that we know from growth hormone so it’s not necessarily a bad thing we know what growth hormone does we know growth hormone does all of these things if ipamorelin is a precursor to that it will obviously help improve those things making that correlation of what growth hormone does So there are safety concerns that mirror the same as any other growth hormone elevating therapy. It can cause fluid retention, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and theoretically, can it increase calcium? cancer risks? It can because IGF-1 promotes cell proliferation and can inhibit apoptosis in cancer cells. Now remember, your body makes IGF-1. Dr. Deb Muth 41:15If it’s not making enough of it, that’s a problem. If it’s making too much of it, That’s a problem. So just understand that if you are adding these things, and especially in elevated doses, you are taking a potential risk. So there is also now CJC 1295 is a modified GHRH analog of 30 amino acid peptide based on GHRH structure, but with modifications. So it includes the addition of drug affinity complex, DACC, DAC, which involves conjugation with a small albumin binding molecule, dramatically extends the peptide’s half-life from minutes to as much as potentially a week or more. And this creates sustained growth hormone elevation rather than that pulsatile release. There are actually two versions of this. There’s CJC 1295 with DAC, longer acting version, and CJC 1295 without DAC, which is essentially a shorter duration of semirelin. Dr. Deb Muth 42:19And so when we’re comparing products, it is… only the difference between long acting and short acting. The human evidence for CJC 1295 is limited to a single published phase one study by Techman and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism in 2006. And the study involves 18 healthy young adults showed that CJC 1295 with DAC produced a sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 lasting several days after the injection. That’s essentially the entire published human evidence of this peptide. There are no phase two studies examining optimal dose. So that is all considered experimental. And there is no phase three studies examining clinical efficacy. So the sustained GH levels created by CJC 1295 with DAC raises specific concerns because the natural GH secretion It goes up and down, up and down, up and down. Dr. Deb Muth 43:19And that constant elevation may have a different metabolic and cellular effect. And we just really don’t know what that’s going to be yet. So we can understand that elevated IGF-1 levels can theoretically increase cancer concerns and metabolic risks. So rather than always injecting peptides, which are very expensive… You can do other things. And there was a study by Hartman and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1992 that demonstrated the 48-hour fast increased integrated growth hormone secretion five-fold through increased GH levels. Now, the problem with this is fasting for 48 hours is a challenge. And how long is it going to increase the growth hormone secretion without causing issues? Or in general, how long is it going to go up? Dr. Deb Muth 44:19So we have to be cautious about that as well. Sleep optimization is non-negotiable. The majority of growth hormone secretion occurs during sleep, slow wave sleep, typically the first sleep cycle, and poor sleep quality or insufficient sleep typically. can dramatically affect your growth hormone levels. And then high intensity interval training, HIIT resistance training can stimulate growth hormone as well. This was seen in a study by Godfrey and colleagues in sports medicine in 2003 and was examined in exercise-induced growth hormone responses to athletes. So we definitely see these kinds of things. So let’s talk about some longevity peptides now. These expand the telomere. So there’s epitalin and epithalamin and when these are used in anti-aging they can produce some amazing results. Dr. Deb Muth 45:22So epitalin is a synthetic terapeptide, just four amino acids. It was originally synthesized as a simplified version of epithalamine. a pineal gland extract containing multiple peptides. The synthetic four amino acid version was created to isolate what researchers believed might be the active anti-aging component. The mechanism produced for epitalin centers on telomere and telomerase, Telomeres are protective caps at the end of the chromosomes consisting of repetitive DNA sequencing. And every time a cell divides, telomeres shorten slightly because DNA polymers cannot fully replicate the ends of the linear chromosomes. So this progressive shortening acts as a molecular clock. After 50 or 70 divisions, the telomeres become critically short, triggering a cellular senescence. Dr. Deb Muth 46:22This telomere shortening is one mechanism of cellular aging and telomeres in the enzyme that can rebuild telomeres by adding these caps back onto the end of the chromosome. It’s active in stem cells, germ cells, and unfortunately in about 85 to 90% of the cancer cells. In most adult somatic cells, telomerase is inactive or present at very low levels, allowing the telomeres to shorten with division. The research on epitalin suggests it might activate this telomeres act telomeres process primarily from a research group led by Vladimir in Russia. Vladimir Kavasan in Russia. He is a huge peptide researcher or was he passed away with publications dating back to the early 2000s and a study published in bio gerontology in 2000 by Kavasan Dr. Deb Muth 47:25and colleagues examined the effect of epitalin on the lifespan of fruit flies, and they treated fruit flies that showed a modest increase in mean and maximum lifespan compared to its controls by approximately 10 to 15% lifespan extension in some experimental groups. And there were other studies in 2003 that examined epitalamine in a female Swiss-derived mouse. This was done by Ann Simove and colleagues. And the researchers reported that epitalin treatment was associated with increased lifespan as well. And the most cited mechanistic work comes from cell culture studies. And that is also Cavason’s group that published this research in 2003, showing increased telomeres activity in cultured somatic cells again. More recently, between 20 and 25, the series of publications have continued to explore epithelial effects on telomere dynamics in cell cultures. Dr. Deb Muth 48:32So there is a lot of research that’s been done. The mass majority has been done on epithelin. And most of it has been done by a single research group in Russia. There is some restrictions on some of the cell culture data that we’re seeing. And it does show that epithelin sometimes can be described as a regulating hormone. Carcadian rhythm for melatonin production, which is derived by the penile extracts. And however the evidence for this affects minimally and mechanistically unclear, the pineal gland primarily functions as melatonin secretion in that light-dark cycles. So Epithalin or epitalin is not FDA approved. It is not approved for any major regulatory jurisdiction. It is sold as a research chemical only. Dr. Deb Muth 49:33So you need to follow the same safety profiles that we’ve talked about in other episodes and in today’s episodes. And when we’re talking about epithalin, and we’re excited about it being an anti-aging science, we should balance this with the honesty and the evidence of the quality of that evidence. We don’t know its safety effect. We don’t know if it’s going to increase the risk of cancer. We can’t verify that. And we need to be using it in an experimental use of unknown risks only. Of course, diet, physical activity, stress management, sleep quality, all of those things are important for us to be looking at when we’re looking at these peptides. Now, I want to get into some of the brain peptides. This is the nootrophic frontier. C-Max and C-Lank, there is Russian pharmacology that’s done. C-Max and C-Lank represent an interesting case study in how different regulatory environments and research traditions Dr. Deb Muth 50:36create challenges in evaluating this evidence. Both peptides were developed in Russia, are approved for their specific indications and have substantial Russian language and literature supporting their use. However, the FDA approval in the United States is still not there. C-Max is a seven amino acid. It’s a synthetic analog. It is a fragment, particularly ACTH 4 through 10. It’s sometimes called the melanocortin effects because it involves the melanocortin receptors of the central nervous system. CMAX was developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of Russia Academy of Sciences and is approved in Russia for several indications, including acute stroke, transient ischemic attacks, cognitive disorders. It has Russian approval and is based on clinical trials primarily in Russia. Dr. Deb Muth 51:39It does help to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, a protein critical for neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections and adapt to the challenges. BDNF supports neuronal survival and promotes growth of these new neurons. C-Max also influences neurotransmitter systems, particularly dopamine and serotonin, and there is some research that suggests it affects on metabolism as well, and endogenous opioid peptides that involve pain reception and mood regulation. So it has some good potentials there. There is also C-Link, which is a hepatopeptide structurally similar to Tufts’ and an immune modulatory peptide. It was also developed in Russia and was approved for anxiety disorders as a neurotropic. Its effects involve anxiolytic effects, possibly through the GABAnergic system or the GABA system of the brain, and immune modulation. Dr. Deb Muth 52:44The Russian research is examined by C-Link for anxiety disorders. and finding reductions in anxiety without sedation. There is a dependency potential or cognitive impairment does not exist like it does with benzodiazepines with C-Link. So that is really good. And they do report attention and memory improvement using C-Link. There is a study that was done in neuroscience and behavioral psychology in 2018 that examined C-Linx effects and proposed that it exerts cytoprotective effects through BDNF pathways similar to C-Max. So both of these are Russian research-based They’re not wrong or fraudulent. It’s just that they are from Russia and we all have our concerns with Russia. However, that does not necessarily mean their research doesn’t hold quality. Dr. Deb Muth 53:49Neither peptide is approved by the FDA, and so you are using this off-label. The same rules apply for all of the other peptides that we’ve talked about that are produced off label. You want to do the same things that you would do with anything else. Good protein, omegas, B vitamins, acetylcarnitine, exercise, sleep, all of that still applies when we’re using these peptides. So I want to talk briefly about clinical decision and framework when we’re looking at this. First and foremost, we always want to go to FDA-approved peptides. Secondly, we would look at international approval with peptides that are established in other countries but lack FDA approval. And then preclinical evidence only or experimental peptides. These can be used, but they are not ethically recommended in the traditional medicine world. Dr. Deb Muth 54:50 If patients use them, we need to have appropriate counseling about the evidence surrounding them, the safety, and where to find them. how to find them and how to ask for these certificates of analysis. So I think it’s really good that we were exploring all these peptides and understanding what they are. There’s a lot of controversy out there. There’s a lot of concern out there. And what we can say with confidence is that peptides are powerful biological signaling molecules. Some peptide based medications, semi-glutide, triseptide, PT 141, Lupron that are all FDA approved. can dramatically improve outcomes in patients that are obviously selected for the correct ones. There are many other peptides that we address that are integrative and longevity space in the regenerative medicine. These peptides are all experimental. That does not automatically make them wrong. Dr. Deb Muth 55:50It just means that we need to be honest about what we’re doing with them and we need to be cautious with the patients so that they can make a decision to be part of an experimental study. in looking at how to use these peptides. So peptides are tools like any other tools. They work best in the hands of skilled people, and they are applied to appropriate situations, integrating into comprehensive approaches that address root causes. The most powerful peptide administered to a patient with untreated inflammation, hormonal chaos, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders of sleep will disappoint. The simplest evidence-based interventions apply. to a patient whose foundational physiology has been optimized. And this is the art of the science of peptide, right? If done right, respecting both the power of these molecules and the complexity of human beings that we are privileged to serve can make a difference in their lives. So thank you for listening to this episode. Dr. Deb Muth 56:52I hope this was helpful. If you can know of somebody that might benefit from this, please like, share, and subscribe. It means a lot to us. And I hope you join us for our next episode of Let’s Talk Wellness Now. Welcome to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, where we bring expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let’s Talk Wellness Now, its management, or our partners. Each affiliate, sponsor, and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today’s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical, or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Dr. Deb Muth 57:54Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold Let’s Talk Wellness Now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcast. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought-provoking. Listener discretion is advised.The post Episode 258 – Investigational Peptides: What’s Promising, What’s Hype & What You Must Know first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth 0:00 Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. I’m your host, Dr. Zab, and we are continuing our discussion this week on 0:08 peptides. And so, if you haven’t heard our first conversation about peptides, 0:13 please go back and look at that episode. We talk all about the manufacturing, the safety, the quality of peptides, and we 0:20 dove into GLP1s. And today we’re going to dive into peptides for sexual 0:26 wellness, immune function, growth hormone, and all the amazing fun things 0:32 we can do with peptides. So, as usual, grab your cup of coffee or tea, settle 0:37 in, and let’s talk wellness now. And we’re going to take a short pause from our sponsor. I know we’ve got to do 0:44 that, you guys. They’re who keep us on the air. So, I’m going to pause for just a minute and be right back after this 0:50 message from our sponsor. Ladies, it’s time to reignite your vitality. Primal 0:56 Queen supplements are clean, powerful formulas made for women like you who want balance, strength, and energy that 1:03 lasts. Get 25% off at primal queen.com. Serenity Health. That’s primalqueen.com. 1:10 Serenity Health. Because every queen deserves to feel in her prime. All 1:15 right, everybody. We are back. And are you ready? We are talking all things peptide and I am opening the show today 1:23 with sexual wellness. Yes, I’m going there, you guys. I am going there. You 1:29 know, this has really become a big issue for people um of all ages. It’s not just 1:3 4us older people. It’s younger people, too. And there’s a whole variety of reasons why we have sexual dysfunction. 1:42 And when we’re talking about sexual dysfunction, we’re not just talking about it doesn’t work, right? Or I can’t 1:48 reach orgasm. A lot of it is around desire and um the thought of it and 1:54 wanting to connect, wanting to be kinder to one another, wanting to be touching 2:00 one another. A lot of it resolves or revolves around that. And so there are some peptides that can help us and I’m 2:08 really excited to be able to talk about those today. So the first one is called PT-141. 2:14 This targets the brain not the periphery. Right? So for many women I 2:20 will always tell you sex starts between here. It is a brain thing for us. It is 2:26 not necessarily a physical thing. For guys that’s a little different. It’s very physical. For women it’s all in our 2:32 brain. So tip for you men that are listening. You have to prime your woman’s brain first if you want her to 2:38 have sex with you that night. You have to be nice to her. You have to bring her flowers. Do the dishes for her. Do 2:45 something kind. Bring her a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of wine. Take her to dinner. You have to woo her. And 2:51 I don’t care how long you’ve been married. That has to happen. And tip number two, don’t say anything stupid 2:57 that day. I’m just being honest. When you guys say things that make us upset, 3:03 that lingers with us for the rest of the day. And it’s it’s a turnoff for us. And 3:08 for a lot of women, we can’t get past that when it comes time to snuggle at night. And sex doesn’t always have to be 3:14 at night either. So, you can tell I really love talking about this conversation, but we’re going to get into the peptide part of it because this 3:21 is going to help people. So, um, PT-141 is marketed as I’m going to slaughter 3:28 this name, Vali, and it represents a fundamentally different approach to 3:34 sexual dysfunction than the PDE5s inhibitors like Slenden, Viagra, 3:40 Tedataphil, which is Seialis. And while the PDE5 inhibitors work specifically by 3:47 enhancing blood flow to the genital tissues, PT-141 works centrally in the brain by 3:54 modulating neural s neural circuits involved in the sexual desire and 4:00 arousal. Now PT-41 is a cyclic hpatipeptide. It’s seven amino acid 4:07 peptide arranged in a cyclic structure that acts as a melanoortin receptor 4:13 agonist and with particularly the infinity for MC3R and MC4R subtypes. 4:20 It’s actually a metabolite of the melanotan 2, a peptide originally 4:26 developed for tanning that was also found to enhance sexual desire in early 4:31 studies. Now the melanoortin system in the brain is involved in multiple functions including energy homeostasis 4:39 but it also is involved in sexual motivation and arousal behaviors. The FDA approved PT-141 in 2019 specifically 4:48 for the treatment of acquired generalized hypoactive sexual desire 4:54 HSDD in permenopausal women. So for the first time we have a medication that was 5:01 approved by the FDA to use for women for sexual dysfunction. We have had all of 5:07 these seialis tedataphil viagros for men but we had nothing for women. And so 5:12 this is amazing that this is available for women and approved by the FDA. It’s a big deal. This represents the first 5:19 and only FDA approved medication specifically targeting these circuits of sexual desire rather than the peripheral 5:27 arousal mechanisms. And this indication is quite specific, meaning it was developed at some point, not lifelong. 5:35 So I if you’ve had sexual dysfunction your entire life, this medication was 5:40 not approved for you. But if it’s something that you developed over time, like when you went through pmenopause or 5:46 menopause or some women have this experience happen after childirth, that’s what we’re talking about here. 5:53 Now, it’s also not just um supposed to be used if you dislike your partner, 5:59 right? If your relationship is bad and you dislike your partner, this probably isn’t going to fix a ton. It might help 6:05 a little bit, but that’s not what it’s meant for. So, you really have to know what you’re using it for and why. And 6:11 the other thing that I would say is this is something that we don’t go to if your hormones are not balanced properly. You 6:17 have to balance your hormones properly before using something like this because it still may not work. Now, the only 6:24 caveat to that is if you’re a woman that has a risk of breast cancer and can’t use hormones, then that’s a different 6:31 story and we would have that conversation about whether or not this medication would be appropriate for you. Now, the FDA label specifies PTA1 uh 6:39 PT-141 as it not being indicated for HSDD in causes where low sexual desire 6:46 is due to coexisting medical or psychiatric conditions, problems with relationships, like we had talked about, 6:53 side effects to medications or other substance use. This specifically reflects the importance of differential 6:59 diagnosis. Low sexual desire can have many root causes and PT-41 is only 7:05 appropriate when those causes have been ruled out. Now, I have I used PT41 in 7:10 people who have sexual dysfunction issues as a result of using 7:16 anti-depressants. Yes, I have. I’ve used Flynn in that effect as well. And it 7:21 does work sometimes, but it doesn’t work completely. But you need to know that that is not what the approval is for the 7:27 FDA. So that is done in something that we call off label use. So very important 7:33 to know. Now in these clinical trials leading to FDA approval, this was published by Kinsburg and colleagues in 7:40 obstetrics and gyne gynecology in 2019. PT-141 demonstrated statistically 7:46 significant improvements in sexual desire and decreases in distress related 7:51 to low desire compared to placebo. The effects manifest over 45 minutes to 7:56 several hours after the injection and the mechanisms involved modulation of dopamine and melanoorton pathways in the 8:04 hypothalamus and the brain regions that involved sexual motivation. Now cardiovascular effects of PT 141 require 8:12 careful attention. This drug causes transient increases in blood pressure about 3 to four points and transient 8:20 decreases in heart rate. And because of this, it is contraindicated in patients 8:25 with uncontrolled hypertension or known cardiovascular disease. And it has been studied in patients who’ve had recent 8:32 cardiovascular events or sorry hasn’t been studied hasn’t been studied in patients who’ve had recent 8:39 cardiovascular events. So patients need to have their blood pressures checked before starting therapy. Nausea is 8:45 extremely common. It is one of the biggest things I often will tell people to take an anti-nausea medicine if 8:52 they’re going to do this because the last thing you want to do is inject this medication and think it’s going to give 8:57 you this great time with your partner and you’re so nauseated that you can’t even perform, don’t want to kiss, don’t 9:05 want to do anything. It it can be pretty profound for some people. um it does affect about 40% of the patients in 9:12 clinical trials which is why many clinicians require or recommend an 9:17 anti-nausea medication like I had just said other common adverse effects include flushing injection site 9:24 reactions headache in about 13% of the population which I have seen worse if 9:30 people are prone to headaches and the headaches are pretty intense so I will also have them premedicate if they have 9:36 that um sensitivity ity with a Tylenol or Advil, Alie, whatever it is they 9:42 typically use for their headaches to help prevent that from occurring. Now, some patients also experience a 9:50 generalized hyperpigmentation of their skin, particularly in areas with chronic friction, and this may not be reversible 9:57 after discontinuation. So from an integrative perspective, PT-41 10:03 represents one tool in addressing female sexual dysfunction, but it should never be the first or only intervention. And 10:11 low sexual desire in women is complex. Multiffactorial involving hormonal imbalances, low testosterone, estrogen 10:18 deficiency, progesterone imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction, and with elevated or 10:24 disregulated cortisol levels, sleep deprivation, relationship issues, unresolved trauma, including sexual 10:31 trauma, chronic pain, body image concerns, and medication side effects such as SSRIs are notorious for this. So 10:39 a comprehensive hormone panel including total and free testosterones, estradile, 10:45 progesterone, DHEA, thyroid function in cortisol assessment, ideally four-point 10:51 cortisol, salivary should precede any pharmacological intervention. And additionally, addressing the 10:57 psychological component and relationship dimensions through appropriate therapy is necessary. I have a lot of patients 11:03 that say, “This is just too much work for sex. I don’t want the side effects. I don’t want to deal with this.” and that’s totally fine. But for some 11:09 people, their sexual dysfunction is actually causing more problems on their 11:14 relationship and they want to do something to fix that. And just know that if you’re using a peptide like this 11:20 that comes with some of these side effects and you have to premedicate for it, it is not the end of the world. Um, 11:27 but it may be a possibility that you may need that. So, let’s dive into body composition and growth hormone access. 11:34 So Tesmarellin is the only FDA approved GH 11:40 analog. Tesarelin is marketed as Agrifta and Agria SV. It is a synthetic analog 11:48 of human growth hormone releasing hormone. So GH RH human growth hormone 11:53 releasing hormone. These things are such long names it’s confusing and it’s difficult to spit out, right? It 11:59 consists of 44 amino acids. The structure is identical to our own 12:05 body’s growth hormone GHR um with the addition of trans3 hexonol group which 12:14 stabilizes the molecule that extends its half-life compared to the native GHR. 12:19 The mechanism of tesmarellin is elegant in its preservation of physiological 12:24 growth hormone GH secretion patterns and rather than administering an exogenous 12:30 growth hormone directly, tesmarillin binds to the GH receptor in the anterior 12:36 pituitary gland stimulating the indogenous pulsatile release of GH. So 12:42 you know it it’s slower in that stimulation and it pulsates instead of a direct rise and fall. This pusile 12:49 pattern more closely mimics natural GH secretion which occurs in bursts 12:54 primarily during sleep. The GH then stimulates the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor IGF-1 which 13:01 exerts many of the downstream metabolic effects including lipolytic effects on 13:07 the atapost tissue. So fat atapose and how we break that down. The FDA approved 13:13 tesmarellin in 2010 for a very specific narrow indication, the reduction of 13:19 excess abdominal fat in HIV infected patients with lipodistrophe. This 13:25 condition characterized by abnormal fat redistribution with accumulation of visceral body fat and the loss of 13:32 subcutaneous fat in face and limbs developed as a complication of an 13:37 antiviral therapy particularly with older protease inhibitor reg uh 13:42 regimens. The visceral fat accumulation in patients is not just cosmetic. It’s associated with increased cardiovascular 13:49 risk, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers. The pivotal trial that led to the FDA approval included 13:56 work by Stanley and colleagues published in the annuals of internal medicine in 2014. It demonstrated that tesmarillan 14:03 significantly reduced the visceral atapose measured by CT scan by approximately 15 to 20% which is a 14:10 significant difference to placebo over a short period of time only 26 weeks. Now, 14:16 interestingly, the total body uh weight typically remained stable or even 14:21 increased slightly as the reduction of visceral fat was sometimes offset by increases in lean body mass or 14:28 subcutaneous fat. This highlights an important point. Tesmearellin is not a weight loss drug in its conventional 14:34 sense. Its effects are specifically on body composition and fat redistribution. 14:40 Now the glucose metabolism effects of tesmarellin do require careful monitoring because GH and IGF1 can 14:47 induce insulin resistance. Tesmearellin can increase glucose levels and hemoglobin A1C and in these clinical 14:54 trials glucose tolerance and new onset diabetes occurred in some patients. So 14:59 this creates a therapeutic paradox while res reducing visceral fat we should theoretically improve metabolic health. 15:07 The GH mediated insulin resistance can worsen the glycemic control and patients 15:12 with diabetes require particularly close monitoring. The potential need for adjustment in diabetic medications can 15:19 occur. So I already know what you guys are thinking. Can I use Tesmarellin and 15:24 GLP1 at the same time? And the answer is yes. Especially in those people that we 15:30 know have an insulin resistance already or are prone to that, we can use lowd 15:36 dose micro doing GLP-1 along with tesmarellin to help prevent this from 15:42 occurring um or reduce the risk of it occurring. Now there are some other adverse related problems to growth 15:49 hormone access which include fluid retention which can uh manifest as uh 15:55 ankle swelling, joint pain, muscle pain, paristhesas, carpal tunnel syndrome is 16:01 common to see. Of course you can always see injection site reactions reported about 26 to 30% of the time in the trial 16:08 participants. And this also theoretically has a concern about IGF-1 elevation potentially promoting 16:14 malignancy through long-term data is limited. So we have to be cautious about 16:20 this but it is a growth hormone and anything that is a growth hormone can cause cells to grow and it cannot 16:26 necessarily differentiate between healthy cells and bad cells. So the drug is contraindicated is contraindicated in 16:33 patients with active cancer and in patients with the disruption of the HPA access from conditions like pituitary 16:40 tumors, pituitary surgery, head of radiation um and traumatic brain injury. 16:46 Now off label use of tesmarellin for general anti-aging or body composition 16:51 optimization in non-HIV population, it doesn’t have FDA approval. There is no 16:58 FDA studies. um that promote this, but practitioners do prescribe it for these 17:04 purposes under an experimental and not supported by FDA approved indications. 17:10 And um from an integrative medical standpoint, optimizing natural growth 17:15 hormone secretion through lifestyle interventions, high quality sleep is important. GH primarily is excreted 17:22 during sleep and deep sleep waves. So improving your deep sleep is important. Intermittent fasting can also increase 17:28 growth hormone by five-fold as demonstrated in a Hartman and colleagues uh study from the journal of clinical 17:35 endocrinology and metabolism in 1992. And highintensity interval training, adequate dietary protein, blood sugar 17:42 control, these all can help naturally increase your growth hormone. So, let’s 17:47 dive in now and talk about bone health. peptide hormones um such as oh I’m gonna 17:54 I’m gonna really slaughter this name. Terraparatide is a true bonebuilding 18:01 peptide. It’s marketed as forio. It’s a recumbent form of the first 34 amino 18:08 acids out of 85 of the human parathyroid hormone PTH. It represents a unique 18:13 approach to osteoporosis treatment because it’s one of the few truly anabolic anabolic bone therapies meaning 18:21 it actively binds new bone rather than simply preventing bone loss. The biology 18:26 of parathyroid is fascinating and seemly contraindicated or uh contradictory. 18:32 Continuously sustained elevations of PTH as occurs in hyperarathyroidism 18:37 is catabolic to bone. So people who have hyperarothyroidism typically have significant bone loss 18:44 especially before it’s diagnosed and it causes causes increased bone 18:49 reabsorption loss of bone density increased fracture risk and however 18:55 intermittent exposure to PTH as achieved with once daily uh injections of forio 19:01 has the opposite effect. This intermittent exposure preferentially stimulates osteoblasts bone building 19:08 cells over osteoclasts bone reabsorbing cells and it leads to 19:13 the net bone formation. So terraparatide binds to the PTH receptors on 19:20 osteoblasts and renal tubular cells in bone. It increases the number of 19:25 activity of osteoblasts stimulating the differentiation of osteoblast precursor cells and may 19:32 reduce osteoblast apoptosis basically programmed cell death allowing this bone 19:37 building cell to work longer. The result is increased bone formation, improved bone architecture and tbacular 19:45 connectivity and ultimately increased bone mineral density um particularly in the hip and the spine which is so 19:51 difficult to regain. The FDA approved this medication in 2002 based on pivotal 19:57 studies by Near and colleagues published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2001 which demonstrated significant 20:05 reductions in vertebral and non-vebral fractures in post-menopausal women with 20:11 osteoporosis. specifically uh reduced new vertebral fractures by 20:17 65% and nonvettebral fragility fractures by 53% 20:23 compared to placebo over a median followup of 21 months. This is really 20:29 incredible because we have not seen this kind of um change uh in other 20:35 medications that we’ve used for osteoporosis. So current FDA approval 20:40 indicates uh this for post-menopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for 20:46 fracture, men with primary or hypoconatal osteoporosis at high risk for fracture 20:53 and men and women with glucocord cord glucocordide 21:00 induced osteoporosis at high risk for fracture. The high risk qualifier is 21:05 important. uh terrapeptide is reserved for patients with severe osteoporosis, 21:11 multiple fractures, very low low bone density and those who have failed or are 21:16 intolerant of other therapies. The most significant concern for this medication 21:21 is highlighted in a boxed warning with rat toxicology studies where it caused 21:27 osteioaroma which is a bone cancer in a dose dependent and treatment duration dependent manner. The revolence of this 21:34 finding to humans is debated. Rats have fundamentally different bone biology than humans with continuous bone growth 21:41 throughout life and different PTH receptors. Now post marketing 21:46 surveillance in humans hasn’t shown a clear increase in osteocaroma risk but 21:51 theoretically concerns persist and because of this terapeptide is 21:57 contraindicated in patients at risk baseline risk for osteioaroma 22:02 including those with pageantss disease of the bone unexplained elevations of alkaline phosphate prior skeletal 22:10 radiations bone metastases or skeletal malignancies and pediatric patients or young adults 22:16 with open hyes. There’s also a lifetime treatment duration of only 2 years and 22:22 terrapeptide can cause transient hypercalcemia. So an elevated blood calcium and as PTH normally increases 22:31 calcium levels by enhancing bone reabsorption, increasing renal calcium 22:36 reabsorption and promoting activation of vitamin D which increases intestinal calcium absorption. Some patients 22:43 experience orthostatic hypotension within 4 hours of injecting requiring 22:48 caution in at risk populations for blood pressure. Common side effects include 22:53 muscle pain, joint pain, pain in the limbs, nausea, headache, and dizziness. So from an integrative bone health 23:00 perspective, terrapeptides should be part of a comprehensive strategy. Adequate calcium intake, 500 to a,000 23:08 milligrams of calcium a day from food and supplements combined. and vitamin D. 23:13 Getting vitamin D levels of at least 50 to 80 are essential for the drug to work 23:20 optimally. But beyond this, bone health requires vitamin K2, which directs calcium into the bones rather than soft 23:27 tissues, magnesium as a co-actor in bone metabolism, trace minerals like boron, 23:33 copper, silica, and of course, adequate protein intake, which many of us, especially as women, don’t do 0.8 8 to 1 23:42 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, weightbearing exercise. Of 23:47 course, these all provide mechanical signals that complement the biochemical 23:52 symbol uh signals of terrapeptide. Sequential therapy is also critical. The 23:58 bone mass gains from terraparatide can be lost if patients don’t transition to 24:05 an anti-resorbbitive agent a bisphosphinate after completing this therapy and the anabolic effects to 24:12 build bone but maintaining the new bone requires preventing excess reabsorption. 24:18 So positive things about this but there are definitely some concerns as well. So 24:23 the next one we’re going to talk about is Lu Prolrooide. It is marketed under 24:29 the multiple brand names of Lupron, Depo, Eligard, and it’s a synthetic 24:34 nonapeptide analog of naturally occurring ginonadotropen releasing 24:39 hormone G&R, also called luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, LHR. 24:46 It’s a fascinating example of how manipulating natural hormonal feedback systems can create therapeutic effects. 24:53 So, G&RH is normally secreted in a pulsatile fashion by the hypothalamus 24:59 and travels to the anterior pituitary where it binds to G&R receptors and 25:05 stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone LH and follical stimulating hormone FSH. These ginatotropins signal 25:13 the ovaries or the testes to produce sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone in 25:18 women, testosterone in men. Uh, luoprololi lupron as a GNR agonist 25:26 initially mimics the action of natural G&R causing an acute flare response with 25:33 uh increased LHFSH secretion which temporarily increases sex hormone 25:38 production. However, the continuous administration which is in the depo 25:44 formulations, the GNR receptors in the pituitary become desensitized and 25:50 downregulated. And after about 2 to four weeks of continuous exposure, LH and FSH 25:56 secretion is profoundly suppressed, leading to what’s termed as chemical 26:01 castration. Testosterone levels in men drop to castrated levels less than 50 26:08 and estrogen production is marketkedly suppressed in women. This bifphasic 26:13 response creates both therapeutic applications and management challenges in prostate cancer where tumor growth is 26:20 typically androgen dependent and the ultimate goal is testosterone suppression. However, the initial 26:27 testosterone surge during the flare phase can temporarily worsen symptoms potentially causing increased bone pain, 26:34 urinary obstruction, or even spinal cord compression in patients with metastatic 26:40 disease. This is why uh luoprolide is often started with an anti-ad androgen 26:47 like bicladamide for the first two to four weeks to block the effects of the 26:52 testosterone surge. The FDA has approved lupalide for multiple indications across 26:59 formulations. In oncology, it’s used for palletive treatment of advanced prostate cancers. In gynecology, various 27:06 formulations are approved for endometriosis, for pain management and lesion reduction and for fibroids. 27:13 Typically for pre-operative uh hematological improvement in anemic patients. In pediatrics, it’s used for 27:20 central precocious p puberty basically to halt the premature sexual development of these young people. Now, there are 27:28 adex uh adverse effect profile that reflects profound hormonal suppression. 27:34 In men treated for prostate cancer, hot flashes affect about 59% of the patients. Other common effects include 27:41 general pain, swelling, bone pain. Um long-term use of these medications leads 27:47 to metabolic changes. It increases fat mass. It decreases lean mass. It worsens 27:53 insulin sensitivity, disrupts the cholesterol uh lipid panels, increases 27:59 diabetic risk, has some concerns over cardiovascular disease. And the metaanalysis have shown increased risks 28:06 of heart infarction, myocardial inffection, sudden cardiac death, and stroke in populations receiving 28:13 long-term androgen deprivation therapy. The bone effects are particularly dramatic. Without sex hormones, bone 28:20 density decreases significantly, typically 3 to 4% per year during the 28:26 first two to three years of therapy. And this bone loss may not fully be reversible after the the therapy 28:32 discontinues. The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends bone density monitoring and consideration of 28:39 bisphosphinates uh in men receiving long-term androgen deprivation. In women treated for 28:46 endometriosis or fibroids, the estrogen suppression creates a hypoestrogenetic state similar 28:54 to menopause. Hot flashes affect 90% of patients with other common effects 29:00 including headaches, emotional irritability, decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, bone density loss. And 29:08 because of these bone concerns and treatment duration with endometriosis, typically limited to six months, though 29:14 some formulations allow for longer use with adback hormonal therapy to 29:20 partially mitigate these side effects. The mood and cognitive effects can be s 29:25 significant. I’ve seen it over the years. the depression, the memory impairment, difficulty focusing and 29:31 concentrating. It can be very very traumatic and the quality of life that 29:37 happens for these uh women and men can be unbearing for many of them. Um, from 29:44 an integrative perspective, patients receiving this medication need comprehensive support care. Bone health 29:51 interventions using calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, weightbearing exercise, 29:58 cardiovascular risk management becomes critical, including blood pressure monitoring, lipid management, diabetes 30:05 screening. For hot flashes management, some patients respond to black coohos, 30:10 sage, or vitamin E. Though evidence is mixed and individual response varies, 30:16 omega-3s may help with the mood and the inflammation, resistance training becomes specifically important to 30:22 preserve lean muscle mass in the face of hormonal suppression. 30:27 Now there’s something called calcetonin salamon which is marketed as miaelin. 30:34 It is a nasal spray. It is now discontinued. And foral is the new 30:39 synthetic polyeptide hormone of 32 amino acids identical to calcetonin of salamon 30:47 origin. It represents an interesting case study in how initial promise gives 30:52 way to safety concerns that regulate a therapy to historical footnote status. 30:58 Calcetonin is naturally occurring hormone in humans. It’s secreted by the paraphalicular sea cells in the thyroid 31:04 gland. Its primary physiological role is to lower blood calcium levels by 31:10 directly inhibiting osteoclast activity, reducing bone reabsorption, increasing 31:16 renal calcium secretion or excretion, and possibly reducing the intestinal 31:21 calcium absorption. So, salamon calcetonin is used therapeutically because it’s more potent and longer 31:27 acting than human calcetonin. The FDA initially approved calceton and salmon 31:34 for several indications post-menopausal osteoporosis in women more than five 31:39 years post-menopausal when alternative treatments are not sustainable. Padet’s 31:44 disease for bone and hypercalcemium as emergency treatments. The nasal spray formulation is particularly popular for 31:53 osteoporosis because it offered a non-injectable alternative to bisphosphinates. 31:58 However, in 2012, the European Medicine’s Agency, EMA, conducted a 32:05 comprehensive safety safety review after a poolled analysis of 21 clinical trials 32:10 involving over 10,000 patients showed a statistically significant increase in 32:15 malignancy risk in patients treated with calceton salamon compared to compared to 32:21 placebo. The overall malignancy rate was 4.1% in calcetonin treated patients 32:28 versus 2.9% in placebo patients. The types of cancer 32:34 varied with no single cancer type predominating, making it difficult to establish a clear mechanistic link. 32:41 However, the signal was concerning enough that the EMA restricted the use of calcetonin containing medicines. In 32:48 the United States, the FDA issued communications about malignancy signal and conducted its own review. While they 32:56 didn’t fully withdraw the drug, the cons consensus shifted dramatically. The nasal spray formulations miaelson was 33:03 voluntarily discontinued by the manufacturer and current clinical practice guidelines now consider 33:10 calcetonin salamon as a second line or lower option for osteoporosis. While 33:15 behind bisphosphinates, dennism mob, uh, terrapeptide, the analesic effect of 33:21 calcetonin in bone pain, particularly in acute vitibbral, uh, compression 33:26 fractions from osteoporosis or pageantss disease may still provide a role for short-term use in these selected 33:32 patients. The mechanism of this pain relief is unclear, but may involve 33:38 effects of endorphin systems and/or direct actions on pathways. The history serves as an important reminder in 33:45 peptide medicine. Initial approval and early clinical use does not guarantee 33:50 long-term safety effects. Post marketing surveillance and poolled analysis of the clinical trial data can reveal adverse 33:58 effects that weren’t apparent in initial studies. It also underscores why newer 34:04 agents with better safety profiles um have largely replaced calcetonin in 34:10 clinical practice. So this is really an important thing. Not one thing stays the same forever. We have to change as we 34:18 identify new and better products as we identify problems and concerns. I will 34:24 always tell my patients if you are uncertain of taking a new drug which we 34:30 all should be wait five years. Within five years we are going to find the 34:36 problems that they didn’t find in the clinical studies. Remember, a lot of these clinical studies are small, small 34:43 groups, short periods of time. It’s expensive to do these trials. So, if you 34:49 wait for five years, in the first two to three years, you will see the problem start to emerge. And what are you going 34:55 to look for? You’re going to look for the the news um commercials from lawyers 35:02 suing a drug. And they will tell you what the problem is. and then you can decide, is this something that I want to 35:09 use or not. Don’t jump on bandwagon and be the first one to do this, especially 35:14 if you’re sensitive. You know, give it time so you can see exactly what’s going on. So, I’m going to end our show on 35:22 this and we are going to pick up on part three of peptide therapy in our next 35:28 segment where we’re going to talk about the investigational peptides and some 35:34 exciting things that are happening with that. So, I want to thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk Wellness 35:39 Now. It’s always a pleasure having a conversation with you guys and I hope this brings value to you with what we’re 35:45 talking about. If you have ideas for topics that you want me to discuss, 35:51 please message us, you can share your comments on Facebook, you can email us, 35:58 um you can get a hold of us however you would like to share that. I do look at the comments below in the episodes as 36:04 well. So you can place your comments there. And once again, one of the best things you can do for me is like, 36:11 subscribe, and share so that we can spread the messages of what we’re doing. 36:16 I do this at no cost. I don’t make any money out of this. I do this as an 36:21 educational purpose for everybody else. I love doing it, but it really helps us 36:28 on the algorithms if you would be just willing to like, subscribe, and share. 36:33 So, thank you for spending your time with me. I know time is important.The post Episode 257 – Peptides for Sexual Wellness & Hormonal Health: PT-141, Growth Hormones, Bone Health & More! first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth What if the reason you’re not healing isn’t that you need another diagnosis? 0:08 It’s that your cells aren’t receiving the right signals. Because the body doesn’t run on diagnosis, it runs on 0:16 communication. And peptides are one of the most powerful, most misunderstood 0:21 tools we have for cellular signaling, immune balance, tissue repair, gut 0:27 lining support, metabolic control, brain signaling, sleep cycles, and even sexual 0:35 wellness. Today, I’m going to do what most people won’t. Define peptides in 0:41 plain English for you. break them into categories by what they’re best at and 0:47 tell you which ones are FDA approved on the list and which ones are commonly 0:53 used off label or investigational with the evidence that actually says these 1:00 work. This is going to be a powerful episode and if you’ve ever felt like you’re hearing hype without clarity, 1:07 this one’s for you. So, as usual, grab your cup of coffee or tea and settle in 1:13 as we talk about peptides that can fit into your healing journey. We’re going 1:19 to have a short word from our sponsor. You know, we got to do that. That’s how we stay on the air here. So, we will be 1:26 right back after this. Did you know sweating can literally heal your cells? 1:32I nfrared saunas don’t just relax you. They detox your body, balance hormones, 1:37 and boost mitochondrial energy. I’m obsessed with my health tech sauna. And 1:42 right now, you can save $500 with my code at healthtechalth.com/drmuthqen25. 1:54 All right, here we go, guys. I am excited to dive into peptides with you. 2:00 So understanding peptides is foundational, right? And I’ve been 2:06 studying peptides now for about nine years. Um, and I find that they are 2:13 incredible. Um, so I want to break down for you what peptides actually are, what 2:19 they do, and some of the top peptides that are available today, and how they 2:25 can be utilized. Because I think it’s really important. And I think it’s it’s there’s a lot of confusion out there about what these things actually are and 2:32 are they safe? Are they not? When do we use them? What’s the science behind them? So, we’re going to dive in and 2:38 we’re going to talk about all things peptides. So, let’s get ready here. Here we go. So, peptides are short chains of 2:45 amino acids and they typically range anywhere from 2 to 50 amino acids and 2:51 they’re linked by peptide bonds. So think of them as the superglue that holds the amino acids together. They sit 2:58 between the amino acids and they are full proteins in terms of their size and 3:04 their complex structure. And what makes peptides particularly interesting in 3:10 medicine is their role as signaling molecules. They’re essentially the 3:15 body’s text messages carrying specific instructions to cells and tissues. And 3:21 unlike our proteins which often serve as structural roles or act as enzymes, 3:28 peptides typically function as hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors and 3:33 they bind to specific receptors on the cell’s surfaces or within the cells and 3:39 they trigger this effect. It’s like a cascade effect of a biochemical reaction 3:45 that ultimately changes the cellular behavior. So basically, it’s changing 3:50 the way the body’s cell structure acts. And this is why peptides can be so 3:56 incredibly powerful and therapeutic when you introduce the right peptide signal. 4:02 Now, you could theoretically redirect cellular processes toward healing, 4:07 towards metabolism, immune balance, tissue repair. Any of those things can 4:14 be manipulated to do a certain thing once we add the peptide. The challenge 4:19 in peptide medicine though lies in distinguishing between those peptides that have been rigorously studied, 4:26 proven safe and effective and approved by regulatory bodies like the FDA versus 4:31 those that exist in what we call the gray zone of a promising clinical data. 4:36 But they really lack human validation so far. And this distinction is critical because the presence of a plausible 4:43 mechanism does not guarantee safety or efficacy in living humans. So, this is 4:50 really important and we’re going to dive in and look at some of the research on all of these different peptides that are 4:56 available and I’m excited to say there’s some amazing peptides being studied right now that unfortunately are not 5:01 available. But I can’t wait to see them hit the market for us because it is going to be a gamecher as far as health 5:09 and longevity. So there is a quality control issue and there is a hidden 5:14 variable in peptide medicine with this and it’s one of the most underappreciated aspects of peptide 5:21 therapy particularly for non-FDA approved peptides. It’s quality control. 5:26 When we discuss pharmaceutical medicines, we take for granted that the pill contains what the label says. Not 5:32 always true depending on where it comes from. You guys, if you’ve heard my episodes before talk about how many of our medications are made in China and 5:41 have been contaminated with other things, you will realize that that is not always true. So, just because it has 5:48 the FDA stamp of approval on the medication, it still does not necessarily mean it’s safe and we still 5:54 need to do our homework on it. So, sorry for digressing on you guys, but you know, when we get a medication, we we 6:00 think that what the amount says is what is there, doesn’t have contaminants, it’s manufactured with good 6:06 manufacturing practices. You’ll see that listed as GMP on the bottle, and it’s been stored properly, it’s been 6:12 maintained stable, and with research peptides and compounded formulations, 6:17 none of this can be assumed. So, I will share a story with you. There was a gentleman that was purchasing these 6:24 peptides online from a research facility and um did not know that they were 6:30 coming from China and he was ordering a particular growth hormone peptide and 6:35 after a little while he had he had done fine for the few first few bottles. After a little while he started having 6:42 some complications. He started getting really irritable and angry and ragy and 6:47 he didn’t quite know what was going on. And so he decided to go get some testing done. He had some blood testing done and 6:53 his testosterone level was over 5,000. So for those of you who know what testosterone level should be for a guy, 7:00 they really shouldn’t be any higher than about 1,00200 would be absolute max that we’d want to see. Now he was taking 7:06 testosterone but not to that degree. And prior to adding this peptide, his 7:12 testosterone was very stable. What they ended up finding out was the peptide that he was getting, whoever was 7:18 manufacturing it added testosterone to the peptide. They felt like if if it had growth hormone, that was great, but if 7:25 it had growth hormone and tes testosterone, all the better. And he didn’t know that. And this is the 7:31 problem that we can have with peptides if you don’t source them properly. if you’re not working with somebody that 7:37 knows how to source them and can prove that they are what they say they are. Um, I’m sure there’s a whole bunch of 7:42 studies out there too of people getting these peptides and paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for them over their 7:48 lifetime and finding out they were nothing more than just sterile water. So, you really do need to be careful 7:53 with your quality control. Now, this kind of leads us right into the next topic that we’re going to talk about and that’s the manufacturing question, 8:00 right? The FDA approved peptides are manufactured in facilities subject to 8:05 the FDA inspection rules following our GMP regulations and these facilities 8:11 must validate their manufacturing process, demonstrate consistency batch to batch, test for purity and potency. 8:18 They need to test for bacterial endotoxins and sterility and they need to maintain detailed records. So, when a 8:25 pharmaceutical company submits a drug application, the FDA inspects the manufacturing facility as part of the 8:32 approval process. If you’re getting peptides from a different country, none of that is happening. And there are some 8:38 ways for us to determine if that is what you’re getting. Typically, the rule of thumb is if your peptides are coming 8:44 with a different colored top, every one of them has a different colored top. Those are typically being sourced out of 8:49 China. I wouldn’t say that’s 100% but that’s kind of the rule of thumb that people follow. So compoundingies these 8:56 are thearmacies that make our bio identical hormones. They can make medications in any dose or strength or 9:02 route. There are thousands of them in every not that not in every state but 9:08 there are thousands of them around the country right now. So these compoundingies are registered as 503A 9:15 facilities. They do traditional compounding for individual prescriptions, right? Like they can make 9:20 thyroid, they can make LDN, they can make estrogen. You can also have a 503b 9:27 facility, which is an outsourcing facility. And these companies produce larger batches of products. They’re they 9:34 have some oversight, but they’re less stringent than for FDA approved 9:40 manufacturers. And state boards of pharmacy regulate a 503A pharmacy. And 9:45 the FDA can inspect the 503b facility, but doesn’t preapprove any of their 9:52 compounding products. So, they can inspect it, but they don’t approve them. So, research chemicals and these 9:58 suppliers operate essentially with no oversight. They explicitly market products for research use only, not for 10:06 human consumption to avoid FDA regulation. If they put that on their 10:12 product, they don’t have to comply to what the FDA is saying. And there is no required manufacturing strategies or 10:19 standards, no required testing, no required sterility assurance, and no enforcement mechanisms if products are 10:26 mislabeled or contaminated. So basically, they don’t have the liability, but that doesn’t mean that 10:31 all of them are badies or bad suppliers. It just means they don’t have to comply 10:37 to the FDA rules. Now, there are many of these companies that I’ve seen and I’ve talked to that do do a lot of this. They 10:44 do test their product for sterility. They do test their product to make sure it is what it says it is. They don’t 10:51 have to, but they do. So, if you’re going to decide to use a company that 10:56 has research only, not for human consumption, at least ask for their 11:02 proof of testing so that you know that the product you’re getting is what it says it is and that it’s clean. Because 11:08 this is where we run into the problem is in purity. So in purity peptide 11:13 synthesis can produce not just the targeted peptide but also related 11:19 peptides with deletions, substitutions, truncations or truncations of amino 11:25 acids. Sorry. And this high performance liquid we call it uh chromatography can 11:30 separate these related impurities and quality and quantify the actual target 11:35 of the peptide content. So a certificate of analysis is what you want to ask these companies for. This shows the HPLC 11:44 the testing mechanism with greater than 95% or ideally 98% purity which 11:51 indicates a higher quality product. So this certificate of analysis can be fabricated may not represent the 11:57 specific batch being sold. It happens. We need to know not everybody is honest. Not everybody, you know, does what they 12:03 say and it does what’s right. But at least you at least they’re giving you something and you have some security. 12:10 and then choose a company that was referred to by someone else that has done some homework as well. In in 12:16 commercial research, there’s independent testing and they research peptides and this has been really shocking 12:23 variability that they’ve seen. Some products contain 50% or less of the 12:29 claimed peptide and some contained primarily degradation of the product or manufacturing impurities and some 12:36 contained bacterial endotoxins at levels that could cause fever and systemic 12:42 inflammation if it was truly injected. And I would also worry with some of those problems, you know, depending on 12:48 what impurity or bacterial endotoxin was there. If you’re using a product to boost your immune system and your immune 12:54 system is already compromised, these bacterial endotoxins can actually make you sicker instead of what you want it 13:02 to do, which is making you better. So, sterility is always an issue with anything that is manufactured, 13:08 especially things that we’re doing as an injection. Peptides are intended for injection. They must be sterile. They 13:16 must be kept safe. And pharmaceutical manufacturers conduct this sterility testing on every batch. 13:22 Compoundingarmacies should conduct sterility testing particularly for high-risisk compounded 13:28 sterile preparations and research chemical suppliers may or may not conduct any testing. So injecting 13:35 non-sterile material can cause local infections, abscesses at the injection 13:41 site and or if the bacteria enters the bloodstream could potentially be 13:46 life-threatening and you could have sepsis. Now, excuse me. We saw this 13:52 happen in a compounding pharmacy uh gosh, it’s probably been 10 years ago 13:57 now, I think. um they unfortunately had a strep uh contamination in their 14:03 product and they weren’t testing it. It was a large compounding pharmacy out of Florida and they were making products 14:08 that were being injected into the joints and um these people got very very sick 14:14 and some of them died and um some of them got very very injured by this uh 14:21 complication that happened. So it’s not like this doesn’t happen. It does, but it doesn’t happen often. And that’s what 14:28 we have to know about. And so, when we’re talking with you guys about storage and stability, it’s really 14:34 important to make sure you maintain your peptides well. So, many peptides are unstable at room temperature. They 14:41 require refrigeration or freezing. We tell everyone to make sure you’re refrigerating your peptides. That way, 14:48 there’s no question about it. when it stays cold um it prevents or slows down 14:54 the process of uh bacteria growing in it. So some of these peptides actually 14:59 degrade very rapidly in the solution and they must be reconstituted immediately before use and reconstitution of the 15:07 peptides really has limited stability often just days to weeks not months. So 15:13 improper storage, temperature, um changes during shipping or prolonged 15:19 storage of a reconstituted product can lead to degradation into inactivity or 15:25 potentially even a harmful breakdown of the product itself. So if you have a product that’s been sitting in your 15:30 refrigerator for a month or two months or 3 months or 6 months, just throw it away. It’s not going to be any good. 15:37 you’re not going to actually get the peptide and the uh potency that you’re looking for anyway out of it and the 15:44 potential of you introducing an endotoxin, a bacterial endotoxin is quite high at that point. So you just 15:50 really don’t want to take the risk, excuse me. So what practitioners, what 15:56 should we do and what should patients do? Well, for any peptide therapy, we 16:03 want to source our verification. know where the peptide product comes from. Is 16:08 it an FDA approved product? Is it a 503b compounding? A research chemical 16:14 supplier? Is there a certificate of analysis? Request and review this COA. 16:20 And you want it to show purity greater than 95% but ideally greater than 98%. 16:27 You want that identity be identity to be confirmed by mass spectromedy. Uh 16:33 sterility testing should be done. Bacterial endotoxin testing should be done. Batch number matching of the 16:39 product that you received should be done. Proper storage. You want to know that this has been refrigerated or 16:46 frozen as directed once it’s been mixed. Look at the expiration dates for reconstituting your peptides. Track that 16:53 reconstitution date and discarded accordingly like we just talked about. Monitor for your adverse effects. Even 17:01 with the perfect quality control, monitoring for adverse effects is essential with questionable quality and 17:08 vigilance is really critical here. I know it’s frustrating for a lot of patients when they have to get several 17:15 bottles and they only last a week or two. right here, you guys. This is why 17:21 they only last a short period of time because once they’re mixed, they start 17:26 to degrade and they won’t be good and you won’t get the benefit from it. So, 17:31 it’s really important with these research peptides specifically, practitioners should recognize that all 17:38 recommending products without quality assurance violates the fundamental medical principle of first do no harm. 17:45 If a patient is determined to use research peptides despite counseling, providing guidance on quality 17:52 verification, requesting those COAs, using pharmaceutical grade sources when available, proper testing, this all 17:59 reduces harm, but doesn’t constitute necessarily that recommendation. Now, 18:06 that being said, today it’s very difficult to find peptides by the compoundingies because of what the FDA 18:13 has done. So most of the peptides that are available to us have been labeled 18:18 not for human consumption, not because they’re not good products, but because 18:25 of what the FDA did. And this is how these companies have been able to 18:31 continue to provide peptides to the medical community. And if you know you 18:36 have a good company, then you’re, you know, you’re still taking the risk, right? But at the end of the day, the 18:42 reason they’re doing that is to protect themselves from the FDA, from liability. Um, so just kind of know that there is 18:50 some talk in the community with um Bobby Kennedy that this is going to change and 18:55 they are going to bring peptides back to the compounding pharmacies. Now, we don’t know which ones they’re going to 19:01 bring back. Uh, will it be all of them? Will it just be some of them? What’s going to happen here? Um, is it going to 19:07 go to the pharmaceutical companies like our GLP1s did? We don’t know what that’s going to look like quite yet. Um, but it 19:14 is coming and that is positive news. So, let’s talk now about FDA approved 19:21 peptide medications. So, this is the metabolic revolution, right? GLP1 19:28 and our dual increeting agonists. This is an exciting time. GLP-1s are amazing. 19:35 Um, a lot of people are skeptical, a lot of people love them, a lot of people hate them. Whichever side of the fence 19:42 that you’re on, I understand. But I want to talk about the science of it today 19:48 and what it actually means for people. So, the story of GLP1 glucagon like 19:54 peptide one represents one of the most significant advances in metabolic 19:59 medicine in the past several decades. GLP-1 is an accretin hormone. It’s 20:05 gutder derived peptide that potentiates insulin secretion in response to food 20:11 intake. And the body naturally produces GLP-1 in the intestinal L cells, but it 20:17 rapidly degraded by the enzyme DPP4 giving it a halflife of only about 2 20:24 minutes. So this rapid breakdown made in therapeutically impractical until 20:31 research was developed and modified the analoges that resist the enzyme degradation. So for those people who 20:39 never feel full when they’re eating, never feel satisfied when they’re done, this is because their body is either not 20:46 producing enough GLP1 or it’s not getting the signal right. And this is a 20:51 leptin issue. This is an insulin issue. It’s a GLP-1 issue. It’s a complicated 20:56 issue. This is not anything that the person is doing wrong. It’s what is happening to their body. And so GLP1s 21:03 have really revolutionized this. So one particular GLP-1 that we have is 21:09 semiglutide. And this GLP-1 agonist is what changed everything in the world of 21:16 metabolic medicine. Semiglutide is marketed as ompic for type 2 diabetes 21:23 and it’s marketed as WGOI for chronic weight management. It is a modified 21:29 GLP-1 analog with 95 or sorry 94% amino acid sequence uh homology to human 21:37 GLP-1. So it means that it’s it’s just like our own GLP-1 that we make. This 21:42 modification includes specific amino acid substitutions and the addition of C18 21:50 a fatty acid chain which allows the peptide to bind to albumin. Now this 21:56 albumin binding dramatically extends the half-life to approximately one week 22:01 enabling one weekly dosing which is a major advantage over the earlier GLP-1 22:07 agonists that require daily or twice daily injections. The mechanism by which 22:13 semiglutide works is multiaceted. At the pancreatin level, it binds to GLP-1 22:20 receptors on the pancreatic beta cells enhancing glucose depending sorry 22:27 enhancing glucose dependent insulin secretion. This glucose dependency is 22:33 crucial. It means the peptide only stimulates insulin release when blood glucose is elevated. This dramatically 22:41 reduces the hypoglycemic risk compared to insulin or even uh sulfuras. 22:47 Simultaneously semiglutide suppresses glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha 22:53 cells further improving glycemic control. This is really amazing because 23:00 over the years when we’ve used insulin, which is also a peptide by the way, you 23:05 had to dose it just right because if you didn’t, you would produce so much insulin that it would crash the blood 23:12 sugar and then somebody would have too low of a blood sugar. They’d be hypoglycemic and they’d have to eat more 23:18 sugar and then they’d have to modify the insulin again and the person would be going up and down, up and down, up and 23:24 down all day long. And that created a lot of problems for people and so this 23:30 helps to stabilize that so it is not such an intense change. Now in the GI 23:36 tract semiglutide delays the gastric emptying particularly pronounced during 23:41 the initial weeks of therapy. This slowing of the gastric emptying contributes to the sensation of being 23:48 full and early satiety that patients often describe. However, this effect 23:54 tends to attend to weight over time as the body adapts through the appetite 24:00 suppressing effects generally persist through central mechanisms. So, when we 24:05 talk about what is actually happening, we’re slowing that digestive process down. That’s why people aren’t so 24:11 hungry. It’s why they’re not eating so much. This is why people can develop constipation with these products because 24:17 it’s slowing the body’s digestive tract down. Now some people will call this 24:22 gastroparesis. Um gastroparesis is actually different. 24:28 It is when we lose control over what’s happening in the in the colon like the 24:34 nerves and things like that just stop working. I have never seen that with the GLP1s that we prescribe in micro doing. 24:42 um it’s been documented. It can happen, but again it a lot of it is dosing and a 24:48 lot of it is staying on top of your client and what’s happening and what’s going on and what you’re doing and making sure that they do have good 24:54 motility still. So a lot of these things can be mitigated if you have problems 24:59 with them. Now one of the most profound effects of semiglutide occur in the 25:05 central nervous system. GLP-1 receptors are widely distributed in the brain 25:10 particularly in the hypothalamus and the brain stem area where we are involved in 25:15 appetite regulation. So when when wilding and colleagues published their 25:20 landmark step one trial in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021, 25:25 they demonstrated that participants receiving 2.4 4 milligrams of semiglutide weekly achieved an average 25:32 weight loss of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks. Now, I want you 25:39 guys to really understand this. We’re talking roughly 15% body weight loss 25:45 over a year, longer than a year. 52 weeks is a year, right? This is 68 25:50 weeks. So, it took longer for them to lose. We’re not talking about giving 25:55 somebody a dose to lose 15% of their body mass in a month or two. That that 26:01 is not healthy for any of us. That is not what we’re talking about doing here. Now, they compared this to placebo and 26:08 the placebo was only 2.4%. So, that is a significant difference. 26:14 And even beyond the numbers, patients reported something very qualitatively different, a reduction in what’s now 26:21 called food noise. Everybody knows what food noise is. We’ve talked about this long before GLP1. It’s that craving. 26:28 It’s that part of your brain that just keeps thinking about I want to eat something. You know, that was actually 26:34 reduced and they didn’t expect to see that happen. Now, this refers to the constant mental preoccupation with food, 26:42 the intrusive thoughts about eating, the difficulty in feeling satisfied. Semi-glutide appears to appears to 26:49 modulate reward pathways in the misolyic system reducing hedonic eating and food 26:57 cravings. Now there are also great cardiovascular effects of semiglutide 27:02 that extend beyond weight loss. Uh the sustained six and select trials 27:07 demonstrated significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events uh 27:14 mace in high-risisk populations. The select trial published in 2023 showed 27:20 that semiglutide reduced cardiovascular death, non-fatal myioardial inffection 27:25 and non-fatal stroke by 20% in adults with overweight or obesity and 27:31 established cardiovascular disease but without diabetes. So this suggests that 27:37 mechanisms beyond glucose control and weight loss possibly including 27:42 anti-inflammatory effects, improvements in endothelial function and favorable 27:47 changes to lipid profiles. Now I will tell you the clients that I work with that are on GLP1, 27:53 they will tell you that their inflammation has been significantly reduced. We are also seeing really 28:00 amazing results in lipid profiles. um part of its weight loss, but there is a 28:06 component to this that is lowering the triglyceride levels because it’s related to sugar and how the body’s processing 28:11 it. And we’re seeing better profiles, less need for statins as a result of 28:17 that. If if you want to listen to my episode on statins, I have one on that. Uh they are not my favorite medication. 28:24 I think it’s overprescribed and overused um and not really affecting or 28:29 addressing the problem. So these things can really be helpful. There’s also some 28:34 uh ramblings going on with GLP-1s saying that they may be able to help with 28:40 addiction in the future because of where they’re finding it affecting the brain and how it affects the food noise and 28:47 the cravings that we have for food and the addiction for food. Could it potentially help with other addictions 28:53 down the road? We’ll have to wait and see on that one. So semiglutide’s FDA prescribing information also includes a 29:00 box uh boxed warning about thyroid sea cell tumors. So in rodent studies 29:06 semiglutide caused dose dependent and treatment duration dependent sea cell 29:12 tumors at clinically relevant exposures. So while it’s unknown whether or not 29:17 semiglutide causes uh thyroid cancer tumors in humans and the rodent thyroid biology 29:26 differs significantly from humans, the drug is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of 29:33 medillary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neopl neoplasia syndrome type two. it is 29:42 uh contraindicated for safety effects with that. Um I have seen endocrinologists okay GLP1s to be used 29:50 in patients who’ve had other forms of thyroid cancer just not the meillary 29:55 thyroid cancer. So there is possibility there. Now the most common side effects 30:00 are gastrointestinal. It’s nausea affects about 20 to 44% of patients 30:06 depending on the formulation with diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and also frequently 30:13 reported in clinical trials. I see this in my clinic, too, especially dose dependent. Um, and it happens early on 30:20 when you’re first starting the medication, but seems to settle out over time. The one that I would add to this 30:26 that I don’t think they have on here is an increase in acid reflux. We also see that quite often uh especially in people 30:33 who suffer with acid reflux to begin with. Now these effects are typically most 30:40 pronounced during the escalation and they like I said often improve over time 30:45 but more serious but less common adverse effects include acute pancreatitis. 30:51 The medication needs to be discontinued immediately if this is confirmed. You can see some diabetic retinopathy 30:57 complications in patients with pre-existing retinopathy and acute kidney injury. Um, this usually happens 31:05 secondarily to dehydration from the GI effects. There are some gallbladder disease um that can occur and people who 31:13 have a sensitive gallbladder will describe uh discomfort with that. I’ve 31:18 even seen some people who’ve had their gallbladder out on GLP1s at the higher doses complain of similar pain that they 31:25 used to have when their gallbladder was in. So, really important to just kind of monitor these symptoms and work closely 31:32 with somebody that understands them and can be on top of them quite quickly if this happens. Excuse me. From an 31:39 integrative medicine perspective, semiglutide really represents a powerful tool, but it’s not a standalone 31:46 solution. Remember, the medication addresses one aspect of the metabolic dysfunction, the signaling systems 31:53 controlling appetite and glucose homeostasis, but it doesn’t address the root cause that led to the metabolic 32:00 disease in the first place. Patients who rely solely on the medication without addressing the ultrarocessed food 32:07 consumption, the ccadian disruptions, the chronic stress, the sleep apnea, or 32:12 underlying hormonal imbalances often experience weight regain when the medication is discontinued. 32:20 The drug is also not a substitute for addressing the emotional and psychological drivers of eating 32:26 behavior, including the unresolved trauma that may manifest as emotional eating. I think this is really important 32:33 because we don’t address the trauma issue enough with clients and we need to 32:38 be looking at that. There is a huge trauma effect out there these days that is I don’t want to say leading to or 32:45 causing but it is definitely contributing to chronic illness and it’s not being talked about enough. So we 32:52 really need to be talking about this and addressing this trauma aspect. Now the next GLP that one that I want to talk 32:59 about is trespathide. This is a dual agonist. It takes center stage. It is my 33:05 favorite GLP one. Trisepatide is marketed as Mangjaro for type 2 diabetes 33:11 and Zepbound for chronic weight management and it represents the next 33:16 evolution in increantbased therapy. This is a dual agonist a 39 amino acid 33:23 synthetic peptide structurally based on the human glucose dependent insulin tropic peptide so GIP sequence but 33:31 modified to activate both the GIP receptors and the GLP1 receptors. So the 33:37 addition of the GI GIP agonism to the GLP1 agonism appears to create this 33:46 synergistic effect that goes beyond simply adding the two mechanisms together. So the GIP like GLP-1 is an 33:55 increant hormone secreted by what is called the K cells in response to nutrient intake. It enhances glucose 34:02 dependent insulin secretion but it also effects on atapost tissue metabolism 34:09 potentially improving the insulin sensitivity in fat cells and influencing 34:14 how the body stores and metabolizes fat. So some research suggests that GIP may 34:20 also have effects on energy expenditure though this remains an area of 34:26 investigation. So basically what we’re saying is this drug may actually help 34:32 people who are insulin resistant or insulin sensitive, not just somebody who 34:38 has problems with glucose control. So, this is super exciting because it opens 34:43 up the door for all of these people for decades that we’ve been trying to manage with insulin resistance and trying to 34:50 prevent diabetes and honestly most of the time have been unsuccessful 34:56 unless you can keep your diet at 50 grams of carbs or less a day, which is extremely difficult. Um, and take some 35:04 supplements that may or may not work and or take some metformin that may or may not help. this drug actually really 35:11opens that up and helps in that capacity. So there was a clinical trial 35:17 called the surmount clinical trial which demonstrated that trespathide produces 35:22 even more substantial weight loss than semiglutide. In the surerount one trial published by uh J tree I might have said 35:31 that wrong. I apologize if I slaughtered your name and colleagues in the New York England Journal of Medicine in 2022. 35:38 Participants receiving the highest dose of trespide, which is 15 milligrams, achieved an average weight loss of 20.9% 35:47 of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared to 3.1% with placebo. This 35:54 level of weight loss approaches what’s typically only seen in beriatric surgery. So, this is amazing because if 36:02 this medication works and we don’t have to do beriatric surgery, stomach stapling basically, um, oh my gosh, it’s 36:11 amazing. There are so many complications and risks that go with stomach stapling and the different procedures that they 36:17 do these days. People don’t absorb their nutrients properly. They have to do liquid nutrients. It’s very complicated. 36:24 It’s very challenging. Many of these people gain their weight back. Um, and 36:30 this procedure is not fun to go through. So, if we could change that and change 36:35 the lives of people who’ve really been struggling, it is amazing. And I will tell you that I have seen this work. I 36:42 have seen people lose 100 150 pounds on these medications over a year or two 36:50 period of time. It is definitely slower than beriatric surgery on some standpoints, but that is okay. You don’t 36:56 want that rapid weight loss. It’s not good for you. It’s not healthy for you. It doesn’t look well. You know, we want 37:03 to do this safely and effectively in the best way that we can possibly do that for you. Now, the adverse effect profile 37:10 is similar to semiglutide. It’s dominated by gastrointestinal effects. 37:15 Nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation. These were all commonly reported in the surmount 37:22 trials. And like semiglutide, tricepide carries a blackbox warning regarding the 37:27 thyroid sea cell tumors based on the rodent data and it shares the same contra indications in patients with a 37:34 family history of thyroid cancer and men too. So the mechanism behind why 37:40 tepatide often produces more substantial weight loss than GLP-1. The agonism 37:45 alone remains under investigation, but it may relate to the complimentary effects on the different aspects of 37:51 energy homeostasis or to GIP’s effects on atapost tissue and potentially on 37:58 central central nervous system pathways that GLP1 alone doesn’t fully address. 38:03 Now patients often report even more profound reductions in food noise with tricepide compared to GLP1 and uh sorry 38:12 GLP1 the agonists through this is anecdotal and hasn’t been regularly 38:17 quantified in quality studies. So I’ve done both uh personally and in my 38:22 practice. I really like trespide better than semiglutide. For me I had too many side effects with semiglutide. uh I had 38:30 less side effects with trespathide. I also plateaued on semiglutide which I 38:35 didn’t really care for. And with Tresepide, I haven’t plateaued and I’ve been able 38:42 to lose about 25 pounds in um a year and a half and I’ve been able to maintain 38:49 that. Um and I continued to use it because I do have a strong family history of cardiovascular disease. And 38:56 if this could help me so that I don’t follow my family lineage with cardiovascular disease, I am all for 39:03 trying to do that. I’ve watched too many of my family members suffer from this. I’ve lost my dad at a very young age. I 39:09 lost my grandfather at a young age to it. All of their brothers to this. And I don’t want to be that same person. So 39:16 that is why I chose to do that. And I think it’s really important for us to take a look at that and understand that. 39:24 Now, I know this has been a really long podcast and I don’t typically do podcasts this long. I have a whole host 39:31 of information on additional peptides. So, I’m going to break this up for you 39:36 guys and I’m going to do another episode and we’re going to pick up where we left off here with these peptides so that we 39:43 can actually start to dive into different peptides as well. So, check 39:48 out my next podcast show when we’re going to dive into the peptides that 39:54 talk about sexual wellness, immune function, and all the other cool things 39:59 that we can do with peptides. So until then, remember to like, share, and 40:04 subscribe. It really helps us get out to other people and share our information, 40:10 and join us for our next episode as we continue the talk about peptides. 40:15 Welcome to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, where we bring expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and 40:21 information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let’s Talk Wellness Now, its 40:28 management, or our partners. Each affiliate, sponsor, and partner is an 40:34 independent entity with its own perspectives. Today’s content is provided forformational and educational 40:40 purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical, or legal. While we 40:48 strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique 40:56 circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your 41:01 individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing 41:08 to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold Let’s Talk Wellness Now and its 41:14 associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this 41:20 content. We may update this disclaimer at any time and changes will take effect 41:26 immediately upon posting or broadcast. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you 41:31 find this episode both insightful and thought-provoking. Listener discretion 41:36 is advised.The post Episode 256 – How Peptides Work, Benefits, and FDA-Approved vs Off-Label Use Explained first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth 0:03Welcome back to let’s Talk Wellness. Now, I’m your host, Dr. Deb. If you’re a woman who’s doing everything right, eating clean, exercising, taking supplements, yet you still feel exhausted, inflamed, or like your body suddenly stopped cooperating, this episode is for you. Today’s conversation challenges one of the biggest myths in women’s health. That midlife struggles are just about hormones or worse, just part of aging. My guest today is Dr. Deb Heald, a naturopathic physician with one of the most fascinating backgrounds I’ve ever encountered. Yeah, she’s got a really diverse background, which is kind of exciting. She’s been an ER nurse, a stockbroker, a Silicon Valley data analysis, teaching machines to learn from microbiome research. And yes, she holds an mba, too. But it was her own menopause crash that changed everything. When the protocols she had been teaching stopped working for her, her, she didn’t double down on templates or trends. She did what she was trained to do. She followed the data and what she discovered reframed menopause, metabolism and women’s longevity in a completely different way. This isn’t about willpower. It’s not about another diet, and it’s definitely not about copying what worked for someone else. It’s about learning to listen to your body and finally understanding what it’s been trying to tell you and all along. So grab your cup of coffee or tea, settle in, and let’s dive into this amazing conversation about women’s health and menopause. And right after our guest is arriving with us, we’re going to get a word from our sponsor quick here. And then we are going to come right back to having this conversation with Dr. Deb Heald. Ladies, it’s time to reignite your vitality. Primal Queen supplements are clean, powerful formulas made for women like you who want balance, strength, and energy that lasts. Get 25% off@primal queen.com Serenity Health. Because every queen deserves to feel in her prime. But okay. All right. Welcome back, everybody. I am here with my new friend, Dr. Deb Heald. And she has such an amazing background, like I shared with you a few minutes ago. But I would love for her to give us her insight in how she got where she did, because it’s rare that you find somebody with a data background and a medical background. So, Dr. Dove, welcome. Dr Deb Heald 2:30Thank you. I am so glad to be here, and it’s a real privilege to meet you. Dr. Deb Muth 2:34I feel the same way. Dr Deb Heald 2:35Yeah, it’s. I think that the more of us that start to think and practice this way, the easier it’s going to be for women going forward. Because it’s not easy. Dr. Deb Muth 2:44It is not easy. I mean, I’ve been in this industry a long time, over 25 years. And every time I think it’s getting easy, it’s getting harder for a variety of reasons. It’s the medical system, it’s the. The clients we work with are sicker. It’s taking longer to get them to a place where they feel good. There’s just so many variables these days. So tell me a little bit about what got you here. Dr Deb Heald 3:06Well, I made the decision when I was graduating from high school to be a nurse instead of a teacher, because those were really still the two options that were common for women. I thought about medicine at that point, but my sister convinced me that if I would spend all that time learning and practicing medicine, I might not be as good of a mom. So I took the path of nurse, because nurse works around kids schedules and that sort of thing. I’d only been practicing about six months before I thought, oh my gosh, there has to be more to it than this, and toyed with the idea of starting med school at that point, but then married and started having children, and I just sort of fell into that pattern. But I typically work emergency room. There was a short stent in the post anesthesia recovery room as well. And emergency room was a place where western medicine actually shone. Right. People come in, they are no longer capable of functioning, they’re having a heart attack, they lost limb. Whatever else, they do need the, the bells and the whistles of western medicine. But when you think about it, western medicine was derived out of the Civil War where you didn’t have to say what’s the cause of the problem. It was a bullet or a bayonet, and it was, it was about patching up the soldiers and getting them back on the front line so they could continue to fight. And naturopathic medicine, which had been a lot around for an awful lot longer than that, just didn’t work in the battlefield then. The assessment was done in the early 1900s as to which style of medicine got people back to work faster. The Flexner report was all about how corporations could maximize the value of employees. And naturopathic medicine didn’t win because nutritional fixes take a long time. Taking away somebody’s stress so that they can just function more capably is. It’s a, It’s a big ask, right? So the funding of naturopathic medicine went away and western medicine became all that we knew. So in context to the emergency room, it worked. But when I saw the same person coming in, having their third heart attack, I just thought, how is this happening? Has no one told this person what, what’s going on in their lifestyle that’s creating this environment for them to continue to have heart attacks? And so that’s when I made the switch. And that was after 17 years in practice as a nurse to head on over to the naturopathic side. There was a little bit of a, a segue there, but we’d need a much longer interview to get into the details of that. I was a stock broker for six years. Anyway, when I jumped into the idea of med school, it didn’t make sense to be practicing the same thing that was already being practiced because I saw where it worked and I saw where it was failing. So hopped into the naturopathic tract. I also had one child that had a lot of physical and emotional ailments that western medicine couldn’t solve. Their answer to everything was putting her on amoxicillin. And I, I just absolutely could not convince the medical system that she didn’t have a deficiency of antibiotics, but that was their only solution. And so while she was on the antibiotics, her sinuses were clear, her sleep apnea was not an issue, and she appeared better, but her microbiome got decimated. She was on antibiotics for seven years. So, yeah, so my pursuit down the naturopathic pathway was in large part to try and figure out what else could be done for my daughter. And I did take her to a naturopath or I embarked on the field myself. And her GP threatened to call social services. Oh my gosh, yes. Dr. Deb Muth 6:22You hear these stories, I’ve heard these stories from clients before over really dumb things that they’re going to call CPS for. And it always blows my mind that we think it’s appropriate to call CPS on somebody who’s truly not injuring their child. Dr Deb Heald 6:38So anyway, that started my 17 year path in the naturopathic realm. And after, after I’ve been in practice about 10 years, an opportunity came up to move to Silicon Valley and research the microbiome and then take what we were learning from the microbiome and program it into AI. So I did that for a few years and it was amazing. There was a huge disconnect between the funding model and what its expectations were and what the research was able to do. There was a time gap, there was a funding gap. And so I thought, medicine doesn’t understand what’s important to business. And Business isn’t understanding what’s critical to research. So I went and did my MBA and wanted to be able to be the translator between those two worlds. And then the pandemic hit and then. Dr. Deb Muth 7:24Everyone’S life got turned upside down, right? Dr Deb Heald 7:26Yeah. Yeah. So I’m back in private practice. My, my practice always tended to be more autoimmune focused, which is predominantly women and predominantly middle aged women. But through my own experience of menopause and looking at how I assisted people that were in menopause before I was, you know, that the success rate wasn’t as high as it needed to be. And I started to really drill down into the biochemistry behind what was going on and then also realized that my menopause was very different than even my sister’s menopause. There we were, the same genetic template, the same lived environment, though very different lived experiences in that environment. And realized that we have to find ways to make it relevant to the person in front of us. And it’s not so much which herbs will or won’t work historically, it’s how is this person’s body responding in the immediate term to the diet we’ve put them on, to the nutritional plan we’ve suggested to the supplements, and because we’ve come so far in the data world, our whoop straps or aura rings or whatever else, there’s so many devices that are actually able to let us know whether somebody’s burning carbs or fat in this moment or ketones. We can see how an individual’s body is responding and course correct right now. And it isn’t that a ketogenic diet may not be helpful down the road. It’s right now it’s actually putting more stress on your body than it’s already under, which puts you into fight flight, which stops you from burning fat. So, and it’s not just the burning fat, it’s the inflammation. Right. So our food is completely void of nutrients. And we used to have 24 inches of topsoil, now we’ve got, so who’s eating four times the number of vegetables that we, we used to eat to get the same number of nutrients? We’re just not. And our environment is so full of plastic and chlorine molecules and just toxins that our liver says, I have no idea what that is, I have no idea how to detoxify it. And we can’t, we can’t clean the air around us. We can put air filters in our homes and try not to live under pulp mills. But the world is just becoming a Much more aggressive place to live. Dr. Deb Muth 9:33So it definitely is. I mean from the time that you and I grew up to the time that we have now, we have over 75,000 new chemical in just that short period of time. And honestly, as you and I both know, these chemicals have never been tested for this long term use or the way we’re using it, or how much we’re using them or exposing them to our kids that’s never been tested to see how safe they truly are. Dr Deb Heald 10:01I have to apologize to my children and all of the children of that generation. We use latex baby bottles that were plastic line and we linked them up in the microwave. So the wave of endocrine disruption that’s coming at us from practice feeding our infants plastic, it’s a different world. And so we have to approach it just in a completely different way. And you know, menopause shouldn’t be a disease or a state of dis ease, but it is because we’re so depleted. And women used to have predictable stresses and now because most of us are working outside of the home, many are have children that have, how do I want to put this confounders. The number of kids that are neurodiverse and the, the ext work that that creates in a household is unbelievable. So moms typically carrying most of that and then all the guilt that goes with it because moms do guilt, our nervous systems are completely fry, right? So we’re in a constant state of low level fight flight and it changes every single other biochemical process in our body. So when we hit the hormone depletion of menopause, every organ system is profoundly affected. And then we do see more autoimmune diseases cropping up. We do see more inflammatory conditions turning into organ systems not working. And the medical system is. I don’t, I hate to say this, but it’s decades from being able to figure this out. So in the immediate term, what can we do for every woman out there and, and help surround them with community? That’s the other thing that’s really missing. How often do we go next door and have tea or coffee with our neighbors? Dr. Deb Muth 11:41You don’t anymore? Dr Deb Heald 11:42No. So where’s the community supporting you? Dr. Deb Muth 11:45You don’t have one unless it’s online. And then if it’s online, you know how that goes. You can have some support and you can have not support and you can have people be really rude to you. But that support is not the same as having the neighbor next door that you can call on that you can go over and just get out of your house for a few moments and have somebody truly support you. And, and I think back in the day that’s what women did, women supported women. And today there’s so much competition that women are no longer supporting each other. We’re many times tearing women down and judging them and accusing them of doing things that aren’t right for their career, their family, their husband, their this, their that. It could go any way or any shape, but we’ve stopped supporting women in the decisions that they make, whether it’s to be at home or to work or do both or to not have children or to have children. We were just chatting earlier before we came on about having children late in life. That support is completely gone, at least from what I’ve been seeing and hearing, hearing in my practice and what I’m seeing around me. Dr Deb Heald 12:48So another form of depletion. Right. So right. Deplete. Our, our society is. And it’s a wonder we’re upright at all. And all of the other pressures that we take on. We’ve just come through the holiday season and having to have the holidays just so, so that everybody else thinks we’re doing a good job. So our family is enjoying themselves at the cost of our sanity. And the shame that goes with feeling like you’re not enough. Dr. Deb Muth 13:14Yeah. And for your family and your kids to just be like, I don’. Time to come, I don’t have time to do this. I, I hear this every day. You know, families that women mostly that are creating these beautiful experiences for their kids and their relatives. And then at the last minute you have one that calls and says I can’t come and another one that calls and says I have to go to my in laws or I have to go here, I have to go there. And then again we go back to this guilt of what did I do wrong as a woman, as a mother, to not have everybody be with me for the holidays. And I’ve worked so hard to create this environment, beautiful experience for them, for nobody to care but me. Dr Deb Heald 13:53Yes. Dr. Deb Muth 13:53And then that just depletes us more. Dr Deb Heald 13:55So, and then, and then you hit the, your breaking point and you go see your doctor who first of all doesn’t, doesn’t have the time. And I, I can’t call doctors practicing in the world today because you might be scheduled for 15 minutes, but they’re running late. I, I knew a physician quite well who in the wintertime was so busy in Canada with cold and flus, he’d see a hundred people a day. Yeah. So Sitting in front of him, trying to say, so devastated inside because of this happening or that happening. They, they don’t have or take the time to address what’s really going on there. So the number of times people say to me, you’re the first person that has actually sat and listened to me. Dr. Deb Muth 14:36And yeah, I get that same thing. And that’s, that’s part of what natural medicine is. How do you get to know somebody and understand what’s happening to them if you don’t hear their stories? Dr Deb Heald 14:45Agreed. So it’s, it’s a tricky world for women to navigate, so we have to be here for each other. And where I’m sitting right now in practice is literally just helping women replete themselves and looking at the different organ systems or the organelles within the systems that, that being supplied with what they need. And where do we start with this woman? You know, it’s not everybody that needs to have their GI tract optimized first, though. That’s a pretty common one for a lot of women that feel like they’re going out of their minds. We have to start with brain. But everything we do to, to make the environment better for the brain function also makes everything better for the cardiac function and the muscle function. But it’s, it’s just so misunderstood. And then when we get into the, the metabolism, which is where most women end up coming in, is, why am I gaining weight? Right. And so the weight is the physical manifestation that finally breaks them. But what caused them to be gaining weight is also impacting their brain and their heart and their liver and their, their entire system. It’s just, that’s the thing that finally made them come and get help. But when we look at how metabolism comes to a screeching halt in menopause, it’s a wonder that we can carry on at all. Dr. Deb Muth 16:00Yeah. So at what age do you think women should start paying attention to their situation, to their data, and not just their symptoms? Dr Deb Heald 16:0830 way, way, way before you hit menopause, let’s have a strong baseline. Let’s see what’s happening in your early adult life that is putting you into a state that right now you’ve got the tolerance to fix, but over a longer period of time is going to lead to inflammation and dysfunction. And I’m seeing my nieces actually start to pay attention and my daughter to, to their health in a different way. And I think the wearables have a huge amount to do with that. Right. So if you went out last night and celebrated and you’re paying any Attention to a recovery score. And you see that that fourth tequila took three days for you to recover from. Maybe next time don’t have four. Yeah, right. Dr. Deb Muth 16:58One or two, Right? Yeah. Dr Deb Heald 17:00Yeah. Lack of sleep. How does that actually impact you? For how many days? Something that is not. Not the best choice, though. If you’re eating well, 80% of the time, you’re way ahead of the curve. But when you. When you eat something that upsets your system, you can know that right now, literally, if you’re watching heart rate and you eat something that’s inflammatory to you, your heart rate will go up by six or seven beats a minute almost immediately. And that’s a little thing saying your immune system just kicked in. Is this the right thing for you to eat? So the. The more people pay attention without obsessing, and especially on the food thing, I don’t want to create disordered eating for people, but getting to know your body, getting to know its tolerance, and then as women start to have children, how did those tolerances change? Well, they’ll change profoundly because your sleep just disappeared. Yeah, right. If nothing. Dr. Deb Muth 17:54And your hormones changed and everything else is different. And I think that’s a really great point about the wearables. Like, people can get really obsessed with that data, but I don’t think people really understand how to use the data appropriately. You know, like, if you’re eating something that you don’t normally eat or you’re eating something that you know is somewhat inflammatory, you know, it’s the holidays. I’m gonna have some chips. I’m gonna have, you know, some cheese. I’m gonna have some nuts. I’m gonna have a variety of things. That’s really where you want to check your data, right? You know, your. You’re doing something that’s outside of the norm. And we all kind of know, like, I’m puffier, I’m swollen, my brain’s a little foggy. Maybe I have more pain. That’s the time you really want to tune in and say what’s happening? And then start tracking that. Draw the line so that, you know, like, this is the food that bothers me. Because sometimes it can be a healthy food. It doesn’t always have to be a bad food. You know, it can be a healthy food. I have patients that are allergic to lettuce, and they wonder why they’re gaining weight when they’re dieting, and all they’re doing is eating salad. Salads, and you find out they have an allergy to lettuce, and they take that out and their weight goes right back to normal. So it doesn’t have to necessarily always be a bad thing. But using that data appropriately could really make a huge difference. Dr Deb Heald 19:07And making informed choices. Dr. Deb Muth 19:08Yeah. Dr Deb Heald 19:09I was born with a dairy allergy. One of the proteins in milk. And so, and gosh, in the, in the early 60s there weren’t options for formulas that weren’t dairy based. So I was raised on evaporated milk because the heating process in evaporating the, the fluid out of the milk broke down this particular protein. So how I don’t have diabetes, I do not know. But I will elect sometimes to eat Manchego cheese and I know that tomorrow I’m going to pay for it. But I’m making an informed decision today to do it or I’m making an informed decision today. Not. Yeah, right. And so giving people the power, I think the data is power when you know how to use it. And so when women have pregnancies later in their reproductive cycle, seeing how fast that pregnancy taxation on hormones and then the, when the pregnancy concludes and the hormones fall through the floor, I have seen so many women whose ovaries never recover, they start perimenopause literally in that postpartum period. And so knowing that and making sure that you are getting, you know, the sleep that you need, making sleep kind of your, your one non negotiable. There are other things that you’ll sacrifice instead. But maybe sleep’s the most important thing to you or maybe your, your nutrition’s the most important thing. And the wearables will help you determine where you’ve got that play and where you don’t. And so making sure at a much younger age that you’re building muscle mass. We get a lot away for a really long time with being skinny fat. So we look little and everybody assumes, we assume that we’re in shape, but we’re not consciously developing the muscle mass. And for women that’s critical because when our hormones turn off and our metabolism slows down for all of the reasons that it does, the only thing that’s going to drive your metabolism in a non estrogen environment are chemicals that made in muscles. And without the muscle mass, your metabolism will stay slow. Without the muscle mass, you’re not going to have the strength to prevent falls. So if you think at 55 you can start to build muscles, it’s a really big ask. Dr. Deb Muth 21:26Yeah, it’s tough. Dr Deb Heald 21:28And testosterone is the hormone that we need to build muscle mass. And through menopause and postmenopausally most of our Testosterone is getting converted to estrogen. So starting at that point, it’s just too late. So once again, let’s go back to the 30 year old and what are you doing on a regular basis to build and maintain muscle? Dr. Deb Muth 21:49Yeah, when you’re in your prime is when we should be looking at these things. We shouldn’t be waiting until our health and our life age is declining to all of a sudden say, okay, now I’ve got to biohack my way back to being 30 at 50 or 60, because A, it’s much harder to do and B, for a lot of women you don’t ever do it correctly and so you’re trying to mimic that time frame, but it’s, it’s a major challenge for sure. Dr Deb Heald 22:15And then back to these kids that we fed plastic from day one. What are their menopause is going to be like? Because the, all that plastic will disrupt their estrogen receptors and we don’t know what impact it’s having on ovaries directly. The stronger that they can be, the more nourished they can be before their menopause starts, the further ahead they’re going to be. So this isn’t, it’s not just really targeting women that are 45 and older. It’s literally all women really need to be taking it into their own hands because the medical system, like I said so far, is not. And I’m not sure when they will. But we don’t have to wait for the medical system. There are things we can do every single day that are going to help us stay in control of our, our health. I can tell you that. Health span. Dr. Deb Muth 23:02Health span, Correct. And I, I see a lot of young people and there is maybe one out of ten of the young people that I see that have normal hormone levels for their age. I start testing hormones on young women and men around 20, unless there’s a need to do it sooner. But I want to see what they are at their peak. And I have men, young men in their 20s and 30s that have a testosterone level of 100 to 300, when they should be closer to 800, 900. I have young women who can’t peak an estrogen above 50 at 20, when in mid cycle when they should be closer to 100, 150, they’re making no progesterone, they’re making minimal to no testosterone for women. And so when we ask what has this environment done to those young women and men that we have, it’s completely destroyed their hormonal function. They are not at peace and then we wonder why they sit around and have no motivation or drive. I have young men in their 20s with no sex drive. They’re just kind of asexual beings. They don’t even look at a woman and get excited. Women don’t look at men and get excited. There’s none of that that’s happening because they’re lacking these hormones that allow them to do that. And then we wonder what is that going to do to them at menopause? Well, what is it doing to them now? You know, it is creating damage. Those hormones are necessary for cognitive function and bone health and cardiovascular health and all of that. And we’re not asking the right questions, I’m afraid. Dr Deb Heald 24:29Yeah. And, and even if we can see that the gonads are producing the hormones, what’s going on on the cellular membrane level with all those pollutants that the cell can’t absorb them? Dr. Deb Muth 24:43Right. Dr Deb Heald 24:43So anyway. What a mess. Dr. Deb Muth 24:45Yeah, it is. Dr Deb Heald 24:45And, and here’s the thing is it boils down to the naturopathic principles. Improve food, how can we improve sleep, how can we help people manage stress more effectively and, and encourage people to be exercising. I mean, this stuff is gold. Yeah. Dr. Deb Muth 25:01And it’s things that you could do very simply. We don’t, you don’t need to build a, you know, ten thousand dollar gym in your basement to do this. There are ways that you can do this very easily for no cost at home. You just need to get the motivation and the drive and understand how to do it. Dr Deb Heald 25:17Yes. And with the resistance bands that are absolutely available everywhere, even if you’re traveling, you can throw a band in your suitcase and do just the tiniest little bit of muscle reinforcement while you’re away. Dr. Deb Muth 25:32It’s so much simpler than we think. We make it very complicated. Dr Deb Heald 25:35But then also the thing that’s missing when you’re doing it at home can be that motivation. So how do we make this important enough that it’s, it is non negotiable for people? They wake up and they do, they woke, woke up a little bit late. So today Maybe they do 10 minutes, not 20, but just be doing something. Right. Dr. Deb Muth 25:54Yeah. You got to get moving it, you know, sitting around on the couch isn’t moving. You know, you have to get up, you have to move. Even if you’re sitting at your desk and you get a little bike thing underneath your desk that you can put into pedal, you know, you’re moving. It’s not weight bearing, but you’re moving. And that weight bearing exercise is so important to Us. Dr Deb Heald 26:17How does this become something that’s sexy? Dr. Deb Muth 26:21Yeah, that’s what we need to make it right. Dr Deb Heald 26:24Yes. Even, even in the realm of food, when people decide to go onto an exclusionary eating plan, so they’re, they’re going to go keto. So excluding anything that is carbohydrate based in their diet, there are a few people healthy enough to do that and they generally can do it healthfully for a short period of time. But to stay on that type of diet for a long time, that’s where I love the wearables. It’s sort of like the same thing when people are vegetarian or vegan, it’s very, very hard. It has to be a very conscious process to stay healthy as a vegetarian or a vegan. Because your liver has so many things to do. It has 500 functions that it carries on at all moments every day. And when you eliminate animal protein, you’re now also asking it to manufacture other protein and amino acid sequences on top of everything else it’s going to do. So when you make a decision like that, what are you going to eliminate from your world to take some of the burden off of your liver so it has the capacity to do extra work and you have to do these negotiations or you just end up being depleted. But the communities that are vegetarian or vegan to a greater degree and keto to a greater degree have support. You can join all sorts of online groups for people that are following these restrictive type of diet. Being an omnivore, which is eating not bread but carbohydrate in the form of vegetables and fruits, and getting some animal protein, some plant based protein, healthy fats, not the processed fats. There’s no support group for being an omnivore. Dr. Deb Muth 28:05No, there’s that. Dr Deb Heald 28:07So it isn’t one that people are going to opt into necessarily. Because who’s going to support you through your healthy eating choices? Dr. Deb Muth 28:15What are some of the biggest advancements you’re seeing right now in whole body healing that actually move the needle for us that just aren’t fancy trends but actually work? Dr Deb Heald 28:25It’s back to that individual monitoring of what’s going on. So for women that want to lose weight and go on a calorie restricted or carbohydrate restricted diet and they are deciding that they’re going to exercise at the same time. If you are in a rested state, when you go to sleep, your body will burn from fat. In the rested state, if you’re in a stressed state, it needs carbohydrate, it needs Instant energy, right? To. To break down fat into a usable fuel. Takes the liver about eight steps to burn carbohydrate. It’s instant. So when you’re stressed, you’ll burn carbs. When you’re resting or relaxed, you’ll burn fat. But if somebody goes to bed in a stressed state, they opened an email that annoyed them. They are wondering why their child came home late again. Whatever. You go to bed in a stress state, you’ll burn carbs all night long. You wake up in the morning already in a stress state. You decide you’re going to exercise in a fasted state because somehow it got imprinted in our head that you’re supposed to be fasting when you exercise to get the best benefit, and you decide to do intervals, which are a huge stress on your body, an intentional stress on your body. You’re already stressed. Stress. How much fat are you going to burn in that process? None. None. Dr. Deb Muth 29:45And you don’t have any carbs left to burn. Dr Deb Heald 29:48Right. So guess what you burn now? Muscle. Dr. Deb Muth 29:50Muscle. Dr Deb Heald 29:51So here we are working out to try and build muscle, but instead we’re breaking muscle down. So if people can use the biometric data to say, I’m in a stress state, and I know that because my heart rate is higher, or I’m using a device that can actually show how much carbon dioxide I’m exhaling. So if you’re exhaling a lot of carbon dioxide, it means you’re burning carbs. You don’t exhale carbon. You don’t need to exhale carbon dioxide if you’re burning fat as your energy store, it’s not a byproduct of fat. So if you’re already in a stress state, you can either change the type of exercise that you want to do today, so doing more of an endurance exercise, or you can eat and then do your concept. Dr. Deb Muth 30:31What. Dr Deb Heald 30:32So that’s where I’m seeing the improvement is when people are actually starting to collect their data and I interpret it for them until they can start to make those. Those correlations themselves. What. What do I need to eat right now? What do I need? What type of exercise do I need to do right now? And in everybody’s day, there is an ideal time for them to eat carbs. But for a great number of women through Perry and postmenopause that eat carbohydrates, in the evening, they get these big sugar spikes or from eating the carbs, blood sugar. And then about the time they’re going to bed, maybe an hour or two after they go to bed, their blood sugar drops and their body thinks, oh my gosh, we’re starving and it goes into a stressed state. So all night long from that point on, they’re breaking down muscle to create carbohydrate energy so that their stress system can be satisfied that they’re not starving to death. So it’s, it’s not that they can’t eat carbs, it’s that eating them in the evening is putting their body into a stressed state. But at lunchtime it might be fine. And it isn’t even eliminating every single simple carbohydrate or every, I’m going to say treat. We are a reward based society, so the treats are a thing. But maybe it means that if you want to have something sweet after a meal, you do that at lunch and your data will tell you, personally, I would eat, I’m going to call it healthy snacks in the evening mostly because I was bored, certainly not because I was in a starvation state and I started paying attention to my own data and I don’t snack in the evening anymore because it throws my sleep completely off track and it puts me into that stressed, burning carbs all night state. And it’s completely contradictory to my health plan going forward. My parents were, my dad was very long lived, he lived to 93. My mom passed at 84. But I have to say I don’t want the last 15 years of life that either of them had. Just. Yeah, at one point I think my mom thought the family vehicle had flashing red lights on the top of it because she was in an ambulance so often. So I don’t want that. And if I’m doing something that on a routine basis, this is confounding my plan for health span, I have to revisit that. I have to say to myself, you said that you’re, you know, maintaining your health is more important than maintaining your length of life. Look at what you’re doing to your body every single time you eat in the evening. Dr. Deb Muth 33:08If you had to choose one data point that really made the difference for people with a wearable or a device that completely changed how you understood menopause and all of this eating pattern, what would it be through the, through the data lens? Dr Deb Heald 33:22Heart rate variability. Yeah. And so that’s. And certain devices, well, a lot of devices measure it. Some of them are more meticulous with what time frame they’re capturing the variation in heart rate. And I guess for the listeners, we should talk about what heart rate variability is. If your heart rate is beating 72 times a minute, which used to be considered the norm. If you’re in a stressed state, if your sympathetic nervous system or your adrenaline nervous system is driving the bus, every single heartbeat in that minute will be the exact same distance between the beats. When you’re in a relaxed state, it still might be beating at 72 times a minute, but one beat might come a little bit earlier, the next one a little bit later, and there’s more variation between the time between the heartbeats. And that shows that you’re in a relaxed or adapting state. When we’re in fight flight, we’ve got one mission and that’s just staying alive. When we’re in that rest digest, it’s like if it’s a little bit slow, it doesn’t matter because I’ll just speed the next one up. And we’ve got the ability to adapt second to second. So if we are measuring heart rate variability in somebody and in it’s low, it means that they’re in that stressed nervous system state more of the time. And it causes you to burn carb more often than fat, even though fat’s a much better energy store. And the byproducts of carbohydrate combustion cause free radical stress to our body oxidation and inflame organ systems. So the more time we can spend not in fighting flight, the more healthy we will be. And so if you’re using some devices, they’re measuring your heart rate variability through a 24 hour period. So when you are in the peak of your stressed state, your heart rate variability will be little. And then when you’re in a relaxed state, it will be more. And on a 24 hour scale, it looks like you’ve got more heart rate variability. Some of the devices narrow it down to measuring your heart rate variability in the first five minutes after you come out of deep sleep. So there’s way less variability in that number. So the number will be lower than a 24 hour measure, but it’s more accurate. And so I like to, I like to narrow it down to that. But if somebody’s using a device that does it the other way, let’s just compare apples with apples. And so if your heart rate variability is improving, it’s improving. Dr. Deb Muth 35:58So that’s awesome. And that’s an easy thing to be able to measure for people. Dr Deb Heald 36:02It’s on most watches that are measuring biometrics and it’s definitely on the rings and the bands and all of the things. So just working to improve that. And if you’ve had your heart rate variability at a certain level. And then today it’s much lower. Literally just do that process in your head. What was different about yesterday? Oh, I lost my job or I ate from a buffet or whatever it is. And then the next time it has that same fall, see if the trigger for it correlated. And it’s literally just teaching us to pay attention to when our body’s in a state of stress because we’re so used to it that we don’t know anymore. The body’s screaming at us, but we’ve just become so numb to the changes to our body that we think it’s normal. Dr. Deb Muth 36:58Right. Because most of us, let’s realistically are walking out around in a State of Stress 24, 7. The only time you’re at quote, unquote rest is when you’re sleeping, if you’re lucky enough to be doing that. But we think we are because we’re not conscious anymore. And we think our body’s resting, but it may not be. Dr Deb Heald 37:17That’s right. So we are in a state of unconsciousness. But if, if we are burning carbohydrate while we’re sleeping, we are not getting into that restorative state, which means your liver is being distracted and isn’t able to do its peak detox at night. Here’s the thing. Our body is supposed to make cholesterol for us between 1am and 4am and if we’re in a stress state, the mechanism that limits the time that the body manufactures cholesterol to those three hours, that mechanism gets turned off. Off. So the body now manufactures cholesterol 24 hours a day. Oops. Dr. Deb Muth 37:53We wonder why it’s always high. Dr Deb Heald 37:55So, and, and it has everything to do with not getting into restorative sleep. So why are we getting into restorative sleep? Dr. Deb Muth 38:02Right. Well, because we’re constantly stressed and we’re not eating properly. Dr Deb Heald 38:06There we go. So we’re back to sleep and food and exercise and stress management. Dr. Deb Muth 38:11Yeah. Is there an easy way for people to. To pull their data out of their devices that they can look at it as a picture so that they can kind of see maybe the last week or the last two weeks and really start to dig in and see what that data means? Dr Deb Heald 38:29Yes. Almost all wearables now have an app attached to them. So when they know where to go to find the data, it will almost always, in an app, pull it up. But what I’m seeing now is almost all the wearables have some type of AI integration where you can literally, on the app, type in, please show Me, my heart rate variability over the last two weeks. And it’ll just populate on the app a graph. What we’re doing with biometric data and the science and the availability of analysis of that data is mind blowing. I think it could be more effective at improving people’s health than anything that we’re going to see happen in a hospital or in a pharmaceutical company’s research lab. Dr. Deb Muth 39:12Yeah, I think AI has a lot of great benefits in the medical world like this. Compiling data, looking at data over a period of time. We all know, you and I both, we’ve done research. You know, how long it takes to comb through the research and to find things and to try to put it all together. And when AI can be used to help us hack that in a shorter period of time, we are going to make new discoveries so much faster that are going to help people in ways that we’ve never seen before. Dr Deb Heald 39:46It’s the perfect indication for AI. And even when I was working with it back in 2017, oh my gosh, it was just barely an embryo back then. And the whole premise behind it was we still need the, the clinical brains, yes, to point out the relevance of the data, but the AI can take care of all of the mundane stuff that none of us like doing anyway, and it can do it instantaneously. And at this point, we still need the clinicians to show where that’s relevant. Dr. Deb Muth 40:19We started using AI this last year to look at our own data. I have data going back almost 25 years of patients that we’ve seen and protocols that we’ve done. And we wanted to see, of all the protocols that we’ve used over the years, which ones actually worked compared to those that didn’t and how much better outcome and how quickly, because we wanted to see, can we make our protocols better and which ones just should we be abandoning that just are not working for the majority of the people. And we started combing our data and it’s been incredible because it’s easy for us, us to, to see the client and think, gosh, this is working, and so I’ll use it on this person and this person and this person. But then you lose sight of those little intricacies of, well, it worked on this person at this age, but it didn’t work on this person who had this or they didn’t have the combination of these two things. And now we’re being able to see all of that so that we can get people better, faster just by simply knowing the data. Dr Deb Heald 41:20Well, and it isn’t Even so much protocols that need to be scrubbed. It’s. If you’ve got somebody on a protocol, there’s real time data to say continue or pause. This isn’t the way it should. That’s my least favorite word in the entire language but should be going, so what’s different about this person or what was different about their yesterday that we’re. We’re not seeing what would encourage us to continue. And, and every single individual has different needs at different times. Even, even twins. Right. With the studies are amazing. And when any difference in their environment they manifest completely differently. So it’s not genetics. Dr. Deb Muth 42:10No. It’s epigenetics. Dr Deb Heald 42:11Right. Dr. Deb Muth 42:11It’s our environment that changes our genetics and that is the difference. Dr Deb Heald 42:17So looking at the genes is one thing, but looking at somebody’s actual response to an intervention in lifetime. This isn’t blood work that’s going to be done every three months. This is, this is what form of exercise should I do right now or should I eat or not eat before I do it. It’s. I think that’s where medical science to me is the most exciting is literally putting the power back into the hands of the human. Dr. Deb Muth 42:46And honestly, from a client perspective, if you don’t learn this and you don’t learn how to hack your day to day stuff, there is nothing that Dr. Heald or myself can really help you with to make you get where you want to go. Like we have the information, we have the knowledge, we can teach you. But you have to be willing to learn this to hack your like life every single day to get to the optimization that you’re looking for. Because trying to depend on somebody like us to tell you what to do every day is unrealistic. It’s just not going to happen. Dr Deb Heald 43:17Agreed. Yeah. It’s almost gamifying your health. But if that’s what it takes, let’s do it. Dr. Deb Muth 43:23Yeah, why not? Why not have some fun with it. Dr Deb Heald 43:25I love waking up and seeing not so much. I can tell by the way I feel how deep my sleep was. My brain’s either foggy or it’s not. Yeah. But I still love looking at the data and then saying, oh, I did do that yesterday. And to me it’s, it’s a game in the morning to open my app and see how yesterday actually manifested in my ability to get rest last night. Dr. Deb Muth 43:53Yeah, it’s so true. I, I did some traveling on Tuesday and we have a little snow. The weather was bad. What normally should have taken me four hours to get somewhere took me seven. There was a crash on the freeway. We got diverted and like the entire drive was completely white knuckled. Right. And so by the time I arrived where I needed to go, it was 12:30 in the morning and I was super stressed. I kind of relaxed a little bit and then I went to bed and I woke up the next, I didn’t sleep well. I was up almost all night. I was up till probably four in the morning before I finally fell asleep. And it took me two days to recover from that stressor and, and I laid low and I rested. It was the holiday, it wasn’t a big deal. But when it takes you that like you have to be conscious, it took me two days to bounce back from that. And we have stressors like that that happen maybe not at that magnitude every single day, but if you’re not paying attention to how long it’s taking you to recover, that is a huge disservice. Because what are we going to do as women? We’re going to put push through. Right. We need to take care of the kids, we need to work, we need to take care of our parents, we need to check on this person, we need to do this, we need to do that and we’re just going to keep pushing in that state of stress, not realizing that that’s the last thing that we should be doing. Dr Deb Heald 45:08And so there will be non negotiables in that when and which generation where our near adult or adult kids still need us and our parents are, are still needing assistance. Maybe it just means don’t do the intense work up to day move, but just pair it back. Or if your partner suggests inviting the neighbors over for appetizers and drinks like not tonight sweetie. Right. Like literally just drawing the line because you said it. Well, we, we will just push through. Yeah. It’s our future health that we’re sacrificing when we do that. And I do not want to spend my last 15 years sick. I do not want to spend my last, last however many 15 minutes in, in a care facility. Right. Dr. Deb Muth 45:54You and me both, we both know how those are. No, that’s a non negotiable for me. Dr Deb Heald 45:59Agreed. And so when, when people are thinking, well, I know it matters but I can pay attention to it later or it costs money to do this and I’d rather not spend that money. Let’s just price out what one month in a nursing home is going to cost. Dr. Deb Muth 46:13Yeah, you’re going to spend it on the front end or the back end. You get to choose how you’re going to do that and what that’s going to look like for you. Dr Deb Heald 46:20So if that’s some wearables and some guidance up front, let’s do it. And my hope is that when we are more aware of what our behaviors do to our physical body, we’ll also start to tune into the physical signs that’s been sending us all the way along. So we don’t have to be dependent on some band on our wrist. But if you eat something that that’s triggering your immune system, you’ll pay attention to the fact your nose is running. You won’t just wipe it and carry on. It’s literally a histamine release unless it’s hot soup. But it’s saying, this is going to inflame you a little bit. Are you okay with that? And when we start to treat our bodies like the temples that they are, we won’t need the wearables. Right? We’ll say, oh, I’m starting to feel tired. So what that means is I’m going to go to bed. I’m not going to turn on a Netflix series. I’m not going to dive into some project for work that I’d like to get off my plate. My body’s asking for rest right now. So let’s do it. Dr. Deb Muth 47:23I love that this has been such a great conversation. How can people find you and work with you if they’re interested? Dr Deb Heald 47:30I agree. This has been an amazing conversation. I hope that we can do it again. I have a website which is is doctorhealed.com r h E-A-L-D.com I’m on Instagram. That’s Dr. Deb healed. And just direct message me and we will see what we can do. Dr. Deb Muth 47:48I love that. Thank you so much for joining me today. Dr Deb Heald 47:51Well, thank you for hosting and it was just an amazing, amazing time on this. Yeah. Friday morning. Dr. Deb Muth 47:58I agree. Thank you. Dr Deb Heald 47:59Okay, take care. Dr. Deb Muth 48:00This is the part of our conversation I hope you sit with. Because if there’s one truth that keeps coming up not just in today’s episode, but across thousands of women’s stories, it’s this. The body isn’t broken. You haven’t failed, and you’re not imagining what you’re feeling. You have just been taught to follow templates instead of trust data, to chase fixes instead of understanding function, and to silence symptoms instead of listening to them. My hope is that today’s conversation gave you permission to stop guessing and start getting curious about your body’s needs and how to thrive in this episode. If it resonated with you. Please take a moment to subscribe, follow and share. It was someone who needs to hear it. It means the world to us and it really helps us get in front of the eyes of more people. You can find let’s Talk Wellness now on YouTube, Spotify and wherever you listen to podcasts. And remember, healing doesn’t just start with another diagnosis. It starts when you finally feel seen and empowered to take your health back. Until next time, I’m Dr. Deb and this is let’s Talk Wellness Now. Dr. Deb Muth 49:08Welcome to let’s Talk Wellness now, where we bring expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of let’s Talk Wellness now, its management or our partners. Each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today’s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical, or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let’s Talk Wellness now and its associates, harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcast. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised. The post Episode 255 – Advancements in naturopathic medicine and whole-body healing first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth 0:03There’s a quiet shift happening in healthcare right now, and most doctors aren’t talking about it yet. People aren’t chasing diagnoses anymore. They’re exhausted by them. I see it every single day in my clinic. People who come in with stacks of paperwork, portals full of results, and a list of diagnoses longer than their grocery receipt, yet they’re still not living their lives. And they’ll say to me, Dr. Deb, I don’t want another label. Dr. Deb Muth 0:32 I just want my life back. If you’ve ever been told this is just how your body is, if you’ve been diagnosed, rediagnosed, and then dismissed, if you’ve been handed labels but never handed a roadmap, today’s episode is for you. Because we are officially entering what I call the post diagnosis era and it’s changing everything about how healing actually happens. So grab your cup of coffee or tea and let’s settle in to let’s talk wellness. Now, before we dive in, we need to take a quick pause to thank today’s sponsor. And when we come back, we’re going to talk about why diagnoses are no longer the most important thing about you. Dr. Deb Muth 1:17Did you know sweating can literally heal your cells? And infrared saunas don’t just relax you, they detox your body, balance hormones, and boost mitochondrial energy. I’m obsessed with my health tech sauna, and right now you can save $500 with my code at healthtechhealth.com Dr. Muth req 25 so here’s some truth for me. Dr. Deb Muth 0:47It was three years ago Christmas that I received my Ms. Diagnosis. And I remember it very clearly. It was the day before, two days before Christmas Eve, that I got the call and I heard the words, you have white matter brain disease. That’s consistent with Ms. And I immediately stopped in my tracks and thought, okay, well, this is just the way it is. We’re gonna fight this. We’re gonna figure this out. And it led me down a deeper path of healing and spirituality and emotional growth. And there were some really difficult days ahead for me because I remember thinking, what am I gonna do? How am I gonna practice what’s going to happen in my life? And every year at this time, I reflect back to that day that I got the call that really changed my life. And not for the worse, but for the better. It changed the way I was thinking about life. Dr. Deb Muth 3:01It changed the way I was complaining about things being ungrateful for all the amazing things that I have in my life. Not intentionally, but just living the American life. Right. Dr. Deb Muth 3:14And striving for more and wanting more and chasing more and doing more, and never really having the opportunity to just be present and just really think about life and enjoy what the Lord has given us and enjoy what’s around me, the people in my life, the family that I have, the amazing practice that I have, and the amazing people I get to work with and change lives with. And it really changed me for the better. And I’ve watched diagnoses like this change people for the worse and for them to sink deep into a depression and give up and. And live to their label instead of living to their potential. And that’s why I think this episode is so important for us, because we all have a choice in life. When we get dealt something kind of difficult, we can let it consume us and let it take every ounce of life from us, or we can allow it to become the fuel that makes us better, makes us contribute to life maybe differently, but in a better way. So, you know, I know that this idea of letting diagnoses lose their power can be really uncomfortable for some people, because there’s people that are waiting for that diagnosis. I’m in some. Some social media groups, and I’m listening and reading to people who are saying, I’m so angry I didn’t get the Ms. Diagnosis today. I’m so angry I didn’t get the Lyme diagnosis today. I’m so upset that they can’t find anything wrong with me. And I understand. Dr. Deb Muth 5:20I know the feeling of wanting to put a name to what you’re feeling so that you have validation and you have power around this diagnosis, and you can prove to people that what you’re feeling is not in your head. I get all of that. But for many people, the original diagnosis is meant to help guide treatment in the conventional sense. It’s a created, shared language that we have, and it brings clarity. But for many people, you give that label and that name so much power and so much control over your life and who you are and what you’re being. And that’s not what the label is meant for. Somewhere along the line, medicine started confusing naming with healing. And today, we have more diagnoses than ever. We have more testing than ever. We have so many thousands of specialists, and yet people are sicker. They’re more inflamed, they’re more exhausted, they’re more confused than ever. And that’s not just a coincidence. That is how the system is meant to work. It’s meant to confuse you. Dr. Deb Muth 6:44It’s meant to keep you dependent on it. It’s meant to. Meant to keep you on medical management for the rest of your life. And by doing that, we enrich the pharmaceutical companies to the point where their whole role is to continue to create drugs that you need to be on for the rest of your life. And the hard truth about all of this that I’ve seen in my practice is for many patients, the diagnosis really becomes their identity. They own it, they gravitate to it. It’s who they are. It also becomes their prison because they only live confined inside the diagnosis. I can’t do this because I can’t do that, because if I do this, this will happen, because I have. They’ve capped their ceiling of life based on a couple of words that somebody gave them at a point in their life when they were so low and potentially so desperate that they needed that name to identify themselves and what was going on. And instead of asking, why is this happening? Dr. Deb Muth 8:05Why are these symptoms happening? What’s causing these symptoms? They’re told, this is what you have, and this is what you’re going to have to live with. And instead of restoring function, these people become managed. Like I said, they’re managed with drugs. They’re managed inside the system. And instead of healing, they’re monitored with this blood test and that blood test and this MRI and that mri. Instead of providing hope, they’re handed a lifelong prescription with expectations that do nothing but decline. So you walk out of that room with this expectation that your life is never going to be the same, that your function is going to decline, your neurological disease is going to take over eventually, you’re going to be put in a home, you’re going to lose everything you have because you’re not going to be able to afford the care that you need. And that’s the expectations of our healthcare system today. When you’re labeled with a chronic illness diagnosis, and for a woman, especially women, this is magnified because their symptoms are told to them as. It’s stress, it’s hormones, it’s anxiety, it’s aging, it’s motherhood, and then, of course, it’s perimenopause. Like that is some major traumatic thing that should disrupt your entire life. Yet it shouldn’t, and it does, and it doesn’t have to. And of course, my favorite is always, but your labs are normal. We don’t know what’s wrong with you. It must just be in your head. Dr. Deb Muth 9:53And this is why women are done being dismissed, why this shift is happening now that we are empowering women to take back Their lives, take back who they are and take back how they’re being treated in the healthcare system. And it is one of the most important things that we can do right now is to give women their power back so that they can stand strong in who they are and in their intuition and fight and say, no, this is not happening to me right now. I am not accepting this label. I’m not accepting this diagnosis. I will fight, I will find answers, and I will do what I need to do to be the woman that I want to be. So why is this conversation exploding right now? Well, there’s actually three big reasons, and first and foremost, it’s over. Diagnosis, burnout. People are collecting diagnoses without solutions. Autoimmune labels, syndromes, vague neurological names, but no one’s connecting the dots. Dr. Deb Muth 11:02You see, when you start to stack these labels on top of each other, one after the next after the next, you know, it’s celiac disease, it’s Hashimoto’s, it’s fibromyalgia, it’s autoimmune. You know, rheumatoid arthritis. It’s. Whatever it is, it’s long haul Covid. These days, no one is putting these connections together to say, why are you developing so many diseases that are so similar in nature, ones that just kind of domino after each other? Nobody’s looking at your immune system. Nobody’s measuring it, Nobody’s telling you how well it’s working. No one’s supporting it. They’re just throwing these biological drugs at you. And if there’s an autoimmune disease and sending you on your way and saying, this is what you have to look forward to for the rest of your life. But don’t worry, these side effects are rare, including cancer. It does not make sense to me that we are not looking at the root cause for all of these crazy diagnoses that we are labeling people with today. And I am guilty of it myself, because within the system that we work, we have to label something in order for you to receive the care that you need, for your insurance, to pay for the treatment, for the tests, for the visits. There has to be a label. And that’s what we call an ICD10 code. And if we don’t have the appropriate label, none of what we’re recommending gets covered for you. And that’s the label game began. The second thing is long haul Covid. And post viral illnesses. Dr. Deb Muth 12:47Millions of people were told, we don’t know why, and then we sent them home to figure it out by themselves. We don’t know why your immune system is failing, we don’t know why you’re having these clotting issues that are happening. But don’t worry, these clotting issues really are not that severe. They’re mild in nature. You’ll never have to worry about it. And we’re not going to treat it even though it’s four times the level that’s normal, because we’re going to wait until it’s 10 times the level of normal to even worry about it at this point. Dr. Deb Muth 13:19And it will take us 25 to 30 years before we understand any of the risks and barriers that have happened from these post viral illnesses that have occurred in our environment and the ones that are in the future to come. Because it takes time for us to study things, it takes time for us to figure it out, takes time for us to train the practitioners, and it takes time for us to accept something different than we thought was reality. And that is the problem that we have today with these post viral illnesses that are long acting, that are retriggering new viruses, retriggering old illnesses like Lyme, reactivating things like Epstein Barr virus. It will take decades before this becomes mainstream. And right now it’s fringe medicine and it’s not realistic. And those of us that are speaking about it are chastised and gone after, but by our medical communities and we are told that we are the crazy ones. And that is how medicine has always been. Way in the beginning, and I forget the doctor’s name, who started just observing that when medical students worked on cadavers and then came into the labor and delivery ward and delivered babies, these women were getting sick with infections and they were dying. And he said, what if we just washed our hands between the cadaver and the delivery? Would we save lives? And he did a small study and he was right. And over time he was made fun of and he was put into insane asylums and he was locked away. And now today we would never think of entering a room and working on a patient without washing our hands beforehand. But that took 30 years for that one concept of washing hands to be adopted. And it destroyed one man’s life because he simply asked the question, what if it’s a crazy society that we live in, It’s a crazy outlook that we have on medicine and asking questions. And sometimes I wonder, is it truly science or is it politically driven? And I think the answer is it’s both. And the third thing that we have is technology. And technology is outpacing wisdom by far. Hands down, AI, advanced labs and imaging can identify everything. Now using AI, but without context, it creates a fear. Dr. Deb Muth 16:08And instead of clarity, without context, using AI to interpret labs makes absolutely no sense. Without context and understanding and us actually training this LLM model, the AI doesn’t really know what it, what it means. And someday it will, I’m sure, but right now it doesn’t. So as everyone is taking to AI to treat themselves and create a protocol and diagnose themselves and understand their labs and know that it is without context that you are doing this, and research is wonderful, but without having somebody truly understand you and the art of healing and the art of medicine, this is going to get lost and you will not have the information that you truly need simply by using chat GPT. Now I’ve created my own version called Venari and I hope that this will be much better because it will have context. It will have 15,000 protocols that I have used for the last 25 years. It will have lots of research. It has all of the research databases that we can connect to. It has training that I have given it using my brain and how I see a client every single day in practice. So when you’re using our Venari app, you will be able to have that context. You will be able to have that pushback and that voice. And not only that, you will have the option then to work alongside someone to help you identify that context that you’re looking for. Does this make sense? Dr. Deb Muth 17:53I’ve seen this a lot in the peptide world, where in these Facebook groups, people are talking about the peptide stacks that they’re using and they’re telling people that it’s okay to use any peptide you want because they’re just small chain branch amino acids. And that can’t be farther from the truth because there are some peptides you would not want to use because they can stimulate the growth of cells. And if you have cancer or if you have a history of this, there are some peptides that we need to avoid. And unfortunately, AI doesn’t understand that yet and doesn’t know that yet. And it’s just creating stacks. And people are creating stacks without understanding what they’re doing. And I watched my best friend do this as she was learning peptides and she had cancer and it created an aggressive sarcoma. And I believe the peptides had a lot to do with that because it stimulated the growth of the cells. And it wasn’t until after she had passed away that we found this journal of hers that she was studying peptides and recognized that this could have contributed to her advanced cancer. And if you don’t have that context and you’re using AI to create these stacks for you, you can put yourself in harm’s way. And so AI technology, I think, is going to be fantastic in a lot of ways. It’s going to have its downfalls. And you’re going to need an expert when you’re using AI. You’re not going to just be able to treat yourself with this. You know, understanding that more data doesn’t always equal healing, and more data can be helpful. But again, you have to understand how to put those pieces together, how to ask the right question questions. And for that, you need somebody who has seen thousands and thousands of cases to find the missing pieces for you. Because AI is not going to do that unless it’s been trained to do that. Vanari has been trained to do that. Dr. Deb Muth 20:01It’s been trained to push back and look at lime and mold and toxins and chemicals and metals and all of those things. But there is no other AI bot out there, LLM that has been trained to do that using clinical data that I use every single day in my practice. And people are finally realizing that, you know, they’re understanding that although this world of AI and technology is amazing, it has its limitations, just like practitioners have their limitations. We don’t know everything. We are not perfect. We are human. And humans make errors and we miss things. With or without technology, we miss things. And part of it is because we just don’t know what we don’t know yet. And sometimes it’s because we have our blinders on, and sometimes it’s just simply because we don’t have the information today that we’re going to have five years from now. And here’s what I teach instead. I teach the seenet last. And that’s what we built it on. Restore and root. Rise and restore. Sorry, that is my methodology. And it’s in the scene at last book. And it starts with healing. It starts with asking better questions. So instead of asking, what do you have? We want to ask, what has your body been exposed to? What symptoms are underperforming? What’s driving the inflammation for you? When you have joint pain and you have muscle pain and you have achiness, that is not normal. Dr. Deb Muth 21:38I don’t care if you’re 20 or you’re 80, it is not normal. And yes, I did say 80, because we are not supposed to have that kind of inflammation at 80. And why are we underperforming? Why is our Brain not working correctly? Why is our mood not working? Why can’t my body push up a hill? Why can’t I lift 10 pounds? What’s going on? Why can’t I recover from that activity? What’s interfering with my ability to repair and heal after I’ve done some things that I need to do? What’s keeping your nervous system stuck in this survival mode, in this fight or flight mode? Why can’t I get past that? Sometimes that answer is really simple and sometimes that answer, it is so hard and so complicated and it is so many things that are causing this body to be stuck. And sometimes it’s a six month fix, and sometimes it’s a six year fix and sometimes it’s decades long. And it is one of the most challenging things as a practitioner to get clients to understand and to be on the other side of the table and not get you that quick fix. It is extremely difficult for us as well when we are not seeing the results that we think we should see. We need to focus on function over diagnosis, root cause over labels. Dr. Deb Muth 23:09What is driving all this inflammation and certainly restoration over resignation. Do not resign to the fact that you have this life altering disease that is never going to change. Because if we find the root and we restore the body, you don’t have to live in that death sentence that you’ve been given of a diagnosis, whether it’s fibromyalgia, MS, Alzheimer’s disease, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, it does not matter what that diagnosis is. We can change it, we can make it better, we can reduce the symptoms, we can improve your life. Maybe not in ways that you are absolutely looking for, maybe not in a perfect world, but we can change the trajectory of where your life is going. And it’s because you’re not an ICD9 code or an ICD10 code. You’re not a code, you’re not an MRI result, you’re not a lab result, you’re a human body asking support, not a name. And I say that with a little hesitation because so many people are looking for the name. So many people are angry that someone didn’t find the name. I have clients that come to me that are so angry that the conventional medicine system did not identify their Lyme disease, that they’re looking for someone to sue and there is no one to sue because they didn’t find it, because sometimes they just don’t know. You’re asking for conventional medicine, practitioner and system to provide for you a label that is not within their wheelhouse to do. Because the way they treat Lyme disease and the way an eyelads practitioner looks at Lyme disease and has. Has the ability to test differently are two very different things. Dr. Deb Muth 25:27You’re asking for a system to perform in a way that they are not trained and guided to do. Then you’re looking and asking for somebody to place blame for an illness that you have, that you have yet taken ownership for. And I know that sounds harsh, and I know there’s going to be a lot of people that are angry at me for saying that. But I sit in front of you as someone who had Lyme disease, who had mold mycotoxin illness, who had high viral titers, who had post Covid peripheral neuropathy, who had the diagnosis of ms, who has white matter brain disease, who treated all of it not in the conventional world, who has halted the white matter disease and regrew her brain by 1.5 standard deviations, which is unheard of in 18 months. So I can say this to you. There is no one to blame for your lack of diagnosis or your diagnosis. It is life. It is what happens to us. And you have a choice at the crossroad to either take the path of hatred and anger and bitterness and blame and never getting better a result of that, or you have the ability to take the path of curiosity and openness and willingness to change and willingness to walk down a path that is different than what the conventional medicine is telling you to do. And those are your choices and you get to make those choices. But what you don’t get to do is blame some someone else and try to destroy them for something that they are not able to do. That is not what we get to do in this life. Dr. Deb Muth 27:29It is not right and it is not fair. If someone has truly injured you, that’s different. That’s different. But this looking to blame somebody because they didn’t give you a label, Ridiculous in my opinion. And if you’re listening and thinking right now, I’ve been diagnosed, but I’m not better, I want you to hear this clearly. You are not broken. You are not crazy, and you are not done. Sometimes the most healing moment isn’t getting that diagnosis. It’s realizing that the diagnosis was never the whole story. And that’s where the real healing begins. When we look at the entire story, we look at your entire life from the beginning to where you are now and what has happened to get you there. And once we get that, then we can put you back together. Not in the old way, in a new way in an amazing way, in a way that you would cherish your life for every moment that you have of it. Good, bad and ugly. A diagnosis should not be the doorway. It’s not a dead end. It is just the beginning. Remember, you don’t need another diagnosis. You need your life back. And that’s what’s important. Dr. Deb Muth 29:19We are living in a moment where medicine is being forced to evolve not because systems want to, but because patients are demanding better. This post diagnosis era isn’t about rejecting science, it’s about using it wisely. It’s about restoring function, dignity and hope. And I hope that if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s been labeled but not yet helped. Because sometimes the most powerful healing starts when someone finally feels seen. Thank you for being with me here today. If you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe and follow. Let’s talk Wellness now on YouTube, Spotify or wherever you’re listening and I’ll see you next time. Until then, keep asking better questions, trusting your body and remembering you are more than a diagnosis.The post Episode 254 – Beyond the Diagnosis: Healing in a Post-Diagnosis Era first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb Muth 0:03Today’s guest is someone I’m honored to call both a friend and a mentor, and one of the most trusted voices in medicine for patients with complex chronic illness. Dr. Neal Nathan is a board certified family physician who has spent decades caring for patients who don’t fit neatly into diagnostic boxes. Patients with mold related illnesses, Lyme disease, mast cell activation, and profound nervous system dysregulation. These are the patients who are often told their labs are normal and their symptoms are anxiety or that nothing more can be done. Instead of dismissing them, Dr. Nathan listened and he asked better questions. His work, including his landmark book, Toxic, has helped thousands of people finally feel seen, believed, and understood, and more importantly, has given them a path forward when medicine failed them. This conversation is for anyone who reacts to supplements or medications, for anyone who has gotten worse instead of better with treatment, and for anyone who knows their body that something deeper is going on, even if they’ve been told otherwise. Dr. Nathan, I’m deeply grateful for your mentorship, your integrity, and the way you continue to advocate for the most vulnerable patients. I’m so glad to have you here today. And before we begin, grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever grounds you, because this is the conversation you’ll want to settle into. Now, before we go onto this conversation, we need to hear from our sponsors. So give us just a quick moment and then Dr. Nathan and I are going to dive in to his story and how this all started for him and leave you with some nuggets of wisdom that you can help yourself with. Ladies, it’s time to reignite your vitality. Primal Queen supplements are clean, powerful formulas made for women like you who want balance, strength, and energy that lasts. Get 25% [email protected] Serenity Health that’s PrimalQueen.com Serenity Health because every queen deserves to feel in her prime the right places and then we can get started. All right? So, Dr. Nathan, like I said, I’m so excited to have you here today. Tell us a little bit about how did you start your career? Because you didn’t intend to work with the most complex and sensitive patients, I’m sure when you started out. But what did you notice early on that made you realize medicine was missing something? Neil Nathan MD3:03You know, Deb, actually, I did start out wanting to work with the most complicated cases. My delusional fantasy when I started was I wanted to help every single person who walked into my office. And so when I left medical school, I realized pretty quickly that the tools that I learned there were not adequate to do That I needed to learn more. So I started on a passionate journey of discovery, if you will, in which I started studying with anyone who had anything interesting about healing to talk about. And I want to emphasize that I was interested in healing, not in what I’ll call medical technology. So medical school taught me to be a good medical technologist, but it didn’t teach me about healing. I graduated a long time ago. I graduated from Medical School in 1971. And the word holistic wasn’t even a word back in those days, but that’s what I was looking for over many, many years. I studied osteopathic manipulation, homeopathy, therapeutic touch, emotional release techniques, hypnosis. If it’s weird, I probably have studied it at some point. I wasted some weekends studying things that I don’t think were particularly valuable. And I’ve had some remarkable experiences with true healers that taught me how to expand my understanding of what healing really meant. So early on, when I first started practice, I would invite my colleagues to send me their most complicated patients because that was my learning. That makes me weird. I know that. I love some problem solving. You know, I’m the kind of person who I get up in the morning and I do all of the New York Times kinds of puzzles. That’s. That’s my brain wake up call. So actually I did invite my colleagues to send me their complicated patients, and they did. So, I mean, they were thrilled to have me in the community because these were people they didn’t know what to do with. And I was happy as a clam with all these complicated things that I had no idea what to do with. But it pushed me to keep learning more, to keep searching for this person’s answer. And this person’s answer, that constant question is, what am I missing? What is it that I don’t know or understand? What questions am I not asking this person that would help me to figure it out? So sorry for the long winded digression. Dr. Deb Muth 6:14No, I’m glad you shared that. I’m very similar to you. I didn’t seek out working with the most complex, but as I started that, I was always very curious as well. So I was the same as you. Every weekend I would learn something and hypnosis and naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, and all these quote unquote weird things, right? And there’s always a pearl that you learn from something. You never not learn anything, but some of it, you kind of take or leave or integrate or not. And, and I think it, it makes you a better Practitioner, because you have all these tools in your toolbox for helping people that nobody else has been able to help. And. And it’s just kind of fun learning. I mean, I’m kind of a geek that way too. I like to learn all those things. Neil Nathan MD7:00Learning is my passion. One of my greatest joys in life is going to a medical meeting and getting a pearl. Literally. I’m not one of these people at medical meetings that have a computer in front of me listening. And I have a pad of paper and I’m writing down ideas next to people that I’m working with. So that, oh, let’s bring this up for these people. Let’s bring this up for these people. So it’s like, oh, great. Can’t get right back to the office on Monday so I can start, have some new ideas about what I’m missing. Dr. Deb Muth 7:38Yeah, I do the same thing. I have my pad of paper and I do the same thing. And as I hear something, I’m thinking about a person that’s in my office that I haven’t been able to help, or we’ve been stuck on something, and I’m like, oh, there’s a new thing we can try. And it’s so exciting. I love that. Let me ask you this. Was there a time when you finally thought, like, if I don’t listen to these patients differently, they might not ever get better? Neil Nathan MD8:04That’s a very complicated question. The people that I was treating that weren’t getting better were the ones that got my greatest attention. And one of the questions that constantly troubled me still does is, is this person not getting better because of some feature of themselves, or is it because of something that I don’t know? So I’ve wrestled with that for a very long time. My answer to it now is, For a long time, I’ve been able to see what I will call the light in a person. Call it a healing spark and energy. It isn’t truly light. There’s just something about that person when I work with them where I know this person will get well if I stick with them long enough. And then when I don’t get that, I don’t think I’ve helped any of those people over the years. Yeah, so it was a very long process of really not helping people for five years daily. And I would. I would ask those patients, I would say, you know, I haven’t helped you. We’ve been doing this for a very long time. Why are you still here? And they would say, because you care. And I would. Back when I was Younger, that was enough for me to go. That’s true. Okay, I’ll keep working at it. But as I’ve gotten older, caring isn’t enough. It’s. I’m not sure I’m the right person for you. And so as I’ve gotten older, when I don’t see that spark, when I don’t get that sense of someone, I’m more inclined early on in the relationship to tell them I’m not the right person for you. Yeah, you know, see if you can find someone else who can understand what you’re going through and help you. Because I, I’m not it. Dr. Deb Muth 10:16Yeah, you, you kind of know that you can help them or not. Yeah. Neil Nathan MD10:21I don’t know how to define that sense, but it’s very clear to me. I call it like seeing the inner light of another being. If it’s not there, and maybe it’s not there for me to see as opposed to someone else can see it. Dr. Deb Muth 10:41That’s interesting. So you’re known for working with patients who are highly reactive. They don’t tolerate supplements, a lot of times medications, or even some of your most gentlest protocols. Why are these patients so often misunderstood? Neil Nathan MD 10:59Because they appear to their family and to many other physicians to be so sensitive that the thought process of families and other physicians is often. Nobody’s that sensitive. This has got to be in your head. And that is what is conveyed to those patients. And they’re told it’s gotta be in your head. Go see a psychiatrist or a therapist. But I can’t help you. And unfortunately, we have learned in the last 20 years a great deal about, is making our patients so sensitive. It is a true reaction of their nervous system and immune system, and it is in response to various medical conditions they have. So again, as we’ve been talking about, those were the people that got sent to me for many years. And I, I have never believed that the majority of any. Anything that someone has experienced is in their head. Yeah, Almost everything I look at is real. I may not understand what is causing it, but for me, doubting a patient’s experience is not something I’ve ever done. And that’s what’s helped fuel what I’ve learned and what you learned over the year. That, okay, if this is real, and it is, I’m sure it is, the person in front of me looks like a straight shooter. They’re not hyper reactive. They’re not going off the deep end talking about it and talking about it very straightforwardly. And I’ve got these symptoms. I’VE got this, I’ve got this. And it’s really making my life miserable. Okay, what’s causing that? So I began to work with what we now call very sensitive patients and figuring out what caused that. So over the years, I think we have names for this in medicine. Sometimes we call this multiple chemical sensitivity. People who will go to be walking down the street and someone will walk past them wearing a particular scent or perfume and they will literally fall to the ground or go brain dead or can’t think straight or even have some neurological symptoms. And I’ve seen that happen in my office. I’ve seen patients walking down the hall and having a staff member who had washed their clothes and tied walk past them. And I literally watched them fall on the floor. And it’s like, this is not psychological. This is someone who is reacting to the chemical that they are being exposed to and this is the effect it’s having on them. And so eventually it became clear that all forms of sensitivity, sensitivity to light, sound, chemicals, smells, food, EMFs, touch, were really being triggered by a limbic system that was unhappy. We began to learn about limbic issues before that. Give you a short history of it. I have discovered something called low dose immunotherapy different by Butch Schrader. And there was a long three year period of if someone stuck with it. If I used those materials over time, a lot of my chemically sensitive people would get better. It was the only tool I had back then. Dr. Deb Muth 14:41Yeah. Neil Nathan MD 14:42)Then, I don’t know, 15 years ago I discovered Annie Hopper’s work with dynamic neural retraining. And when I added that to what people were doing, that’s when I had my, ah, this is an Olympic system issue. And this is something we can reboot. And since then, many other people have limbic rebooting programs which are quite excellent and useful. Now I helped a lot of people at that point and it wasn’t until I stumbled on Stephen Porges work with the vagal system with this concept of polyvagal theory that I realized that the two areas of the brain that are monitoring that person’s environment, internal and external, for safety, are the limbic and the vagal systems combined. So when I started adding vagal strategies to the limbic strategies, I helped even more people. And then the first, the third piece of this trifecta was 2016 when Larry Afron wrote his book Don’t Never Bet Against Occam, in which he began our understanding of mast cell activation. And when I read his book, it was like, oh, big piece of the puzzle. And then we realized that those three things. And there’s more, but those three things were treated, Would help the vast majority of our sensitive patients regain their health and regain their equilibrium. This is not psychological. This is really treatable. Dr. Deb Muth 16:19Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing in my practice and followed very similar paths. As you started out with ldi and lda, and then the vagus nerve things have been by far. I think if I look back, the vagus nerve work has been the biggest changer in our practice as well. I mean, all of the things help, but, like, I can give somebody a vagus nerve stimulator today, and within 30 days, 90% of their symptoms are better. And that just kind of blows my mind. It’s like I’ve never had a tool in my toolbox that has worked that well and that quickly. So. So it really is making a big difference. And I, too, was trained way back in the late 90s with multiple chemical sensitivity people. And some of those clients that I inherited from my mentor are still around. And, you know, they still can’t function at all. They’re wearing gas masks. They can’t leave their house. You know, any smells that even come in without them opening the windows, they are stuck. And no matter what you do, it’s just a challenge. Nothing works for them. And it’s a very sad life that they have to live. Neil Nathan MD 17:30Well, let’s add to that story that you can give people limbic vagal and mast cell treatments, and it’ll really work well to help them, but you need to look deeper, which is what is causing mass cell issues. And in my experience, mold toxicity is by far the number one and various components of lyme disease is a second one, and then a variety of other environmental toxins, infections, and things like that may trigger for some, but you’ve got to go back and get to the cause or else. Dr. Deb Muth 18:12Yeah, nothing works. Neil Nathan MD 18:13You can make them better, but you can’t really get them. Well, you get rid of the cause, and people can completely differently life back. Dr. Deb Muth (18:20-18:21)Yeah. Neil Nathan MD 18:22One of my frustrations with the mast cell world is after Larry efferent’s book came out, it changed people’s consciousness about mast cell activation. Something genetically rare to something which we now know. It affects 17% of the population, so not rare at all. But the clinics that are popping up to do it, and now in every major medical center of the country has a mast cell clinic. But number one, they rely completely on testing to make the diagnosis, and testing is notoriously inaccurate. And second, they just aren’t aware that you gotta get cause. So they’re helping people, but they’re not curing people because they’re not looking for cause. Dr. Deb Muth 19:13Yeah. And if they’re helping people, it’s on a minimal level, in my experience. They’re. You know, most of the patients that we see that have been at those clinics have been dismissed. Once again, told that because the testing isn’t positive and they’ve only done it once, that they don’t have this. But yet they fit all of the pictures. And then when you start digging, you start realizing they really do have mast cell, and. And you can find the answers for it for them. Neil Nathan MD 19:40Yeah. Dr. Deb Muth 19:41Why do you think mold remains so unrecognized in conventional medicine? Neil Nathan MD 19:48Interesting question. You know, I started writing a book chapter on the history of mold toxicity, our understanding of mold toxicity. And it’s. It’s fascinating to me. The mold toxicity is described in the Bible as a fairly long passage in Leviticus where it talks about that. So it’s not like it’s unknown to the universe, but largely, it’s remained undiscussed. Most people are aware of mold allergy. We’ve been treating mold allergy for decades. That we accept fully. I think the answer to your question lies in history a little bit. And I didn’t know this until I started kind of digging into it. There was an episode in the 70s in which a large number of school children in Cleveland, Ohio, got sick, and public health authorities attributed it to mold. About a year or two later, it was discovered that they. The H VAC system in the school had Legionella. Legionnaires disease. And it was then decided that, no, it wasn’t mold, it was legionnaires. And then a number of articles began appearing in the medical journals. Their names were literally mold. The hoax of mold toxicity. And that consciousness pervaded for 20, 30 years where people were reading these articles in which they were being told that mold toxicity was a hoax. That’s a strong word. And it took papers after papers after papers published in all kinds of medical journals, which were began to say, this is very real. This is symptoms that. That we see. It wasn’t until 2003, when Michael Gray and his team published a series of papers showing that these widespread symptoms, which we now recognize as mold toxicity, was real and directly attributed to mold. Now, keep in mind, we didn’t even have a test for mold at that point. Dr. Deb Muth 22:10Right. Neil Nathan MD 22:12So you could say this is mold toxin, because this person was. Well, they went into a moldy environment, they got sick, they went out of the moldy environment. They got well again, but we didn’t have treatments. We didn’t have a test for it. Historically, people were suspicious. Not very scientific. 2005, Richard Shoemaker wrote his book mole warriors, which really began to popularize the concept of this was a real thing. And in it, Ritchie talked about his markers and the visual contrast test. Now, these were not specific for mold, but they strongly, at least implicated that. Now, we had a test that could be helpful. So it wasn’t really until about 2010 that the first urine mycotoxin test came on the market. And at that point, we. We really could tell a person, you’ve got these symptoms, you’ve been living in mold. And now we have a test that shows you have mycotoxins in your urine. Now, it’s not like it’s a theory. It’s coming out of your body. That has furthered it, but not yet in the consciousness of the medical profession at large. As I’m sure you know, the history of medicine, in fact, the history of science, is that new ideas take 20 plus years to really be accepted by the profession. A new drug, a new technology is accepted very quickly because there’s an economic push to it. There’s no economic push to a new idea. So we’re still in the throes of some of us who work in the field. People say there’s no published data that really prove that this exists. And we’re working on that. As you know, we’re working on getting the papers published, but again, working on this history of molotoxism, There are actually hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of papers in the medical literature which really attest to the fact that this is a reality. It’s just that you and I are the only ones reading these papers. Dr. Deb Muth 24:33Yeah, we’re the only ones that care. Yeah. What would acknowledging mold actually forced medicine and the institutions to confront? Neil Nathan MD 24:44First of all, many medical offices and. Dr. Deb Muth 24:47Hospitals are molding, very much so. Neil Nathan MD 24:51And nobody wants to deal with that. It’s expensive. It’s difficult to truly get mold out of a building when it’s there. And so there’s a huge economic push to not acknowledge mold toxicity as an entity. The whole building industry doesn’t want to deal with it. Yes. It is estimated by the federal government that 47% of all molds have visible or smellable mold in them. It’s not like it’s rare. Not everyone’s going to get sick from it. But if your immune system takes a hit from anything and it loses containment over that mold, then you will take a hit from it. And it is also estimated that at least at this moment, 10 million Americans are suffering with some degree of mold toxicity and don’t even have a clue that that’s a real thing and that it can be both diagnosed and treated successfully. Dr. Deb Muth 25:51Yeah, it’s so hard. Like so many of the patients that we see, mold is never on their radar when they come to us. You know, Lyme disease is never on their radar when they come to us. And many of our patients have both. And the argument of there’s no way I could have, you know, mold exposure until you start digging back into their history a little bit. And then they’ll say, well, yeah, grandma’s house smelled and you know, I live in a hundred year old house, but it’s been completely renovated. And until you start having these conversations and really talking about it, people don’t have a clue that these things could make them sick. Or they, you know, I have a lot of clients that renovate houses for a living or that’s, you know, their hobby. And they go in and they renovate these houses and they’ve never worn appropriate equipment to protect themselves and, and then they’re sick 10, 15 years later. But don’t really understand why. Neil Nathan MD 26:47Yeah, from my perspective, it’s about how robust the immune system is. Dr. Deb Muth 26:51Yeah. Neil Nathan MD 26:52That if your immune system is robust, and this is true for Lyme as well as molecules, you could be bitten by a tick, you may have a Lyme or a co infection of Lyme like Bartonella rubesia in your body, or you could be exposed to mold, you could be living in a moldy environment, and your immune system will allow you to function at a high level for a while if your immune system takes a hit. Now the hit recently, big time, was Covid that unmasked Lyme and mold for a lot of people and a lot of people who think they have long whole Covid really have unmasked that they have Lyme and mold toxicity. That’s a whole other subject here. But menopause, childbirth, surgical procedure, any severe infection, any intense emotional reaction, death of a loved one, any of these can weaken the immune system. And then what is already there is no longer contained and we are off to the races of severely impaired health. Dr. Deb Muth 28:02Yeah, that’s what it did for me. I got sick with COVID and maybe about six, eight months later, I started to express neurological symptoms that looked like Ms. And actually had the diagnosis of Ms. But knowing what I know, I said, you know what? Ms. Is something else. Until proven otherwise in my book. And so because I had the knowledge that I did, I went and did all the Lyme testing and the mold testing and hit the trifecta of everything. Lyme co infections, mold, viruses. I just had everything. And as I started down that path of trying to clean it all up, all of my symptoms started to disappear. And certainly it wasn’t as easy as it sounds, and it wasn’t as quick. And I felt a lot worse before I felt better, as most of our clients do. But I think that I’m not the only person that this has happened to. And I think a lot of people get misdiagnosed just simply because nobody’s looking for the other problems that you and I look for and that we know of. And that’s one of the ways our medical system fails the clients they work with. Unfortunately. Neil Nathan MD 29:12One of the things that I teach and want people to be aware of is any specialist who makes the diagnosis that includes the word atypical. So atypical ms, atypical Parkinson’s, atypical Alzheimer’s, atypical rheumatoid arthritis, whatever it is, if that’s the word. What they’re saying is this has feedback features of this illness, but doesn’t really match what I see every day in my office. And when I hear the word atypical, I say, please look for mold, please look for Lyme. Because that is often the case here. Dr. Deb Muth 29:51Yeah, oftentimes it is. You also teach that when patients get worse under treatment, it doesn’t mean they’re failing. It means the treatment might not be appropriate for their psychology. Can you explain that a little bit? Neil Nathan MD 30:05Yeah. I think that many people start understanding about things like Lyme or mold and don’t really have the bigger picture. And so they will jump in with aggressive treatments in people who aren’t really ready for that degree of aggressive treatment. And here we’re going to come back to, if someone’s living vagal and mast cell systems are dysfunctional and not working properly, it is highly likely they won’t be able to take normal doses of the binders we use for mold, or to take antifungals or to take the antibiotics we need for Lyme disease. It’s not that they don’t want to. They can’t. And so what I see is not understanding what you need to do, in what order. If you do it in the right order, you’ll help the vast majority of people you’re working with. And again, that trifecta of limbic vaginal, mast Cell is one piece that a lot of people don’t address. And again, order matters. For example, in the mold world, some people have learned that, oh, I’ll need to give people antifungals to get this mold and Candida out of their body. But if you do that and you don’t have binders on board, there’s a very high risk that you’re going to cause a severe die off and make people really miserable. I remember when we kind of first started this, I was working with Joe Brewer, who’s an infectious disease specialist from Kansas City. And Joe wrote some of the earlier papers on this particular subject. And I was doing, I had a radio show at that point and Joe was on and we were talking about mold toxicity and how we treat it and what we did. And he mentioned that about 40% of his patients had this really nasty die off. And I went, I almost never see a die off. And so when we got off the program, we sat down and tried to compare notes about, okay, what am I doing differently than you, that I’m not getting the die off. And Joe, as an infectious disease specialist would go quickly to his antifungals. And yes, he put people on binders, but he also simultaneously put the lungs in pretty heavy doing antifungal. They got a nasty diure. I never put people in antifungals until their binders were up and running. So from my way of thinking about it, if you use any antifungal, they all work by punching holes in the cell wall of either a mold or a candida organism, killing it. However, by punching holes in it, what’s in that cell leaks out. And that includes mycotoxins. So. So you’re literally, if you’re using it aggressively, you can literally flood the body with mycotoxins. And if you don’t have the binders on board to mop it up, there’s a high risk that you’re gonna be pretty miserable. Cause you’re literally more toxic. Dr. Deb Muth 33:18Yeah, I remember in the early 2000s when they were teaching, if you’re not getting somebody to have that die off reaction, that quote unquote, herx reaction, then you’re not doing your job, you’re not giving them enough. And we would have clients that would come in and say, I’m not herxing. You’re not doing enough for me. And we were always the ones that are saying, you don’t have to hurt to get rid of this thing. I’m a naturopath too. And so preserving the adrenal Function was always very important to us. And we were like, if we cause you to hurts like that, now we’re depleting the adrenal system. We’re creating more problems that we’re gonna have to fix on the backside. And that was the narrative that was being taught back then. And I’m glad that’s not the narrative that’s being taught today, for sure. But people don’t understand. Like you said, you’re more toxic at this point, and creating more toxicity isn’t what we want to do. Neil Nathan MD 34:12It’s not good for healing. Kind of intuitively obvious, but you’re right. Back in the early days, we were taught that just to put a spin, I’ll call it on a nasty Herc’s reaction. Oh, great, we’re killing those little microbes. This is fabulous. Yep. I mean, that’s how we spun it back then. And currently I can’t say that some Lyme literate doctors still believe that, but most of us have realized that. No, that means we’re killing him too quickly. We need to modify what we’re doing so that we are killing it, but not at a rate that our patient is getting worse. Dr. Deb Muth 34:59Yeah, I always tell people we want to kill the bug, but we don’t want to make you feel like we’re killing you at the same time, because that’s what’s going to happen if we’re not careful. So, yeah, how does trauma and emotional or physical trauma and abuse and chronic illness, how do they all reinforce each other? Neil Nathan MD 35:24Our limbic systems have been trying to keep us safe since we were in our mother’s uterus. By again scrutinizing the stimuli we’re being exposed to from the perspective of safety. So none of us have had perfect childhoods. Yeah, some older than others. But depending on what you had in your childhood, maybe you had recurrent ear or throat infections and took lots of antibiotics. Or maybe you needed surgeries. Or maybe you had parents who were both working and not particularly available to you. Or maybe you had abusive parents in any way possible. But through your whole childhood experience, your limbic system is really going okay. This isn’t safe. This is not good for me. This is not right. And becoming more and more hyper vigilant to really be aware of that so it can try to keep us safe, which is okay. Maybe my parent was an alcoholic and okay, they’re coming in now. I’m going to make myself scarce. My limbic system is going to tell you, get out of here. Don’t put yourself in harm’s. Way, if that’s the case. And then as we go through our lives, more things occur. We have heartbreak when we’re teenagers, and we have difficulties with work or bosses or other things. Each insult of safety to us helps to create a limbic system that is more and more hypervigilant. So if you then have a trauma of any kind, it’s kind of like the straw that breaks the camel’s back at that point. And that could be mold toxicity, that could be Covid, that could be the loss of a loved one, that could be a betrayal of some point, any number of things, once that happens. Now that limbic system is super hypervigilant. Now, what that means is, symptomatically for people is we’re going to have symptoms in two main categories. Not to make us sick, but to warn us from our limbic system that, hey, this isn’t safe for you. You got to get into a safe place here. And those symptoms are in the category of emotion and sensitivity. So with any of our patients that we see, if they have become more and more anxious patients, panic, depressed, ocd, mood swings, depersonalization, derealization, that’s all limbic. And if they have any increase in sensitivity to light, sound, chemicals, smell, food, touch, EMFs, limbic. So most of our patients have gotten to that place. And as I’ve said, the vagal system comes along with the limbic system because it does the same job. Those symptoms are a little different. The vagal system controls the autonomic nervous system, and so things like temperature, dysregulation, pots, blood pressure, palpitations. The vagus nerve also controls almost all gastrointestinal function. So almost any symptom in the GI tract is going to have a vagal piece to it. Gas, bloating, distension, reflux, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea. So those are common symptoms in our patients. And it helps us to tease it apart that we can literally tell them these are symptoms of vagal dysfunction. These are symptoms of limbic dysfunction. And I hope I’m answering your question, which is, how does this evolve? It evolves throughout our whole life, and then eventually we get to the point where our limbic system is overwhelmed. And here’s the good news. We can treat this. We can fix it. We have various programs. And honestly, Deb, I believe that every man, woman and child on this planet needs limbic retraining, or at least limbic work. Co did a real number on the whole planet. Yeah, most people live in some degree of fear From a wide variety of causes. And we don’t have to live in fear. We don’t have to let us hurt us, but we do need to recognize that it is limbic, it is vagal, and we can do something about it. Dr. Deb Muth 39:58Yeah, that’s an exciting time for us, I think. You know, I. I agree. Like, the last couple of years have been very traumatic for a lot of people. Our young kids that were traumatized in school, their parents, the grandparents. I mean, everybody has gone through some kind of anxiety or fear around what’s happened in the last few years, and not to mention all the things that they’ve lived with their whole lives. And this just kind of came to a head and I think broke open for a lot of people that were suppressing their feelings up until this point. And it. It just was the perfect storm for a lot of people, unfortunately. And there’s a lot of people that can’t get over the trauma that’s occurred. The lying amongst the government and our families, how we treated each other and pushed each other aside and, you know, broken families apart because of their belief systems. It really did a number on people, and they’re really struggling to get back. Back for sure. Neil Nathan MD 40:56Yeah, we’re in complete agreement here. Dr. Deb Muth 40:59Yeah. Yeah. So many of our listeners, especially women, have been told their symptoms are anxiety or stress or quote, unquote, just hormonal. Right. And from your perspective, what damage does that kind of dismissal cause for people? Neil Nathan MD 41:16We have a fancy word for that, which is iatrogenic illness. Translation is your doctor is making you sick by treating you inappropriately, not making the right diagnosis and not honoring what you’re experiencing. There’s actually a new word that I’ve recently heard called medical gaslighting, in which you describe something to your doctor and he goes, no, this is in your head. There’s nothing really physically wrong with you, and you know that. No, no, no, no, no. I might be a little bit stressed by it, but something else is going on in my body. And they’re telling you, no, we tested you. Usually those testings involve doing a blood count and a chemistry profile, and that’s it. Those tests will not reveal the kinds of things we’re talking about because you’re not looking for the right thing. So it is really common for our patients to have been told that there’s nothing wrong with you. You need to see a psychiatrist because they don’t know enough to understand that the symptoms you’re describing, if you understood what you’re looking at, are very clear manifestations of Things. Things like mold toxicity and Lyme disease, chronic viral infections, a variety of other things. But your doctor has to know this in order to happen. And this is a failure of medical education. So if my message to everybody always is never doubt yourself or what you’re experiencing, it’s real, there’s never a reason to doubt that. If the people around you aren’t believing, you find someone who does. And again, to augment this, part of the problem is if families accompany the patient to the doctor’s office and they hear the doctor telling them it’s in their head, families become less supportive of their loved ones and go, well, doctor said, this is in your head. I don’t know why you feel so awful. And so families need the same point of view of trust your loved one’s perceptions. There’s no reason not to. Malaboring hypochondria is extremely rare. Gets talked about a lot. I’ve been practicing for over 50 years. I have rarely seen, seen anybody with those truly with those symptoms. So trust yourself. Good. Dr. Deb Muth 44:03I love that. What do you wish every clinician understood about listening? Neil Nathan MD 44:13I wish that every clinician had the same curiosity that we do, which is, I might not understand why this being in front of me has these symptoms or is ill, but I’m going to do everything in my power to figure it out. That means I’ll learn what I need to learn. I’ll study what I need to study to figure out why this person is sick. I really wish, and I understand kind of why that’s happened. My wife always thought that everyone was like me, which was Saturday mornings. My great joy in life was getting up early with a cup of coffee and reading medical journals or obscure medical books. That was my joy. She was shocked that most other people don’t. The way medicine actually evolved. We’re burning out doctors at a rate never before in the history of this planet by making them do things that are not in the service of patients, but are in the service of making money. And so doctors are being given seven minutes per visit. If you have a complicated person, there’s no way you could do income. Seven minutes. The way the system is set up, it doesn’t allow doctors to do their job. And then they’re under tremendous pressure to get the charts filled out properly, the way the advent of electronic medical records supposed to be. This great thing is it’s making doctors have to go home and spend two hours at home, not with their family, but getting their charts squared away. And I don’t think all patients realize the Kind of pressures that doctors are under. So to answer your question, I would like doctors to be more curious, but also, the system is broken, and I wish we could fix the system so that every patient could get the amount of time they needed with their doctor to really explore what’s going on and get to the heart of what’s happening. Dr. Deb Muth 46:31I so agree. So agree with all of that. If there was one question you would want every patient to ask their doctor, what would it be? Neil Nathan MD 46:44How would you treat me if I was your sister, mother, relative, whatever. Not what you want to do, theoretically. But if I were your wife, if I were your sister, how would you treat me? I don’t see that happening much, especially with elderly people. I see Doctors going, you’re 80. What do you expect me to do? I’m getting pretty close to being 80. And I expect you to help me because I want to function at this high level for a very long time. There was. It was an old joke that used to be Bella went in to see the doctor, and the doctor, he said, doc, my knee is all swollen and it’s tender and I’m having trouble walking on it. And the doctor said, you’re 102 years old. What do you expect? But, doctor, my other knee is perfectly fine, and it’s 102 years old also. So I once had the opportunity. I had a 100-year-old patient who had exactly that. So that was able to look at his knee and go, we’re going to take care of this. So it’s just older people need to be treated with respect, with the same thing, of absolutely no reason that they shouldn’t get the kind of attention that you would want your grandfather, your father, to have. Dr. Deb Muth 48:16Yeah, I love that question. So I have one last big question for you. If medicine were rebuilt around patients instead of systems, what would you change? First. Neil Nathan MD 48:33I would get rid of the middle man in medicine, the HMOs, the managed care organizations, where they take the profit and it’s being shunted into other areas. So rather than the physician being paid directly for what’s happening, they just get a piece of it that the managed care organization deems appropriate. You know, I grew up in what was called golden age of medicine back in the 70s, where I could do for people what they wanted done. People didn’t doubt that it was in their best interest and that if I ordered a test, it got done. I didn’t have to have someone else authorizing or tell me this is an okay or an appropriate test, I could do it. So I would go back to a. A practice of medicine, direct care, where you. Maybe there’s a system that would help reimburse you for it, but you could go to the doctor and you get what you need, and the doctor decides what you need. Actually, they’re the ones seeing you. Would a clerk in an office 600 miles away decide whether you can have this test or not? Have this test? Test? It doesn’t make any sense to me. I should be able to deliver what you want and need, and I should have the time it takes to really work with you. I’d like to go back to the 70s. Dr. Deb Muth 50:07Me too. Me too. Is there one thing that gives you hope right now for our system? Neil Nathan MD 50:16Honestly, I’m a very optimistic person. My answer is is no. I think the system is broken. I think it is being held intact by people who are profiting from this system. They have no interest in letting go of their profits for it, and they don’t have any interest in seeing that people get treated properly and well. So I think, as I said, the system’s broken. It needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. Dr. Deb Muth 50:45I agree. I agree. Dr. Nathan, thank you so much. Not just for the conversation, but for the way you’ve modeled curiosity and humility and compassion in medicine. It is an honor to work alongside of you, call you my friend, and learn from you. Thank you so much for that. For those listening, if this episode resonates with you, I want you to hear this clear clearly, your sensitivity is not a flaw. Your body is not broken. And needing a different approach does not mean you’re failing. Healing doesn’t happen by forcing the body. It happens when the body finally feels safe enough to heal. If this conversation has helped you and you feel seen, I encourage you to share it with someone who needs that as a reminder. Thank you for being here and thank you for sharing with us. Let’s talk wellness now. Neil Nathan MD 51:38So in this context, I just want people to be aware of one of my recent books, which is the Sensitive Patient’s Healing Guide, which talks about this in great detail. And the new second edition of my book, Toxic, goes over the whole mold Lyme thing in more detail. So again, that wasn’t intended to be self serving, but rather there are resources where you can learn even more about it than Deb and I are able to cover in this short interview. Dr. Deb Muth 52:09Yeah, absolutely. And your first book, Toxic, was amazing. So if people haven’t read it, you definitely want to read the second version of it because it is incredible. And Dr. Nathan, if there’s somebody that wants to get a hold of you. How do they find you? How do they learn more about what you’re doing? Neil Nathan MD 52:24A very complicated website. Neilnathanmd. Com. Dr. Deb Muth 52:30Perfect. Well, thank you for today. Neil Nathan MD 52:34You’re very welcome.The post Episode 253 – Environmental exposures, Lyme disease & multiple chemical sensitivities: integrative approaches to healing first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. DebWhat if I told you that the stomach acid medication you’re taking for heartburn is actually causing the problem it’s supposed to solve that your doctor learned virtually nothing about nutrition, despite spending 8 years in medical school. That the very system claiming to heal you was deliberately designed over a hundred years ago by an oil tycoon, John D. Rockefeller, to create lifelong customers, not healthy people. Last week a patient spent thousands of dollars on tests and treatments for acid reflux, only to discover she needed more stomach acid, not less. The medication keeping her sick was designed to do exactly that. Today we’re exposing the greatest medical deception in modern history, how a petroleum empire systematically destroyed natural healing wisdom turned medicine into a profit machine. And why the treatments, keeping millions sick were engineered that way from the beginning. This isn’t about conspiracy theories. This is a documented history that explains why you feel so lost about your own body’s needs welcome back to let’s talk wellness. Now the show where we uncover the root causes of chronic illness, explore cutting edge regenerative medicine, and empower you with the tools to heal. I’m Dr. Deb. And today we’re diving into how the Rockefeller Medical Empire systematically destroyed natural healing wisdom and replaced it with profit driven systems that keeps you dependent on treatments instead of achieving true health. If you or someone you love has been running to the doctor for every minor ailment, taking acid blockers that seem to make digestive problems worse, or feeling confused about basic body functions that our ancestors understood instinctively. This episode is for you. So, as usual, grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever helps you unwind. Settle in and let’s get started on your journey to reclaiming your health sovereignty all right. So here we are talking about the Rockefeller Medical Revolution. Now, what if your symptoms aren’t true diagnosis, but rather the predictable result of a medical system designed over a hundred years ago to create lifelong customers instead of healthy people. Now I learned this when I was in naturopathic school over 20 years ago. And it hasn’t been talked about a lot until recently. Recently. People are exposing the truth about what actually happened in our medical system. And today I want to take you back to the early 19 hundreds to understand how we lost the basic health wisdom that sustained humanity for thousands of years. Yes, I said that thousands of years. This isn’t conspiracy theory. This is documented history. That explains why you feel so lost when it comes to your own body’s needs. You know by the turn of the 20th century. According to meridian health Clinic’s documentation. Rockefeller controlled 90% of all petroleum refineries in America and through ownership of the Standard Oil Corporation. But Rockefeller saw an opportunity that went far beyond oil. He recognized that petrochemicals could be the foundation for a completely new medical system. And here’s what most people don’t know. Natural and herbal medicines were very popular in America during the early 19 hundreds. According to Staywell, Copper’s historical analysis, almost one half of medical colleges and doctors in America were practicing holistic medicine, using extensive knowledge from Europe and native American traditions. People understood that food was medicine, that the body had natural healing mechanisms, and that supporting these mechanisms was the key to health. But there was a problem with the Rockefeller’s business plan. Natural medicines couldn’t be patented. They couldn’t make a lot of money off of them, because they couldn’t hold a patent. Petrochemicals, however, could be patented, could be owned, and could be sold for high profits. So Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie devised a systematic plan to eliminate natural medicine and replace it with petrochemical based pharmaceuticals and according to E. Richard Brown’s comprehensive academic documentation in Rockefeller, medicine men. Medicine, and capitalism in America. They employed the services of Abraham Flexner, who proceeded to visit and assess every single medical school in us and in Canada. Within a very short time of this development, medical schools all around the us began to collapse or consolidate. The numbers are staggering. By 1910 30 schools had merged, and 21 had closed their doors of the 166 medical colleges operating in 19 0, 4, a hundred 33 had survived by 1910 and a hundred 4 by 1915, 15 years later, only 76 schools of medicine existed in the Us. And they all followed the same curriculum. This wasn’t just about changing medical education. According to Staywell’s copper historical analysis. Rockefeller and Carnegie influenced insurance companies to stop covering holistic treatments. Medical professionals were trained in the new pharmaceutical model and natural solutions became outdated or forgotten. Not only that alternative healthcare practitioners who wanted to stay practicing in alternative medicine were imprisoned for doing so as documented by the potency number 710. The goal was clear, create a system where scientists would study how plants cure disease, identify which chemicals in the plants were effective and then recreate a similar but not identical chemical in the laboratory that would be patented. E. Richard Brown’s documents. The story of how a powerful professional elite gained virtual homogeny in the western theater of healing by effectively taking control of the ethos and practice of Western medicine. The result, according to the healthcare spending data, the United States now spends 17.6% of its Gdp on health care 4.9 trillion dollars in 2023, or 14,570 per person nearly twice as much as the average Oecd country. But it doesn’t focus on cure. But on symptoms, and thus creating recurring clients. This systematic destruction of natural medicine explains why today’s healthcare providers often seem baffled by simple questions about nutrition why they immediately reach for a prescription medication for minor ailments, and why so many people feel disconnected from their own body’s wisdom. We’ve been trained over 4 generations to believe that our bodies are broken, and that symptoms are diseases rather than messages, and that external interventions are always superior to supporting natural healing processes. But here’s what they couldn’t eliminate your body’s innate wisdom. Your digestive system still functions the same way it did a hundred years ago. Your immune system still follows the same patterns. The principles of nutrition, movement and stress management haven’t changed. We’ve just forgotten how to listen and respond. We’re gonna take a small break here and hear from our sponsor. When we come back. We’re gonna talk about the acid reflux deception, and why your cure is making you sicker. So don’t go away. This episode of Let’s Talk Wellness Now is brought to you by Primal Queen Supplements, a brand created just for women who are ready to reclaim their strength, balance their hormones, and feel vibrant again. I’ve partnered with Primal Queen because their formulas are clean, clinically backed, and designed to work with your body, not against it. Whether you’re supporting energy, hormones, or detox pathways, you’ll feel the difference when your supplements are crafted with real women in mind. And just for our listeners, you’ll receive 25% off your entire order when you visit primalqueen.com slash Serenity Health. That’s primalqueen.com slash Serenity Health. Your path to feeling strong, grounded, and radiant again. Because every queen deserves to feel in her prime. All right. Welcome back. So I want to give you a perfect example of how Rockefeller medicine has turned natural body wisdom upside down, the treatment of acid, reflux, and heartburn. Every single day in my practice, I see patients who’ve been taking acid blocker medications, proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec, Nexium, or Prevacid for years, not for weeks, years, and sometimes even decades. They come to me because their digestive problems are getting worse, not better. They have bloating and gas and nutrition deficiencies. And we’re seeing many more increased food sensitivities. And here’s what’s happening. In the US, most people often attribute their digestive problems to too much stomach acid and they use medications to suppress the stomach acid. But in fact, symptoms of chronic acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD can also be caused by too little stomach acid, a condition called hypochlorhedria. Normal stomach acid has a pH level of one to two, which is highly acidic. Hydrochloric acid plays an important role in your digestion and your immunity. It helps to break down proteins and absorb essential nutrients, and it helps control viruses and bacteria that might otherwise infect your stomach. But here’s the crucial part that most people don’t understand, and, according to Cleveland clinic, your stomach secretes lower amounts of hydrochloric acid. As you age. Hypochlorhydria is more common in people over the age of 40, and even more common over the age of 65. Webmd states that the stomach acid can produce less acid as a result of aging and being 65 or older is a risk factor for developing hypochlorhydria. We’ve been treating this in my practice for a long time. It’s 1 of the main foundations that we learn as naturopathic practitioners and as naturopathic doctors, and there are times where people need these medications, but they were designed t...

Dr. Deb 0:01When your body speaks but no one listens, when your pain is dismissed as all in your head, when you’re told it’s just stress for the fifth time while your health deteriorates, you’re not crazy. You’re being medically gaslit. Did you know women in America are up to 30% more likely to be misdiagnosed than men? Or that when experiencing a heart attack, women are seven times more likely to be sent home from the ER? This isn’t just about feeling heard, it’s about survival. Dr. Deb 0:56And what if I told you that mysterious symptoms you’ve been battling for  years have real physical causes, and that you’ve been overlooked because of your gender?  But I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the most dangerous epidemics in healthcare,  the systemic dismissal of women’s health concerns,  and what you can do to finally be seen, supported, and strong. Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, the show where we uncover the root causes of chronic  illness, explore cutting-edge regenerative medicine, and empower you with the tools to heal.  I’m Dr. Deb, and today I’m diving into medical gaslighting and the epidemic of misdiagnosis that affects millions of women. Dr. Deb 1:41If you or someone you have been diagnosed with that you love with a chronic condition or are struggling with unexplained neurological symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, numbness, or chronic pain, this episode is for you. So grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever helps you unwind and settle in. Let’s get started on your journey to deeper healing. Dr. Deb 2:03So today’s episode, Silence and Dismissed, Breaking Free from Medical Gaslighting in Women’s Healthcare. What if your symptoms aren’t your true diagnosis? Today, I’m exploring how women’s health concerns are systemically dismissed, misdiagnosed, or undertreated in our current healthcare system. I’ll reveal the shocking statistics and historical biases that have created a dangerous epidemic of medical gaslighting. Dr. Deb 2:36Many of you know, three years ago, I found myself on the other side of the exam table. After experiencing troubling neurological symptoms, I was diagnosed with MS. And for three years, I lived with that diagnosis, constantly wondering about my future. But recently, in June of 2024, a new MRI revealed something different. Dr. Deb 3:06My brain wasn’t showing the progressive lesions typically of MS. Instead, my neurologist now believes I experienced post-COVID peripheral neuropathy. Crazy ride, isn’t it? I have lesions in my brain. They’re not progressing like MS, but they created some damage in my brain. Dr. Deb 3:30In October of 2024, I did a brain MRI with a researcher, Dr. Goodenow, who you guys have heard me talk about before. And after being on a protocol that he and I developed together to help my condition, my brain lesions have not only not progressed, but I have increased or grown my gray matter of my brain by 1.4, 1.5. Sorry, I got to give that little extra point in there. This is amazing because as we age, we lose gray matter. Dr. Deb 4:01We know that. And up until now, there’s really been no way for us to show or even know if we’ve improved brain health or not. Well, this new MRI technology that he’s utilizing has been able to document the protocol that we’re doing is actually working and it is growing my brain instead of allowing my brain to shrink with age, which would typically happen. Dr. Deb 4:30We are stopping those lesions from progressing. MS or post-COVID peripheral neuropathy, it doesn’t really matter what the name of this problem is. The lesions are there. Dr. Deb 4:43They’re affecting my prefrontal lobe. And I am trying to prevent any consequences or any symptoms that could result of that. So what this journey has taught me is essentially the truth that I share with my patients. Dr. Deb 4:57True health lies not in chasing a diagnosis, but in pursuing wellness itself. You know, the statistics around women’s healthcare are truly alarming. When a woman enters an emergency room with severe abdominal pain, she’ll wait 33% longer than a man with identical symptoms. Dr. Deb 5:20Approximately 66% of women report receiving a misdiagnosis in the last two years. Think about that. Two thirds of women are being told that they have conditions they don’t actually have. Dr. Deb 5:35While their real health issues remain untreated, and the condition that they were told they had either isn’t treated at all, or they’re given the wrong medication because it’s the wrong diagnosis. This is not about incompetent doctors. It’s about a system built on incomplete science. Dr. Deb 5:57Did you know until the 1990s, women were routinely excluded from medical research and clinical trials? The assumption was that the male body was representative of the human species. So why study women separately? You know, women are not small men. Their bodies function differently at a cellular level. Dr. Deb 6:20And even today, this knowledge gap persists. Medical textbooks still primarily focus on how diseases present in men, while women often experience entirely different symptoms. Take heart attacks. Dr. Deb 6:34Men typically feel crushing chest pain, while women more commonly experience fatigue and shortness of breath, or pain in the jaw, the neck, the back. And when women feel symptoms that don’t match the classic male pattern, they’re dismissed, as you’ve guessed it, anxiety or stress. You’re just too overwhelmed with raising your children. Dr. Deb 6:56You’re burning the candle at both ends. And while some of that may be true, that is not the reason for your symptoms. This misdiagnosis epidemic isn’t just frustrating, it’s deadly. Dr. Deb 7:11It leads to delayed treatments, worsening conditions, unnecessary procedures, and preventable deaths. And for conditions like endometriosis, did you know the average delay in diagnosis is 7 to 10 years? Not months, years. For autoimmune diseases, which affect women at rates up to three times higher than men, that diagnostic journey can span a decade or more. Dr. Deb 7:42Now we’re going to take a break here and have a word from our sponsor, and we’re going to be right back to talk more about medical gaslighting and its roots. Welcome back, everybody. What is medical gaslighting anyway? Well, this happens when health care providers dismiss, minimize, or psychologize physical symptoms. Dr. Deb 8:09It’s when you’re told your debilitating fatigue is just depression, your crushing chest pain is just anxiety, or you’re disabling pain. It’s got to be all in your head. According to recent surveys, about 72% of the millennial women report experiencing medical gaslighting. Dr. Deb 8:35And for women of color, the statistics are even more alarming. While research showing they face compounded biases at every level of care. But why does this happen? The roots run deep, all the way back to ancient Greece, when Hippocrates first used hysteria as a formal diagnosis. Dr. Deb 8:58And throughout history, women’s bodies have been viewed as mysterious, unpredictable, and fundamentally flawed versions of the male body. What a crock. This bias isn’t always conscious. Dr. Deb 9:16Even well-meaning doctors operate within a system that has trained them to view women’s symptoms through a skeptical lens. And the problem is compounded by several factors. First, there’s the knowledge gap. Dr. Deb 9:30As Dr. Mark Gordon, a leading expert in neuroinflammation has demonstrated, male and female brains respond differently to identical triggers. The same is true for hormonal systems, immune responses, and even drug metabolism. Yet most medical protocols don’t account for these differences. Dr. Deb 9:53Second, there’s time pressure. The average primary care visit lasts a little longer than you probably think, but just 17 minutes. Barely enough time to address one concern, let alone a complex constellation of symptoms that don’t fit neatly into a diagnostic category. Dr. Deb 10:15When I see clients for the first time, we’re spending well over an hour just having a conversation, and another hour in doing diagnostics in my office, so that we can understand individually what’s happening with each client that we see, male or female. A far difference from the 17 minutes. Did you know that practitioners are taught that if someone complains of more than two symptoms, it must be depression or anxiety? That’s how our medical system is training these days. Dr. Deb 10:54When I was training, it was completely different, and I was blessed to be trained by a pioneer in medicine who was trained even differently than I was, and trained at a time where we didn’t have a lot of medications, we didn’t have a lot of testing options, so your conversation, your history, your exam had to tell you what was going on with that client. It makes a huge difference today. This is just, I don’t know, it’s craziness to me at this point. Dr. Deb 11:25Thirdly, there’s implicit biases. Studies show that healthcare providers of all genders consistently rate women’s pain as less severe than men’s, even when the reported pain levels are identical. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with mental health conditions when presenting with symptoms that suggest a physical cause. Dr. Deb 11:53This kind of gaslighting creates a vicious cycle. Women begin to doubt their own experiences, become hesitant to seek care, and lose trust in the medical system. They may stop advocating for themselves, or conversely become labeled as difficult patients when they push for answers, and oftentimes these women then are dismissed from the practice because they’re thought of as being non-compliant. Dr. Deb 12:23My own journey through the healthcare maze taught me lessons I now use to help thousands of women reclaim their health. When my brain scan first showed lesions, I was quickly diagnosed with MS, but unlike many women, I didn’t just accept that diagnosis and the treatment plan that came with it. As both a patient and a practitioner, I knew that healing requires looking at the whole picture, not just at a label. Dr. Deb 12:52I investigated every possibility that could explain my symptoms. Mold exposure, chronic infection, hormonal collapse, mitochondrial dysfunction, and I focused on healing while continuing to seek answers, and today my brain is actually reversing in age with improving gray matter and a clear sign that my approach is working. Take Maria, a 42-year-old executive who came to me after seeing eight different doctors for crushing fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain. Dr. Deb 13:26She’d been told she had depression, prescribed antidepressants, and when those didn’t work, she was told to reduce her stress level. By the time she found me, her thyroid was barely functioning. She had significant adrenal dysfunction, and testing revealed multiple chronic infections. Dr. Deb 13:46Stories like Maria’s and mine repeat themselves daily in my practice, and women struggling with the autoimmune conditions, inexplicable pain, and debilitating fatigue, or mysterious neurological symptoms who’ve been told repeatedly that their labs are quote-unquote normal, and they should just learn to live with it. But here’s what I’ve learned. When we truly listen to women, when we respect their intuitive knowledge of their own bodies, when we investigate deeply enough, we almost always find answers, and with those answers come solutions, healing, and hope. Dr. Deb 14:30So what’s the solution to this systemic problem? It requires change at multiple levels, but it begins with empowering women to advocate for themselves effectively. First, trust your body. Your symptoms are real, and you deserve care that acknowledges that reality. Dr. Deb 14:51As Dr. Daniel Amen has demonstrated through thousands of brain scans, your mental and physical symptoms have psychological origins that can be identified and treated when we look deeply enough. Second, become your own health advocate. Track your symptoms meticulously, noting patterns and triggers, and the specific impact on your daily functioning. Dr. Deb 15:17When you visit a healthcare practitioner, bring this data with you. It’s harder to dismiss documented patterns than general complaints. Third, don’t go alone if possible. Dr. Deb 15:30Studies show that having an advocate present during medical appointments significantly increases the likelihood of being taken seriously, and this person can take notes, ask follow-up questions, and provide confirmation of your experiences. Fourth, be prepared to be persistent. If you’re not getting answers, seek second, third, or even fourth opinions, and look for practitioners who specialize in functional medicine, integrative approaches, or women’s health specifically. Dr. Deb 16:05Fifth, know that you have options beyond conventional medicine. While I believe in working with traditional healthcare when appropriate, complementary approaches like functional medicine can offer solutions where conventional approaches have failed. At my practice, I see women daily who’ve been medically gaslit for years before finding us. Dr. Deb 16:22Our approach begins with comprehensive testing, not just the standard panels that only flag disease once it’s advanced, but functional testing that can identify patterns of dysfunction before they become pathological. I look at the whole picture, hormones, micronutrients, toxin exposure, gut health, inflammation markers, genetic predispositions, and more. My team and I understand the symptoms in one system often originate in another, and that healing requires addressing root causes rather than merely suppressing symptoms, and oftentimes it requires a team of experts to look at your case. Dr. Deb 17:09The future I envision is one where women don’t have to fight to be believed, where their symptoms are investigated with the same rigor as men’s, and where their intuitive knowledge about their own bodies is respected rather than dismissed. This isn’t just about fairness. It’s about saving lives. Dr. Deb 17:26It’s about preventing the needless suffering that occurs when diagnosis comes too late. It’s about creating a healthcare system that serves everyone equally. It’s about bringing women back to the bargaining table, about having a say in how they feel. Dr. Deb 17:43It’s about partnering with women to get the best out of their healthcare that they possibly can. It’s about providing a system of medicine that works for all of us, not for one of us. Thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now. Dr. Deb 18:02If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could benefit from learning about medically gaslighting and how to advocate for better healthcare. Remember, wellness isn’t just about feeling good. It’s about thriving in every area of your life. Dr. Deb 18:19If you’re ready to explore how functional medicine and root cause healing can help you overcome challenges of misdiagnosis, visit us at serenityhealthcarecenter.com or reach out to me through our social media channels. Until next time, I’m Dr. Deb reminding you to take care of your body, mind and spirit. Be well and I’ll see you on the next episode. Dr. Deb 18:44And do me one favor. If this episode resonates with you or you know somebody that’s being medically gaslit, please share it, like and subscribe to our channel. It really helps us grow and spread the word of integrative medicine and root cause medicine. Dr. Deb 19:04Thank you for sharing your time with me today. As always, we’ll see you and be well.The post Episode 249 – SILENCED & DISMISSED: Breaking Free from Medical Gaslighting in Women’s Healthcare first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb 0:00These aren’t miracle cures. This is science delivering precisely what your body needs exactly where it needs it. Today on Let’s Talk wellness. Now. We’re exploring how IV therapy is truly faster than food, revolutionizing wellness as you know it. Dr. Deb 0:23Welcome to Let’s Talk wellness now the Podcast where we explore cutting edge approaches to help and empower you to make informed decisions about your wellness journey. I’m Dr Depp, and today we’re exploring a treatment that’s been used in hospitals for decades, but is now revolutionizing preventative health and performance optimization intravenous therapy or IV therapy. Dr. Deb 0:48Maybe you’ve seen celebrities posting IV drip selfies, or perhaps your Local Wellness Center has started offering vitamin drips. You might be wondering, is this just another wellness trend, or is there solid science behind it? Dr. Deb 1:05Today, we’ll cut through the hype and examine that IV therapy really is how it works in your body and the research behind its effectiveness for everything from athletic performance to immune support and chronic illness management. We’ll explore why oral supplements sometimes fall short the different types of IV formulations available, and how to determine if IV therapy might be right for your specific health needs. You’ll discover how direct to vein delivery of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients can create effects that simply aren’t possible with traditional supplementation. Dr. Deb 1:46Whether you’re a performance focused athlete, sorry, a busy professional battling fatigue, someone with absorption issues, or just curious about optimizing your health, this episode will give you the science based insights you need to understand this powerful therapeutic approach. So as always, grab your favorite cup of tea or coffee, settle in, and let’s talk about the science of IV therapy and why is becoming a game changer in the world of health optimization. Dr. Deb 2:24So let’s start with the basics. IV therapy, or intravenous therapy, delivers fluids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients directly into your bloodstream, bypassing digestive system entirely. And this is not a new concept. Hospitals have used IV fluid delivery for over a century. What’s new is how we’re applying this technology for preventative health and performance optimization. The science behind IV therapy is straightforward but powerful. Dr. Deb 2:57When you take an oral supplement, it must pass through your digestive system, where several factors limit absorption. First, your stomach acid breaks down many nutrients before they can be absorbed. Second, your digestive tract has limited absorption capacity, what scientists call bioavailability. And third, certain health conditions and medications can further reduce this absorption. Research published in the Journal of parental and enteral nutrition shows that even in healthy individuals, oral vitamin C absorption maxes out at about 200 to 250 milligrams per dose, with the rest being excreted. This is why, when you take those 1000 milligram vitamin C tablets, you often end up with expensive urine or stool if it causes what we call a flush, rather than therapeutic blood levels. In contrast, IV delivery achieves 100% Dr. Deb 3:59bioavailability because it bypasses these digestive limitations. A 2019 study in the Journal of Translational Medicine found that IV vitamin C could achieve blood concentrations up to 70 times higher than what’s possible with oral supplementation. Those aren’t just numbers. That’s the difference between being a therapeutic effect and a minimal impact. Dr. Deb 4:28The key advantages of IV therapy include complete absorption. Every molecule of nutrient delivered goes directly into circulation. Higher dosing. Potential therapeutic doses, impossible to achieve orally, immediate effects, no waiting for digestion and absorption. Customized formulations, tailored combinations based on individual needs. This is why we see such dramatic response. Dr. Deb 5:00Responses in certain patients. It’s not placebo, it’s physiology. Dr. Deb 5:07Now, not all IVs are created equal. Let’s explore the most common formulations and the science behind their benefits. A Myers cocktail, very common. This is the original IV nutrient therapy developed by Dr John Myers in the 1970s Dr. Deb 5:25the classic formulation includes magnesium, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that Myers cocktails recipients experienced significant improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms, including pain and fatigue. It’s considered the foundation formula that works well for general wellness, immune support and energy enhancement, Dr. Deb 5:54high dose vitamin C. This isn’t just about preventing scurvy at IV doses, vitamin C functions differently in the body. Research from the National Institutes of Health shows that while oral vitamin C acts primarily as an antioxidant, intravenous vitamin C at high doses, typically 25 to 50 grams, can generate hydrogen peroxide, which selectively damages cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Dr. Deb 6:25A 2020 review in the journal nutrients confirmed that high dose vitamin C can reduce inflammation, fight infection, and may help improve outcomes when used alongside conventional cancer treatments. Linus Pauling actually received the Nobel Peace Prize for high dose vitamin C research. Dr. Deb 6:48NAD plus nicotinamide, adenide, dinucleotide. That’s a mouthful. This coenzyme is essential for cellular energy production and DNA repair. NADH levels naturally decline with age, and research in Nature Communications suggests this decline contributes to many aspects of aging. IV NADH therapy can take several hours to administer, but has shown promising results for neurological recovery, addiction treatment and cognitive performance. A 2018 study in the journal Cell Metabolism found that restoring NAD plus levels improved mitochondrial function and reversed certain aspects of aging in animal models, Dr. Deb 7:38glutathione often called the body’s master antioxidant. Glutathione is produced naturally in our liver, but becomes depleted with age, illness and toxin exposure. It’s poorly absorbed orally, making IV delivery particularly valuable. Research published in Clinical pharmacokinetics confirms that IV glutathione achieves significantly higher blood levels than oral supplementation. Benefits include detoxification support, immune enhancement and reduced oxidative stress. Some patients report improvements in inflammatory conditions, fatigue and even skin quality, Dr. Deb 8:18hydration formulas, sometimes the simplest interventions are the most powerful basic hydration. IVs, containing electrolytes, can rapidly restore fluid balance. A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning research found that IV hydration restored exercise performance more quickly than oral hydration in dehydrated athletes. For anyone with intense physical demands, travel, fatigue or recovery needs, proper hydration at the cellular level can be transformative. Dr. Deb 8:53Chelation therapy, this specialized treatment uses agents like EDTA to bind to heavy metals in the bloodstream, allowing them to be excreted. The tact trial to assess chelation therapy study published in JAMA found that chelation therapy reduced cardiovascular events in patients with a history of heart attack, particularly those with diabetes. While more research is still needed, this suggests potential benefits beyond metal detoxification, Dr. Deb 9:25as with any medical intervention, the key is personalization. The most effective approach matches the specific formulation to your individual health needs, which is why professional assessment before beginning IV therapy is essential, while IV therapy can benefit many people, certain groups tend to see particular significant results. Let’s explore who might consider this approach and when it’s most valuable, Dr. Deb 9:56athletes and active individuals for those pushing their. Dr. Deb 10:00Physical limits, nutrient demands increased dramatically. Research published in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition found that IV therapy improved recovery times and reduced muscle damage markers after intense exercise compared to oral hydration alone. Elite athletes often use IV therapy during intense training blocks or between competitions to maintain peak performance and accelerate recovery. Dr. Deb 10:29Individuals with absorption issues, people with GI conditions that impair nutrient absorption, like Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, SIBO, often struggle to maintain optimal nutrient levels through diet alone. A study in the American Journal of gastroenterology showed that IV nutrient therapy improved quality of life measures and reduced fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, if you’ve been diagnosed with malabsorption issues, IV therapy can be particularly valuable for you. Dr. Deb 11:06Those with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, these complex conditions often respond poorly to conventional treatments alone. A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that patients receiving weekly Myers, cocktails infusions experienced significant improvement in tender points, pain scores and overall quality of life compared to the placebo group. For these patients, IV therapy may provide relief when other approaches fall short. Dr. Deb 11:41Individuals recovering from illness or surgery, recovery periods demand additional nutrients to rebuild tissues and restore normal function. Research in the Journal of surgical research demonstrates that IV nutrient therapy can reduce hospital stays and complication rates following major surgery, the combination of hydration, electrolytes and key nutrients creates an optimal internal environment for healing Dr. Deb 12:11busy professionals with high stress, loads like myself, chronic stress depletes essential nutrients, particularly B vitamins and magnesium. A study in the neuro psychobiology found that IV magnesium and B vitamins administration reduced perceived stress and improved stress resilience more effectively than oral supplementation Dr. Deb 12:34for the chronically busy and stressed, periodic IV therapy can help replenish what lifestyle depletes, when is IV therapy most valuable acute situations often show the most dramatic results, whether you’re recovering from a violent virus, Dr. Deb 12:53preparing for a major athletic event, or experiencing a particularly high stress period. However, research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation suggests that consistent, periodic therapy may provide cumulative benefits for certain chronic conditions through what’s called metabolic resetting. It’s worth noting that IV therapy isn’t meant to replace healthy lifestyle practices. Rather, it works best when combined with proper nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management and appropriate exercise. Think of it as a powerful complement to these foundational health practices, especially when your body faces increased demands or challenges. Dr. Deb 13:39Now, as with any medical treatment, safety should be our first consideration when exploring IV therapy. Let’s discuss important safety aspects, potential risks and how to find quality care Dr. Deb 13:53now the safety profile when properly administered by qualified professionals, IV therapy has an excellent safety profile a comprehensive review published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice examined 1000s of IV nutrient therapy sessions and found adverse effects occurred in less than 3% of cases, with most being minor issues with temporary discomfort at the injection site. However, IV therapy is still a medical procedure that involves direct access to the bloodstream, and this means proper medical oversight is non negotiable, potential risks and contraindications, while rare risks can include infection at the injection site, vein irritation or inflammation, especially with high dose vitamin C, allergic reactions to components fluid overload in those with certain heart or kidney conditions, individuals with the following conditions should exercise caution and may not be candidates for certain IV therapies, congestive heart failure, severe kidney disease, certain elect. Dr. Deb 15:00Light imbalances and the history of adverse reactions to IV therapies. Now, according to the study in the American Journal of Medicine, most adverse events are preventable with proper patient screening and formulation selection. This highlights why qualified medical oversight is essential. Finding quality care. Not all IV providers are created equal, and here’s what to look for, medical supervision. Treatment should be overseen by a licensed healthcare provider with very specific training in IV therapy, individualized assessment quality providers perform through health assessments before treatment, including relevant lab work, when appropriate, a clean, dedicated environment, IV therapy should be administered in a clean clinical setting with proper protocols for infection control. Dr. Deb 15:53Pharmaceutical grade ingredients, reputable providers use only high quality tested ingredients from licensed compounding pharmacies. Emergency protocols, the facility should have clear procedures and equipment for handling rare but possibly adverse reactions. Research published in the Journal of Infusion Nursing emphasizes that provider qualifications are the strongest predictor of safety in outpatient IV therapy, don’t hesitate to ask providers about their credentials, experience and safety protocols. Dr. Deb 16:29Some key questions to ask your IV provider. Unfortunately, many drip bars employ technicians who can insert IVs but lack deeper medical knowledge to ensure you’re getting proper care. Ask these questions, who formulated my IV protocol and what’s their medical background? The answer should include a physician, a nurse practitioner or a licensed provider with specific IV therapy training. What symptoms might indicate an adverse reaction, and how would you respond? Qualified providers should immediately mention signs like chest tightness, difficulty breathing or sudden pain and have a clear emergency protocol. Dr. Deb 17:11How do you determine the appropriate dosing for my specific situation? They should mention factors like your weight, medical history and current health status, not just offer a standard menu approach Dr. Deb 17:26what’s in the specific formulation and why was each compound selected. The person inside inserting your ID should understand exactly what they’re administering. And why Dr. Deb 17:38do you have a physician or advanced practice provider on site or immediately available. This is crucial for addressing any unexpected reactions. Dr. Deb 17:49If your provider struggles to answer these questions or seems unsure, consider it a red flag. Remember you’re allowing someone direct access to your bloodstream. This requires proper medical expertise, not just technical skills with a needle. Dr. Deb 18:06Cost considerations. IV therapy is typically not covered by insurance when used for wellness or performance optimization, though some plans may cover it for diagnosed conditions like dehydration or specific nutrient deficiencies. Costs typically range from 100 to $300 for basic formulations to 500 to 1000 for specialized therapies like high dose vitamin C or NADH. When evaluating costs, consider the bioavailability aspect what you observe, not just what you pay for a $30 oral supplement that’s 20% absorbed may provide less actual benefit than $150 Dr. Deb 18:48IV that’s 100% absorbed. Dr. Deb 18:54The field of IV nutrition and IV therapy is evolving rapidly, with exciting research expanding our understanding of its applications. Let’s look at some of the most promising developments, Dr. Deb 19:09cancer support applications, while IV therapy should never replace conventional cancer treatments. Research is examining its role as a complementary approach. A 2020 study in the frontiers in oncology found that high dose IV vitamin C alongside standard chemotherapy, reduced side effects and improved quality of life measures compared to chemotherapy alone. Meanwhile, the Grail test we discussed in our previous episode represents another breakthrough in cancer care, early detection through blood testing that can identify more than 50 types of cancer, often before symptoms appear. Dr. Deb 19:48Longevity and anti aging applications. NADH plus therapy is at the forefront of longevity research. A 2022 review in nature aging highlighted how. Dr. Deb 20:00Bio IV NADH replenishment may counteract aspects of cellular aging by improving mitochondrial function and DNA repair. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating whether regular NADH, sorry NAD plus therapy can extend not just lifespan but health span, the period of life spent in good health Dr. Deb 20:25personalized formulations based on genetic testing. Well, we’re moving toward personalized IV therapy. Research published in the Journal of Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics demonstrates that genetic variations affect how individuals respond to different nutrients. Forward Thinking practitioners are beginning to use genetic testing to customize IV formulations based on individual genetic profiles and neurological applications. Perhaps most exciting is the research into IV therapy for neurological conditions. A 2021 study in Scientific Reports found that specialized IV nutrient formulations improved cognitive measures in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, trials are underway examining high dose glutathione for Parkinson’s disease symptoms and specialized nutrient combinations for traumatic brain injury and even phosphoetyl choline IVs for neurological conditions like MS along with NAD. This is something that I did when I was diagnosed with MS, and it made a huge difference for me in my symptoms. Dr. Deb 21:38Home Based IV therapy. Advances in medical technology are making medically supervised home IV therapy increasingly viable. A study in the Journal of Infusion Nursing found that properly managed home IV programs maintained safety profiles comparable to clinical based administration while improving patient comfort and compliance. What these developments tell us is that we’re just beginning to understand the full potential to direct to bloodstream nutrient delivery. Even though it’s been going on since the 70s, medicine is kind of slow, Dr. Deb 22:17as with any evolving field. It’s important to maintain both optimism and scientific rigor following the research rather than the hype. Dr. Deb 22:28IV therapy represents a powerful tool in our health optimization toolkit, not a miracle cure, but a science based approach to delivering precisely what your body needs, exactly where it needs it if you’re considering IV therapy, here are your next steps. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider who specializes in functional or integrative medicine to determine if IV therapy aligns with your health needs and goals. Consider relevant testing to identify specific deficiencies or needs that would benefit from IV therapy. This might include micronutrient testing, hormone panels or genetic testing. Dr. Deb 23:13Start with fundamentals. First, optimize your diet, sleep and stress management before or alongside IV therapy for best results, be realistic about expectations, while many experience scientific benefits, individual responses vary based on your unique biochemistry and health status. Think strategically about timing. Consider scheduling IV therapy during periods of high stress, intense physical demands, or recovery phases when your body would most benefit from additional support. Remember that even the most powerful intravenous work best as part of a comprehensive approach to health. IV therapy can provide a valuable boost, but it works synergistically with the foundations of good health, nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management and a meaningful connection. By combining these cutting edge approaches like IV therapy with timeless health principles, we can create truly optimal health that goes beyond merely avoiding illness to achieving vibrant wellness and performance. Dr. Deb 24:27Thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk wellness. Now. If this episode sparked your curiosity about IV therapy, I encourage you to continue exploring this with a qualified healthcare provider who can help you determine if this approach is right for your specific needs. On our website, you’ll find find a free downloadable guide with questions to ask potential IV therapy providers, along with a checklist to help evaluate facilities. Next week, we’ll be exploring the gut brain connection and how the health. Dr. Deb 25:00Of your microbiome affects everything from your mood to your immune function and even your food cravings. Before we go, I want to emphasize one final point. When seeking IV therapy, make sure the person administering your treatment fully understands what they’re doing. Many trendy IV lounges employ technicians who know how to insert a needle but lack the medical knowledge to monitor for adverse reactions or explain why specific nutrients are being used, always ask who formulated your protocol and ensure the person inserting your IV can explain exactly what’s in it and why your bloodstream deserves nothing less than expert care. Until then, take care. Stay curious about your health, and remember optimal wellness comes from combining the best of traditional wisdom with the most promising advances in modern science. This is Dr Deb for let’s talk wellness now, reminding you that true wellness begins with understanding your body and how it works and giving it what it truly needs. Thank you for listening to the podcast. Let’s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let’s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today’s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal, while we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agreed to indemnify and hold, let’s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. Dr. Deb 27:09We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking listener, discretion is advised in. This episode is sponsored by Serenity Health Care Center, where we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic health conditions to help you achieve optimal wellness. Visit us at www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com or call 262-522-8640 to learn more. Connect with Dr. Deb: Website: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com Facebook: Serenity Health Care Center Instagram: @SerenityHealthCenter Twitter: @DrDebSerenity Subscribe & Review:Don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you love what you hear, leave a review and let us know how we’re helping you on your wellness journey. The post Episode 243 – FASTER THAN FOOD – HOW IV THERAPY IS REVOLUTIONIZING WELLNESS first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb 0:00But the doctor told me it was just anxiety. Three days later, I was in the emergency room having a heart attack. For eight years, they said my symptoms were depression. Turns out it was Lyme disease. These people weren’t crazy. They weren’t overreacting. They were right all along today on Let’s Talk wellness now. We’re exposing the dangers the reality of medical gaslighting and why it might be happening to you right now. Welcome to Let’s Talk wellness now, the podcast where we uncover hidden truths about the healthcare system and empower you to take control of your health. I’m Dr Deb, and today we’re diving into something that affects millions but is rarely discussed openly, medical gaslighting, when healthcare providers dismiss your symptoms and make you question your own reality. Have you ever described your symptoms to a doctor, only to be told it’s all in your head, or maybe you’ve been prescribed antidepressants when what you really needed was further testing. Perhaps you’ve been told you’re too young or too healthy looking to have something serious, maybe. Well, medical gaslighting isn’t just frustrating, it can be deadly. According to a study published in the Journal of women’s health, women are 50% more likely than men to receive an incorrect initial diagnosis after a heart attack. For black women, the number jumps to 75% today, you’ll hear from real patients who fought for years to be believed. You’ll hear my professional insights as a naturopath, along with evidence based data and powerful patient stories, and most importantly, you’ll discover exactly how to advocate for yourself in a medical system that often prioritizes efficiency over accuracy. You see, this isn’t just another medical horror story podcast. By the end of this episode, you’ll have concrete strategies to ensure you never become another statistic in medical gaslighting epidemic. If you’ve ever felt like the medical system was working against you instead of for you, this episode might just save your life or the life of someone you love. So grab your favorite cup of tea or coffee, settle in, and let’s talk about the complexities of medical diagnosis and the journey to finding the truth. So what the heck is this term medical gas lighting anyway? Well, it comes from a 1944 film where a husband manipulates his wife into thinking she’s going insane. Medical gaslighting happens when healthcare providers make you question your own experiences through dismissal, minimization or even blame. It sounds kind of like this. Your laps are normal. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re probably just tired. Try to get more sleep. You’re too young to have that condition. Dr. Deb 3:39Women, your age, hear this again? Women your age often get anxious about their health. Have you considered therapy? These dismissals aren’t just frustrating, they’re dangerous. Now let me share some shocking statistics a John Hopkins study published in the BMJ quality and safety found that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and misdiagnosis plays a major role when it comes to cancer. Specifically, the statistics are alarming. Studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology show that approximately 12% of cancer patients are initially misdiagnosed for certain cancers like lymphoma, sarcoma and melanoma. Misdiagnosis rates can reach up to 44% According to research from the Journal of the American Medical Association, even more concerning a 2020 JAMA Network open study found that one in five patients seeking a second opinion at a major medical center received a substantially different diagnosis that changed their treatment. Treatment plan entirely. The average autoimmune patient waits four years and sees five doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis. According to the American autoimmune related disease Association, the diagnostic journey for specific conditions is even more troubling. Multiple Sclerosis patients typically wait an average of seven years from symptom onset to diagnosis, with many being told they have psychiatric issues or stress. According to a 2022 study in the multiple sclerosis journal, Parkinson’s disease, patients often experience a two to three year delay in diagnosis, with up to 25% initially misdiagnosed with conditions like essential tremor or stress related symptoms, as reported in a 2021 study published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. Lyme disease patients face some of the longest diagnostic journeys, an average of 1.9 years. I’m going to say that’s incorrect, because the clients I see are much longer than that, sometimes five to 10 years. And many of these visits, according to the Journal of Medicine, five healthcare providers before a correct diagnosis. My clients that I see are closer to 50, with many being labeled as having chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, according to research from the International Journal of Medicine, women, you get to win on this one, Dr. Deb 6:43women are diagnosed with anxiety and depression at twice the rate of men, even when presenting with identical symptoms of physical disease, as found in a landmark study of the New England Journal of Medicine. Behind these statistics are real people whose lives have been forever changed by medical gas lighting. Now I want to tell you a story about Sarah. She spent six years being told her debilitating fatigue was just depression. I couldn’t get out of bed. I had brain fog so bad I couldn’t remember my address. Every doctor I saw prescribed antidepressants or told me to exercise more. One even suggested I was enjoying the sick role. Finally, a rheumatologist tested me for Sjogren syndrome, an autoimmune disease my labs came back with some of the highest antibody levels she’d ever seen. Six years of my life gone, all because no one would believe me. Sarah said, Dr. Deb 7:51Sarah’s story isn’t unique. Let me share another patient’s experience. This is James, who was 42 when he first noticed a slight tremor in the right hand. James says my primary doctor told me it was an essential tremor and probably stress related. When I mentioned that I was also experiencing stiffness and balance issues, he suggested I try yoga. It took three years in a chance appointment with a neurologist who specialized in movement disorders to finally get my Parkinson’s diagnosis. He says by then he had lost his job because people thought he was drinking and he lost work due to his unsteady gait, those years of dismissal cost him his career. And then there’s Lisa, whose symptoms of Lyme disease were dismissed for nearly five years. Lisa says the joint pain started after a camping trip, then came the debilitating fatigue and the cognitive issues. I was diagnosed with, everything from fibromyalgia to depression. One doctor actually said chronic Lyme disease doesn’t even exist. It’s not real. She had another doctor tell her that Lyme doesn’t exist at all. All of this when she just simply asked to be tested for Lyme, because her symptoms started after a camping trip, when she finally found a Lyme literate doctor, her test came back positive, five years of her life spent in bed, unable to function, told it was psychological. She lost her entire 30s to medical gas lighting. These patient stories break my heart. They highlight how different conditions face unique challenges in the diagnostic process, but there’s a common thread medical. Dismissal that costs years of life and well being, not to mention 1000s of dollars. But what’s causing this widespread problem? Let’s explore these underlying factors. Medical gaslighting isn’t usually malicious. Most healthcare providers genuinely want to help. So why does this happen so frequently? Well, it’s the seven minute visit. The average primary care appointment lasts just 18 minutes with only seven minutes of actual doctor patient interaction, complex system, symptoms can’t be properly evaluated in that time frame, and the insurance model allows you to discuss one symptom at each visit. I’ve actually had clients tell me that their doctors have stopped them after them talking about three symptoms because it’s not allowed inside the healthcare system, they would have to make another appointment if they want to talk about more symptoms than that. Now, as a naturopath who specializes in complex chronic illnesses, I’ve seen this firsthand. I had a colleague once share with me, we’re working in a broken system. Doctors are expected to see 25 patients a day, document everything in real time, and somehow provide thoughtful care. Medicine has become a conveyor belt when faced with complex symptoms that don’t really fit neatly into a diagnostic box. It’s faster to attribute them to stress or anxiety than to dive deeper. It’s not defensible, but it explains why good doctors sometimes make terrible mistakes the elephant in the exam room. Well, research consistently shows that medical gas lighting disproportionately affects certain groups, women, especially those of reproductive health concerns, people of color, particularly black women, patients with obesity, who often have all of their symptoms attributed to their weight, and patients with existing mental health diagnoses, ultimately, the GET OUT OF diagnose free card for many doctors. So I want you to hear Marcus’s story. He’s a 32 year old black man whose appendicitis was repeatedly dismissed as drug seeking behavior. Here’s a story. I went to the ER with the worst pain of my life. The doctor barely examined me, asked if I needed something for pain, and sent me home with a diagnosis of constipation. I returned 12 hours later in septic shock. My appendix had ruptured. Later I saw my chart for the first time, and it said I was drug seeking and dramatic. I almost died because of their assumptions. Marcus’s story is unfortunately, not unusual. It happens more often than we think. Medical education focuses heavily on common conditions with clear diagnostic criteria, but what about the 30 million Americans with rare diseases, or the millions emerging conditions like chronic Lyme pots or Long Haul covid And when it comes to cancer, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Many early stage cancers present with vague symptoms that mimic comic conditions. For instance, pancreatic cancer often manifests as back pain and digestive issues, commonly dismissed as stress or irritable bowel syndrome. IBS, ovarian cancer, often called the silent killer, typically presents with bloating and abdominal discomfort that many doctors attribute to menopause or weight gain or SIBO until it’s advanced. Now, according to Dr Diane goodnow, researcher and author of breaking Alzheimer’s, no woman should ever get ovarian cancer. His research, along with studies published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute, shows that women who have had their fallopian tubes removed a tubal ligation, have a dramatically reduced risk of ovarian cancer by up to 50 to 60% this is because many ovarian cancers actually originate in the fallopian tubes, not the ovaries themselves. This critical information is rarely discussed with patients during routine GYN visits, representing another form of information, withholding. That can have life or death consequences. On a more hopeful note, advances in early cancer detection are changing the landscape of diagnosis. For example, the gallery test by Grail is a ground breaking blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer through a simple blood draw, often before symptoms even appear. And according to research published in the annuals of oncology, this multi cancer early detection test can identify the signal of cancer and predict where in the body the cancer is located with very high accuracy. This kind of testing represents the future of prevention and early intervention, potentially saving countless lives that would otherwise be lost to late detection. But you guessed it, insurance doesn’t cover this test. Now I keep asking myself if we’re truly a nation based on prevention, and if the hospital systems and the insurance systems truly want prevention in medicine, why is this test still not covered by Insurance? It would save 1000s of lives, hundreds and 1000s, if not millions, of dollars, but yet, a test that costs under $1,000 is not acceptable to the insurance company. Dr. Deb 16:35It’s heartbreaking for me. Really is Dr. Deb 16:38multiple sclerosis is particularly prone to delayed diagnosis, with patients often being told their numbness, fatigue or visual disturbances are just stress or anxiety. The average MS patient will wait seven years from the first symptom to diagnose, often accumulating psychological diagnoses along the way. A study in the Journal of Neurology found that 74% of MS patients received at least one incorrect diagnosis before their MS was confirmed. The average physician receives just four hours of nutrition education during medical school. Most get zero training on environmental illness, mold toxicity, or the impact of chronic stress or physical health. So my question is to them, how can they dismiss these diagnoses? How can they dismiss mold toxicity, Lyme disease, environmental illness, if they don’t understand it, how do they say it doesn’t exist? Because it wasn’t taught to them in medical school? I’m going to make a cry to all of my colleagues out there. Get your head out of the sand, for lack of me, using a more inappropriate word, and start looking outside of your pharmaceutical education, because there are tons of people doing research on these disorders and so much more on the problems that they cause, that you can no longer say that this is just fringe medicine or quackery. This knowledge gap creates fertile ground for gas lighting. When doctors don’t understand something, many default to blaming the patient rather than acknowledging the limitations of their training. Back to our discussion on medical gas lighting and how to fight back. Medical gas lighting isn’t just frustrating, it can have life altering and sometimes life ending consequences. Take the case of Elaine Eklund, a 32 year old yoga instructor who reported severe headaches to her doctor. For months, she was told they were migraines triggered by stress, when she finally collapsed at home, emergency surgery revealed a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball. Or consider Michelle Carlton, whose chest pain was diagnosed as anxiety for two years before a specialist discovered her heart was failing due to a rare condition called myocarditis. That’s an infection of the heart. These aren’t isolated incidents. A 2020 study published in diagnosis found that 40% of patients who died or suffered permanent disability due to misdiagnosis had reported being told their symptoms were psychological or stress related. Additionally, research in the British Medical Journal found that patients who felt dismissed by healthcare providers were twice as likely to experience worsened health outcomes. The emotional toll can be equally devastating. Many patients develop medical PTSD, a profound distrust of healthcare providers that prevents them from seeking care. Care, even when urgently needed. So I want to talk about what I call the second illness, the trauma of not being believed. In my years of practice, I’ve seen something troubling when patients come to me after years of dismissal, they’re not just dealing with their physical symptoms. They’re dealing with profound medical trauma. They’ve been told they’re crazy attention seeking or hypochondriacs for so long that they no longer trust their own perceptions of what’s going on. They apologize for bothering me with symptoms that clearly warrant attention, and this medical PTSD becomes a second illness, one directly caused by the healthcare system itself. The good news is that there are concrete steps you can take to protect yourself from medical gas lighting and get the care you deserve, and that’s what we’re going to discuss next. Now for the empowering part, how we recognize this medical gas lighting and fight back. Let’s start with red flags. Your concerns are dismissed without proper investigation, your symptoms are attributed to stress, anxiety or depression, without ruling out fiscal causes, you’re told you’re too young, you’re too healthy for certain conditions. The provider seems annoyed by your questions. You’re referred to a psychiatrist without comprehensive physical testing, and the provider uses terms like psychosomatic or tells you it’s all in your head. You leave appointments feeling confused, ashamed, or as though you’ve wasted everyone’s time. If you recognize these signs, it’s time to take action, and here’s your medical advocacy toolkit. Before your appointment, I want you to do the following, document your symptoms thoroughly when they started, what makes them better or worse, and how they impact your daily life. Research your symptoms, but focus on reputable sources like medical journals or university websites. Prepare a concise symptom script, a 32nd summary of your key concerns, bring a complete list of medications, supplements, doses and all of your previous diagnoses. Record your symptoms on video when possible, especially if they’re intermittent. So what I’m talking about here is, if you have a tremor, if you could record that for us, it doesn’t need to be long, you know, three to five seconds. That’s all it needs. If your body goes into an uncontrollable shaking, if you’re stuttering, if you’re slurring your speech, those videos are really going to help you. I want to say they’re a gold mine, and I don’t mean it to sound wrong, but it’s a gold mine for you, because it actually proves to the practitioner what’s going on, and they can actually see it. And us being able to see it, compared to having it described to us, can make all the difference in the world, because sometimes we see something that you don’t necessarily see in your symptoms, or necessarily what somebody else can see and help describe for you. So I want to share a story about Kayla, who was eventually diagnosed with pots after three years of being told she had anxiety. And she’s going to share how documentation changed everything, and I’m going to tell her story for you. And these are, in her words, I started recording videos where my heart rate would spike to 150 Dr. Deb 23:54just from standing up. I tracked my symptoms meticulously in a journal. At appointments, I’d calmly say I’ve documented 47 episodes in the past month where my heart rate jumped over 100 beats simply from changing position. I’ve ruled out anxiety as the cause, because it happens even when I’m completely calm. And here’s the video evidence that factually, unemotionally approach finally got her the tilt table test she needed for her diagnosis. This is so important today with tracking devices like an apple watch or a Fitbit, something like that, that can show your heart rate, can show your vital signs, this is unequivocal to the doctors. We can’t make this stuff up. We can’t argue with you that this is happening and it allows us to have the documentation that we need to order the tests that you need, to get your insurance to cover them. Oftentimes, doctors are held back from ordering tests that they would want simply because you’re. Insurance won’t cover it unless there’s certain documentation that we can prove, and many doctors are unwilling to offer you a test outside of what the insurance company will pay for, like there are places that you can go and you can get MRIs done for a couple $100 instead of several $1,000 being billed to your insurance company, you need the order, but you can bypass your insurance company. Doctors are taught that people don’t want to pay for things outside of their insurance, and that is not true. We see patients every single day who don’t pay us through insurance, and that’s because we take time, we do different things, and insurance doesn’t cover a lot of that. But when you’re unfortunately in these chronic systems or symptoms, you’re looking for answers. Your insurance has already paid 10s of 1000s of dollars for a workup that has gotten you nowhere, and now you want to find things outside of the traditional scope of medicine that our regular doctors and radical regular medical systems can provide for you. This is that environmental medicine. This is the outside of the box thinking medicine that actually gives us answers to what’s going on for you, and not just giving you test results that are quote, unquote normal. So the words you use matter tremendously, and I want you to try some of these approaches with your next doctor’s appointment. Instead of asking, Could this be whatever condition say I’d like to rule out whatever condition that you think you have with appropriate testing. If a doctor dismisses your concerns, respond with I understand this might seem like anxiety, but I’d like to explore physical causes before accepting that diagnosis. What tests would definitively rule out other conditions? Use the phrase please document in my chart that you’ve declined to test for this condition despite my request. This often changes the dynamic immediately. Bring an advocate with you. Research shows patients with companions receive more thorough care and are taken more seriously. Let me explain why these approaches are so effective based on research published in the Journal of general internal medicine and the BMJ quality and safety, healthcare providers respond to confident, informed patients differently. When you present your symptoms factually and request specific documentation, it activates a different part of our brain. Suddenly we’re thinking about the potential liability and thoroughness rather than our fastest path to diagnosis. It’s not about being confrontational. It’s about signaling that you’re a partner in your care, not just a passive recipient. A 2020 study in the patient education and counseling Journal found that patients who use specific, assertive language received more thorough evaluations and had better diagnostic outcomes. Sometimes the best advocacy is finding a new provider. Signs it’s time to move on. Include the provider becomes defensive or angry when questioned. You’re made to feel difficult for asking questions. Your symptoms are dismissed without proper investigation, and the provider seems rushed or disinterested. Remember, you’re hiring your doctor, not the other way around. You deserve a medical professional who listens, investigates thoroughly, and treats you with respect getting a second opinion isn’t being difficult, it’s being thorough. Even the best doctors get it wrong. Sometimes, some groups need specific advocacy strategies due to well documented disparities in healthcare, research shows women wait 13 minutes longer than men for pain medication in the ER and are seven times more likely to be sent home during a heart attack if you’re a woman reporting pain, avoid minimizing language like discomfort or ache. Be specific about intensity. Use the one to 10 scale and give concrete examples This pain is preventing me from working and sleeping. For reproductive health concerns, consider starting with specialists like gynecologists rather than your primary care provider. And for people of color, the. Studies confirm that racial biases affect medical care, from pain management to diagnostic thoroughness when possible, bring an advocate to appointments. Consider using telehealth for initial consultations to reduce the impact of unconscious bias. Research providers who have cultural competency training, or who spare, sorry, share your background for patients with complex or chronic illnesses, the average rare disease patient sees eight physicians before diagnosis, Persistence is key. Consider functional medicine practitioners who typically spend more time investigating root causes, joint patient communities for condition, specific, advocacy, advice and provider recommendations. Marcus, who we heard from earlier, and shared his story about how he eventually found appropriate care, says, after my appendix experience, I research doctors specifically known for culturally competent care, I now drive an hour to see a physician who has never once dismissed my concerns. It shouldn’t be this hard, but finding the right provider literally saved my life when I developed unusual symptoms of diabetes years later, medical gas lighting is a systemic approach that requires a systemic solution. But while we work toward these broader changes, individual advocacy remains your most powerful tool. Remember these key takeaways, trust your body. You’re the expert, and your experience tells us everything, document everything, symptoms, conversations, denials of care. Use clear, confident language and specific requests, bring an advocate whenever possible, and know when to walk away and find a provider who listens. I also want to highlight that there are positive developments in healthcare that give me hope. Technologies like the gallery test by Grail are revolutionizing early cancer detection, potentially identifying more than 50 types of cancer before symptoms appear, and there is growing awareness among medical professionals about the importance of listening to patients and taking a more holistic approach to diagnosis. If you have experienced medical gaslighting, I want you to know something important. It wasn’t your fault. You weren’t overreacting. Your symptoms are real, and you deserve answers. The most powerful words in medicine aren’t I know what’s wrong. They’re I believe you, and we’ll figure this out together. Find providers who say those words and never stop advocating for care you deserve. Dr. Deb 33:08Thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk wellness. Now, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. Rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts to help others find this information on our website, you’ll find a free downloadable medical advocacy toolkit with templates, scripts and checklists to help you navigate your next healthcare appointment. Next week, we’ll be diving into the hidden environmental toxins that might be sabotaging your health and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself, until then, take care, trust your instincts and remember you are your own best health advocate. This is Dr Deb for let’s talk wellness now, reminding you that true wellness begins with being heard. Speaker 2 34:03Thank you for listening to the podcast. Let’s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let’s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today’s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances, we encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold. Let’s talk wellness now and its associates. Harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised. This episode is sponsored by Serenity Health Care Center, where we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic health conditions to help you achieve optimal wellness. Visit us at www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com or call 262-522-8640 to learn more. Connect with Dr. Deb: Website: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com Facebook: Serenity Health Care Center Instagram: @SerenityHealthCenter Twitter: @DrDebSerenity Subscribe & Review:Don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you love what you hear, leave a review and let us know how we’re helping you on your wellness journey. The post Episode 242 – Medical Gaslighting – When Doctors Dismiss Your Symptoms and What to Do About It first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Subscribe to keep reading <p class="has-text-align-center" style="text-align: center; color: #50575E; font-weight: 400; font-size: 16px; font-family: 'SF Pro Text', sans-serif; line-height: 28.8px;"> Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content. <a href="https://letstalkwellnessnow.com/?post_type=post&#038;p=5620" class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" data-wpcom-track data-tracks-link-desc="paywall-email-click" style="display: inline-block; padding: 12px 15px; background-color: #3858e9; color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; font-family: 'SF Pro Display', sans-serif; font-weight: 500; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Subscribe The post Episode 241 – Unmasking the Hidden Dangers of Mold Toxins in MS first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb 0:00Welcome to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now, the podcast where we challenge the status quo of healthcare and empower you with knowledge to take control of your health. I&#8217;m Dr Deb, and today we&#8217;re diving into the topic that affects us all, the broken healthcare system, and what can we do about it while we&#8217;re waiting for change. Today&#8217;s episode is the faults in our healthcare system and how to take control of your health. Dr. Deb 0:27So you know, it takes about eight to 12 months, sometimes even years, to see a specialist. In that time, people are left waiting, suffering or searching for answers on their own. I know firsthand. I waited two years to see a neurologist, Dr. Deb 0:45only to be told, Deb, Dr. Deb 0:48I don&#8217;t think you have MS for two years, I lived with that possibility. I almost sold my business, I almost sold my homes, and I questioned my future. Now, deep down, I believed my symptoms were caused by Lyme, mold, toxins and other root causes, but that lingering, what if, haunted me. How many people have gone through the same thing? How many are told that they have a neurological disease, when in reality, no one has investigated the true cause. Dr. Deb 1:28I have seen this firsthand with many of my clients who&#8217;ve been waiting 678, 1012, months to see the rheumatologist, the neurologist, the cardiologist. It is very sad, and it is very hard now, could I have seen a neurologist sooner? Yes, I could have, but my schedule got in the way. I had to cancel my appointment, and then as soon as I canceled my appointment, I had to get another referral, then I had to wait for the referral, then I had to wait for the appointment again, and it was another six months, and then the doctor had to cancel, and then we were back and forth and stuck in all of this mess. And it&#8217;s frustrating as the client. It&#8217;s frustrating as the practitioner. Why should I have to send a referral three times to the same doctor for the same patient because their appointment was canceled. That shouldn&#8217;t have to happen. It shouldn&#8217;t have to happen to the client. It shouldn&#8217;t have to happen to the provider. Dr. Deb 2:30You know, it&#8217;s it is a struggle, and it is the system that we&#8217;re working within today. And it&#8217;s my opinion that our healthcare system is failing us. We don&#8217;t have enough providers. Wait times are too long, and when we do get to the office, there&#8217;s barely enough time for a provider to truly listen. We are the sickest nation in the world, and yet, 90% of our healthcare funds go to treating chronic disease, According to Robert F Kennedy Jr, Dr. Deb 3:04so what do we do? Do we wait for the government to fix this, or do we take our health into our own hands, the broken healthcare system? Why is it actually failing us? Well, the problem of long wait times, the impact of delayed diagnoses and treatments on patient outcomes. How many illnesses worsened during the waiting period? Dr. Deb 3:29Overworked and understaffed? Why are there so few providers? How did we get here? Insurance and pharmaceutical industry influence? Are patients being steered towards pharmaceuticals rather than true healing, a true lack of preventative care? Why do we focus more on treating symptoms rather than preventing disease in the first place? These are all questions that we need to answer if we&#8217;re truly going to take back our health, and we&#8217;re truly going to make a difference in the world of health and wellness. Dr. Deb 4:10All of these aspects are contributing factors to the unhealthiness of our country, but they are not the only thing. They are not the only reason, because we have power as our own individual, as the freedom we have in this country. We have power to take care of our families, of our homes, of what we put into our body. Dr. Deb 4:38And in this next segment here, I&#8217;m going to show you how you can take back control of your own health, because the good news is we can start at home. Even if we want true wellness, we have to clean up our environment, our food and our bodies. And here&#8217;s how Dr. Deb 4:56you know you have to detox your home, remove toxic. Dr. Deb 5:00Cleaning products and replace them with good natural options like vinegar and water and baking soda. Try brands like Grove Collaborative for non toxic household products. I have used Grove for, oh my gosh, probably well over 10 years already. They make great products that are natural, they&#8217;re not toxic. They make your environment smell good. They clean well, and you don&#8217;t have to worry about exposing your children, your grandchildren and your pets, yes, your pets to these toxic chemicals. We do not need them in our environments. Very easy ways get rid of the scented candles and the plug ins, they emit harmful chemicals, and instead, use things like essential oils for a freshness or a natural scent, lavender, lemon. I use a lot of lemon in my house. I love the way lemon smells. It smells clean to me. I add it to some of my natural cleaning products. I diffuse it in the air. It&#8217;s just a great, fresh, clean scent. You can get essential oils from places like dolterra or Young Living oils. They are very great, high quality essential oils, and they can be used in a lot of different fashions you want to reduce your EMF exposure. Well, what the hell is EMF exposure? It is electromagnetic field. It is everywhere around us. We talk a lot about 5g Dr. Deb 6:34that is just one big part of it. But do you know you live in a sea of EMF every single day for me just recording this podcast, I have two computer screens, I have a monitor, I have a computer, I have a phone and I have a Dr. Deb 6:52stereo speaker. All of those things will emit this electromagnetic field, and unless things are hardwired into your wall. You&#8217;re using what&#8217;s called Wi Fi. Wi Fi emits a ton of electromagnetic magnetic field. You know, you can buy an EMF meter, and I did this in my office and realized that the sea of what I was floating in was crazy. I was putting off just my computer system stuff. Was putting off over 500,000 Dr. Deb 7:29watts of EMF, and I was sitting at that computer for 12 hours a day, that is not healthy, that is not safe. So I had to find what was it that was emitting that much EMF for me, Dr. Deb 7:45and the biggest component of it was my printer and was my serial speaker. Those two things emitted so much EMF, and as soon as I made sure I turned off the Bluetooth, made sure I turned off the Wi Fi for them that went way down, went down to, like, almost 6000 Dr. Deb 8:07it was crazy how much I was sitting in front of this causing these issues, and I was wondering why my body was buzzing and why I was getting a headache and why I couldn&#8217;t see well. And as soon as all of that was taken away. Those symptoms went away. So it is not a small thing. It is a big deal, and you want to really check what is going on in your phone. You want to use what&#8217;s called a safe sleeve. That&#8217;s what I have here on my cell phone. A safe sleeve is a Dr. Deb 8:39cover that goes onto your phone that helps block the EMF, and when you use this, make sure you put your safe sleeve towards your body when you stick it in your pocket, because that&#8217;ll really protect you. These kinds of things create a lot of issues for us. We were not meant to be part of this electromagnetic field for 1012, 1415, 20 hours a day, and yet we are now. There&#8217;s also something you can do. You can install what&#8217;s called a Stetzer meter. This blocks dirty electricity so all of our outlets have dirty electricity floating around in our environment. And if you hold that right there, I&#8217;m going to grab one for you so you can see what see what it looks like. Sorry, you probably didn&#8217;t hear me so well when I walked away from you. But this is a Stetzer meter. And along with this Stetzer meter, comes a electro reader that you can actually plug into your outlet, and it&#8217;ll tell you how much dirty electricity is running through that electrical circuit, and it does that because somewhere in that line, things are not grounded properly, and that dirty electricity is going to cause a lot of symptoms for you, headaches, blurred vision, numbness, tingling, all of those kinds of things when. Dr. Deb 10:00You find your outlet that&#8217;s a problem. You stick one of these Stetter meters inside of there, retest it, and you would be amazed at how low that dirty electricity level goes to. It can go down to nearly nothing. All of these kinds of things are going to help you feel better. Are they costly? No, like a pack of 20 of these Stetzer meters is about 800 bucks, not horribly expensive, and it makes a big difference for you. You want to run air purifiers in your home and crack your window a little bit to really improve your air quality, you have to be mindful of the toxins in our home. We&#8217;re in our home a lot. We&#8217;re in our work environment a lot. You know, fight to have these things installed in your work environment. Get them in your home environment. It makes a big difference. Why do we want air purifiers there? Because our air is toxic. Now, I know you guys are going to say to me, but I live in a brand new home. Well, so did I and you know what I found in my brand new home, Dr. Deb 11:04extremely high toxic levels of formaldehyde. Why do we have formaldehyde? Well, formaldehyde off gasses. Everything that&#8217;s new that we bring into our brand new home, off gasses, our flooring, off gasses, the stain, the paint, the new furniture that we brought in, all of those things contained formaldehyde, and formaldehyde is a chemical used for embalming fluid. Yes, it&#8217;s embalming fluid. And do you want to breathe that every day? No, so you run the air purifier and you crack the window a little bit, and that will help remove those high levels of formaldehyde until the off gassing is done. Now, guess how long it takes to off gas formaldehyde, Dr. Deb 11:50seven to 10 years. It&#8217;s a very long time. So when you say, my been in my house for three years, it&#8217;s not a problem. I would guarantee that it is a problem for you, and you need to make these kinds of changes if you want to live a healthier, happy life, if you want to protect your children, if you want to protect yourself your pets from developing cancer, from developing chronic illnesses, these kinds of things are really important. Now next, I want to talk about, how do we clean up our food? Well, whenever possible you want to buy organic. If cost is a concern, prioritize the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 from the Environmental Working Group. You can find this at ew g.org Dr. Deb 12:35and you&#8217;ll know which foods you need to always buy organic and which ones are not so bad you could get away with not buying organic. It&#8217;ll keep your costs down on your food sources. Now, do you need to buy organic toilet paper? Dr. Deb 12:50No, you don&#8217;t have to. Is it helpful? Yes, but I am more concerned about what you&#8217;re putting into your body. Now, do I think you should be buying organic body washes and hair shampoos and hair products and makeup Absolutely because skin is the largest organ that we have, and you&#8217;re going to be absorbing all of those toxins from those those chemicals, those products. So don&#8217;t do things like this on your body. This stuff is so toxic, Dr. Deb 13:25and everybody loves it. It smells great, but most people can&#8217;t stand to be around you because the scent is so strong that it affects them. So don&#8217;t do things like that. Do things like this. This is rooted it&#8217;s a hydrating lotion, and it works really beautifully. It smells nice. It&#8217;s good on your skin, and these things are going to be better for your body and for you. Now, the other thing is, you want to eliminate dyes, especially from children&#8217;s foods. Excuse me, we&#8217;ve known since 1980 that red dye contributes to attention deficit disorder and behavioral issues, yet it&#8217;s still in our foods. When I worked in an allergy clinic back in 2002 Dr. Deb 14:14I saw children react to foods like corn dyes, blue dye, red dye, yellow dye, oranges. It is not just gluten and dairy that triggers our brain. Did you know that dairy can act like morphine in your brain? Yes, it acts like morphine to some of us in our brain, these dyes and these chemicals can do the exact same thing. Many of these foods triggered neurological and behavioral responses. Dr. Deb 14:45Get these things out of your child&#8217;s food sources. You know, does it mean that occasionally they can&#8217;t have something they really love? No, occasionally they can, but they shouldn&#8217;t be having it every day, five times. Dr. Deb 15:00A day that is not the way that we were built to be eating things or being exposed to things. Dr. Deb 15:08Food is medicine. Test your food, test for food sensitivities and eliminate the ones that are causing your body inflammation. Now, as an older person, right? We know what foods don&#8217;t do well for us, but I want to challenge you and ask you, how many of you know that maybe corn doesn&#8217;t sit with you, or dairy doesn&#8217;t sit with you very well, but you eat it anyway. It gives you inflammation. It gives you brain fog. Maybe you&#8217;re tired afterwards, but you still eat it because we justify that. Our children do the same thing. And did you know that when you have a food sensitivity, you crave it that much more you want it all the time, which doesn&#8217;t really make sense, does it? Because if we&#8217;re not tolerating something and our body doesn&#8217;t like it. Why the hell does our body want so much more of it? Well, that&#8217;s the allergy part of it. That&#8217;s the sensitivity part of it. So when you see cravings and and experiences where you can&#8217;t control yourself with a particular product, it&#8217;s most likely a food sensitivity. So if you take your five most hated foods and your five most favorite foods, those 10 are your food sensitivities. So just start eliminating them. Start challenging them. Now. Food sensitivities are different than food allergies. Food allergies are almost immediate. You eat something, you get a headache, a stomach ache, you get an anaphylactic reaction. Your throat closes. Those you know pretty fast, within a couple of hours to 24 hours food sensitivities, though, these are delayed reactions. Your food reactions can last and start up to 14 days after you eat something, making it extremely challenging to figure out which food might be a problem. So we usually recommend that you rotate your foods. So start with one, eliminate it for five days. You can eat it every day for five days. Take it out again for five days, and journal how you&#8217;re feeling when you&#8217;re doing this, it&#8217;ll make a big difference in you identifying the foods that cause the biggest problems for you. Remember food is medicine. Test for food sensitivities, eliminate the ones causing inflammation in your body. Hydration matters. Are you drinking clean, filtered water, free from heavy metals, chemicals, toxins, pesticides and herbicides. If not, make sure you are because it is a big deal for you. Dr. Deb 17:50Now finding the right health partner, we need medical detectives, providers who listen, look for root causes, and don&#8217;t just hand out prescriptions. If you&#8217;re struggling with symptoms, don&#8217;t accept a quick diagnosis without questioning it. Find a practitioner who will investigate Lyme, mold and toxins, the potential root causes, support you in detoxing and restoring your health naturally, help you balance hormones, gut health and immune function without jumping straight to pharmaceuticals. Look at metabolic health, chronic inflammation and environmental factors affecting your body. Ask yourself, is your doctor listening? Are they looking deeper? Are they open to alternative therapies that actually work Dr. Deb 18:43if not, find a partner, find a health partner that will do these things with you instead of dictating to you and telling you there&#8217;s nothing wrong with you, Dr. Deb 18:56how to heal your body while waiting for the system to Change. Well, we can&#8217;t sit around waiting for government regulations or massive overhauls in health care, we have to take control of what we can change today. And here are some simple, actionable steps for you, grow your own food, start a small garden, even if it&#8217;s just herbs on a windowsill. This can make a big difference, not only in the cost for you, but you have control over what&#8217;s being put on and in your food. Dr. Deb 19:28Reduce toxins in personal care products, look for brands free of parabens, phthalates and artificial fragrances. Practice mindfulness and stress reduction. Chronic stress leads to chronic disease. Meditation, grounding and nature exposure can help us move your body daily, even if it is just stretching or walking outside. Movement is medicine and of course, sleep hygiene really. Dr. Deb 20:00Reduce the blue light exposure at night. That&#8217;s the light that goes on your computer screen, on your phone screen. There&#8217;s settings on there that you can reduce that blue light. You can turn it off. You can lower it, very important, so you&#8217;re not over stimulated before you go to bed. Don&#8217;t read things that are going to excite you or get you upset before bed, set a sleep schedule and make your bedroom a sanctuary. Get the TV out. Don&#8217;t watch the news while you&#8217;re getting ready to go to bed. These things are huge. Dr. Deb 20:34You know, health is not a privilege, it&#8217;s a right. But until the system changes, we have to take responsibility for our own well being, clean up your home, your food and your knowledge, educate yourself, empower your family and seek out the right health professionals. If this episode has resonated with you, please share it with a friend. Subscribe to the podcast and join me on this journey toward true wellness. Let&#8217;s create a new health paradigm, one home at a time until next time, be well and be empowered and always keep asking why. Thank you for listening to the podcast. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. Dr. Deb 22:18We may update this disclaimer at any time and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised. This episode is sponsored by Serenity Health Care Center, where we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic health conditions to help you achieve optimal wellness. Visit us at www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com or call 262-522-8640 to learn more. Connect with Dr. Deb: Website: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com Facebook: Serenity Health Care Center Instagram: @SerenityHealthCenter Twitter: @DrDebSerenity Subscribe &amp; Review:Don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you love what you hear, leave a review and let us know how we’re helping you on your wellness journey.The post Episode 239 – The Faults in Our Healthcare System & How to Take Control of Your Health first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb 0:00Welcome back to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now. I&#8217;m your host, Dr, Deb, and today we&#8217;re diving into a fascinating topic that&#8217;s taking the wellness world by storm, the carnivore diet. Yes, you&#8217;ve heard me right, a diet that&#8217;s all about meat and animal products and nothing else. For some this may sound extreme, but for others, it&#8217;s been a transformative way to heal chronic conditions, lose weight and take control of their health. Dr. Deb 0:29Today, we&#8217;re going to explore what the carnivore diet is, why it&#8217;s gaining so much attention, and how it might just be the key to healing your body, especially if you&#8217;re dealing with conditions like MS, Parkinson&#8217;s, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, or other neurological challenges. I&#8217;ll share practical tips with you to get you started common pitfalls to avoid and why this way of eating is a game changer for your gut and brain health. So grab your favorite cup of coffee or tea, and let&#8217;s jump right in today. Dr. Deb 1:08So what is this thing called the carnivore diet? Well, it&#8217;s exactly what it sounds like, a diet focused entirely on animal based foods, thin steak, chicken, eggs, fish, butter and organ meats. That&#8217;s it sounds like a man&#8217;s dream, right? Well, there&#8217;s no fruits, no vegetables, no grains, no plant based oils. Why? Because the philosophy behind carnivore is simple. Our ancestors thrived on nutrient dense animal foods, and by eliminating plant based foods that can trigger inflammation or gut issues, we allow our bodies to heal from the inside out. Now I want to talk a little bit with you about the history behind the carnivore diet. To truly understand the carnivore diet, it&#8217;s important to look at its historical roots. So for 1000s of years, humans relied heavily on animal based foods for survival. Early hunter gatherer societies prioritized hunting large game and fishing, and these provided the most calorie dense and nutrient rich sustenance available. These practices shaped our biology, our digestive systems and efficiently utilized animal proteins and fats. Even more recent history, certain cultures have thrived on predominantly carnivore diets. Inuit people of Arctic, for example, consumed a diet primarily consisting of fish, seals and whale blubber, not really my favorite idea of a dinner, but that&#8217;s okay. They had little to no plants, yet they remained remarkably healthy. Similarly, the Masaya tribe in East Africa traditionally ate a diet based on meat, blood and milk, boasting robust health and low incidences of chronic diseases. The resurgence of the carnivore diet in modern times is largely credited to advocates seeking relief from autoimmune conditions, obesity and metabolic disorders, and by looking back at these historical dietary patterns, we&#8217;re rediscovering the profound benefits of diet centered around nutrient dense animal based foods. So is there really science behind all of this? Well, there is the success of a carnivore diet lies in its ability to reduce systemic inflammation, stabilize blood sugar and repair the gut lining. When you eliminate carbohydrates from your body, it your body actually shifts to using fat for fuel through a process called ketosis. We know this very well from the ketogenic diet. This process actually reduces insulin levels and promotes cellular repair and animal based foods, particularly red meat and organ meat, provide all the essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals that your body needs without the interference of plant based anti nutrients. So for individuals with neurological conditions like MS, this shift is especially important. Studies show that ketones, the byproducts of fat metabolism, can have neuroprotective effects, and they fuel the brain cells more efficiently than glucose, and may help reduce oxidative stress, a key factor in neurodegeneration. Additionally, the high levels of omega three fatty acids found in fatty fish like salmon, support brain health and reduce inflammation. I. Dr. Deb 5:00Yeah. Now why does this matter for people with neurological conditions like Ms? Well, because research is showing us that gut health is directly tied to brain health. If your gut is inflamed, your brain is likely inflamed too, and by repairing the gut brain axis through the carnivore diet, you may experience a reduction in inflammation, you may have improved energy and even fewer neurological symptoms. For my listeners with MS, this could be life changing. Imagine fewer flare ups, less brain fog, and more days where you feel like your best self. That&#8217;s the promise of focusing on healing your gut and brain with a carnivore approach. So why does carnivore diet help Ms flares anyway? Well, Ms Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and damage to the myelin sheath, the protective coating around the neurons in the brain. Dr. Deb 6:01These flare ups often result from heightened immune activity and systemic inflammation. The carnivore diet can help mitigate these issues in several ways. They reduce systemic inflammation by eliminating plant based anti nutrients like lectins and oxalates. The carnivore diet minimizes potential gut irritants that can contribute to the immune system&#8217;s over activation, especially things like gluten, Dr. Deb 6:28ketones and neurological health. The ketogenic nature of the carnivore diet produces ketones, which serve as an efficient fuel source for the brain. Ketones have neuroprotective properties and can help reduce the oxidative stress, a critical factor in MS flare ups gut healing. A compromised gut lining can lead to increased intestinal permeability, or what we call leaky gut, which has been linked to autoimmune conditions like MS, the nutrient dense, easily digestible animal foods in the carnivore diet help repair the gut lining and reduce the influx of inflammatory molecules that enter the bloodstream. Dr. Deb 7:09Let&#8217;s not forget stabilizing blood sugar. Blood sugar spikes and insulin resistance can exasperate inflammation. Dr. Deb 7:17The carnivore diet stabilizes blood sugar levels, reducing one of the triggers for inflammatory processes, and we have enhanced immune regulation by supporting a balanced gut microbiome and reducing inflammation. The diet helps modulate immune activity, potentially decreasing the frequency and severity of MS flare ups. This is why the carnivore diet isn&#8217;t just about what you eat. It&#8217;s about giving your body the tools it needs to heal, protect and thrive. For our neurological patients suffering from MS, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and Parkinson&#8217;s, it can mean fewer flare ups, better energy and high quality of life. Dr. Deb 8:02Now, let&#8217;s get started on talking about what this carnivore diet actually looks like. If you&#8217;re curious about trying carnivore, here&#8217;s some good news. Getting started is simple. There are three easy steps. First, start with the basics. Stick to high quality animal foods like beef, lamb, chicken and fish. Eggs and butter are great, too. If you&#8217;re feeling adventurous, incorporate organ meats like liver and nutritional powerhouses. Eggs are powerful because they&#8217;re full of choline, and choline crosses the blood brain barrier and repairs the neurological damage that&#8217;s occurring in there. Choose organ meats that are organic. Actually choose any meat that&#8217;s organic and grass fed, this is where the Quality Matters. Organic and grass fed meats are not only nutrient dense, but also free from harmful toxins like antibiotics, hormones and pesticides that are commonly found in conventionally raised meats. Grass fed beef, for example, contains higher levels of omega three fatty acids and CLA conjugated linoleic acid, both of which support anti inflammatory processes. On the other hand, conventional meats may expose you to chemicals and residues that can disrupt hormones and increase inflammation, counteracting the healthy benefits of the diet. When we&#8217;re dealing with neurological issues, we&#8217;re trying to get these toxins out of the body, because most of the time, they&#8217;re overburdened in the body, or there&#8217;s a person that has a genetic defect that can&#8217;t eliminate these toxins. So adding them into your diet when all you&#8217;re doing is carnivore really defeats the purpose of doing carnivore. Dr. Deb 9:49You want to ditch the processed foods. Say goodbye to anything added sugars, preservatives or artificial ingredients. Your focus should be on whole on. Dr. Deb 10:00Processed foods. So when you&#8217;re shopping, only shop the outside edge of the grocery store, but avoid where the fruits and vegetables section is. For this part, we usually talk about just shopping on the outside. When you&#8217;re doing carnivore, you got to avoid the fruits and vegetable aisle. You want to make sure you really stay hydrated and mind your electrolytes. This is critical. As your body adapts to carnivore, you might lose water weight, which can deplete electrolytes. Adding salt to your food and sipping on bone broth can make all the difference in the world on how you&#8217;re feeling. I want to give you a pro tip. Keep it simple and listen to your body if you&#8217;re hungry, eat if you&#8217;re not, don&#8217;t force it. Carnivore naturally helps regulate your appetite, so you&#8217;ll find yourself eating more intuitively. Dr. Deb 10:51And here&#8217;s a little bonus tip for my coffee lovers out there, if you&#8217;re struggling to give up cream and sweetener, try adding a bit of butter or heavy cream instead. It&#8217;s truly a game changer. Dr. Deb 11:04All right, before we dive into something incredible like success stories and strategies for breakthrough Dr. Deb 11:11and looking at our common challenges, let&#8217;s take a quick break and hear from today&#8217;s sponsor. Stick around because you don&#8217;t want to miss the tips I&#8217;m about to share with you. They&#8217;ll help you thrive on this diet, and you haven&#8217;t. If you haven&#8217;t already liked, subscribed or shared, it means a lot to me and keeps us on the air to producing these shows for you. So please like, subscribe and share for me. All right. Welcome back. Now, let&#8217;s talk about some of the common hurdles people face on the carnivore diet, and how to overcome them. The most common challenge is, you guessed, it, stalls in weight loss or progress. This can happen for a few reasons. There could be hidden carbs in what you&#8217;re eating, so double check labels, even on meats like sausages and deli cuts, additives can sneak in where you least expect them. You also may not be getting enough fat. Remember, this diet is high fat, moderate protein. If you&#8217;re feeling sluggish or not seeing results, increase your fat intake with things like butter, tallow or fatty cuts of meat. I&#8217;m not a huge fat person, so this is a challenge for me. When I&#8217;m trying to do carnivore, I don&#8217;t like to eat the fat on the meat either. I tend to pick it away. So I will do a little bit more fatty Dr. Deb 12:32cuts of meat and do a little bit more butter instead Dr. Deb 12:39too many calories. It&#8217;s possible to overeat, even on carnivore. And while animal foods are nutrient dense, they are also calorie dense, especially fatty cuts of meat, pay attention to your hunger singles and trust your body to tell you when it&#8217;s full. If weight loss is a goal, consider portion control and meal timing, focusing on eating until you&#8217;re satisfied rather than overly full, additionally tracking your intake for a few days can provide insight into whether you&#8217;re consuming more than your body actually needs. Now, what about the Dr. Deb 13:18myth about cholesterol and cardiovascular health? Well, one of our biggest concerns is people express about the carnivore diet is that their fear that they&#8217;re eating high amounts of fat and cholesterol will lead to heart disease. I want to address this head on with you. The idea that cholesterol is the enemy is rooted in very outdated science. Modern research shows that dietary cholesterol has very little to no effect on the blood cholesterol levels for most people. In fact, cholesterol is a vital molecule that your body needs to produce its hormones repair cells and support brain health. So what about saturated fat? Despite its bad reputation, studies have found no consistent link between saturated fat intake and increased cardiovascular disease. Instead, systemic inflammation and insulin resistance often are driven by high carbohydrate processed diets, and these are the culprits actually behind heart disease. On a carnivore diet, your body becomes efficient at burning fat for fuel and triglyceride levels typically decrease while HDL, the good cholesterol, improves. Many people also see a reduction in markers of inflammation, which is a critical factor in overall cardiovascular health. Dr. Deb 14:39Now, what about those of you who don&#8217;t have a gallbladder, if you&#8217;ve had your gallbladder removed, a high fat diet like carnivore can sometimes pose challenges, but gallbladder stores bile, which is critical for breaking down and absorbing dietary fats. Without it, your body may struggle to digest the increased fast fat intake. Dr. Deb 15:00To support your digestion, you may need to incorporate bile salts or digestive enzyme supplements to break down the fats more effectively, and starting with smaller portions of fat and gradually increasing your intake can also help ease this transition. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider about this. So to those who are worried about cholesterol or heart disease, rest assured that eating a diet rich in high quality fats and proteins can actually support your heart health rather than harm it, and if you don&#8217;t have a gallbladder, don&#8217;t let that hold you back. There are tools and strategies to help your body adapt. Now, if you&#8217;re feeling stuck, don&#8217;t be afraid to experiment with some intermittent fasting. This can give your body a chance to reset and help you break through those plateaus. What is intermittent fasting? Well, it&#8217;s a structured eating pattern where you alternate between periods of eating and fasting. Unlike traditional diets, it doesn&#8217;t specify what you eat, but rather when you eat. So common methods include 16 eight where you fast for 16 hours and eat during an eight hour window, and alternative day fasting, where you fast for 24 hours every other day. I want to put in a bit of caution here, as females, we don&#8217;t want to be fasting for 24 hours every other day. It really disrupts the hormonal production for women. For men, it&#8217;s great. It actually increases their testosterone levels. For women, not so much, and we see a lot of thyroid dysfunction and hormonal imbalance as a result of fasting like these hours. So make sure you&#8217;re working with somebody who really understands intermittent fasting for women to dial in a plan that&#8217;s specific for you. Dr. Deb 16:53Here&#8217;s how it works. During the fasting period, your insulin levels drop, allowing your body to access stored fat for energy. This process also stimulates cellular repair mechanisms and increases the production of human growth hormone, which supports metabolism and muscle growth. For those on a carnivore diet, fasting can enhance fat adaption, helping your body become more efficient at burning fat for fuel. There are some benefits of an intermittent fasting protocol. Enhanced fat burning. Fasting periods encourage your body to tap into fat stores for energy, which can accelerate weight loss, reduced inflammation. Fasting has been shown to lower markers of inflammation, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with autoimmune and neurological conditions. It also improves insulin sensitivity. If you can stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, a common issue for many people in our culture, you can improve insulin sensitivity. Many people report improved focus and reduced brain fog. While fasting, Dr. Deb 18:08as ketones provide a steady energy source for the brain, we see an improvement in mental clarity. So here are some tips for success on the intermittent fasting with carnivore diet start slowly. If you&#8217;re new to fasting, begin a shorter fasting period, like 12 hours, and gradually increase. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and consider adding electrolytes to avoid dehydration and fatigue. Listen to your body if you feel light headed or over fatigued, break your fast and adjust as needed. Combine this with carnivore since carnivore diet naturally stabilizes your blood sugar, many people find fasting easier when eating animal based foods. Now, intermittent fasting isn&#8217;t about deprivation, it&#8217;s a tool to help your body reset and work more efficiently. Coupled with the carnivore diet, it can amplify your results and lead to incredible health benefits. Dr. Deb 19:11Now we wouldn&#8217;t be talking about this if we didn&#8217;t talk about the gut brain connection. The gut brain connection is a two way communication system linking the digestive tract and the central nervous system, particularly the brain. The connection occurs via the vagus nerve and is influenced by hormones, neurotransmitters and immune system factors. Scientists often refer to the gut as the second brain, because of its vast network of neurons and its ability to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which play critical roles in mood, cognition and overall mental health, we do care a lot about this gut brain connection. When the gut is inflamed or unhealthy, it can send. Dr. Deb 20:00Stress signals to the brain contributing to the conditions such as anxiety, depression, brain fog, and even neurological diseases like MS, Parkinson&#8217;s, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and ALS, this connection is especially relevant, relevant because the gut houses about 70% of the body&#8217;s immune system. Any imbalance in the gut microbiome, such as an overgrowth of harmful bacteria or a compromised gut lining, can lead to systemic inflammation that impacts the brain. The importance of focusing on the gut brain connection is by looking at inflammation reduction. A healthy gut reduces systemic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is linked to numerous conditions, including autoimmune diseases and cognitive decline. Improved neurotransmitter production. The gut produces neurotransmitters that regulate mood and brain function. So for example, over 90% of serotonin is actually made in the gut. We need serotonin, not just for mood, but for great cognitive function and improved sleep as well. And then we have the barrier of integrity, the gut brain barrier is anomalous to the blood brain barrier. So when the gut lining becomes permeable, a condition known as leaky gut, toxins and harmful substances can enter the bloodstream and ultimately affect our brain health. So how does carnivore actually support this gut brain connection? Well, by eliminating the plant based irritants and the anti nutrients such as lectins and oxalates. The carnivore diet helps repair the gut, lining nutrient dense. Animal foods provide amino acids and fats needed to nourish the gut, reducing inflammation and supporting the brain function. Additionally, foods like bone broth, which are rich in collagen and gelatin, can heal and strengthen the gut lining, further protecting the gut brain barrier. Dr. Deb 22:10Understanding this gut brain connection helps us see why healing the gut is so critical, not just for physical health, but for mental clarity as well. Dr. Deb 22:20And let&#8217;s not forget emotional resilience. A healthier gut means a healthier brain, and that&#8217;s why it&#8217;s such an important area for us to focus on overall with wellness. Dr. Deb 22:32Now before we wrap this up, I want to touch on something I think is absolutely fascinating, the gut brain barrier. This is the communication highway between your gut and your brain. When your gut is inflamed, it can affect your brain, leading to symptoms like anxiety, brain fog and even worsening neurological conditions. The carnivore diet is like hitting the reset button on your gut by eliminating these plant based irritants and focusing on nutrient dense healing foods, you&#8217;re giving your body the tools it needs to repair that barrier and reduce that inflammation. So for those of you with neurological conditions like MS, als Parkinson&#8217;s, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, imagine what life could look like if your body wasn&#8217;t constantly battling inflammation. Dr. Deb 23:21The potential here is enormous, and the best part, it&#8217;s entirely within your control. Dr. Deb 23:29All right, my friends, that&#8217;s all for today&#8217;s episode. I hope you&#8217;re as excited about the carnivore diet as I am. If you&#8217;ve been looking for a way to take control of your health, reduce inflammation and feel your best. This could be the answer that you&#8217;ve been searching for. If you&#8217;ve loved today&#8217;s episode, please subscribe, leave a review. It&#8217;s really important for us to hear from you and share this with someone who needs to hear it. And don&#8217;t forget follow me on social media for more tips and inspiration. Until next time I&#8217;m Dr Deb and let&#8217;s talk wellness now, take care and be well. DisclaimerThank you for listening to the podcast. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now it&#8217;s management or our partners. Each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. 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Dr. Deb 0:00Welcome to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now, the podcast where we deep dive into the science of health, wellness and everything you need to live your best life. I&#8217;m your host. Doctor Deb Muth, founder of serenity, Health Care Center and serenity, esthetics and wellness. Here on the show, we don&#8217;t just talk about wellness, we teach it, we equip you with the practical, science based tools to take control of your health and empower your body to heal naturally. Today we&#8217;re talking about a fascinating and often misunderstood topic, the immune system and how it plays a critical role in brain health. This is a must listen episode for anyone who&#8217;s worried about conditions like Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, Parkinson&#8217;s or multiple sclerosis, MS, or if you simply just want to learn how to optimize your overall health. By the end of the episode, you&#8217;ll understand how your immune system works, from the first responders to the specialized forces, why your brain has its own immune system and how it protects your neurons, the connection between chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, and most importantly, how you can support your immune system and brain health, starting today. Stay tuned, because I&#8217;ll share a powerful case study from one of our patients at Serenity health care center that illustrates how impactful this knowledge can be. So grab your tea, take a deep breath, and let&#8217;s dive into today&#8217;s episode of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now. Dr. Deb 1:34So the general immune system is an innate and specific defense. There&#8217;s an I want to start with an overview of the immune system itself. This incredible network is divided into two main parts, the innate immune system and the adapted immune system, or as I like to call them, the first responders and the special forces. Now your first responders, the innate immune system, is your body&#8217;s first line of defense, and it&#8217;s always on duty. So imagine it as your security guard stationed at the entry points of your body, like your skin, your mucus membranes, and they&#8217;re even your chemical defenses, such as stomach acid. This kills harmful bacteria and the enzymes in the tears and breaks down those invaders. When a pathogen, like a virus, a bacteria or a fungi, makes it past these barriers, the innate immune system jumps into action. Its response is immediate but non specific, meaning it treats every invader the same way. Key players in this system include our macrophages. Think of these as the immune system&#8217;s garbage collectors. They roam your tissues looking for any harmful bacteria viruses to engulf and destroy. This process is called phagocytosis, where the macrophages essentially eat the pathogen, kind of like Pac Man, if you remember that game from way back, right, then we have the neutrophils. Now these are the reinforcements. They&#8217;re the most abundant type of white blood cell in your bloodstream and are called to action when there&#8217;s an infection. They also destroy pathogens through phagocytosis and release substances to kill the invaders. But there&#8217;s one thing about the innate immune system, while it&#8217;s fast and effective in the short term, it&#8217;s not very specific, and it doesn&#8217;t have the ability to tailor its response to particular invaders, which is where the adaptive immune system comes in. Now your adaptive immune system are your special forces. This is like your team of highly trained specialists. Think of this as your Dr. Deb 4:03your what&#8217;s the name that I&#8217;m thinking of Dr. Deb 4:07in the military, these are your special forces, right? These are the guys that come in, and they are stealth in nature. They take out the bad guys, and they&#8217;re in and out before you even know that they were there. So unlike the innate immune system, the adaptive immune system doesn&#8217;t respond immediately. It takes time to analyze the invader, figure out its weak spots and mount that precise attack. Now, the adaptive system relies on two types of cells, T cells, these are the field commanders. They orchestrate the immune response, directing all of the cells to where they&#8217;re needed to go. And certain T cells, called cytotoxic T cells, even destroy infected cells directly. Now your B cells. Dr. Deb 5:00Is these are immune system weapon manufacturers. They produce antibodies, specialized proteins that lock into those specific invaders, marking them for destruction or neutralizing them outright. Here&#8217;s the coolest thing about the adaptive system. It learns so once it fights off a specific invader, it creates a memory cell which sticks around in your body. And these memory cells allow your immune system to respond faster and more effectively if you&#8217;re exposed to the same pathogen again in the future. This is the basis of how some vaccines are supposed to work. They train your adaptive immune system without exposing you to the full disease. Now here&#8217;s a really good example. Let&#8217;s talk about the common cold. When you are first exposed to the cold virus, your innate immune system jumps into action. The macrophages and the neutrophils work to contain the infection. They engulf, they destroy as many viruses as they can. This is why you might feel symptoms like a fever, body aches, stuffy nose. Early on, the innate systems, inflammatory response is in full swing. But if the virus manages to spread, your adaptive immune system steps in takes a little longer because your T cells and B cells need time to recognize the cold virus and create a tailored response. So B cells start producing antibodies that specifically target that strain of the virus, and the T cells attack infected cells directly. Here&#8217;s where it gets interesting. Once your adaptive immune system has fought off the cold, it stores the memory of that virus. So if you&#8217;re exposed to the same strain again, your body can mount a much faster response and a stronger response, often neutralizing the virus before you even feel sick. Now, one of the problems we have with this is that viruses mutate, and so they don&#8217;t have the exact same cell structure every single time once they&#8217;ve mutated, so sometimes your body will recognize part of that virus, but it may not recognize the whole thing, and that&#8217;s why people get sick every year with a different cold. Dr. Deb 7:26So imagine you&#8217;re defending a castle. The innate immune system is like the guards on the wall repelling any attackers they see without worrying about who they are. The adaptive immune system is like a group of knights who study the enemy&#8217;s strategy, develop that tailored plan, and then they train the castle&#8217;s defenders to handle future attacks from the same enemy. Now your immune system isn&#8217;t just your defense system, it&#8217;s your body&#8217;s Memory Keeper learning from past battles to protect you better in the future. Dr. Deb 8:04Now let&#8217;s look at something that surprises a lot of people. Did you know your brain has its own immune system? Why does the brain need its own immune system? Because of something called the blood brain barrier. This barrier is like an exclusive VIP club for your brain. Only select molecules like oxygen, nutrients and hormones are allowed to enter. It keeps out most pathogens, like bacterias and viruses, as well as some immune cells from the rest of your body. Now this is how this is like supposed to work. It&#8217;s supposed to keep things out Dr. Deb 8:45however. We&#8217;ve learned over time that these infections, these bacterias, these pathogens, can cross the blood brain barrier, which has made chronic illness and neuro neurological diseases much more complex. Now, this level of protection is crucial, because even a minor infection in the brain could cause a catastrophic damage to the delicate neurons. However, the same barrier that protects the brain also isolates it, which means the immune system in the rest of your body can&#8217;t easily come to the brain&#8217;s rescue when something goes wrong. Now the microglia, these are the brain&#8217;s cleanup crew. This is where the microglia are the brain&#8217;s resident immune systems, or immune cells. I should say they&#8217;re tiny, but incredibly powerful, and they work around the clock to keep your brain healthy, patrolling the brain the microglia acts like the security guards, constantly scanning their environment for anything that doesn&#8217;t belong, damaged neurons, harmful proteins and debris from dead cells. So. Dr. Deb 10:00Phagocytosis is when they find something harmful, the microglia spring into action engulfing and ingesting the threat in a process that we call phagocytosis. This keeps the brain clean and functional. Now the microglia also play a role in maintaining the balance in the health of the brain, they help prune unnecessary synapses during brain development and even regulate neural circuits in adulthood. In a healthy brain, microglia perform these tasks seamlessly, allowing your neurons, the true stars of the brain, to focus on transmitting signals that control everything from memory to movement. Dr. Deb 10:47But what happens when the microglia go rogue? Dr. Deb 10:51Well, the brain, the microglia, this part of the brain function, gets out of balance, and like any other part of the immune system, the microglia can become overactive, and that&#8217;s really where part of the problem starts. When the microglia are constantly activated, they release inflammatory molecules designed to fight off invaders, and this is useful in the short term, but if this activation becomes chronic, it can cause significant harm. The inflammation doesn&#8217;t just attack the invaders. It starts damaging healthy brain cells, particularly neurons. This chronic inflammation is a driving force behind neurodegenerative diseases. So in Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, overactive microglia failed to clear the harmful protein plaques such as amyloid beta, and these plaques disrupt communication between neurons and eventually lead to their death. In Parkinson&#8217;s disease, inflammation accelerates the loss of dopamine producing neurons, which are critical for movement and coordination. And in MS, the microglia and other immune cells attack the protective myelin sheath around the nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. Chronic inflammation is like a fire that never gets put out. It doesn&#8217;t just burn the invaders. It starts burning the house down. And in this case, the house is your brain, leading to symptoms like memory loss, difficulty moving, or other neuro neurological impairments. Now, why the brain immune connection matters? What&#8217;s so important about this? Well, the fact is that the brain has its own immune system, and this highlights the critical balance of how important this immune system in the brain is, because when the microglia are functioning properly, they keep the brain clean, protect its neurons and help maintain cognitive and mortar functions. But when they go rogue, they can become the villains of the story, contributing to debilitating diseases. So let me give you a real world analogy. Think of the microglia as the neighborhood watch group. When they&#8217;re doing their job right, they keep the neighborhood safe, cleaning up any messes and dealing with any threats, but if they start seeing threats everywhere, even where there are none, they might go on a rampage, breaking windows and damaging property in the name of protecting the neighborhood. Dr. Deb 13:25That&#8217;s what happens in the brain when the microglia become overactive. Now, understanding how this microglia function has opened the doors to exciting new research, and scientists are now exploring ways to calm down overactive microglia or help them return to their healthy state. So for example, there are new therapies that are being developed to target inflammation in the brain without suppressing the entire immune system. Research on lifestyle factors like diet, exercise and sleep, these are showing how we can naturally reduce brain inflammation. An advanced lab models like brain organoids are allowing researchers to study how microglia interact with the neurons in diseases like Alzheimer&#8217;s and Parkinson&#8217;s. The good news is that we&#8217;re learning more every day about how to support the brain&#8217;s immune system and how to keep it in balance. So what can we do to support our brain&#8217;s immune system? Well, here are some practical tips you can eat in an anti inflammatory diet, including plenty of omega three fatty acids found in fatty fish, antioxidants in colorful fruits and vegetables and polyphenols in foods like green tea and turmeric. You want to make sure you&#8217;re getting quality sleep. Your brain and immune system repair themselves during deep sleep, aim for seven to nine hours a night. Exercise regularly. Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and has been shown to reduce inflammation manage your stress. Dr. Deb 15:00Chronic stress elevates inflammation throughout the body, including the brain. Mindfulness meditation or even a walk in nature can help stay hydrated. Dehydration can impair brain function and immune responses support gut health. The gut and brain are closely connected. A healthy gut microbiome can positively influence brain inflammation. Dr. Deb 15:25Chronic inflammation is like a fire that never gets put out. It doesn&#8217;t just burn the invaders. It starts burning the house down. Dr. Deb 15:34When the immune system, whether in your body or your brain, becomes imbalanced, significant problems arise. Chronic inflammation is one of the biggest culprits behind many health issues, and it plays a direct role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer&#8217;s, Parkinson&#8217;s and Ms. So let&#8217;s explore each condition in detail and understand how immune imbalance contributes to these devastating effects in Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, chronic inflammation is a driving factor. Normally, microglia, the immune cells of the brain, play a critical role in clearing out harmful protein deposits like amyloid beta plaques. And these plaques are hallmark of Alzheimer&#8217;s and are toxic to neurons. But when the microglia become overactive due to chronic inflammation, they stop functioning effectively. Instead of cleaning up the plaques, they release inflammatory molecules like cytokines, which can damage nearby neurons and other brain structures. This creates a vicious cycle, the build up of plaques trigger micro microglia activation. Overactive microglia release inflammatory signals, and these inflammatory signals kill neurons, which further disrupts brain function. As this process continues, it leads to the characteristic symptoms of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, such as memory loss, confusion and difficulty performing daily tasks, the inflammation essentially shifts the microglia from being protectors of the brain to contributors to its decline. Dr. Deb 17:15Now let&#8217;s look at how Parkinson&#8217;s disease is affected. Parkinson&#8217;s disease is another condition where the immune dysregulation plays a central role. In this case, the immune system mistakenly targets dopamine producing neurons in the brain, and Dopamine is a neurotransmitter critical for controlling movement and coordination. If you want to know more about dopamine, check out our episode we did a couple weeks ago on neurotransmitters. So here&#8217;s what happens. Chronic inflammation in the brain triggers an immune response against these neurons. Microglia release harmful inflammatory molecules which exasperate the loss of dopamine producing neurons. As more neurons are damaged, the brain&#8217;s ability to regulate movement declines. This is why Parkinson&#8217;s symptoms often include tremors, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination. Once again, the immune system, which is supposed to protect the brain, becomes a destructive force when it&#8217;s out of balance. So we&#8217;re going to take a break here and hear from one of our sponsors. Okay, let&#8217;s look at ms, an autoimmune attack, a nerve protection in MS, the immune system goes rogue and attacks the protective coating around your nerves known as the myelin sheath. Myelin act as the insulation around electrical wires, allowing nerve signals to travel quickly and efficiently between the brain and the body. When the immune system attacks myelin, the nerve signals are disrupted, leading to communication problems between the brain and the body. Inflammation damages not just the myelin, but also the underlying nerve fibers, the axioms, causing permanent damage. Over time, scar tissue or sclerosis develops further impairing nerve function. This immune driven destruction results in the hallmark symptoms of ms, which can vary widely from person to person, and these symptoms often include muscle weakness, difficulty walking, vision problems and connective impairment, the immune imbalance in MS highlights the double edged nature of inflammation. It&#8217;s a necessary tool for defense, but when it&#8217;s misdirected, it can have catastrophic effects on the body. Dr. Deb 19:45Now, what ties Alzheimer&#8217;s, Parkinson&#8217;s and MS together is the central role of chronic inflammation in each condition, the immune system is either overactive, misdirected or unable to maintain balance. Chronic. Dr. Deb 20:00Inflammation does more than just damage neurons. It creates an environment in the brain and nervous system that is hostile to healing. It disrupts normal cellular function, impairs communication between cells, and triggers a cascade of damage that worsens over time. Dr. Deb 20:20Chronic inflammation is like a fire that never goes out. But in the beginning, the fire might be small and manageable, but if it keeps burning, it starts to destroy everything around it. In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, that everything is your neurons, the cells that control your memory, movement and overall brain function. Now it&#8217;s important to understand that neurodegenerative diseases don&#8217;t happen overnight. They develop slowly over time, fueled by chronic inflammation and immune imbalance. This means there are opportunities to intervene and calm the immune system, reduce inflammation and support the body in ways that can slow or even prevent these conditions. Dr. Deb 21:05Now testing the immune system is key to personalizing your care, and I love to do testing. So understanding your immune health isn&#8217;t just about guessing or managing symptoms, it&#8217;s about uncovering what&#8217;s happening inside your body, testing is one of the most powerful tools we have to evaluate how your immune system is functioning. By analyzing specific markers, we can determine whether your immune system is balanced, overactive or underperforming. And this is critical, because immune dysfunction often shows up as a chronic inflammation, autoimmune condition or an inability to fight infections effectively. So let&#8217;s dive deeper into some of the most common insightful tests we use to assess immune health, Dr. Deb 21:54CRP, or C reactive protein, the inflammation marker. CRP is a protein produced by your liver in response to inflammation. It&#8217;s one of the most reliable markers we have for detecting systemic inflammation in the body. Now here&#8217;s what elevated CRP levels can indicate chronic inflammation, persistent inflammation as a hallmark of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer&#8217;s and Parkinson&#8217;s and acute infection and injuries. Elevated CRP levels can also spike in a response to an acute infection or injury, helping us differentiate between short term and long term inflammatory processes. A high CRP level is like a smoke detector going off in your body. It doesn&#8217;t tell us exactly where the fire is, but it lets us know that inflammation is happening, and from there, we can dig deeper to find the source and address it. Dr. Deb 22:55T cell and B cell analysis, T cells and B cells are the workhorses of your adaptive immune system, and analyzing their function provides critical insights into your immune health. T cells, these are the cells that are like the field generals directing the immune response and killing infected or damaged cells. Testing T cells can reveal imbalances that might point to an autoimmune disease, chronic infection or immune suppression. Your B cells, these cells, produce antibodies, the proteins that specifically target pathogens. Dr. Deb 23:35A and B cell analysis helps us understand whether your body is producing enough antibodies or if it&#8217;s over, producing them in response to an autoimmune trigger. For example, a person with a weakened T cell response may struggle to fight off viruses like Epstein Barr Virus or shingles. On the other hand, someone with an overactive B cell might be dealing with an autoimmune condition like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Dr. Deb 24:03Now, while CRP and T and B cell analysis are foundational, there are other tests that can provide even more insight into your immune health, a cytokine panel. This is one of my favorite tests to look at when someone has an immune reaction going on. These measure the levels of inflammatory and anti inflammatory molecules in your blood, and an imbalance in cytokines can indicate chronic inflammation or an overactive immune system. We can actually see if somebody is dealing with a Lyme disease, a fibromyalgia, a viral or chronic viral episode or a long haul syndrome, simply by looking at cytokine panels based off of the work of Doctor Bruce Patterson. Now immunoglobulins such as IgA, IgG and IgM, these tests assess the levels of antibodies in your body, helping us identify whether you&#8217;re. Dr. Deb 25:00Immune system is producing the right amount of protection. We will often use these tests to look for infection, primarily bacterial, but also viral. And we can use the IgG and IgM to determine whether or not you have mycotoxins mold toxicity in your body as well. And it can tell us the difference between what&#8217;s coming from a contaminated food source versus what&#8217;s coming from a contaminated environment. Now you also have the natural killer cells or NK cell activity. NK cells are part of your innate immune system, and they play a role in detecting and destroying infected or cancerous cells reduced activity can signal immune suppression. Now, the microbiome testing is so important, since 70% of your immune system resides in your gut, evaluating the balance of bacteria in your microbiome can reveal whether your gut health is contributing to your immune dysfunction. Gut health testing is typically done by stool sample, and we can look at a whole host of things. We can look at bacteria, viruses, digestion, immune function, inflammation, fungi. We can really see a lot in that gi sample that we&#8217;re looking at Dr. Deb 26:23now, what are we looking for when we do these tests? Well, when we analyze these markers, we&#8217;re looking for patterns. Is your immune system in overdrive? This can show up as a chronic inflammation or an autoimmune disease, or is your immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue is your immune system underperforming, this can make you more vulnerable to infections, slow the healing and increase your risk for cancer. These tests aren&#8217;t just numbers, they&#8217;re clues. They give us a road map to understand your unique immune profile and guide us in creating a personalized plan to restore balance and optimize your health. Dr. Deb 27:04Let me share an example. I&#8217;m going to call this person Lisa. She came to us with fatigue, joint pain and brain fog. She&#8217;d been struggling for years without answers. We started testing her CRP levels, which were elevated, signaling a systemic inflammation. Next, we ran a T and B cell analysis and discovered that her T cells were under active, but her B cells were overactive, and this pattern pointed us towards an autoimmune issues. Through additional testing, we identified Hashimotos thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid, and by addressing her inflammation through dietary changes, gut health support and targeted supplements, we not only lowered her CRP levels, but we helped her feel more energized and clear headed within just a few months. Dr. Deb 27:58Testing doesn&#8217;t just give us information. It gives you answers. It allows us to move beyond guessing and address the root cause of your symptoms. At Serenity Health Care Center, we specialize in advancing immune testing and personalized care. By understanding your unique immune system, we can create a plan that restores balance, reduces inflammation and improves the overall health. This isn&#8217;t about managing symptoms, it&#8217;s about empowering you with the tools and the knowledge to take control of your health. These tests aren&#8217;t just numbers, they&#8217;re clues. They help us uncover your immune system, Dr. Deb 28:37uncover sorry, uncover whether your immune system is out of balance or so we can create a plan to help you heal. Now, let me share another story about one of our patients. Let&#8217;s call her Sarah. Sarah came to us with brain fog, fatigue and joint pain, Dr. Deb 28:55and she was also struggling with forgetfulness, which was affecting her work relationships. So through testing, we discovered that Sarah had an elevated cytokine panel, and specifically something called TNF and VEGF. And what we found was her environment was actually making her sick. When we look at VEGF and TNF alpha, it&#8217;s immediately makes us suspect mycotoxin or mold illness. Well, we found that Sarah&#8217;s work environment had several episodes of water damage, and that water damage unfortunately led to a moldy environment for her to work in her office was damp all the time. It smelled musty all the time, and it became the breeding ground for her immune system to start reacting inappropriately. And once we were able to get her moved from that building and get her working in an environment that was clean, and we were able to appropriately detox her body. Dr. Deb 30:00Day, all of her symptoms started to resolve. In about six to eight months, Sarah started to regain her memory. She started having more energy. She started losing weight, which she didn&#8217;t even realize was Dr. Deb 30:14part of mycotoxin illness, and she began to heal. Healing isn&#8217;t just about managing symptoms, it&#8217;s about addressing root causes and giving your body the tools it needs to thrive. So how can you support your immune system and protect your brain? Here&#8217;s six actionable strategies. Anti Inflammatory diet. We talked about this earlier, lots of green leafy vegetables, berries, Omega three, rich fish and spices like turmeric, avoid processed foods, sugar and alcohol, which promote inflammation. You want to get plenty of sleep. We talked about that a little bit. We want to use targeted supplements like vitamin D, C, Z, zinc and magnesium to support the immune system and function. I really love to use something called plasmalogens as well. Plasma allergens actually help to repair the brain and specifically reduce inflammation in the brain. So if somebody&#8217;s suffering from a neurological disease like Parkinson&#8217;s, Alzheimer&#8217;s or MS, using plasmalogens can make a significant difference, along with some of the regular things that we talk about, doing stress management, exercise, sleep, eating fiber, rich foods, considering the use of maybe probiotics, if necessary. And then we use what&#8217;s called a mitochondria protocol, so B, vitamins nhc, Ludo, final, riboflavin, Dr. Deb 31:46hydrogen, water. These are all things that help to rebuild that mitochondria so that repair can actually happen. Dr. Deb 31:55So let&#8217;s talk a little bit now about the research on microglia and neurodegeneration, one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving areas of medical research today is focused on microglia, the immune cells of the brain and their role in neurodegenerative diseases. These tiny cells, which were once thought to play only a supporting role, are now being recognized as the key players in the brain health and disease. So let&#8217;s take a look at uncovering some of the latest research and why it&#8217;s a game changer for our understanding of conditions like Alzheimer&#8217;s, Parkinson&#8217;s and MS Dr. Deb 32:36in Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, one of the hallmark features is the buildup of amyloid beta plaque and tau tangles in the brain, these are toxic protein aggregates that disrupt normal communication between neurons and eventually lead to their death. Under normal conditions, microglia are responsible for identifying and clearing out these harmful aggregates. However, in Alzheimer&#8217;s, microglia appear to lose their ability to effectively clean up instead of protecting neurons, they become overactive and release inflammatory molecules, which can actually worsen the damage, and this is why it&#8217;s so important for us to make sure there&#8217;s no toxins that are crossing the blood brain barrier to cause these neurological conditions. So here&#8217;s what&#8217;s cutting edge research is revealing for us impaired microglia function. Scientists are studying why microglia lose their ability to clear amyloid beta plaque. Genetic mutations in microglia related genes like trem two have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, an inflammatory cytokine. Overactive microglia release cytokines and other inflammatory signals that harm neurons and even recruit other immune cells to the brain, Compounding the problem. And then there&#8217;s this therapeutic potential, where researchers are exploring ways to retrain the microglia, helping them to regain their ability to clear toxic proteins without causing inflammation. Now, in Parkinson&#8217;s disease, the primary issue is the death of dopamine producing neurons in the brain, particularly in a region called substantia nigra, dopamine is crucial for regulating movement, and its loss leads to symptoms like tremors and stiffness. Now the microglia play a dual role in Parkinson&#8217;s early in the disease, the microglia help by removing damaged cells or proteins like alpha synculin, another toxic protein aggregate linked to Parkinson&#8217;s as the disease progresses, the microglia become over activated, and they release inflammatory molecules that can only fail to protect neurons, but actively contribute to their destruction. Current research is focused on identifying how microglia transition. Dr. Deb 35:00From protectors and aggressors and finding ways to interrupt this disrupted cycle Dr. Deb 35:08in MS, microglia are involved in the autoimmune attack of the myelin sheath, the protective covering of nerve fibers. Microglia amplify the inflammatory response in the brain and spinal cord worsening the demyelination process. Recent studies are investigating how to modulate microglial active activity in MS to prevent this damage. So for example, in immune modulation, therapies that our scientists are looking at and exploring are drugs that can dial down the microglia activation without suppressing the rest of the immune system. And there&#8217;s remyelination strategy, strategies. Efforts are also underway to stimulate microglia to support and repair the regeneration of myelin. Now, I will say there is a Dr. Deb 35:57company called prodrome science that makes plasma allergens. That&#8217;s already been researching how the lack of plasma legends can add to these conditions that are neurological in nature, Alzheimer&#8217;s, autism, MS, and the repair, or the increased production of plasmalogens in the brain can significantly reduce the symptoms or even reverse some of the damage that we&#8217;re seeing. Dr. Deb 36:28One of the most groundbreaking tools in the microglia research is the use of brain organoids, miniature lab grown model models of the human brain. These organoids mimic the structure of function of a developing brain, allowing researchers to study how microglia interact with neurons in a controlled environment. And here&#8217;s what the brain organoids are helping us achieve. They&#8217;re modeling diseases researchers can recreate conditions like Alzheimer&#8217;s and Parkinson&#8217;s in organoids, observing how microglia respond to protein aggregates or to the stressors. And then they can test different therapies using these organoids. They provides a way to test potential treatments like drugs or gene therapy before ever moving to a human trial. And then there&#8217;s genetic studies by incorporating genetic mutations linked to neurodegenerative diseases, scientists can study how these changes affect microglial function and identify new targets for intervention. These technologies are game changers, offering insights that were impossible to obtain with traditional animal models in the in the past or in tissue studies. So the research underscores a critical point. A healthy immune system isn&#8217;t just about fighting infections. It&#8217;s essentially for maintaining brain health. Microglia play a pivotal role in protecting your neurons and keeping your brain functioning properly, but when they&#8217;re out of balance, they can become contributors to devastating diseases. And the good news is that by understanding how microglial function and how they go wrong, we&#8217;re opening the door to therapies that could slow, stop, and even reverse the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Your immune system isn&#8217;t just your defense system, it&#8217;s your partner in building a healthier, stronger you. Dr. Deb 38:27So what does this mean for you? Well, science of microglia is still evolving. It&#8217;s already shaping how we approach brain health, and here&#8217;s what you can do to support your brain and your immune system. Stay informed. Knowledge is power. Understanding how inflammation and immune health impact your brain can help you make better choices. Prioritize anti inflammatory practices, eat a diet rich in antioxidants, exercise regularly and manage stress, all of which support balanced immune function. Consider Advanced Functional Testing if you&#8217;re experiencing symptoms like brain fog, memory loss or neurological issues. Testing for inflammation and immune markers could provide valuable insights. Ask your practitioner if they would draw a NK panel, a cytokine panel, a CD, 53 Dr. Deb 39:24any of these kinds of tests can be really helpful as a look into what your immune system is doing. At Serenity Healthcare Center, we&#8217;re committed to staying on the cutting edge of research. We integrate these discoveries into our practice to help you achieve optimal health, prevent disease and live your best life. Now that&#8217;s a wrap up for today&#8217;s episode of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness. Now, I hope you learned something new about the incredible connection between your immune system and brain health. Remember, a balanced immune system is key to preventing chronic inflammation and protecting your. Dr. Deb 40:00Neurons. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who might benefit. And don&#8217;t forget, check out our website for more resources and updates until next time, stay curious, stay empowered, and let&#8217;s keep talking wellness now. Thank you for listening to the podcast. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. Dr. Deb 41:20We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised. Dr. Deb Muth This episode is sponsored by Serenity Health Care Center, where we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic health conditions to help you achieve optimal wellness. Visit us at www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com or call 262-522-8640 to learn more. Connect with Dr. Deb: Website: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com Facebook: Serenity Health Care Center Instagram: @SerenityHealthCenter Twitter: @DrDebSerenity Subscribe &amp; Review:Don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you love what you hear, leave a review and let us know how we’re helping you on your wellness journey.The post Episode 234 – The Immune System, Brain Health, and Chronic Diseases first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

The Hidden Dangers of Mycotoxins: Unraveling the Mystery of Mold Illness Dr. Deb 0:01welcome back to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now. I&#8217;m your host, Dr, Deb, and I&#8217;m so thrilled to have you with me today. If you&#8217;ve been searching for answers to mysterious health issues, whether they&#8217;re unexplained fatigue, brain fog or persistent headaches, then today&#8217;s the episode for you. We&#8217;re diving into a silent epidemic that&#8217;s affecting millions of people around the world, but often goes unnoticed. Mycotoxins and mold illness, these sneaky little saboteurs can hide in your home, your workplace and even your body, silently undermining your health in ways you might never have imagined. As serenity Healthcare Center, we specialize in uncovering these hidden causes of chronic disease, and today, I&#8217;m bringing that expertise directly to you. We&#8217;ll explore what mycotoxins are, how they wreak havoc on your body and especially your brain, and most importantly, what you can do to heal. So stick around to the end of this episode, because I&#8217;ll share a powerful case study that shows just how life changing it can be to uncover and treat mold illness, plus I&#8217;ll give you actionable tips to protect yourself and your loved ones. So grab a cup of tea, get cozy, and let&#8217;s talk wellness now. So what are mycotoxins and why? Honestly, should we care about them? Let&#8217;s start with the basics. Mycotoxins are toxic chemicals produced by certain types of mold. These aren&#8217;t just molds you see growing on food or in damp corners of your bathroom. These are microscopic airborne particles that can infiltrate your home, your body and even your brain. Now, mycotoxins have no odor to them, so often times you have no clue that they&#8217;re even present. Molds like Aspergillus and Stachybotrys, commonly known as black mold and Penicillium produce these toxins, and when you inhale, ingest, or even touch them, they can cause serious health problems. And the scary part, you don&#8217;t need to see the mold to be affected by it. I remember when I was suffering with mycotoxin illness. A few years ago, I was doing some gardening, and I was pulling weeds, and I didn&#8217;t have any problems ever in the garden, and all of a sudden I broke out in hives, and I couldn&#8217;t understand what was happening, because I knew I didn&#8217;t get exposed to anything that I was allergic to. But it was every time I went outside to garden, I would break out in hives, and it didn&#8217;t matter if I had long sleeves on, it didn&#8217;t matter if I had gloves on, I would be covered in hives within about 30 minutes of gardening. And I really thought my gardening days were over, but it was when I found out that I was colonized in the nasal passages with mold that I learned that was what was causing my reaction to being in the garden. It wasn&#8217;t that I was allergic to something, it was the mold that was there that I was disrupting that was creating a histamine response in my body and causing me to have this allergic response, or at least what seemed like an allergic response, and these hives would last for weeks, and they were so itchy. Oh my gosh, I remember how terrible they were, and there was nothing I could do, Benadryl, hydrocortisone cream, none of it worked. None of the oral stuff worked. Even prednisone really didn&#8217;t touch it, and it was so intense. But when I got the mycotoxins out of my nasal passages and got the mold out of the nasal passages and started to clear my body, I could suddenly go back out to gardening again and not have any problems with it. So it is a huge response, and it is part of what triggers mast cell activation syndrome for people, or what we call MCAS, which is a histamine reaction. So anyway, I digress. But why should you care about mold or mycotoxin illness? Well, mycotoxins are linked to some of the most debilitating health issues, neurological conditions like brain fog, migraines, depression and unfortunately, even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer&#8217;s, Parkinson&#8217;s, MS, they can all cause hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue and immune system dysfunction. It&#8217;s not uncommon for us to see people who are sick with mycotoxin illness have hormonal disruptions, where their estrogen levels and progesterone levels are falling well before menopause, where men have testosterone levels that look like 80 years old and they&#8217;re only 30 or 40. Dr. Deb 5:00This can become a real problem when you&#8217;re young, and you&#8217;re losing your hormones at such an early age, because that loss of hormones can add to other illnesses down the road, like osteoporosis and more cognitive issues. We know that there&#8217;s a decline of hormones from traumatic brain injury that can lead to early onset menopause, which can also then lead to triggering neurological diseases. And if traumatic brain injury does this well, mycotoxin illness or mold illness is just a non traumatic brain injury, and this is very well documented and known in the literature, that these things can create many, many complications. Now, have you ever felt like your health was on a roller coaster, like no matter what you do, you can&#8217;t get better? Well, mycotoxins might be the hidden culprit, because mold isn&#8217;t just a nuisance, it&#8217;s a silent saboteur, quietly undermining your health. Dr. Deb 6:01Now here&#8217;s where it really gets fascinating and honestly frightening. Mycotoxins don&#8217;t just make you sneeze or give you a rash like they did in my condition. They cross the blood brain barrier and attack your nervous system. And when mycotoxins reach the brain, they can cause inflammation in the brain, which disrupts the way the neurons communicate, leading to brain fog, memory issues and difficulty concentrating. They damage our neurotransmitters. These are the chemical messengers in your brain responsible for mood, energy and focus. If you want to learn more about this, go back and check out our episode that we did on neurotransmitters, mycotoxins can disrupt dopamine and serotonin, contributing to depression and anxiety. They mimic other diseases. These mycotoxins are really sneaky, and they can create symptoms that look like multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and even chronic fatigue syndrome, making it incredibly hard to be diagnosed properly. One of the most understood effects of mycotoxins is their impact on the pituitary gland, a small but mighty gland in your brain that controls all of your hormones. When this gland is compromised, you might experience unexplained weight gain, fatigue and even fertility issues. This is crazy to think that this chemical, this mold that we take for granted, that we know is everywhere that people don&#8217;t take seriously, can damage our pituitary gland and damage our hormonal function and give us symptoms like MS and fibromyalgia, but yet nobody&#8217;s really talking about it in the conventional world, and nobody&#8217;s looking at it in the conventional world. This is crazy to me, and I wonder how many people have been misdiagnosed with these types of conditions simply because they&#8217;re living in or have been exposed to an environment that had mold at one time that the mycotoxins are still present and they just haven&#8217;t left the environment. Now, have you or someone you love ever been misdiagnosed or felt like the diagnosis didn&#8217;t quite fit well. This is why we need to dig deeper and ask the right questions. I was diagnosed with MS in December of 2022 Dr. Deb 8:30in my world, I know that MS is usually something else, until proven otherwise, unless you truly have monoclonal antibodies in your spinal tap, if you&#8217;re diagnosing ms solely by white matter brain disease on an MRI, Dr. Deb 8:46I would seek a second opinion, because these toxins that we talk about on the show, these infections that we talk about, all can cause white matter brain disease. They can all cause symptoms that mimic ms Parkinson&#8217;s disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, all of these things could be explained potentially, and you could get better without having to take drugs that you really don&#8217;t want, that you really can&#8217;t afford. And if we get to the root cause, we can make things better for you. Now, sometimes the answer isn&#8217;t in a pill, it&#8217;s in the air you breathe and the environment around you. Dr. Deb 9:29Now let me share my personal story. Years ago, my husband Dennis and I decided to remodel this quaint little Riverside cottage. It was the dream project until we discovered the mold in the house, there was a roof leak, there was black mold in a closet, there was a foundation leak, there was mold in a bedroom and the bathroom. So we decided to tackle the remediation ourselves, and after six grueling months of. Dr. Deb 10:00Work, I started to notice some really strange symptoms. My energy was gone. I couldn&#8217;t sleep. I was constantly irritable. But the most alarming change was the rapid weight gain. For me. I gained 25 pounds in just two months, for someone who has always been able to eat whatever I want without gaining an ounce. This was shocking. Now I know don&#8217;t be mad at me. I can&#8217;t help it. I had really good genes at one time for this, Dr. Deb 10:28but this weight gain happened around the time we started to remediate this home. And as a practitioner, I immediately suspected mold toxicity. I ran tests and discovered my Gliotoxin levels were three times the normal limit. Gliotoxin is a mycotoxin that specifically targets the pituitary gland, which explained a lot of my symptoms. Dr. Deb 10:52This experience taught me that mold illness doesn&#8217;t just affect the body, it impacts the mind, the emotions and even your sense of self. Now, I had worked in another building many years before that that was moldy, and I was there for 10 years, and I knew the building had mold. I could smell it, and I would get sick every time I would go in the building. Dr. Deb 11:17And I had talked to my partners. They didn&#8217;t want to remediate. They didn&#8217;t want to do what was necessary. And hence, I moved out of that building and started my own practice, because I needed to be safe in my world that was 10 years prior to be testing positive for Gliotoxin. Fast forward to December of 2022 when I&#8217;m now diagnosed with MS, and I&#8217;m looking back at all of the instances that could have triggered my MS. I had Gliotoxin in my brain. I had Lyme disease before. Dr. Deb 11:52I know that I had COVID Six months before I started to get these symptoms, all of these things made sense to me. What I didn&#8217;t know was I was colonized in my nasal passages with mold. I had one of the largest fungal balls in my nose that my doctor had ever removed, and he named him Earl. So that is my fourth child that I say. And once that was removed, it was incredible how quickly I started to feel better, how quickly my symptoms started to reverse, and I no longer had symptoms of Ms. And I remember my ENT saying to me, Deb, you don&#8217;t have Ms. You&#8217;re colonized in your nasal passages. Your mycotoxins are in your pituitary. They&#8217;re in your brain, and you need to get those out, and your symptoms will reverse. Well, I was thrilled by that, a little skeptical, but very, very thrilled. And today, as I sit here before you in 2025 Dr. Deb 12:56my MS symptoms are completely under control, and the white matter brain disease that I had at one point is completely reversed. And I owe a lot of credit to the people who I worked with this mycotoxin illness, with my Lyme disease, my team who supported me during this while I treated myself, and I found the protocols, and I created all these protocols to get rid of everything so that I could not only help myself, but I could better assist our clients as well. Dr. Deb 13:30So enough about me. Let me share another journey with you, and let&#8217;s talk about Sarah now. Sarah was a 42 year old teacher who came to Serenity with a long list of symptoms, chronic fatigue, relentless migraines, brain fog and depression. She&#8217;d see a specialist after specialist and when prescribed countless medications, and even underwent an MRI to rule out Ms, there were no answers to be had. When Sarah came to us, we started with a comprehensive health history. She mentioned a musty smell in her basement after a flood, which immediately raised a red flag for us. We ordered mycotoxin testing, and the results were clear. Sarah&#8217;s level, levels of ochratoxin and Gliotoxin were dangerously high. We put Sarah on a personalized detox program, which included binders things like activated charcoal and bentonite clay to trap and eliminate the toxins we gave her, antifungals to address the mold colonization, not only in her gut, but systemically, and then nutritional support to optimize her body&#8217;s detox pathways and rebuild That mitochondria. Within weeks, Sarah started to notice small improvements. Her headaches became less frequent, and her energy started to return. Six months later, she told me, I finally feel like myself again. Sarah&#8217;s story is proof that healing begins when you uncover the root cause. Dr. Deb 14:58So I wanted. Talk about practical tips for protecting yourself now that you understand the dangers of mycotoxins, let&#8217;s talk about what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Now you want to inspect your home. Look for signs of water damage. Must see smells visible mold water rings in the ceiling. Remember, mold can hide behind walls and under carpets. Test your environment. Use a professional mold testing service and at home kits like immunolytics or ErmI tests to identify mold in your home. You want to invest in high quality HEPA air filters that can help remove mold spores from the air and support your detox pathways. Drink plenty of water. I like to start the day with lemon water. Warm is better because it helps flush the toxins from the liver. Eat antioxidant rich foods and consider supplements like glutathione and NAC to boost detoxification. Now are you living in a moldy environment without even knowing it? What steps will you take today to protect your health, to find the mold, to find the spaces that are problems for you? Well, you can do testing with plates from a company called immune analytics, where you can do a air test. Dr. Deb 16:25Now, there is no test for mold that is 100% accurate. I will say that they all have their pluses and they all have their minuses. But what we&#8217;re looking for is that snapshot we&#8217;re looking to see is this an issue? Now you can also do testing through traditional labs to see if mold is a concern. We do things like a TGF beta or an MMP nine and alpha MSH. These are just a few of some of the ones that we look at when we&#8217;re questioning whether or not mold is an issue. We also do urine testing and blood testing to actually find the mycotoxins in your body to confirm that this is a problem. And then sometimes you need to bring in a remediation specialist, a building biologist, to actually find the source of where the mold is. And from there, you bring in a remediation crew to actually clean up the mold and make sure it&#8217;s safe for you to live in that environment again. Now there&#8217;s been a lot of talk over the years as to whether or not you keep your things. You don&#8217;t keep your things. Can you clean them? Can you not? Do you have to live in a tent? And I&#8217;m here to tell you that there is a lot of hype. There&#8217;s a lot of panic around this, but it is serious, and there are some things that we just can&#8217;t clean we just can&#8217;t get rid of the mold, and they&#8217;re not worth keeping. They&#8217;re not worth having if they&#8217;re going to make you sick. But there are other things that we can clean up. We can do fogging in a person&#8217;s environment, which kills the mycotoxins and helps kill the mold, and you can do that on a regular basis to keep the mold mycotoxins from growing back. And that allows you some flexibility to be in your home a while you&#8217;re remediating and B allows you to keep some of the things that you have so that you don&#8217;t have to get rid of absolutely everything that you love. This is a very debilitating disorder. It&#8217;s a very debilitating time for people to live with mold, mycotoxin illness, and it is very challenging, both physically and emotionally. And a lot of people don&#8217;t understand, because it&#8217;s not something you can see inside your body. It&#8217;s hard for people to grasp and it&#8217;s very hard for our loved ones to understand that we&#8217;re sick in an environment, but maybe they&#8217;re not sick in an environment, and it destroys a lot of families, unfortunately. So you really want to have people have deep conversations about mycotoxin illness, and what do we do about it, and how do we protect ourselves from it, and how do we heal, and how do we live in an environment that&#8217;s clean and safe for ourselves and our families and our pets? Because this mycotoxin illness affects everybody. It doesn&#8217;t just affect one person. It affects everybody. And when we have a world of chronic disease and chronic illness, the last thing we want is to have an unhealthy living environment for people. However, I will tell you that about 75% of the buildings in this country are considered to have mold issues, which is a lot, and so if you think that you&#8217;re going to just leave and abandon the place that you&#8217;re living now to go someplace else and that place will be safe. Dr. Deb 19:48It may it may be, but it may not be, and it&#8217;s more likely that it&#8217;s not going to be safe than it is given what we know about how many buildings are affected with water damage and mold. So just know. Dr. Deb 20:00That if you&#8217;re trying to find a safe place, you test before you live in that place. You know what&#8217;s going on. If you&#8217;re renting and you&#8217;re asking if there&#8217;s water damage in the building, they&#8217;re always going to tell you, no, they&#8217;re not going to tell you they&#8217;ve had water damage. You can oftentimes see it on the tiles and the ceilings. Sometimes you can see it if it came into the building somewhere. There&#8217;s a watermark line on the on the lower level of the base. Sometimes you can smell it, but sometimes you can&#8217;t. And for those people who think that a new build is the way to go, I&#8217;m going to tell you that a new build isn&#8217;t clear of mold either. Depending on the season of which they&#8217;re building, where the building materials are coming from. How long they let those building materials dry out before they seal them up and put drywall on them? You could have a brand new build and still have mold present in that building. And you need to know that, because if you&#8217;re thinking that building a new home is safer, it&#8217;s not necessarily safer, and it has a lot of chemicals in the materials that are brand new, that off gas. And if you&#8217;re mold sensitive, those chemicals that off gas can give you the same types of symptoms that you get from having mold mycotoxin illness. So there is a huge, Dr. Deb 21:16huge amount of things to learn with mycotoxin illness. We&#8217;re just scraping the surface here, and as we do future shows, we&#8217;ll go a little deeper into these topics, a little bit more, but I wanted to give a really good overview on mycotoxin illness and introduce this to you at least. So thank you for joining me on this journey into the hidden dangers of mycotoxins and mold illness. I hope today&#8217;s episode has opened your eyes to the importance of addressing environmental toxins. Remember, healing is possible, but it starts with asking the right questions and uncovering the root cause. If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to like, subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit. At Serenity Healthcare Center, my team and I specialize in helping people just like you overcome chronic illness and reclaim their health. Visit us online at Serenity healthcare center.com to learn more until next time, live well, be well and let&#8217;s talk wellness now. Thank you for listening to the podcast. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you, please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. Dr. Deb 23:15We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts, thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised you. Dr. Deb This episode is sponsored by Serenity Health Care Center, where we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic health conditions to help you achieve optimal wellness. Visit us at www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com or call 262-522-8640 to learn more. Connect with Dr. Deb: Website: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com Facebook: Serenity Health Care Center Instagram: @SerenityHealthCenter Twitter: @DrDebSerenity Subscribe &amp; Review:Don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you love what you hear, leave a review and let us know how we’re helping you on your wellness journey.The post Episode 233 – Mycotoxins first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb 0:01Deb, hello and welcome to another episode of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now, the podcast where we dive deep into the topics that matter most to your health, vitality and well being. I&#8217;m your host, Dr dub, naturopathic doctor, Master, herbalist, Shaman, nurse practitioner and founder of serenity Healthcare Center. Today we&#8217;re uncovering a hidden driver of chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, mitochondrial dysfunction, and how this relates and correlates to all these diseases. These tiny power plants in your cells may be small, but their impact on your energy, brain function and overall health is enormous. When they malfunction, the ripple effects can be devastating. Throughout today&#8217;s episode, you&#8217;ll learn how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to fatigue, cognitive decline, sugar metabolism, issues, pain and inflammation. I&#8217;ll also share some actionable steps to support mitochondrial health, including natural therapies, detox strategies and a powerful case study. Before we begin, I would like to remind you to like, subscribe and share this podcast with your friends and family. Every share helps us reach more people who need this vital information. And remember, at Serenity Healthcare Center, we specialize in uncovering the root causes and offering personalized healing solutions. Now let&#8217;s jump into today&#8217;s topic. So what is the mitochondria anyway? Well, let&#8217;s start with this analogy. Think of the mitochondria as the batteries in your phone. When your battery is fully charged, your phone works seamlessly, well most of the time, right? You can stream videos, run apps and make calls without a hitch, but as the battery drains, everything slows. The apps crash, the screen dims, and eventually the phone just shuts off. Now imagine this happening in your body. That&#8217;s what mitochondrial dysfunction feels like. These little organelles generate the energy your cells need to function, but they&#8217;re not just energy producers. They also regulate inflammation, detoxification and the repair process. Now here&#8217;s the kicker, when the mitochondria are damaged by toxins, stress, or even sometimes our genetics, they become less efficient in producing energy and more likely to release harmful byproducts called reactive oxygen species, Ros for short, this creates a cycle of damage that affects every system in your body. Now, if your mitochondria are underperforming, it&#8217;s like trying to run a marathon on a single, double A battery. It&#8217;s just not going to happen. And when this damage occurs in the nervous system, the results can be catastrophic, leading to conditions like MS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. Dr. Deb 3:15So there&#8217;s this connection between mitochondria and neurological diseases, but how does this all tie together with things like MS and fibromyalgia? Well, MS is widely known as an autoimmune condition, and what&#8217;s less talked about is how the mitochondria dysfunction amplifies the damage. Now this happens in any autoimmune disease. This is why the mitochondria are so important. Regardless if you have an autoimmune thyroid condition, you have an autoimmune disease like lupus or MS or something as severe as ALS, when the mitochondria fail, they create a toxic environment in the nerve cells and these excessive ROS produced by damaged mitochondria actually attack the myelin sheath that&#8217;s the protective covering around the nerves. Think of that as an electrical wire, and the plastic that covers the live wires underneath is your myelin. Now this leads to inflammation, which not only worsens the nerve damage, but also further weakens the mitochondrial function Dr. Deb 4:27in Ms. Mitochondria aren&#8217;t just bystanders, they&#8217;re frontline soldiers caught in the crossfire. Dr. Deb 4:36What&#8217;s more, mitochondrial dysfunction also explains some of the most frustrating MS symptoms, like chronic fatigue, when the nerve cells don&#8217;t have enough energy repairing myelin or maintaining basic functions becomes nearly impossible. It&#8217;s like trying to fix a leaky roof during a power outage. You just don&#8217;t have the resources to get the job done. You. Dr. Deb 5:00Uh. Dr. Deb 5:01Now let&#8217;s talk about symptoms that many of you or loved ones might be experiencing, chronic fatigue. It&#8217;s one of those most common complaints amongst people with mitochondrial dysfunction. This isn&#8217;t just about feeling tired. It&#8217;s about feeling like your body has run out of gas, and no matter what you do, no matter how much rest you get, you just can&#8217;t simply Dr. Deb 5:28get relief to a point where you feel like you can get through the day. Some of my clients will complain that it feels like I&#8217;m walking in a pot of quicksand or concrete because I&#8217;m just dragging throughout the day. Now you can have chronic fatigue syndrome outside of having ms, outside of having infection. Dr. Deb 5:51It can just happen because of the mitochondrial damage. But when the mitochondria gets damaged, there is a root cause. Now imagine waking up every morning feeling like you&#8217;ve already run a marathon. That&#8217;s chronic fatigue. But it doesn&#8217;t stop there. Cognitive decline or brain fog is another hallmark symptom of mitochondrial damage. Neurons require an immense amount of energy to function when mitochondria can&#8217;t meet this demand, you experience memory loss, lapses, difficulty concentrating and slowed mental processing. Pain and inflammation are also linked to the mitochondrial dysfunction and damaged mitochondria release more ROS which triggers more inflammatory pathways and increases the sensitivity to pain. Don&#8217;t forget the sugar metabolism. Mitochondria are central to how your body processes glucose, and when they malfunction, you get those energy crashes and insulin resistance when which can exasperate MS symptoms, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. So what am I talking about with this glucose insulin? What is all of this? Well, your body creates insulin from its pancreas, and it does so in the body&#8217;s need to keep blood sugar or glucose in check. The more glucose or sugar we consume, the more insulin has to be produced to keep that balance. Now, as the mitochondria become more deficient, that process becomes more inefficient, and we start to create more insulin to try to control the glucose, but we do it more ineffectively. This is what we call metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance, and over time, as the pancreas becomes less efficient at creating that insulin to keep the glucose under control, we see more weight gain, we see more rise in type two diabetes, and we see more complications occur as a result of that. Now, very infrequently, do we see diabetics put on a mitochondrial protocol to help support their insulin and glucose? It&#8217;s just not common practice. It&#8217;s just not seen traditionally in medicine. In our functional or integrative medicine world, it is much more common that you will see people be put on what we call a quote, unquote Mito cocktail to support their body, support what&#8217;s happening and the stress that&#8217;s happening there. Dr. Deb 8:33So what causes the mitochondria to malfunction in the first place? It&#8217;s a perfect storm. One of the biggest factors is toxic exposure, heavy metals like mercury, pesticides, mold, toxins and particularly damaging to the mitochondria. Infections are another issue that we see with damage to the mitochondria, long term issues with Lyme disease, epstein barr, strep, as we know, panz pandas, all of these things can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, leaving you in a position where your body&#8217;s not doing what it&#8217;s supposed to Dr. Deb 9:13think of toxins as throwing sand into the gears of your cellular engines. Over time, those gears grind to a halt. But it&#8217;s not just about external factors. Genetics also play a major role. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA or nuclear genes that regulate the mitochondria can increase your susceptibility to MS, fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions for people with these genetic vulnerabilities, even small exposures to toxins and stress can have outside effects. Dr. Deb 9:49Now let&#8217;s talk about what can we do about this? There is good news. There are steps that you can take to support your mitochondria and improve your health. Dr. Deb 10:00So at Serenity Healthcare Center, we use comprehensive approach, including dietary support. You want a really nutrient dense, anti inflammatory diet, rich in antioxidants to help protect the mitochondria from oxidative stress, foods like berries, leafy greens, healthy fats. Think keto, paleo, auto immune diet. AIP, these are the types of diets that you really want to follow to build that mitochondria and give you what you need. Think of your diet as fuel for your mitochondrial engine and give them premium, not junk. Dr. Deb 10:43There&#8217;s IV therapies that we can use, treatments like glutathione and CO Q 10, delivered intravenously, provide a direct boost to the mitochondria and repair its function. Glutathione is one of my favorite IVs to use, because it is not only an amino acid that helps build your mitochondria, but it also helps to eliminate the toxins. It can remove metals like mercury, lead, cadmium. It can get rid of other toxins like pesticides and chemicals and herbicides. It is one of the most amazing amino acids that we can give and very inexpensive. Now, co Q 10 is delivered either orally or by IV. It is imperative in a mitochondrial protocol to use CO Q 10. It is a powerhouse. Dr. Deb 11:38You can also use nutrients like magnesium and alpha lipoic acid and N acetyl cysteine or NAC, these are essential for mitochondrial health. NAC actually helps your body make its own glutathione, which is really key. And sometimes people will say, I can&#8217;t do all of these supplements. So can I pick and choose? Yes, you can, but you&#8217;re not going to get the same benefit out of this that you would if you used all of these. Now, if you&#8217;re having some cognitive issues, we would want to add some phosphatidylcholine to this mixture as well, and we certainly cannot forget our B complex vitamins. They&#8217;re imperative to building mitochondria. We want to detox. Removing the toxins is critical. We use chelation therapy, binders. You can use infrared sauna treatments. Detox foot baths, hot Epsom salt baths. All of these things help to eliminate the harmful substances that we&#8217;re exposed to on a regular basis. And then, of course, we need to do lifestyle changes, regular movement, stress reduction techniques like meditation, prayer, proper, sleep hygiene, exercise, yoga is a great one, stretching, these are all meant to help support the mitochondria. Now Dr. Deb 13:02let me tell you about Lisa&#8217;s journey to healing. To bring you full circle, I want to share the story of Lisa, a patient who came to Serenity after being diagnosed with Ms. Lisa was experiencing profound fatigue, brain fog and chronic pain, and through testing, we identified mold toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Her personalized treatment plan included IV glutathione to reduce oxidative stress, a tailored detox program to remove mold toxins, a mitochondrial repair protocol with supplements like CO Q 10, magnesium NAC and a high anti antioxidant, anti inflammatory diet. Within three months, Lisa reported increased energy and mental clarity. Six months later, she was back to doing activities she thought she&#8217;d never enjoy again. Lisa&#8217;s story reminds us that when we address the root cause, the body has an incredible ability to heal. I Dr. Deb 14:05want to thank you for spending this time with me on Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a complex issue, but it&#8217;s also a source of hope. By addressing these underlying problems, we can transform lives. If today&#8217;s episode resonated with you. Don&#8217;t hesitate to reach out to Serenity Healthcare Center, our team of experts is here to guide you on your journey to health and vitality. And remember, if you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe and share with someone who needs it together, we can spread knowledge, inspire hope and build a healthier world until next time, stay well and live vibrantly. Thank you for listening to the podcast. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now it&#8217;s management or. Dr. Deb 15:00Our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. Dr. Deb 15:45We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised you. Dr. Deb This episode is sponsored by Serenity Health Care Center, where we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic health conditions to help you achieve optimal wellness. Visit us at www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com or call 262-522-8640 to learn more. Connect with Dr. Deb: Website: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com Facebook: Serenity Health Care Center Instagram: @SerenityHealthCenter Twitter: @DrDebSerenity Subscribe &amp; Review:Don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you love what you hear, leave a review and let us know how we’re helping you on your wellness journey.The post Episode 232 – Mitochondria first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Dr. Deb 0:00Welcome to the podcast. Before we begin, there is a disclaimer we have to make. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances, we encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised. Now for the show, Dr. Deb 1:20Welcome to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now, the podcast where we uncover the latest trends, tools and tips to empower you to take charge of your health and well being. I&#8217;m your host, Dr Deb Functional Medicine Practitioner, naturopath and advocate for natural healing. Today, we&#8217;re diving into a topic that impacts every aspect of our lives, our neurotransmitters, these tiny, little chemical messengers in the brain influence our mood, energy, focus, sleep and even how our body processes pain, understanding how they work and what happens when they&#8217;re out of balance, can give us A whole new perspective on achieving optimal health and wellness. So let&#8217;s get started. So what are neurotransmitters Exactly? Well, think of them as the brain&#8217;s way of sending text messages to the rest of the body. They&#8217;re chemicals that relay messages between nerve cells and impact how we feel, think and act. Some of the major neurotransmitters you may have heard of include serotonin, dopamine, GABA and norepinephrine. Each one has a specific job, and together, they keep us functioning at our best or not, depending on their balance. So let&#8217;s break down the big players. Serotonin, known as the feel good neurotransmitter, it affects mood, sleep and appetite. Dopamine, the one that controls the reward and pleasure center, but also plays a big role on focus and motivation. Now dopamine also controls our mood. When dopamine is off, we can behave in somewhat of a bipolar manner when it&#8217;s too low, we&#8217;ll see symptoms similar to Parkinson&#8217;s disease and GABA. Think of that as your brain&#8217;s calming force. It helps you reduce anxiety and improves sleep. Norepinephrine is your alertness and energy, and we rely heavily on this neurotransmitter. It&#8217;s a neurotransmitter that is produced by the adrenal glands, and when it&#8217;s off, it controls some of that fight or flight response that we see epinephrine is another neuro adrenal transmitter that affects appetite and energy and focus. Now, these sound pretty important, right? So let&#8217;s take a look at what happens when these neurotransmitters are out of sync. When neurotransmitters are out of balance, the effects can ripple across the body. Low serotonin, for example, is often linked to depression and anxiety. A deficiency in dopamine may make you feel unmotivated or stuck in a mental fog. And GABA levels when they&#8217;re low, you can experience a heightened anxiety, or even insomnia and norepinephrine, too much can lead to high stress and panic, while too little can cause fatigue and brain fog. But what causes these imbalances to begin with? Well, it&#8217;s not just one thing, factors like stress, poor diet, inability to absorb nutrients from the gut, lack of sleep, toxins and even our genetics can influence how these neurotransmitters are produced and how the body uses them. Now, a stressful lifestyle, for example, can deplete serotonin and. Dopamine levels over time, as well as norepinephrine and epinephrine, making it harder to manage that stress effectively, chronic illnesses like thyroid disorders, adrenal insufficiency, autoimmune disease, these all impact our neurotransmitter production, and we all know about the chronic issues of gut health these days, often referred to as our second brain plays a huge role here too. Did you know that about 90% of the serotonin is made in your gut, and this is why gut health is so important and mental health is so deeply connected today, if you don&#8217;t have enough serotonin in your gut, you can&#8217;t utilize that in the brain, and it can&#8217;t make you stay asleep longer. It can&#8217;t make you feel good. And oftentimes, these antidepressants are reliant on the amount of serotonin we have in our body to work efficiently. So if you&#8217;re taking an antidepressant and it doesn&#8217;t feel like it&#8217;s working, it may simply be because you don&#8217;t have enough serotonin to begin with, and adding serotonin back in, and getting your gut to absorb these and create these neurotransmitters from our amino acids more efficiently, can actually make your antidepressants work more efficiently and be better for you. Now the good news is that we can optimize these neurotransmitters. We can take steps to balance our neurotransmitters naturally. Now let&#8217;s talk about a few ways that we can do that. Nutrition is key. It always is. It&#8217;s where we start in the world of keeping our bodies whole and balancing things properly. Your brain needs the right building blocks to create these neurotransmitters. So for example, foods high in tryptophan, like Turkey and nuts support serotonin production. Tyrosine rich foods like eggs and fish help boost dopamine and magnesium found in leafy greens and nuts are crucial for calming the nervous system. Quality sleep is essential for neurotransmitter balance, but it&#8217;s a double edged sword, because if you don&#8217;t have enough of certain neurotransmitters, you&#8217;re not going to sleep properly. For instance, if you&#8217;re deficient in serotonin, you need serotonin in the brain at its highest point in order to keep us in a nice, deep REM sleep. So without enough serotonin, you can have sleep disturbances. One of the ways that we determine if this is an issue is what time you wake at night. So typically, people who wake between one and three in the morning have a liver issue. Their liver is not clearing their toxins appropriately. However, people who wake between three and five have a serotonin issue, and that&#8217;s what&#8217;s causing their disruption of sleep and giving them more serotonin, especially at night, can keep them in that deeper sleep and make sleep quality improved. Now, certainly stress reduction, we all talk about that. It&#8217;s really important. Most of us are under a lot of stress, whether we feel it or not, so doing practices like meditation or mindfulness, or even spending time in nature, can lower the stress hormones and boost that calming neurotransmitter like GABA. Now GABA is known as nature Xanax, right along with L theanine. So if you&#8217;re struggling with anxiety and you&#8217;re taking medication and it&#8217;s not working. You really want to look at these neurotransmitters and see if you&#8217;re deficient in some of them. And they can actually help balance your neurotransmitters, raise up that GABA level, so that you&#8217;re not so anxious and not so nervous, and that way we may not have to use medications like Xanax in cases like this, I love a product called Gabi tracks, which you can find on our full script link for anxiety. It works very fast. It&#8217;s a chewable. I oftentimes recommend it to people who have trouble when they fly, because you can take two GABA tracks. They&#8217;re chewables. They taste great, and it just takes the edge off. It takes that calming, or gives you that calming, relaxed feeling. It takes the edge off without making you feel groggy. There&#8217;s no addiction to it. There&#8217;s no concern for overdosing on this product. It&#8217;s really a nice supplement. It&#8217;s just an amino acid, it works beautifully. Exercise is another really important thing. Regular movement increases dopamine and endorphins, and it helps you feel more energized and more motivated. We oftentimes find people who have problems with addiction, whether it&#8217;s gambling or. Sugar or alcohol or drugs have an imbalance in their dopamine, and if we can get their dopamine levels up, they&#8217;re not looking for those addictive hits anymore. And when people have addictions and they&#8217;ve been struggling in overusing alcohol or drugs or things like that, doing a neurotransmitter tests can be extremely Dr. Deb 10:23effective in us finding the neurotransmitters that are out of balance. And then we can also look to see if there&#8217;s a genetic component that&#8217;s contributing to some of these issues as well. And you can actually test for these neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters can be tested by blood or by urine. Now, from a functional medicine standpoint, they&#8217;re much better tested via urine because we&#8217;re seeing functional issues from a diagnostic disease issue. We want to look more at blood testing that gives us a different aspect of things. So using these tests appropriately can really help identify different medications that might be helpful, or different supplements that might be helpful for you. In some cases, we may supplement with amino acids like five HTP for serotonin, this is a precursor to serotonin, or L tyrosine for dopamine. These are very helpful in increasing these amino acids that make these neurotransmitters and can be used safely with medications, if you&#8217;re working with providers that really understand how to utilize these amino acids so that you don&#8217;t overdose on them, and then there&#8217;s some really exciting areas of research now in the world of peptides and exosomes and other integrative therapies that can be used to regulate neurotransmitters, these therapies hold incredible promise for people dealing with chronic stress, Depression and neurologic neuro sorry, neurological issues. Peptides and exosomes are one of my favorite things to look at as options in people who&#8217;ve tried everything else and nothing has worked. So I want to share with you, how do you know if your neurotransmitters are out of balance or not so symptoms like chronic fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, depression, difficulty focusing, these can all be signs that your neurotransmitters are out of balance, and testing is available through functional medicine practitioners like myself, and once we identify the imbalances, we can create a personalized plan to support your neurotransmitter health. I&#8217;ve seen so many clients over the years experience incredible transformations once we&#8217;ve addressed these imbalances. For example, a patient struggling with severe anxiety and insomnia discovered that low GABA levels were the root cause, and through targeting therapies and lifestyle changes, she was able to sleep better and regain a sense of calm. Ultimately, neurotransmitters are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to health and wellness, but they&#8217;re a critical one. Balancing them can unlock a whole new level of vitality and mental clarity. I really want to encourage you, if you&#8217;re struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, to look at neurotransmitters as a potential therapy that can help you. If you&#8217;re on medication that seems to be working okay, but not great, or maybe you&#8217;ve had to change multiple medications to find the right one, and they still don&#8217;t feel like they&#8217;re working as good as they should really explore the world of neurotransmitters. Anybody who&#8217;s suffering with a neurological condition, MS, Parkinson&#8217;s dementia, ALS, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, these things can be affected by neurotransmitters. For instance, we know that als has a connection to a glutamate toxicity, and if glutamate is elevated, we need to get that glutamate out of the brain to reverse the ALS symptoms and identifying this glutamate toxicity, and exactly how high it is, will allow us to implement a protocol that will get glutamate out of the brain and potentially make those neurological symptoms better for you. So this has a really huge potential in both chronic illness, neurological diseases as well as things like depression, anxiety, insomnia and simply supplementing with these amino acids can make an incredible difference for us. So I want to thank you for joining me today on Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now, and if this episode has resonated with you, share it with someone who can benefit from learning. About neurotransmitters and their impact on health. Remember, wellness isn&#8217;t just about feeling good. It&#8217;s about thriving in an area of your life, and not just one area, but every area of your life. And if you&#8217;re ready to explore how neurotransmitter testing and functional medicine can help, visit serenity healthcare center.com or reach out to my team, and we&#8217;re happy to have a discussion with you until next time I&#8217;m Dr Deb, reminding you to take care of your body, mind and spirit. Be well, and I&#8217;ll see you on this next episode. Dr. Deb Sponsor:This episode is sponsored by Serenity Health Care Center, where we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic health conditions to help you achieve optimal wellness. Visit us at www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com or call 262-522-8640 to learn more. Connect with Dr. Deb: Website: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com Facebook: Serenity Health Care Center Instagram: @SerenityHealthCenter Twitter: @DrDebSerenity Subscribe &amp; Review:Don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you love what you hear, leave a review and let us know how we’re helping you on your wellness journey. The post Episode 231: Unlocking the Power of Neurotransmitters: The Key to Better Health and Wellness first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Deb 0:00Welcome to the podcast. Before we begin, there is a disclaimer we have to make. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances, we encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Deb 1:12Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener discretion is advised. Now for the show, Welcome to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now. I&#8217;m your host, Dr, Deb, and I&#8217;m thrilled to have you here together. We&#8217;ll explore the cutting edge of health and wellness, uncovering powerful strategies to help you look, feel and live your best at any age, Deb 1:35from alternative medicine to integrative therapies, functional nutrition to mind, body healing. We&#8217;re here to challenge the status quo and empower you with knowledge. As a nurse practitioner, naturopathic doctor, shaman and someone who&#8217;s walked the path of healing firsthand, I&#8217;m passionate about helping you thrive. So let&#8217;s dive in and discover the tools you need to unlock a vibrant, healthy life. This is your journey, and I&#8217;m honored to be your guide. Let&#8217;s talk wellness. Now today, we&#8217;re diving into a fascinating and critical topic about how symptoms in our bodies often serve as red flags for infections. Understanding these connections is essential for both timely diagnosis and effective treatment. Deb 2:25Symptoms that our bodies show us in our ways of signaling something&#8217;s wrong, but often they can be misunderstood or misdiagnosed, and by connecting these dots, we can uncover hidden infections that are driving chronic health issues. Deb 2:44You know, I&#8217;ve treated chronic illness now for over 20 Deb 2:49plus, maybe 25 years, close to that somewhere, and Deb 2:55it always presents in very similar patterns of things, and unfortunately, what ends up happening are the symptoms that people go to their primary care doctors with often, I believe, overwhelms them. And we&#8217;re taught that if somebody has multiple symptoms to think about depression and anxiety versus thinking about an infection or something chronic in nature and in our naturopathic world, we&#8217;re taught that the body is a whole and as a whole, every symptom gives us another answer or another glimpse into exactly what&#8217;s happening. So symptoms of infection are quite common, right? We know fever, fatigue, pain or swelling, that these are not necessarily the problems themselves, but these are the things we pay attention to. And if you remember having the flu. We&#8217;ve all had that, right? You feel achy, you feel tired, you feel flu like this, what we call it. But what if you felt like that more times than not? What if your symptoms kind of ebbed and flowed? They were here for a couple of days, and then they were gone. They were here for a week or two, and they&#8217;re gone. And you&#8217;re trying to find that pattern that Deb 4:30trigger, so to speak, that makes these symptoms present or makes them worse. And that&#8217;s where you become the medical detective. That&#8217;s where I&#8217;ve become the medical detective, and it&#8217;s learning to identify those symptoms between acute and chronic symptoms in nature. So acute symptoms tend to be fever, sore throat, rash, Deb 4:56they&#8217;re usually linked to short term colds and. Deb 5:00Lose. But you can have these symptoms as chronic things as well. Or, like I said before, they can come and go in patterns. Typically, when we see chronic symptoms, it&#8217;s chronic fatigue, fatigue that can be so debilitating that you can&#8217;t get out of bed. Or maybe it&#8217;s just fatigue. When you wake up in the morning and you don&#8217;t really feel rested, you don&#8217;t feel like you&#8217;ve slept, you&#8217;re not ready to hit the floor running and get going through the day like you used to. And then there&#8217;s brain fog, that fog over your head where you&#8217;re just not quite remembering things properly, or something that we call word finding. You can&#8217;t find the right word. You&#8217;re looking at an object, and you know what the name of the object is, but you can&#8217;t quite grasp the word for it, or you&#8217;re mixing up words. You&#8217;re calling a chair, a table and a table, a bench. You can&#8217;t find a person&#8217;s name like you used to we tend to think that&#8217;s common with age, but it&#8217;s really not. Or what about the joint pain or the muscle pain that comes and goes one minute, it&#8217;s your wrist or your finger, and it&#8217;s a knee, then it&#8217;s an ankle, then it&#8217;s my neck, then it&#8217;s my shoulder, then it&#8217;s my elbow. That type of migratory is what we call it, joint or muscle pain is not common. It&#8217;s not normal aging process. It&#8217;s a red flag for us and tells us that something&#8217;s going on. What about symptoms like numbness and tingling that come and go, or the feeling is, though something&#8217;s creeping and crawling inside of your body. We call that the circulations. These are all symptoms that are not normal symptoms as we age, chronic headaches where you feel like somebody&#8217;s just driving a stake or a spike in your head, the blurred vision that comes and goes, the floaters, those squiggly lines that happen inside of your eyes, or the eye pain, jaw pain, Deb 7:17these are just some of the symptoms that we see with chronic illness. What about the bladder? Symptoms that happen, that urgency, that frequency, or that pain in the bladder, that burning in the bladder, or food sensitivities. One minute you can eat something like gluten, and the next day you can&#8217;t you&#8217;re feeling sick from it. Or one day you can have tomatoes, and the next time you have tomatoes, your joints are on fire. These are all signals of a bigger problem, a bigger thing. Now, oftentimes it is infection. It&#8217;s something like Epstein Barr or chronic strep, which gets now diagnosed as pans pandas. It could be Lyme disease or some other tick borne disease. And these are all symptoms of Long Haul COVID as well. These things that come in waves about every two weeks, you see a pattern arising. These are chronic symptoms, and their chronic illness, things and they really, truly debilitate people&#8217;s lives and keep them from working, keep them from doing the things that they absolutely love in life. Now, viral infections like Epstein Barr Virus can create a lot of these same type of symptoms, this chronic fatigue, the swollen lymph nodes that come and go, the low grade fever. Deb 8:51These are very debilitating. Some of these conditions, like Epstein Barr and HHV six, which is a herpes family virus can actually lead to bigger problems, like autoimmune diseases, thyroid disease, diseases like Ms. The literature is very clear that these things play a role in autoimmune diseases, the HHV six and CMB. So HHV six is a herpes family virus and CMB is cytomegalovirus. These are definitely linked to neurological symptoms, chronic pain and even cognitive decline. HHV, six for years, has been known to be a culprit in fibromyalgia, that sore muscle achiness that just doesn&#8217;t want to leave the body. And unfortunately, we&#8217;ve kind of gotten away from looking at these viruses as being culprits for the symptoms that we have, and instead we&#8217;re looking at, how do we treat the symptoms, instead of, how do we get to the root cause of these symptoms? Now there&#8217;s other bacterial infection. Deb 10:00As well. Lyme disease is one of them. I mentioned that a little bit earlier, this typically in an acute setting, will start like flu, like symptoms, joint pain, possibly a bullseye rash. But according to people like Dr Horowitz, we know that the bulls rash only appears in about 20% of the population of people, so that&#8217;s not always a telltale sign. Or if you get bit in an area where you wouldn&#8217;t necessarily see the bullseye rash like maybe on your head, it could also be missed. Now, some of these symptoms can evolve into neurological issues, numbness and tingling and even seizures. We see chronic pain is a very common one, and Lyme disease actually can mimic diseases like MS and other autoimmune diseases like lupus, and these symptoms can go on for decades, undiagnosed and untreated. And we have some other tick borne diseases as well, like Bartonella, which is commonly associated with psychiatric symptoms, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, there&#8217;s a common term that we use called Bart rage that will cause people to be totally normal one minute, and they go from zero to 100 in seconds, like they&#8217;re fine, they&#8217;re angry, and then they&#8217;re fine again. This is very common with a Bartonella infection, and then we have bacterial infections like chlamydia pneumonia that can directly affect the cardiovascular system and cause a lot of cardiovascular symptoms like syncope or blood pressure issues or pots uh, postural tachycardia orthostatic or sorry, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. And this can be very debilitating for people, because their heart rate goes up very high, sometimes to as high as 180 or 190 and then comes back down right away. So these bacterial infections can be very devastating. When they&#8217;re not diagnosed and they don&#8217;t continue to be diagnosed, they can create damage long term. And then on top of that, we have fungal infections as well. We have things like mold toxicity. This is going to cause very similar symptoms of infection, such as brain fog, sinus issues, chronic sinusitis, chronic sinus pressure and pain, especially if the mold is colonized in the nasal passages, we&#8217;re going to see muscle weakness, muscle pain, and these often overlap with autoimmune and neurological conditions, so testing for mycotoxins is key to really uncovering a lot of these hidden culprits as well. Now I know in our country, we&#8217;re very clean. We don&#8217;t travel anywhere, right? We never go outside of the country. Deb 12:55I&#8217;m being facetious here, but people in our country do get parasitic infections, especially when tick borne these diseases present, we can have an infection called Babesia. Babesia is a parasite infection. It&#8217;s also what we call a co infection of Lyme. It can cause night sweats and air hunger and severe fatigue. These symptoms are often mistaken for other illnesses like menopause or anxiety disorder, and there&#8217;s a whole host of other parasites, like liver flukes and Deb 13:30tapeworms, things like that, that we can get from traveling and walking barefoot or getting bit by no seams. And these parasitic infections can directly cause severe and debilitating chronic illnesses for us, and they need to be treated in this country. And we used to treat them when people lived more on the farm, but since we&#8217;ve moved away from the farm and into the city, and we don&#8217;t have a lot of exposure to farm animals, people don&#8217;t get treated for them, but I will tell you, they are very prevalent and very common, and there&#8217;s a lot of research and data right now going on that&#8217;s showing parasitic infections have a connection to cancer, and they&#8217;re being treated with medications that treat parasitic disease, like ivermectin or like Other anti parasitics, like prosequential and things like that, fembendozol. And so the research is very clear out of the NIH that these things are present, and they do play a role in that. And so understanding how to identify parasitic infections and treat them is so important. The sad part is, with parasitic testing, we&#8217;re very limited, and the only way to easily diagnose this is stool testing, and it&#8217;s not very accurate. It&#8217;s not very specific. So you can use a biofeedback system, like an on demand, or a bioscan or muscle testing kinesiology, to determine if somebody has parasites and there are. Deb 15:00Are some blood tests that we can do as well to see if there&#8217;s some parasitic infections going on, and that gives us a better glimpse into what&#8217;s happening there. So you know, as I&#8217;m talking about this, I&#8217;m sure a lot of you are saying, Gosh, I feel that way, and I&#8217;ve talked to my practitioner for a long time about this. Why didn&#8217;t they pick it up? Or why is this so difficult to diagnose and how often is this misdiagnosed? Well, these overlapping symptoms can confuse practitioners quite a bit, the brain fog, the fatigue, the joint pain. This could mean anything from an autoimmune disease to depression, and without proper testing of the root cause, a hidden infection can often be missed, and if your practitioner is not asking about your lifestyle and where you live, and do you live in a water damaged building? Or have you lived in a water damaged building in the past, not asking you, do you live in a moldy place? Because most people say, No, I don&#8217;t live in a place with mold. But if you ask them, has your house ever been water damaged? Or have you lived in a water damaged or worked in a building that was water damaged? The answer oftentimes is yes, or Well, here I live in 100 year old house. Well, I&#8217;m here to sadly say, if you live in 100 year old house, you&#8217;ve lived in a water damaged building. That home has been water damaged at some point over the 100 years that you&#8217;ve lived in that and any damage from water, most likely is going to create some type of mold problem. And the question is, where is the mold How big is the mold problem? And are you reacting to this from a mold standpoint? And then the other aspect is, have you ever been bitten by a tick. And a lot of times we hear no not that I&#8217;m aware of, or I&#8217;ve never had one attached, but I&#8217;ve had them crawling on me. Now, ticks that cause Lyme disease are often very small. We don&#8217;t see them a lot of times, and sometimes you&#8217;ll see a bite that looks like maybe a spider bite. It&#8217;s raised and it&#8217;s red, but it doesn&#8217;t look like a traditional bulls eye rash, and you blow it off, and then the next couple of days, you&#8217;re sick, and you don&#8217;t make the connection between the two. And so really digging in and asking some of these questions is important to finding the answers and actually saving the client money on testing, because when we can identify these things, we know exactly where and how to spend your dollars for testing. We also do some testing through something called thermography and biofeedback with an on demand machine, which can really narrow in for us exactly what we&#8217;re looking for. So we&#8217;re not just spending dollars for testing to try to catch something. We&#8217;ll have a better idea of exactly what&#8217;s going on by using those two tests as well. Deb 17:44You know, also looking at different tests like PCR or Elisa or a western blot for Lyme disease is very important, but those tests are not 100% accurate. Just recently, maybe about a month ago, the FDA approved iGenex immunoblot testing for Lyme disease, and this is a very specific test and very sensitive, so it really helps us identify what&#8217;s going on. Unfortunately, it&#8217;s going to take some time before our traditional laboratories, like quest and lab core and some of those companies actually start ordering the test kit for immunoblot, and then we need time to educate the practitioners about immunoblots so they understand what it does and how specific it is, so they can order that test over a screen test or an Elisa or a PCR or Western Blot, so we can actually get better answers and quicker answers into determining whether or not you have a tick borne disease. You know, it&#8217;s Deb 18:47very difficult sometimes to work with practitioners who are uninformed and just haven&#8217;t learned this yet. And this is where functional medicine or integrative medicine or holistic medicine, whatever we want to call that today, plays a very specific and Deb 19:05important role, in my opinion, because in functional medicine, we look at the whole picture. We look at all of your symptoms, that history, that lifestyle, that specialized testing to the pinpoint the infection of the driving illness. We look at your gut function. We look at your immune system and how well it&#8217;s actually functioning. We look at the pattern of symptoms, of what happened. You know, did something trigger this? Were you sick? Did you get a vaccine? Did you get a travel or a move or a stressful event? What was the triggering factor that caused these symptoms for you, and that is so important to us, getting to the answers quicker than if we weren&#8217;t taking that detailed history for you. So I want to share with you a case study of a client that we had, that had. Deb 20:00Migraines and fatigue, and traditional doctors couldn&#8217;t find the cause for her migraines, but functional testing revealed that she had a chronic epstein barr virus, which is the virus that causes mono she had mold exposure, and once we started treating these mycotoxins, which are the toxins that get released from mold in her body. Treating the Epstein Barr Virus, her symptoms started to resolve, and she no longer was suffering from debilitating migraines on almost a daily basis. And this changed her life. I mean, just imagine waking up every morning with a horrible migraine. Nothing&#8217;s helping, no medication, nothing that the doctors have done, and nobody can give you an idea on what&#8217;s going on, and you find out that it&#8217;s an infectious process, and simply by starting an antiviral and anti fungal protocol, all of a sudden these debilitating migraines that you&#8217;ve been dealing with for years start to go away and you have a normal life again. This is life altering and life changing for people who&#8217;ve been suffering for these kinds of things for decades or even just a year or two. So I want to give you some really actionable steps that can help you, maybe even find your patterns, find your causes for your symptoms, and you can share this with your practitioners, and it&#8217;ll help them identify quicker for you, what&#8217;s going on. Tracking your symptoms is key, keeping a journal of the symptoms, noting when they appear, how severe they are. Are there any patterns? Is it changing with the weather? Does it change with what I eat? Deb 21:46Does it change with the stressful events that I have? Deb 21:51Does it happen for a couple of days, and then it&#8217;s good for maybe two or three weeks, and then it comes back again, if you&#8217;re a woman, is it triggered by my menstrual cycle or not, lot of these infections have patterns. They have life cycles, and as they ebb and flow in their life cycle, your symptoms will change, whether it&#8217;s every two weeks or every three weeks. This can be really important for your practitioner to identify what infection may be going on based on these types of things. And then certainly look at, is there anything that you&#8217;re doing that makes it better, or maybe even intensifies it, hot versus cold, sleeping versus not, Deb 22:38pressure versus no pressure, massage versus no massage, any of those things that can make your symptoms better or worse. Now I also think it&#8217;s really important to work with practitioners who understand advanced diagnostic tools to uncover hidden infections. This is key if you&#8217;re working with somebody who doesn&#8217;t understand mycotoxin illness, or doesn&#8217;t understand Lyme disease or chronic infection or pots or even chronic long haul these days, because we&#8217;re dealing with that now, then it&#8217;s going to be harder for them to get to the root cause of what you&#8217;re doing. Not every holistic practitioner deals with the same thing. You may have one person that&#8217;s an anti aging person, and they&#8217;re really great at hormones, but they&#8217;re not so good at infection, or somebody that&#8217;s really great at gut health, but not really great at hormones. And so it&#8217;s hard to find a practitioner that is an expert in all of these arenas. So sometimes you need a couple of different practitioners in your Deb 23:41in your tool kit, so to speak, you know, into your expertise there. But if you&#8217;re lucky enough to find practitioners that have been doing this a long time, and they are experts in every area, that can really help move things along a lot quicker. At Serenity Healthcare Center, the clinic that I own, our practitioners are trained experts in all of those arenas, and I have practitioners have been working with me a very long time. They&#8217;re extremely knowledgeable about these things, and can help put those pieces of the puzzle together for you. Now, you also want to find a practitioner that focuses on treating the infections in as quick of a process as we can now, some infections we can treat very quickly. Some take a very long time. If you&#8217;ve had these infections for a very long time, you can&#8217;t expect them to go away quickly. It will take time. You also need to explore proper nutrition, proper detoxification processes and stress management as well. This is so incredibly important to manage your stress, manage your nutrition, and you need to do this in order to heal a lot faster. So take the time to get all of this right. You know, symptoms are not our enemy. They&#8217;re our Messenger, and by. Deb 25:00Understanding the story they tell, we can uncover these hidden infections and take steps towards truly healing. So if you&#8217;re struggling with chronic symptoms and you feel unheard, reach out to a practitioner who will dig deeper. You deserve answers and healing. You deserve to feel better. You deserve to have your life back. Don&#8217;t stop if one practitioner isn&#8217;t the right practitioner for you, find a different one. Don&#8217;t be afraid to fire a practitioner that&#8217;s not connecting with you, right? It&#8217;s okay if they don&#8217;t connect with you. You don&#8217;t always have to connect with that practitioner. But find somebody that you can speak with that you can connect with, that listens to you and understands exactly what is important to you, and can help you get to the root cause and help you get over the bridge and not keep you on that sick Path forever. So I really hope that this episode has helped you and encouraged you to find answers and ask the right questions and keep that journal and really help you heal and grow as a person, as a healthy individual Deb 26:21and and just living the best possible life that you can live, because it&#8217;s so incredibly important for not just you, but for others as well. Thank you for joining me today on Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now, and I hope you&#8217;re leaving with new insights and inspirations to take control of your health and wellness journey. Remember, your body has an incredible ability to heal when we give it the tools and support it needs. If you found value in today&#8217;s episode, don&#8217;t forget to subscribe. Leave a review and share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Together, we can spread the message of empowerment and holistic healing, and if you&#8217;re ready to take the next step in your wellness journey, visit serenity Healthcare Center com to learn more about the programs and resources I offer. Let&#8217;s work together to help you thrive and achieve the vibrant health you deserve. Until next time, stay well, stay vibrant, and keep embracing your wellness journey. I&#8217;m Dr Deb, and this was, let&#8217;s talk wellness now. Dr. Deb Overview:Dr. Deb, a nurse practitioner and naturopathic doctor, discusses how symptoms like chronic fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain can indicate hidden infections. She explains that common infections like Epstein-Barr Virus, Lyme disease, and Bartonella can cause debilitating symptoms and often go undiagnosed. Dr. Deb emphasizes the importance of functional medicine, which considers the whole body, and advanced diagnostic tools like thermography and biofeedback. She shares a case study of a client with migraines and fatigue who was treated for chronic Epstein-Barr and mold exposure, leading to significant symptom improvement. Dr. Deb advises tracking symptoms, working with knowledgeable practitioners, and adopting a holistic approach to healing. Action Items:Keep a journal to track symptoms, noting patterns and factors that make them better or worse.Reach out to a practitioner who is an expert in identifying and treating chronic infections.Explore proper nutrition, detoxification, and stress management as part of the healing process.The post Episode 230: Symptoms and How They Correlate with Infection first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Deb 0:00Welcome to the podcast. Before we begin, there is a disclaimer we have to make. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances, we encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener Discretion is Advised now for the show. Deb 1:19Hello and welcome to today&#8217;s episode estrogen and MS, how hormones impact neurological health and symptom management. I&#8217;m Dr Deb, and today we&#8217;re diving into a fascinating and complex topic, the link between hormones, specifically estrogen, and neurological health in women, particularly as it relates to MS or multiple sclerosis. Today, we&#8217;ll explore how declining estrogen levels in women may not only trigger ms, but also impact the severity and the progression of symptoms. Estrogen is more than just a reproductive hormone. It&#8217;s plays a crucial role in our immune system and the nervous system health. This intersection of hormones and neurological Health offers insights that may lead to improved management and treatments for women with Ms. So to provide some context, estrogen is a hormone that does more than govern reproductive functions. Research shows that estrogen plays a protective role in the brain, and it can reduce inflammatory responses, promote cell repair and support overall neurological function. It&#8217;s fascinating to consider estrogens far reaching impact on the nervous system, and as we&#8217;ll see, the effects are particularly relevant in the context of MS. MS is about three times more common in women than in men, and research suggests that hormonal fluctuations significantly influence both the risk and expression of MS symptoms. This gender difference points to hormones, and especially estrogen as an area worth closer examination. So let&#8217;s dive deeper into the science to understand why estrogen is such a significant factor in an in Ms. So estrogen as a neuro protector really well, it&#8217;s true, estrogen provides significant neuro protective benefits by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, and studies have shown that estrogen can decrease levels of pro inflammatory cytokines while enhancing antioxidant defenses, creating a protective environment for neurons. Research has shown that women with higher estrogen levels tend to have lower markers of neuro inflammation, which is critical, because inflammation in the brain can lead to damage over time, and this protective effect of estrogen helps keep the brain in a healthier state, which is particularly beneficial for managing conditions like Ms. Now, estrogen has an impact that goes even further than that. It&#8217;s called myelin. So myelin is the protective sheath, or the coding around the nerves, and it&#8217;s essential for nerve communication, and estrogen plays a direct role in supporting this myelin repair. So let me explain a little bit more about myelin, because I think it&#8217;s important for us to understand if you think of your nerves as an electrical wire, we&#8217;ve all seen electrical wires that go behind the walls, right, and you pull out that wire, and if you&#8217;ve done any kind of remodeling, you may or may not have seen somebody strip away that plastic coating. Sometimes it&#8217;s yellow, sometimes it&#8217;s blue, and inside there are a couple of wires. Sometimes there&#8217;s one, sometimes there&#8217;s two, sometimes there are three, and. So think of that plastic coating as the myelin that protects your own nervous system. And what happens in MS and and sometimes other neurodegenerative diseases is that protective coating that myelin becomes disrupted or becomes damaged. And when it becomes damaged like that is when the nerves can be exposed, and when the nerves can be exposed, they can become irritated, and that&#8217;s kind of what we&#8217;re talking about with what happens on a very low scientific level with Ms. But I think everybody can understand when we&#8217;re talking about that what exactly is happening there? So estrogen, which is one of my favorite hormones, by the way, and I have been promoting hormones my entire career. I started learning about hormones when I was in my mid 20s. I worked for a reproductive endocrinologist, and became so in love with hormones, and so fascinated by them and what they can do and how they affect us. And I really believe that over the years, hormones, especially estrogen, have gotten a really horrible rap, Deb 6:14and they didn&#8217;t need to be. So I&#8217;m a proponent of it. I do not like synthetic hormones. I really love bioidentical hormones, and you can find an episode here in the beginning of my series that goes back a couple of years, that talks about all the hormones and why I love them so much, and what&#8217;s the difference between bioidentical hormones and what&#8217;s the difference between synthetic hormones. It&#8217;s all there for you. So go back and check those out. But let&#8217;s get back to to the episode today. It&#8217;s so easy for me to get off on a tangent. I&#8217;m so sorry you guys. So estrogen stimulates the cells, and these are called oligodendrocytes, which are responsible for myelin production. Animal studies have actually shown that estrogen can increase myelin thickness and even support remyelination, a critical process for people with MS, where myelin damage is a core part of the disease, and this finding gives hope for ways to support or restore the nervous system&#8217;s function, actually in MS, and so there is a huge gender discrepancy between women who develop MS and men. It is something that affects women more commonly than men, and particularly during those reproductive years. This suggests to us that female hormones influence this disease and symptoms of MS often vary with hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, leading further to the support of this idea that estrogen plays a significant role in how MS manifests and progresses. So hormonal decline can disrupt the immune system. We call it immune dysregulation. As estrogen declines during menopause, the immune system changes, and it becomes apparent. We all know that as we get older, our immune system doesn&#8217;t work as well. This is why everybody&#8217;s advertising to the elderly population to get your vaccines and to do this and to do that, there are much easier ways to stimulate the immune system than that, and I can talk about those in in a different series as well. But today I want to focus on how estrogen, the decline of estrogen, can actually lead to an immune dysregulation, increasing the risk of autoimmune activity, which can amplify MS symptoms. A study from the Journal of immunology found that postmenopausal women with MS tend to have higher levels of pro inflammatory markers, which can lead to worsening symptoms like fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties. And this means that estrogen decline doesn&#8217;t only affect the body in general, but may also directly impact ms symptom intensity and estrogens anti inflammatory role. So estrogen naturally has an anti inflammatory property to it, and when estrogen levels drop, pro inflammatory cytokines rise, leading to increased brain inflammation, which may worsen cognitive issues and sensory disturbances in Ms. And research has published in neurology in 2020, found that women with MS who had lower estrogen levels, they showed higher inflammatory markers, correlating with more intense symptoms, and these patterns offer insight into why women may experience a surge in MS symptoms as estrogen declines. Now there&#8217;s also compelling evidence that Ms relapse rates increase during perimenopausal time, a time that marked is. Marked by fluctuating and declining estrogen levels. There was a review in the British Medical Journal that found that women in their perimenopausal age experienced a 30% increase in relapse rates, which researchers attribute largely to that estrogen drop. Now is there clinical evidence supporting hormonal replacement Yes, there is BHRT has a potential therapy in MS, and I believe other neurological diseases as well, hormone replacement therapy, or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, has shown promise for alleviating some MS symptoms in menopausal women by stabilizing estrogen levels. So for some women, BHRT can improve symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, cognitive decline associated with Ms. And there&#8217;s another study published in Multiple Sclerosis journal that found that women receiving hormone replacement therapy reported better cognitive function, less fatigue than those who didn&#8217;t receive it. These findings offer hope for using hormone replacement therapy as a part of the MS treatment plan for women in menopause. So how does hormone replacement therapy actually work to help MS symptoms, while we know that hormones may reduce inflammation, protect the nerve cells from damage and even support myelin repair, and this combination of benefits means that women on hormone replacement therapy could experience fewer symptom flare ups and potentially a slower disease progression. In a small clinical trial published in neurotherapeutics, MS, patients on HRT showed improved markers. MRI markers actually of their brain health, suggesting a protective effect on brain tissue. These results indicate that hormone replacement therapy may indeed have a therapeutic benefit in managing MS symptoms during menopause. Now, there are practical considerations that we need to think about when we&#8217;re doing BioIdentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. BHRT, while this shows promise, it is not a one size fits all solution, each patient&#8217;s hormone levels, MS, progression and the overall health are unique, age, symptom severity and pre existing health conditions must all be considered before starting. HRT. Women interested in HRT should consult their healthcare providers to determine if this is a good fit for them. We have to be cognizant of this. We have to be cautious. Women with a family history of breast cancer may not benefit from hormone replacement therapy. Women that have clotting disorders cannot use hormone replacement therapy, at least estrogen. Are there other hormones that we can use? Yes, will they impact neurological disease as well as estrogen? We&#8217;re not sure, maybe or maybe not. So everything that we do in healthcare in general, in my opinion, should be a very personalized, individualized plan, but that doesn&#8217;t always happen, so make sure you have these conversations with your healthcare providers find out if you&#8217;re a candidate or not, and then don&#8217;t rely on a traditional primary care practitioner to manage your hormone replacement therapy. For you make sure you&#8217;re working with somebody who&#8217;s skilled and knowledgeable in hormone replacement therapy, there is a very distinct difference in people who do this as a passion, have studied this for decades, who know what they&#8217;re doing, compared to someone who&#8217;s just doing this as a small piece of their practice, and they&#8217;re just prescribing the traditional therapy. I think that&#8217;s a huge thing to take into consideration. The other thing is, there is a difference between using synthetic hormones and using bioidentical hormones. They are different. Synthetic hormones are made from horse based estrogens, which we don&#8217;t contain in our body. At least the majority of them. Bioidentical hormones are plant derived, and these hormones are much better for us. They&#8217;re molecularly the same as what our body produces. So if I took a molecule of a bio identical hormone that I&#8217;m going to use for hormone replacement therapy, and a molecule of that same hormone, say estrogen, from your body, and we looked at them under the microscope, I would not be able to tell the difference between the two. They would look identical. And that&#8217;s what we want, because we don&#8217;t want the body to. To not be able to recognize this, not know what to do with this, and then we have other side effects and other problems that we weren&#8217;t expecting. So it&#8217;s really, really important, guys to work with somebody who understands this. If you could work with somebody who has the neurological background and hormones together, that&#8217;s even better, but there are very few of us practitioners out there that understand the neurological components of disease from an alternative perspective and hormone therapy at the same time. And so even if you can&#8217;t get a person like that in your state to prescribe, you could always find a consultant who can help manage how to prescribe those hormones. Oftentimes, a good place to look for that is your local compounding pharmacy. Often they will have practitioners that they work with that are very good at this. They may even give direction to that practitioner. If they don&#8217;t know how to prescribe they can give them some direction in how to do that until that person starts to learn more. So it&#8217;s really, really important to have all of the information that you&#8217;re looking for when it comes to prescribing this hormone therapy. Now there&#8217;s also some really exciting research that&#8217;s currently underway to understand estrogens effects on the brain and Ms. By continuing to study this connection, we hope to refine our understanding of who might benefit most from HRT and develop more targeted ways to support neurological health in MS through hormonal support. So integrating that knowledge between estrogen into MS management is key, and declining estrogen is not merely a reproductive issue. It has profound effects on the brain and the immune system and may trigger or intensify MS symptoms. This makes hormone support a potential pathway for improving the quality of life in women with MS and other neurological conditions. So by staying proactive and openly discussing hormone health with MS patients, healthcare providers can help women make informed choices about their options, including bioidentical hormone therapy. As research advances, we may find more refined, targeted ways to leverage Hormonal Health to improve ms management and the quality of life. This is really exciting stuff. I&#8217;m super excited as an MS person myself, Deb 17:39I love hormones. I always have. I&#8217;ve taken personally hormone replacement therapy since I was 28 years old. Started with progesterone, and now I take estrogen and progesterone. The key is to replace back what is necessary, what you&#8217;re deficient in, what your loss is to not just have the benefits of not having hot flashes and night sweats, that&#8217;s great, but that&#8217;s not the only benefit, and that&#8217;s usually what drives women to hormones, but it&#8217;s not what keeps them on hormones. There are a few vanity issues that I love to talk about with hormones. It makes our skin look better, it makes our hair function better, it makes our sex life better. All of that is improved as well, but it&#8217;s that neurological component, that memory, that focus our mood, our body&#8217;s ability to move more and be more flexible and just overall, stay younger and healthier longer. To me, that&#8217;s key about replacing hormones, and I love that we&#8217;re starting to look at this in a different fashion, and we&#8217;re starting to do research on how important it is to replace estrogen in these days because of neurological conditions, and the neurological conditions are advancing even more. So it&#8217;s exciting to see we&#8217;re in a great time here, and there are many other things that we can do to help with MS today&#8217;s episode, though, I really just wanted to focus on estrogen, and we&#8217;ll dive into some of the other things later in other episodes that can keep our nervous system healthy and stronger longer. So that&#8217;s all I have for today&#8217;s episode. Thank you for joining us as we explore the complex relationship between hormones and neurological health in MS, be sure to tune in next time as we dive into another topic designed to bring new insights to your understanding of health and wellness. And I&#8217;d like to humbly ask if this episode was helpful for you or you know somebody that could benefit from this episode, please share it with them. Our goal is to spread knowledge and information about health as much as possible and reach as many people as possible. And don&#8217;t forget to like, subscribe and share so you know when our next episode is coming live. Thank you for joining me today. Dr. Deb The post Episode 229: Estrogen and MS: How Hormones Impact Neurological Health and Symptom Management. first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Disclaimer&nbsp; 0:00&nbsp; Welcome to the podcast. Before we begin, there is a disclaimer we have to make. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances, we encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener Discretion is Advised now for the show you Deb&nbsp; 1:45&nbsp; Welcome to uncovering the truth in your food where we&#8217;re going to dive deep into what&#8217;s hiding in the foods we eat every day. I&#8217;m Dr Deb, a naturopath passionate about uncovering the truth about our food systems and making our system and people healthier. Today, we&#8217;re peeling back the layers on additives, pesticides and herbicides commonly found in our food, and exploring why these ingredients are more tightly regulated in places like Europe than they are in the US. Deb&nbsp; 2:17&nbsp; So why is it that so many chemicals banned across the world are still widely used in America&#8217;s food supply, and what impact could they be having in our health? Deb&nbsp; 2:30&nbsp; Many everyday food items are filled with substances that don&#8217;t just add color or prolong the shelf life. They pose real health risks we have known for decades that artificial food dyes are one of our well known examples that have been linked to behavioral issues in children. But dyes aren&#8217;t the only concern. Today. We&#8217;re also exploring some of the hidden toxins, like pesticides and herbicides that can affect our health in a subtle but lasting way. Deb&nbsp; 3:04&nbsp; Robert Kennedy Jr has been very vocal about the need for tighter regulations, and he argues that our current food regulatory framework prioritizes corporate interests over public health, allowing chemicals like glyphosate and synthetic dyes to remain in our food despite evidence of harm. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup. Deb&nbsp; 3:29&nbsp; It is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, and in 2015 the World Health Organization&#8217;s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. Deb&nbsp; 3:43&nbsp; So let me let that sink in for just a second. Deb&nbsp; 3:47&nbsp; Why are we putting a active carcinogen on our food? Deb&nbsp; 3:54&nbsp; And you may think that this doesn&#8217;t really happen, but it does our big farming, industrial farming, which I have no problem with farming. My family were farmers. They&#8217;re still farming. We farm, and I think it&#8217;s important for us to deliver healthy food, but putting a toxin on our food to grow a larger crop or produce more at the risk of increasing cancer in our people. I&#8217;m not willing to trade that. That&#8217;s just not worth it when we can do farming in a different way, and we can have different practices that will still yield us a lot of product, Deb&nbsp; 4:41&nbsp; but without the toxins. Now, people might argue and say this isn&#8217;t true, but I&#8217;m going to tell you to take a look at the ads that run on TV if you granted thereby the legal system attorneys, if you&#8217;ve been exposed to paraquat, you. Deb&nbsp; 5:00&nbsp; Call us if you&#8217;ve developed Parkinson&#8217;s disease. Well, paraquat is an industrial pesticide used by farmers, and people who are exposed to this in quantities that could be mild or moderate, can develop neurological diseases. Don&#8217;t believe me. Deb&nbsp; 5:18&nbsp; Go read the back of the label. It will tell you all of the consequences that can happen. Go to the internet and look up the side effects of paraquat. It&#8217;s neurological conditions that occur after being exposed to a product like paraquat. Roundup has very similar things. You know, we spray roundup on our weeds, because we don&#8217;t want our weeds to grow. Well, when we spray it on our foods and on our land, that&#8217;s the same thing that happens. But we not only then disrupted the plant that we&#8217;re growing, we&#8217;ve also disrupted the soil for a number of years after that, because you cannot get those chemicals out of our soils immediately. Now Have there been ways that people have found to get that out of the soil quicker? Yes, they grow hemp on that land, and if they grow hemp on that land, the toxins grow up in the hemp, and then they can throw away the hemp, and a lot of those toxins can be pulled from the soil. Deb&nbsp; 6:17&nbsp; Still, don&#8217;t believe me. What about water supply? Deb&nbsp; 6:21&nbsp; We know that that round off roundup that grows goes on our land, will leach into our water fields, and if our water table is then disrupted with Roundup, and you&#8217;re drinking that water that was never an intended use of Roundup, but it&#8217;s happening. Test your water supply. There are many rural places that have a well that have roundup that has seeped into their water and into their water table, and unless you&#8217;re filtering it, you&#8217;re not getting that stuff out. And we don&#8217;t even know how well a filtration system will actually take that roundup out. Roundup is also known as a what we call endocrine disruptor, which we&#8217;ll talk about in a little bit, because I kind of went off on a tangent here. As you can see this, I&#8217;m very passionate about this, because it&#8217;s really a problem for us, so I want to try to get back on track. Let&#8217;s talk about the impact of glyphosate on health. Studies have linked long term exposure of glyphosate to the increased risks of cancer, including non Hodgkin&#8217;s lymphoma. These researchers from the University of Washington have also found that glyphosate exposure increases the cancer risk. Are you ready for this by as much as 41% in what they classify as high exposure groups? Well, high exposure group is going to be the farming community. Now, you may not farm, but you could live in a farming area, and if they&#8217;re spraying their crops and we have a windy day, research has shown that that chemical can blow up to 1200 miles on a given day. Deb&nbsp; 8:09&nbsp; So we think we may be clean in some areas, but we&#8217;re really not. We&#8217;re getting exposed to these things all over the place. This glyphosate residue has been detected in many of our popular foods, from breakfast cereals to breads, and yet, unlike Europe, where glyphosate usage is being restricted, the US continues to allow it in our agricultural practices, this raises a lot of questions about the potential long term effects of Our health and the health of our future generations. Deb&nbsp; 8:42&nbsp; Let&#8217;s talk more about pesticides, herbicides and what we call hormone disruptors. So beyond dyes and glyphosate, many common pesticides and herbicides disrupt the body in ways that go beyond cancer risk. Several of these chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, meaning that they can interfere with our hormonal balance, affecting everything from the growth and development to our fertility. Deb&nbsp; 9:11&nbsp; Atrazine is a widely used herbicide in the US, but it&#8217;s banned in Europe due to its environmental and health impacts. Research from the University of California, Berkeley, has shown that Atrazine exposure can cause changes in reproductive development and in some cases even gender changes in animals due to the hormonal interference. So let&#8217;s question that for a second. Are we not seeing one of the highest ever rates of fertility that we have ever seen in this country. Yes, we are. Everybody knows somebody who&#8217;s touched by a fertility issue that never used to be the case, that never used to be a problem. You know, if we look back in our family histories, many of. Deb&nbsp; 10:00&nbsp; Our grandparents and great grandparents had eight, 910, children. And I know there&#8217;s going to be people that are listening to this that are going to say, Well, that&#8217;s because they didn&#8217;t have use of birth control. Yes, that&#8217;s true, but they were also much more fertile than we are today. So what is going on with our fertility? There are a lot of things. I am not saying that it is just chemicals or just pesticides and herbicides. There&#8217;s a whole host of things that are disrupting our fertility right now. But what I am saying is that if we want to preserve our future and our generations to come, we have to start looking at this now. We should have been looking at this 1015, years ago, and we should not have let money and greed get in the way of this. So Dr Tyrone Hayes, who&#8217;s a researcher on Atrazine and the effects of Atrazine, has the ability, he believes, has the ability, to disrupt endocrine function at levels as low as 0.1 parts per billion, a concentration found in drinking water across the Midwest. Now I live in the Midwest, so this is rather frightening to me. So this raises significant concerns about its potential effects on our human health and on our hormonal system. So the fact that an herbicide could interfere with hormone function at such low levels is concerning, especially when this chemical is so prevalent in the US Food and water supply. It really brings home the importance of knowing what&#8217;s in our food and in our water. Now I&#8217;ve been practicing a long time. I&#8217;ve been practicing over 20 years. My specialty is women&#8217;s health, so I&#8217;ve looked at hormones for a very long time. I started out as a nurse working in fertility, and learned a lot about hormones and what they do and how they function on a fertility aspect, and then moved into working primarily more with postmenopausal women and addressing hormones there. However, I will say, in the last five to 10 years, I&#8217;m seeing younger women have hormonal disruption. Now, naturally, we lose hormones, starting about age 35 our hormones start to fall, but I&#8217;m seeing 20 year olds, 20 year old males, with testosterone levels that are equal to what we see in most of our 70 and 80 year old men. I am seeing testosterone levels that are in the 200 range, sometimes less in these young, 20 something year old men where they should be at their peak, they should be having testosterone levels way well above 500 and into 800 or 900 ranges. Now, not everybody has a testosterone level of 800 or 900 you&#8217;re going to have your highs and lows, and you&#8217;re going to have your averages. Deb&nbsp; 13:00&nbsp; And granted, I see clients that are having issues, so I may be seeing a little bit of a tainted result, but I&#8217;m sharing with you what I&#8217;m seeing. I&#8217;m not saying this is what&#8217;s happening to everybody, but I&#8217;m sharing what I&#8217;m seeing and the differences that I&#8217;ve seen over the course of my practice, which is significant. We are seeing a lot more gender issues. There&#8217;s no doubt about that, and we question where that&#8217;s coming from, and why is that happening now more than it&#8217;s ever happened before. And it&#8217;s not just because people feel comfortable coming forward. There is something that is changing, and if we know that these chemicals that are in our food and our water disrupt our hormones and cause these kinds of endocrine disruptions, I believe it&#8217;s our responsibility to do something about it and protect our people, protect our young people, and protect our future generations. Deb&nbsp; 13:56&nbsp; So Europe versus the US A Tale of Two food policies, it&#8217;s different. Let&#8217;s take a step back and look at how Europe and the US approach food safety. In the European Union, they follow a precautionary principle, banning substances that are suspected of being harmful until proven safe. But here in the US, we take the opposite approach, allowing companies to use these chemicals until they&#8217;re definitively proven to be harmful, sometimes decades after exposure has begun. Deb&nbsp; 14:30&nbsp; It&#8217;s insane that we allow our own food companies to pack our kids food with chemicals that European companies can&#8217;t use if it&#8217;s safe, why can&#8217;t they use it all over here, powerful example is titanium dioxide, a white agent used in foods like candy and gum. Europe banned this due to the studies suggesting it could damage DNA and increase cancer risk. But here in the US. Deb&nbsp; 15:00&nbsp; Still legally used in countless products. Deb&nbsp; 15:05&nbsp; Why? Why are we using a whitening agent that is a toxin, that is something people are trying to get rid of, not something that somebody is saying is healthy? It just doesn&#8217;t make any sense to me at all. Did you know that titanium dioxide is the white pigment that they put in paint and sunscreen and some dairy products? Deb&nbsp; 15:35&nbsp; Do I want to eat something that has a product that goes in paint. Deb&nbsp; 15:42&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think so. I don&#8217;t want that exposure. There&#8217;s just no way. Europe banned certain artificial dyes in foods marketed to children in 2010 Deb&nbsp; 15:55&nbsp; 2010 Deb&nbsp; 15:56&nbsp; Ladies and gentlemen, it is 2024 going on, 2025 here when I&#8217;m recording this and companies voluntarily removed them in the US, these dies are still prevalent, despite the risks. So again, I ask the question, why greed, money, laziness? I don&#8217;t know the true answer to it, but I would suspect it&#8217;s all of the above. Deb&nbsp; 16:23&nbsp; Children are particularly vulnerable. So let&#8217;s talk about the impact on our child&#8217;s health. Deb&nbsp; 16:32&nbsp; They are particularly vulnerable to these chemicals, from artificial dyes to the endocrine disruptors like Atrazine, and research shows that these additives and pesticides can contribute to everything from ADHD to allergies and hormonal imbalances. Deb&nbsp; 16:49&nbsp; I learned a long time ago from Dr Doris Rapp about the toxicity of these artificial dyes and what they can actually do to our children. And I want to share a quote with you, and then I&#8217;m going to share something that was so impactful for me when I learned about this from her, that still today, that memory is burned into my mind. So I want to quote Doris wrap where she talks about this, and she says, For many children, just a small amount of food coloring can make the difference between a good day and a bad day. These additives can act like a poison in the body, disrupting normal brain function and triggering extreme reactions. Deb&nbsp; 17:32&nbsp; Now the health impact of red dye number 40 and yellow dye number five are very clean, clearly seen. Studies have linked red number 40 and yellow number five to increase hyperactivity in children, especially those with attention deficit disorder. ADHD and the American Academy of Pediatrics has called for additional research into food dyes and their effects on children&#8217;s health. Parents have reported that eliminating these dyes from their children&#8217;s diets can make a profound difference, behavioral changes, emotional outbursts, mood swings. They&#8217;re just a few of these symptoms that can improve. Now, when I learned about this from Dr Doris rap, I was at a conference. Deb&nbsp; 18:18&nbsp; Gosh, this has to have been 20 ish, 22 years ago, and she was an amazing doc, because she video recorded every one of her kids that she allergy tested in her office, so they could see very distinctly the symptoms that they presented with, the behavior and symptoms they had when they were testing them, and then what was done, how they reacted when they were done testing them, when they gave them what we call a neutralizing dose. And there was one kid that stands out to me that I still remember today. I can see that memory clear as day in my head. He was probably 1415, years old, ish, you know, early teens, and he was in testing orange, and they gave him an orange and allergy. Tested him beforehand, normal kids, sitting hanging out, you know, doing his thing. They gave him the orange, and within five minutes, maybe 10 Max, I would say, probably closer to five, this big kid went from being completely normal, doing his thing, to curled up in a ball, talking about committing suicide, very anxious, very emotional. Deb&nbsp; 19:48&nbsp; It was traumatic for those of us in the audience watching this kid have this kind of reaction. Deb&nbsp; 19:56&nbsp; She gave him a neutralizing dose and within five to 10 minutes, he was totally back to normal again, and he had absolutely no recollection of what had transpired and that he was talking about committing suicide, no recollection at all. Deb&nbsp; 20:15&nbsp; When you see things like that, it makes a huge impact on you. It&#8217;s one thing to hear it. It&#8217;s a completely different thing to see it. And I was lucky enough to join a practice that did this therapy very early on in my career, and got to witness some of this myself. And we don&#8217;t do as much of it today as we used to, and it&#8217;s a sad thing. And I think in part, because people don&#8217;t know about it, they don&#8217;t know that these options are available to them, and that by simply treating their allergies, they may not need to use these expensive drugs that affect the brain and affect the moods and our neurotransmitters and everything about ourselves, of who we are as a person, because if your child is suffering from this because of a food sensitivity or a dye sensitivity, it&#8217;s easily reversible. It&#8217;s easily fixed by eliminating the dyes, eliminating the food and if we need to, we can treat with allergy drops. And I think there could be a lot of people treated differently in the system today if we utilize those tools. However, it&#8217;s harder and harder for those of us that do this type of medicine right now to practice this way, because there&#8217;s always somebody coming after us, fact checking us, telling us we&#8217;re, you know, not telling the truth. We&#8217;re taking advantage of people. The medical boards are coming after us on a regular basis, so it&#8217;s harder and harder for us to get this information out to people so that they can learn about it. Now, I&#8217;m very hopeful, with RFK being appointed to DHHS, that a lot of this will change, but it&#8217;s not something that&#8217;s going to change overnight. It&#8217;s certainly going to take some time for that to happen. Deb&nbsp; 22:08&nbsp; So let&#8217;s talk about some practical tips for cleaner eating. While we may not be able to change the US Food Policy overnight, we can make choices today to protect our health and the health of our families. And here are some practical tips for being a savvy shopper and reducing exposure to these chemicals. Choose organic whenever you can, organic foods are grown without synthetic pesticides and herbicides, making them a safer choice when you&#8217;re choosing organic because it is expensive. If you can&#8217;t do everything organic, at least do the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 13. You can find this online. I think it&#8217;s euw.org, (actually it is https://www.ewg.org/ see other links at the end of this podcast) Deb&nbsp; 22:50&nbsp; We&#8217;ll have this. And these are the foods that you want to make sure you&#8217;re always choosing organic, because they are latent with the highest amount of pesticides if you don&#8217;t, and herbicides and toxins. So try to do that as much as possible. Read labels. Carefully avoid products with artificial dyes, titanium dioxide, high fructose corn syrup. Look for labels that say no artist artificial colors or preservatives, no added sugars. This is really important. And the easiest way for me to say this to you is, if there&#8217;s a word on the label that you can&#8217;t pronounce, you shouldn&#8217;t be putting it in your body, just plain and simple, it&#8217;s a chemical. It&#8217;s some kind of chemical. You don&#8217;t need chemicals in your body. Our food was grown the way it is, for a reason, to fuel our bodies, not to make our bodies toxic. Look for the non GMO certification. This can be a good indication that fewer synthetic pesticides were used in the growing process. And consider what we call an elimination diet. If you suspect sensitivities, try removing foods with artificial dyes and additives for a few weeks to observe any changes. So one of the things that we do in our office when we&#8217;re talking about elimination diet is we say two weeks on, two weeks off, and do one food at a time. Because if you do a bunch of foods at one time, you&#8217;re not going to know what is causing what now you can certainly eliminate everything at one time for two weeks and then bring one food in at a time for two weeks. That&#8217;s a that&#8217;s a very acceptable way of doing a food elimination diet. And you want to make sure you keep a diary of how you&#8217;re feeling and look for things like, am I tired? Do I have headaches? You know, what&#8217;s my mood like? What&#8217;s my behavior like? How&#8217;s my thinking? Deb&nbsp; 24:41&nbsp; What&#8217;s going on with my skin? How am I sleeping? All of these things are things that you want to look at. It&#8217;s not whether or not you have a stomach ache or a headache right away. And the reason we say two weeks is there&#8217;s this sense of what we call food delay. So you can eat something today and continue to have. Deb&nbsp; 25:00&nbsp; Reactions to that food up to two weeks after you&#8217;ve consumed it. So that&#8217;s a delayed sensitivity or delayed reaction. It&#8217;s not an immediate reaction, and oftentimes those are the reactions that cause more of the nuisance type symptoms. Your immediate reactions are headaches, nausea, vomiting, you know, total hives, allergic reaction type thing, but the delays are a little more challenging to find, so do it slowly and take your time. So I want to share another quote with you from Dr Rapp. If you suspect your child&#8217;s behavior might be linked to something in their diet, try removing one food at a time like I just explained, especially foods with artificial colors and preservatives. You might be surprised at the transformation that can occur in just a few days. So I want to share a personal story with you. My oldest grandson was diagnosed with high functioning autism, and his behavior was not horrible by any means, but there were some challenges, and we had this conversation. He saw one of the docs that works for me that treats autism, and he made the recommendation that they take red dyes out of his diet. And simply by taking the red dye out of his diet, completely changed his personality and behavior. It was like night and day, and he knows at eight years old why he can&#8217;t have red dye they taught him, why they taught him what it does for him, how it makes him feel empowered him. And he will look at something and say, I&#8217;m sorry I can&#8217;t have that. It has red dye in it, and he knows it. Kids can learn this. We can&#8217;t shelter them from this. We have to educate them. Deb&nbsp; 26:41&nbsp; So I want to leave you with this moving forward with our awareness knowledge is power, and as consumers, every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of food system that we want to support. We may not have the same protections as Europe, but we can still make better choices, and we can protect our health and send a message to food companies that we want safer, cleaner food. Deb&nbsp; 27:10&nbsp; If this episode has made you think twice about what&#8217;s on your plate, share it with someone that you care about and remember change starts with us until next time, stay informed and stay healthy, because true wellness starts with what you eat. Thank you for joining uncovering the truth in your food. Stay empowered, stay healthy and see you next time you. Food News Sign Up&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/Dirty Dozen List&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.phpThe Clean Fifteen&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.phpGuide to Healthy Eating&#8230;&#8230; https://www.ewg.org/cleaners/EWG&#8217;s Healthy Living App.. https://www.ewg.org/apps/ Dr. DebThe post Episode 228: Toxic Foods first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Speaker 1 0:00Welcome to the podcast. Before we begin, there is a disclaimer we have to make. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now brings expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now its management or our partners, each affiliate, sponsor and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today&#8217;s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances, we encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold let&#8217;s talk wellness now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcasts. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought provoking. Listener Discretion is Advised now for the show, hello. Speaker 2 1:20Welcome back to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness. Now. I&#8217;m your host, Dr, Deb, and today I want to share with you something deeply personal. It&#8217;s a chapter of my life that changed everything for me, how I went from diagnosis to healing, from fear to strength. This is a journey of navigating the unknown, facing the unsettling reality of chronic illness, and ultimately choosing a path that aligned with my beliefs and my values. My story is about facing the diagnosis of MS multiple sclerosis and going against the grain by choosing a different path for anyone out there feeling lost, isolated or misunderstood in their healing journey, this episode is for you. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can inspire others to take control of their health and find their own paths to healing. So let me take you back to the beginning. Life was really busy, and I was doing all the things I loved. I was running a busy medical practice. I have six businesses. My career in healthcare was flourishing. I was educating practitioners and training them in functional medicine. My children were grown, but I was loving every minute that I could with my grandchildren, and I was doing a ton of traveling and just really living my life to the fullest. But something wasn&#8217;t quite right. I started experiencing these strange symptoms that came out of nowhere, or so it seemed. It all began with this deep, relentless fatigue that no amount of rest could fix. Now it was easy to blow off the fatigue, because it was COVID, and I had been sick with COVID twice. I knew that post COVID Fatigue was a real thing. We were just learning about long haul COVID, and I was busy. I wasn&#8217;t sleeping much because I was busy and I was stressed and I had lots to do, but I&#8217;d sleep and I&#8217;d feel like I never even closed my eyes, there was this constant brain fog, this kind of mental exhaustion, where even the simplest tasks felt overwhelming. It took me much longer to accomplish things that it had in the past. Taken me half the amount of time, and then the tingling started. It began with my toes. I love to walk, so I would be walking, and all of a sudden realized that I couldn&#8217;t feel one toe then another toe. And as we all do, we can make excuses for it. I simply thought that my socks weren&#8217;t right and my shoes, so I&#8217;d stop and I changed them, and then it must have been my shoes. Maybe those were bad and I needed new ones. Or the ones I always walked with suddenly weren&#8217;t good anymore. Or maybe it was the road and I wasn&#8217;t used to it, because I wasn&#8217;t walking on the road as much I was walking in the woods more. And then that sensation started to spread. All of a sudden, it would be a brushing across my leg, and then the brush across the face that felt like a feather. My muscles began to feel really weak, and I felt like they could. Betray me at any moment, I kept pushing it aside, telling myself I was just overworked or maybe a little too stressed, but deep down, I knew that there was something else going on. It was like my body was trying to send me a message, one that I wasn&#8217;t quite ready to understand. As I tell all of my clients, if you don&#8217;t listen to your body, your body will begin to speak louder and louder to you, and eventually it&#8217;ll be screaming at you. And I knew that, so I didn&#8217;t put it off too long, but probably a little longer than I should have. I finally decided to see the doctor. And I went to see my orthopedic specialist, who I trust, thinking this is just a bad neck issue. I&#8217;ve damaged my neck before. I&#8217;ve had multiple car accidents, multiple whiplashes, and I have a lot of degeneration. It must just be a bad neck. When I sat down to tell him my symptoms, he looked at me and said, Deb, you&#8217;re a very smart woman. You know what&#8217;s going on? Speaker 2 6:28my neck is bad, and I just need a little cortisone. I&#8217;ll be fine. When he sat down and pulled up next to me and closely got into my face and said, Deb, I think you have MS, and I remember looking at him very perplexed, because that was not on my radar anywhere. I remember feeling a little numb as the words sank in, and it was if the air had been sucked out of the room. At that moment, my husband looked at me, I looked at him, and I was filled with fear and dread, but I had to be strong for my husband. I didn&#8217;t want him to know how afraid I was, but I couldn&#8217;t help but think about what this would mean for my future, for my family, for my career, would I lose my independence? Would I become a burden to those that I loved? It was a devastating moment, one that I&#8217;ve had to share with clients numerous times, but it is very different. Sitting on the other side of the desk hearing those words, my doctor&#8217;s solution was very straightforward, let&#8217;s go get a brain MRI, let&#8217;s see if what I suspect is correct. And we laughed and joked about how he just wanted to see if I actually had a brain or not. I agreed, and I got in the car that night with my husband, not knowing what to say, not knowing how much to share. My husband doesn&#8217;t work in the medical field. He doesn&#8217;t know what&#8217;s coming if this is truly ms, but I do. We drove quietly for about 20 minutes, when he finally looked at me and said, What does this mean for you? What&#8217;s going to happen? And I sat back, and I shared with him what could potentially happen with Ms. I could lose function in my limbs. I could lose function of my brain. I could end up in a nursing home because no one would be able to take care of me, and that&#8217;s what we could be looking at right now. Speaker 2 9:06And we drove quietly for another 15 or 20 minutes as we went back to my office. And as I always do, I put on a smiling face, and I went back to seeing my clients, pretending like none of this happened, all the while in the back of my head, truly being worried about what I had just learned. So I did the brain MRI Speaker 2 9:37and December, 23 2020 22 i Two. I got the call from my orthopedic doctor who said, Deb, you have white matter brain disease. It&#8217;s in the prefrontal lobe, and this confirms, MS, I want you to go see the neurologist. And the good news. Is, this is early stage. You&#8217;re young, you&#8217;re healthy, and this can be treated with immunosuppressing drugs, and we can manage your symptoms. And I sat back and laughed and said, Thank you, but that&#8217;s not the route that I&#8217;m interested in taking in my world MS is a few other things until proven otherwise, their toxins, their infections and their nutrient deficiencies, mitochondrial deficiencies and viruses. Speaker 2 10:40So I&#8217;m going to go this route, and I&#8217;m going to find out what&#8217;s actually causing my white matter brain disease before I take on an immunosuppressive therapy. He encouraged me to not wait to get treatment, but he understood, and as wonderful as he is, he shared with me his last bit of encouragement, and said, I&#8217;m here if you need anything, if it doesn&#8217;t end up being ms, let me know, and we&#8217;ll take a closer look at what&#8217;s going on physically for you. And at that moment, I had to call my husband and let him know that the diagnosis looked like it could be. Ms, and he immediately said to me, Deb, you know the most brilliant people in the world in this field, you know how to heal yourself. You&#8217;ve healed others. We&#8217;ve got this. And then he proceeded to tell everyone in my family and my friends that I had been diagnosed with MS, which I wasn&#8217;t quite ready to admit to people, but I also understood in that moment that he needed to share and he needed to have support, and he needed To know that things were going to be okay. So I did what I do best, and I began to do the research and look at all of the things that could potentially trigger ms, and take them one by one to identify what is the culprit? And what I realized after all these years of practicing, when we&#8217;ve been taught MS is tick borne disease, until otherwise proven that MS is so much more than that. It is infection, it is toxins, but it&#8217;s also traumatic brain injury and non traumatic brain injury, and it&#8217;s also a mitochondrial dysfunction. And all of these things put together, put us at risk for neurological conditions like MS and Parkinson&#8217;s and Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and ALS, and we don&#8217;t aggressively address these soon enough, in my opinion, we treat what we can treat, and then we just kind of put that to the side and wait until symptoms come, instead of being proactive and looking at the brain every year and seeing what&#8217;s going on with it and what changes are happening with it, so we can catch these things sooner than later. A $300 MRI would have changed that day for me sooner than later. So here&#8217;s what I chose to do. I chose to step away from the conventional approach. And that was not easy decision. It came with risks and doubts and the weight of going against the standard medical advice, the weight of my family saying, Are you sure you want to do this? There are so many people that get better with Ms. They all knew someone, the lady down the road that had MS that was debilitating, until she took the drugs, and they all looked at me and said, This is your health journey. You get to do this however you want. But I couldn&#8217;t ignore the nagging feeling that there was another way to do this. I knew I needed to understand that root cause of my symptoms and not just mask them with immunosuppressing drugs. So instead of accepting the regime of these immunosuppressive drugs, I chose to do that research into alternative therapies and explore more natural, holistic approaches. I spent countless hours studying, consulting with friends and colleagues and putting together the treatment plan that would address the inflammation of. The immune system and the issues that were driving my symptoms. This wasn&#8217;t a quick fix by any means. I became the guinea pig, but it was about giving my body a chance to heal. I focused on detoxification of the body, reducing inflammation and rebuilding my immune strength. The journey wasn&#8217;t just about healing from MS, but it was about healing my entire self. One of the things that I did was radically change my diet. I committed to a strict, anti inflammatory, nutrient dense diet that was free of processed foods, sugar and dairy. I focused on eating whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and highly induced fats, good healthy fats. Speaker 2 15:59I also learned about the importance of supplements like omega threes, magnesium, vitamin D, all which support my nervous system and reduce inflammation. Now, I have been doing this for 25 years with my clients, but this was a different level. We all know about supplementing with these things, but finding the exact right source, finding the exact right dose for each individual person, that is where individualized medicine shines. Next. I turn to detoxification. I realized that years of environmental toxins have built up in my system, possibly contributing to my symptoms. I had bad detox genes. I had worked in moldy buildings. I had remodeled a cottage that had black mold, and I didn&#8217;t use all of the proper equipment to remediate that process and that property, I started using binders to help remove the heavy metals and toxins from my body, and I incorporated practices like infrared sauna therapy to help me sweat it out. I also did IV chelation. I did nutrient IVs to help remove the toxins and rebuild the myelin in my brain. Another significant part of my healing journey was discovering the advanced power of herbs and some of these natural supplements that I have used forever. I love adaptogens, like ashwagandha, but I wasn&#8217;t using them to help manage my stress and my cortisol levels, I used things like turmeric and ginger. They became staples as part of my anti inflammatory properties that I used. And as I worked to create this treatment protocol, I tailored it to my needs on a regular basis. And then there was, of course, the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing, which was just as important as the physical. I began practicing mindfulness and meditation to help me manage stress and reconnect with my inner self. This was transformative for me, it allowed me to tune into my body and listen to what I needed and foster that sense of peace and resilience that I hadn&#8217;t felt in years. I am a trained Shaman. I know how to do these things, but I wasn&#8217;t doing them on a regular basis for myself, I dove deep into the world of spirituality, deeper than I had ever done before. I knew there was a part of me that felt like this came from a previous life, like it was a contract I had but hadn&#8217;t fulfilled before, and I needed to fulfill it today. So as I worked along the physical I also worked along the spiritual side, looking at my guides, my angels and the people who could tell me what was actually going on, what belonged to me, what belonged to my previous self, and what belonged to others in this world that I had been carrying with me. Some people call this being an empath. This wasn&#8217;t quite like that. It was very different. I felt in my soul that this was a connection from someplace else, and I learned that it was still staying the course. I wanted to be honest that this wasn&#8217;t a smooth journey. There were times when I questioned everything, when I wondered if I was making a mistake by not following the conventional path. I had relapses where this. Symptoms came back, and there were days that I felt defeated, but every time I faced a setback, I used it as a chance to learn more about myself and my body. Each challenge reinforced my determination to keep going, to keep pushing for the answers that would lead me to that true healing. I learned to recognize the warning signs of a flare up and take preventative steps to support my body. I discovered the importance of rest self care and not pushing myself to the brink like I had done all these years in those dark moments. What kept me going was hope. It was the hope that I could regain control over my health and live a full life, and slowly but surely, my health began to improve. I was on a mission to learn how to crack the code for MS, not just for myself, but for others as well as I tested I found that I had the trifecta. I had it all. I had tick borne diseases, at least six of them. I had mycotoxins, I had heavy metals. I had nutrient deficiencies. My mitochondria was not working the way it should. And by putting the pieces together and doing the trials and the errors and finding what worked and what didn&#8217;t, I was able to craft the perfect ms protocol to regain my health and restore my brain as many symptoms subside, I realized that my journey was about more than just overcoming a diagnosis. It was about finding strength, resilience and the courage to create my own path. This experience taught me that healing isn&#8217;t always a straight line. I&#8217;ve known that for years with my patients, and I&#8217;ve told patients This, however, when it becomes yourself and you have the tools in front of you, and you think you have the knowledge, you think you could go from zero to 60 in three seconds flat. But it doesn&#8217;t work that way, not even with the best practitioner, it&#8217;s a winding road filled with lessons, growth and self discovery. I became my own advocate through this journey, and I found a renewed purpose to help others on their healing journey. For those of you listening, I want you to know that you&#8217;re not alone. If you&#8217;re facing a diagnosis that feels overwhelming, or if you are navigating a health journey that seems impossible, remember that there are options. You don&#8217;t have to settle for a treatment that doesn&#8217;t align with your values or your vision of healing. You have the power to explore alternative paths, to educate yourself and to make the choices that are right for you. Thank you for being here today, for sharing this part of my journey, and I hope that by opening up about my experiences, I&#8217;ve inspired you to take control of your own listen to the wisdom within your body. Healing is a possibility, and you deserve to feel empowered by this path. If you&#8217;re interested in learning more about my story, the treatments I explored and the protocols I&#8217;ve developed, my book is available, and it dives into a deeper version of what I&#8217;ve shared. It&#8217;s my hope that it serves as a resource and a guide and a source of hope for anyone navigating the complexities of chronic illness. Thank you again for turning it tuning in to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness now, remember your journey to wellness is unique, and there&#8217;s no one size fits all. Approach. Stay curious, stay hopeful, and most importantly, stay in tune to yourself until next time, take care and be well. If this episode has encouraged you and you think it can encourage someone else, please share it. You. Dr. DebThe post Episode 227: From Diagnosis & Fear to Healing & Strength first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

What happens when the trust we place in healthcare leads to devastating consequences? In this episode of Let&#8217;s Talk Wellness Now we uncover the shocking reality of medical misdiagnosis—a silent crisis affecting millions every year. With jaw-dropping statistics, heartbreaking personal stories, and insights from seasoned experts, we explore the ripple effects of misdiagnosis on patients, families, and the entire healthcare system. Discover why diagnostic errors are so common, the emotional and financial toll they take, and how we can all become stronger advocates for our own health. If you think it couldn’t happen to you, think again. This episode will change how you view the healthcare system—and your role in it. Tune in for: Eye-opening stats on misdiagnosis and preventable deaths. A tragic true story that highlights the human cost of medical errors. Expert advice on why mistakes happen and how to minimize the risks. Actionable tips to help you advocate for your health. Listen now and take the first step in becoming your own health advocate. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. Your voice could make all the difference. Deb 0:04Hello and welcome back to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness. Now I&#8217;m your host, Dr, Deb, and today we&#8217;re diving into a topic that has touched the lives of millions and has far reaching implications in our healthcare system. Misdiagnoses each year an estimated 12 million adults in the United States are affected by diagnostic error. That&#8217;s one in 20 patients who leave the doctor&#8217;s office with a label that may be wrong, or worse, without answers at all. This isn&#8217;t just about missed or misunderstood diagnoses, it&#8217;s about lives turned upside down, families left searching and healthcare systems that sometimes overlook the root causes of chronic illness. In my practice, I see firsthand the devastation caused by these diagnostic failures, particularly with complex conditions like Lyme disease and toxic related illnesses, and when you dig deeper into the numbers, the implications are staggering. A report by Johns Hopkins University found that diagnostic errors contribute to over 80,000 deaths annually in the US, making them one of the most significant public health crises of our time. Today, we&#8217;re going to take a look at some of the real stories behind those statistics, including cases that my very own, Dr Brown, who works for me, shared on the popular show, monsters inside of me. Let&#8217;s jump right into this. So let&#8217;s start with Lyme disease. It&#8217;s often called the Great imitator, because it mimics so many other conditions. According to the CDC, over 476,000 people in the US are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. I would say my personal opinion is that that number is probably a little bit lower, and I say that because I know the number of people that I see in my office that have had a negative test result done conventionally, and then we do a gold standard test through a company called iGenex, and we get positive. I also know there&#8217;s been some issues with the reporting of these cases as well to the Health Department. One time, my office called the Health Department to report a case in February, and we were told by the healthcare worker that they weren&#8217;t taking any new cases for the year. And we were perplexed. We thought, What are you talking about? This is a communicable disease that needs to be reported, and you&#8217;re telling us you&#8217;re not going to take the case and report it. And when we questioned it, the answer from the person on the other side was we had already met our quota for the year. And again, we questioned, there is no quota in a reportable disease, and she refused to take the information from us. So we know that some of these statistics are not as accurate. These numbers could be much lower than what we&#8217;re actually seeing reported, but the true number may be even higher, as we&#8217;ve said, given how frequently the disease is misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and even psychiatric disorders. Patients suffering from Lyme often report symptoms that include extreme fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, neurological issues, yet many are misdiagnosed with a mental health condition like depression, anxiety and their unexplained symptoms are often dismissed as psychosomatic. Take, for example, a patient who was misdiagnosed for years treated for everything under the sun except the actual cause line after being prescribed antidepressants and painkillers, along with even sedatives, they still didn&#8217;t improve. What&#8217;s even more shocking is the testing issue. Standard Lyme tests are notoriously inaccurate. They raise false negative rates for Lyme tests that can reach as high as 50% leaving patients in limbo while their symptoms worsen. These are isolated incidences. You say these are systemic failures. Deb 4:29Now, here&#8217;s where Dr Brown&#8217;s work came in on the show monsters inside of me. Dr Brown highlighted a case where a patient had been living with Lyme for years but had been told repeatedly that it was all in her head, her symptoms only worsened. This individual was prescribed multiple medications for anxiety, and yet those symptoms progressed and worsened after exhaustive testing and a new approach that. Were finally correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease. But how many patients never get that second look? How many endure years and even decades of mistreatment? Lyme isn&#8217;t the only example of misdiagnosis in complex chronic illnesses. Another hidden and often ignored issue is environmental toxin exposure. Toxins come from various sources, mold, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, industrial pollutants. Our very own World Health Organization, the WHO estimates that 23% of global deaths are linked to environmental factors, yet in traditional healthcare, toxin exposure is rarely considered a root cause. Take mold toxicity for an example, despite an estimated 50% of the US buildings showing signs of mold contamination, mold toxicity is still misdiagnosed as allergies, asthma or a mental health disorder. People experience symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, joint pain and digestive issues, and yet they&#8217;re all told it&#8217;s just IBS, irritable bowel syndrome or it&#8217;s stress related. But mold toxicity is more than just a nuisance, it&#8217;s a serious neurotoxin that can wreak havoc in the brain and in the immune system. One case from my practice stands out, a patient in her 40s who was misdiagnosed with early onset dementia. Her memory was deteriorating and her cognitive abilities were declining. She had been to numerous specialists, all of whom concluded it was a rare form of dementia. But after conducting specific tests, we found that her home had severe mold problems, which was causing the neurotoxicity. When we removed the mold exposure and began detoxification, her symptoms started to improve, and it was a life changing diagnosis for her, she could have spent decades in a nursing home, spending hundreds of 1000s of dollars on medications that wouldn&#8217;t have worked for her, because they were the wrong medications. It&#8217;s important to advocate for yourself, Deb 1 7:19to trust your own instincts and ask questions of your practitioners. Tell the story of how you got sick, look at your story of what was going on before you got sick, so that you can see if there&#8217;s any links or connections to any of these conditions. These examples are why we need to challenge that status quo in healthcare. Stories like these aren&#8217;t rare. They&#8217;re alarmingly common. The British Medical Journal, quality and safety Journal report, they report that 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year. Yet how often are these errors truly investigated? Lyme disease, mold, toxicity, chronic viral infections. These are just a few examples of illnesses that often go undetected or mislabeled. Autoimmune diseases are another area where misdiagnosis runs rampant. Conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome often serve as a catch all diagnosis when doctors don&#8217;t have a clear answer, but autoimmune symptoms can sometimes be linked to chronic infections or environmental toxins, issues that conventional medicine rarely digs into. Let&#8217;s talk about the system itself. In mainstream healthcare, there&#8217;s a reliance on testing protocols and standard treatments that often don&#8217;t account for the unique complexities of each individual. There&#8217;s a famous quote by Dr Marty mercury from the John Hopkins, who stated that the third leading cause of death in the United States is a medical error, and diagnostic errors are a big part of the issue when we focus solely on symptoms without exploring underlying causes, we&#8217;re not truly serving the patient. RFK, JR and other advocates of medical freedom have called for the reevaluation of our healthcare system, a system that too often dismisses patient concerns, relies on outdated testing and doesn&#8217;t prioritize environmental and nutritional factors. They&#8217;ve pushed for transparency in medical practices and have highlighted the dangers of ignoring environmental triggers in chronic disease. And I fully agree with this perspective. This isn&#8217;t about controversy for the sake of it, it&#8217;s about doing what&#8217;s right. Our practice takes a broader approach. For precisely this reason, we consider environmental exposures, nutrition, lifestyle and advantage, lab, excuse me, advanced lab testing that goes beyond the basics. It&#8217;s about giving the body what it needs to heal, not just. Trying to suppress symptoms, and yes, this sometimes involves treatments that are considered alternative, but what matters most is that the patients are finally finding relief. It&#8217;s time we start demanding that healthcare addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms. If we don&#8217;t, we&#8217;re only going to see more cases like those on monsters inside of me, where patients endure unnecessary suffering simply because no one questioned the initial diagnosis. Moving forward, let&#8217;s talk wellness. Now. We&#8217;ll tackle these hidden truths behind misdiagnosis. We&#8217;ll explore the complexities of conditions like Lyme, mold, toxicity, chronic infection, autoimmune disorders in detail, and we&#8217;ll have expert guests joining us, like Dr Brown to shed light on these challenging issues. My goal is that by the end of each episode, you feel informed, empowered and equipped to advocate for your own health and your loved ones. The mainstream approach to diagnosis and treatment has its place, but it&#8217;s not the only path. Here. We&#8217;re opening up the conversation, challenging the status quo and offering alternative insights, not just for the sake of being controversial, but because every patient deserves a fair chance in healing. So if you&#8217;re struggling with a diagnosis that doesn&#8217;t quite add up, it doesn&#8217;t quite feel right, but you&#8217;re being told that this is all in your head, or if you feel like you&#8217;re constantly hitting the wall in healthcare, I encourage you to tune in each week. Let&#8217;s shine the light on these hidden monsters within our medical system and reclaim the power to control our health. Thank you for joining me today. I&#8217;m excited to continue this journey with you as we explore the real, sometimes difficult and ultimately empowering path to true wellness. Applause. Dr. Deb Download a summary of this podcast here The post Episode 226: Misdiagnosed: The Consequences of Getting It Wrong in Healthcare first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Speaker 1 0:00Deb, hello and welcome back to Let&#8217;s Talk wellness out. I&#8217;m Dr Deb Muth, and I&#8217;m thrilled to be back on the air with you. It has been a journey getting here, and if you&#8217;re tuning in after our break, I want to thank you for sticking with us, your patience, your support and your messages over the past two years have meant the world to me, and today I want to take some time to explain why we&#8217;ve been away, what I&#8217;ve been navigating personally, and most importantly, where we&#8217;re heading with the show. So grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and let&#8217;s talk wellness now, more than ever, as some of you know, let&#8217;s talk wellness now went off the air back in 2022 a lot of factors led to this decision and to be completely transparent, some of this was just out of my hands. My mission in creating the podcast has always been to provide a space for open, honest conversations about health and about real wellness solutions, including the types of treatments and approaches that you don&#8217;t always hear about in mainstream media. But in the past few years, this world shifted and speaking my truth became, well, a little complicated. During the pandemic, like many practitioners, I found myself facing increased scrutiny over my views, my commitment to sharing alternative perspectives on health, including my opinions on the virus and the importance of medical freedom, and this was all met with some opposition, as you can relate. As a result, the medical licensing board reprimanded me, and it was a really challenging time, to say the least. So part of our break was. Due to that pushback, a result of censorship, and having my voice suppressed, being silenced was really difficult for me, especially as someone who&#8217;s been devoted to helping patients and sharing knowledge for so many years, at first it felt like I lost my ability to connect with all of you and to share openly and honestly and to discuss what I knew to be true about health and healing, but I realized it was also an opportunity for me to pause, reflect and ask myself, what Do I really want to bring to this podcast, how can I make an impact in a way that feels right and true to my mission? And while all of this was happening, I was also facing my own personal health journey. In the past couple of years, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, MS, and I had to navigate this diagnosis and even more importantly, take the time to heal. I needed to step away, not only to allow my body to recover, but to explore the very treatments and wellness solutions that I&#8217;ve advocated for throughout my career, this wasn&#8217;t just research, it was living proof of how functional medicine and integrative approaches could change the course of my health. Speaker 1 6:33I spent time delving into therapies that in some ways were controversial and not widely accepted. I focused on reversing MS symptoms with methods that emphasize the whole body, treatments that look at infections, nutrient deficiencies, mitochondrial function and even emotional healing. And I&#8217;m thrilled to share that this journey has been truly transformative. I can sit here with you today and say I feel stronger, more vibrant and more committed than ever to this path. So where does that leave us? What&#8217;s the next step for let&#8217;s talk wellness now. Let me tell you, I am more excited than ever about the direction that we&#8217;re taking. Moving forward, this podcast will be bringing you deeper, more detailed conversations about health. We&#8217;ll be diving into cutting edge topics, many of which you may not hear in mainstream, and that&#8217;s by design. My goal is to bring you information that can empower you, topics that are evidence based yet bold topics like mitochondrial health, stem cell therapy, advanced hormone therapies and strategies for managing chronic conditions like autoimmune disease, our episodes will still feature relevant guests, experts and practitioners who are doing groundbreaking work in their fields. I&#8217;ve been inspired by people like Dr. Dan Gooden now who are on the forefront of health research, and I want to bring that kind of inspiration and depth to you, but I&#8217;ll also be guiding you through solo episodes where we&#8217;ll explore some of these powerful health strategies step by step. I want each episode to give you actionable insights, whether it&#8217;s a new perspective on familiar health issues or an entirely new tool that you can apply to your life. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now will be about more than just listening. It&#8217;ll be about learning and implementing real solutions. And I want to emphasize this. Let&#8217;s talk wellness now is not just a podcast. It&#8217;s a community. It&#8217;s a space for like minded people to learn, explore and ask questions, and I want you to feel empowered to take charge of your health journey. If my journey has taught me anything, it&#8217;s that knowledge and empowerment are everything. So whether you&#8217;re tuning in for information on cutting edge treatments or seeking encouragement on your own health path, you&#8217;ll find it here. We&#8217;ll tackle question like, what&#8217;s the science behind using peptides for immune support? How can mitochondrial health influence chronic disease, and what role does our emotional and mental health play in physical healing? We&#8217;re going to get into the details, the real nitty gritty of wellness, and make sense of what truly helps the body heal. I invite you to join me as we move forward in this new chapter. Each episode will be designed to inspire, inform and. Hopefully empower you. I&#8217;m honored to be back with all of you and more committed than ever to sharing what I&#8217;ve learned, both as a practitioner and as someone who has been on my own healing journey. So as we relaunch, let&#8217;s talk wellness now I want to thank you again. Thank you for your patients, for your loyalty and for your belief in this work together, we&#8217;re going to keep uncovering the truths about health and wellness that everyone deserves to know. So stay tuned for next, next week&#8217;s episode where we&#8217;ll dive into the common misdiagnosis in healthcare, and remember, you&#8217;re not alone on this journey. We&#8217;re in this together. The post Episode 225: Welcome Back first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Learn to tune into what you want to have a fun, fulfilling, fuck-yeah life— without overcomplicating everything. Are you tired of saying yes to everyone and everything and then being angry that you didn&#8217;t listen to yourself? Do you need tools to live the life you want? Join Kristen King and Dr. Deb chat about how to build your life.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 06:40 There’s&nbsp; a lot of peeling back layers of people pleasing, perfectionism and self protection that we have built up between ourselves and the world around us 07:50 We are sometimes comparing ourselves to someone and trying to be like them 10:44 How comparison and self-assessments becomes helpful and not 12:36 How we have been kicking ourselves 16:12 We don&#8217;t realize that we&#8217;re participating in our own abuse and participating in our own gaslighting 17:37 People pleasing is an important life skill, it exists for a reason but you should know how to do it 18:57 We push ourselves down with the expectation that other people will reciprocate in some way, but then when it doesn&#8217;t work, the pendulum swings to the other side 19:35 Outsourcing our satisfaction, our power, our decision making to other people will make&nbsp; us&nbsp; powerless&nbsp; in our own life 21:25 Being a good girl is a learned behavior. Not following that arbitrary set of rules, is also a learned behavior. 23:43 How to change and give yourself permission to do the things you want to do in life now 30:57 We have to be able to do something to make those affirmations happen and we have to be willing to take action to change something inside of us 31:10 How journaling can be beneficial&nbsp; Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: I teach coaches, therapists, healers, and other service-based entrepreneurs how to tune out all the fear-based bullshit that paralyzes them and how to tune in to a fun, fulfilling, fuck-yeah business — without overcomplicating things, making them do things they dread, or burning them all the way the fuck out. I spent almost two decades as a miserable success before deciding to burn it all down to go after what I wanted instead of what the world told me I was allowed to have. I had the house, the husband, the kids (twins!), the careers — all of it. And I still felt like I was slowly being crushed alive by the pressure to do everything and do it all perfectly. It was the perfect trap, and now that I’ve gotten out I’m going back for the others.&nbsp; https://kristenking.com/ INSTAGRAM &amp; FB &#8211; @kristenskoveking&nbsp; LINKEDIN &amp; TWITTER &#8211; @kristenking The post Episode 224: Learn How To Tune Out All The Fear That Paralyzes You From Living Your Life! With Kristen King first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Managing health is an important aspect for women. Why is it we seem to be better at advocating health for others but not ourselves? Susan shares her research about how women make health decisions and what to do when you see the doctor.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 06:08 The things women have in common regardless of their particular disease 08:24 Why women feel guilty and are blaming themselves when they’re sick 12:45 Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed 14:50 In today&#8217;s society, sometimes people are afraid to share that they’re sick 15:32 You need a support group of people that you can share things with and get ideas from, and find out who&#8217;s the best 16:05 Where you can find the resource list for your research in the book, Sidelined 18:25 The importance of getting a second opinion 22:11 What makes the book Sidelined different from other books 26:10 How to get the most out of your appointment with your doctor 29:50 What will do if you walk out of the doctor’s office and you feel like you’ve messed up your appointment 34:25 When in doubt, be careful Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Susan Salenger is the author and researcher behind Sidelined, How Women Manage &amp; Mismanage Their Health. Sidelined examines the many ways in which some women manage and sometimes mismanage their healthcare. (Release date, April, 2022)&nbsp; Susan explores how women, typically the medical gatekeepers for their families, tend to be extremely conscientious about taking care of themselves, yet at the same time inadvertently undermine their own care. They often hesitate to call the doctor when they don’t feel well and worry that their doctor visit will take time away from their families or work. They may hesitate to ask doctors the necessary questions and don’t always comply with the doctor’s instructions. Salenger’s research reveals how conflicted many women are about the medical decisions they ultimately make.&nbsp; Born and raised in Los Angeles, Susan attended UCLA to study English. After graduation, she worked alongside her husband Fred for 25 years at their production company, Salenger Films, which produced corporate training and development films distributed worldwide. Today, at age 80, Susan lives in Northern California to be near her incredible family which includes her two daughters, four grandchildren, a cat named Max and a dog named JD (Salenger). When she is not speaking about her book or spending time with family and friends, you will find Susan power lifting to stay in shape. https://www.susansalenger.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@grandma.gains https://www.instagram.com/susansalenger/ https://www.facebook.com/suesalenger/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-salenger-a4a02716/ https://twitter.com/susansalenger @shewritesdotcom (IG)&nbsp; @shewritespress (FB) The post Episode 223: Sidelined – How Women Manage & Mismanage Their Health with Susan Salenger first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

How to use labs and genetics to beat your disease. You don&#8217;t have to be chained to a medication when you work with your body&#8217;s genetic makeup and biology. Do not miss these highlights: 03:31 Sandy’s story and how she got started in this journey 08:48 How medicine fails many people 10:33 The struggles of benzo withdrawal 13:37 It will take time for the brain to repair 15:24 We can balance the brain normally with patients who are not on any medications or have no previous medication use 17:11 Genetics is huge &#8211; it makes all the difference in the world&nbsp; 17:39 Labs is going to give a really good picture of what the brain needs for support, or what the detox pathways need for support 18:18 A lot of things clear up when the brain is calm and state 18:56 Unfortunately, so many of us have bad detox genes and poor pathways, and we&#8217;re exposed to all these chemicals that are everywhere in our environment 21:57 You can’t just look at one gene, you have to look at the entire pathway and run some labs 23:25 Labs is like a window into the body. Without labs, you&#8217;re just guessing 26:43 When it comes to creating supplement protocols, we want to see what the body needs to heal in the right form for the body 29:35 5g is going to damage cells beyond an ability for us to repair, it if we&#8217;re not careful 31:02 It&#8217;s not just about the chemical and the toxin exposure, we have to reduce all levels of stress Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Sandie Gascon is an Integrative Healing Practitioner, Author of Heal Yourself and Founder of The Integrative Healing Academy. She is a pioneer who is changing the shape of healthcare and has helped guide thousands of people from over twenty-five countries on their healing journey. After suffering severe side effects from medications during her twenty-year battle with chronic migraines, when she was diagnosed with Lupus she committed herself to healing naturally. Through her experiences, she developed a whole body, mind, and spirit approach that addresses the person in a truly holistic manner. She takes the guess work out of the equation by running functional lab work to see what the body needs. She healed herself of migraines, depression, lupus, interstitial cystitis, and cystic acne. Her purpose is to help educate others on the importance of shifting focus to rebuilding and rebalancing the body and removing internal and external stress so the body can heal itself.&nbsp; Sandie lives in Ontario, Canada, for the summer and spends the winters in central Florida with her husband Eric and son Kaiden. She has a passion for riding horses and spends much of her free time at the barn with her horses Bee, Jack and Vala. She loves playing with Kaiden, spending time with family and friends and hiking with her dogs.&nbsp; www.sgintegrativehealing.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/motivated2heal Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/motivated2heal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandie.gascon/ The post Episode 222: Battling Depression without Medication with Sandie Gascon first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

The science behind structured water and how it is repairing our body&#8217;s cells and reversing our biological age up to 12 years! Do not miss these highlights: 01:00 Mario Brunovich to discusses the benefits of structured water, which can improve cellular structures in the body and plant life. 05:16 Water exists in chaotic state, technology brings order, creates liquid crystalline structure, improves biological systems. 15:29 Study looks at importance of mitochondrial function and microbiome; water consumption showed 17% improvement 21:52 Watering land with their Analemma Water led to an explosion of biodiversity in the soil and retention of nutrients necessary for plants to grow.&nbsp; 32:39 It takes one year and five phases to create and the coherence lasts indefinitely, with a profound effect on biology. 36:32 Product can treat water, can be used for an entire house, garden, and agriculture 41:25 The water influences inflammation levels and they plan to do a deeper study on it as chronic inflammation is a leading cause of illness.&nbsp; 49:07 An agriculture study is being conducted to observe the effects of different frequencies on plant yield and shelf life. The technology could be useful for larger agriculture companies, promoting healthy food consumption. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Mario is an entrepreneur, researcher and a visionary in the field of health and wellness. For years he ran a successful international advertising agency and a production house. He was always very passionate about health and wellness, about finding natural ways to heal, regenerate and restore the delicate balance between body, mind and spirit. This led him to establish a natural pharmaceutical company that successfully helped many people for years. After a while he became very passionate about water. Realizing its extraordinary significance he established New Earth Technologies, a company that offers the miracle of Analemma Water to the world. https://analemma-water.com/ https://www.facebook.com/analemmawater https://www.instagram.com/analemmawater_/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmAi3XVw4iiCoQQmZvX6EbA The post Episode 221: Water, Cells and Life with Mario Brainovic first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Identifying your hidden hunger can help you break the overeating and stress eating once and for all. 01:00 Dr. Melissa McCreary discusses breaking the cycle of being overwhelmed, overloaded and overeating without feeling deprived. Dr. McCreary talks about the power of the mind and how our negative messages affect our food choices. 09:07 Identifying and addressing hidden hungers can help overcome overeating caused by stress, exhaustion, and difficult emotions. 15:53 The importance of addressing one&#8217;s mindset and beliefs when it comes to changing eating habits, rather than relying on self-control and deprivation. 20:53 Women may lose hope and confidence due to societal pressure. The belief that the problem is their fault and can only be fixed with self-control and willpower is a dead end that discourages curiosity. 22:57Take your power back by understanding the reason you eat and practicing mindfulness to stay in touch with your body and emotions. 30:12 Making changes with food and weight loss doesn&#8217;t have to be hard and miserable. It can be easy with the right mindset. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: She has helped thousands of women break cycles with overwhelm, overload, and overeating without feeling deprived, and without depending on ridiculous amounts of willpower. Over 32,000 women have taken her free Hidden Hungers quiz online. Participants in Dr. McCreery’s signature program lose their cravings and their overeating habits. Her approach to helping working mothers, busy professionals, and stressed-out business owners emphasizes ditching diet mentality and using the power of psychology. Her perspective has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Weight Watchers Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Working Mother, Fitness, Women’s Health, CNN Health, Real Simple, and Self. Website: http://toomuchonherplate.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamccreery/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissaMcCreery Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TooMuchOnHerPlate/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toomuchonherplate/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TooMuchonHerPlate Book: https://amzn.to/3RdNFrm The post Episode 220: Hidden Hungers with  Dr. Melissa McCreery first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Can stress really cause debilitating pain? Fran Graton shares her story on how it completely changed her life. You do not have to live with pain it can be not only managed but it can be eliminated as well. Fran shares how it can be done. Do not miss these highlights: 09:52 What happens when your body adapts to chronic stress 12:36 Stress is so important to manage&nbsp; and deal with 15:09 2 types of stressors: internal stressors and external stressors 17:38 Our thoughts are patterns 20:40 If you want to reduce the stress, you have to learn to let go 22:29 Before you respond, stop, take a breath and make a choice.&nbsp; 25:22 The importance of putting some boundaries and taking some rest 30:00 Today, everybody expects you to respond instantaneously 35:49 When we have pain in our body, one of the key things that our body is doing is protecting us 36:50 If you&#8217;re in a constant state of inflammation, your body will not know what non-inflammation feels like 39: 22 Once you get out of pain, you&#8217;d never want to go back 42:17 Look around at the people you&#8217;re spending your time with and what you’re taking in 43:03 If you are holding on to anger, and resentment, and you&#8217;re not forgiving people, it affects you, it doesn&#8217;t affect them.  43:51 Movement is important. It doesn&#8217;t have to be hard and difficult to be effective 46:22 It takes a village for us to be healthy too 48:59 Don&#8217;t let that crisis happen before you make a change because the truth is, sometimes when those things happen, they&#8217;re not reversible. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: I’m a Pain Reduction Coach, Fibromyalgia Warrior, Author, Speaker and Body-Positive Personal Trainer and I’m passionate about teaching people how to live pain-free and learn to love movement. I teach my clients to identify their triggers, reduce stress, set boundaries, and stop caring about what other people. They learn easy-to-implement strategies and tools focusing on mindset, movement and nutrition and can finally move easily throughout their day knowing their bodies will cooperate with them.  I had a 16-year teaching career and the high stress level put me in bed for 4-months with stress-induced vision loss which made me readjust how I defined “living” and make serious changes to my lifestyle. I don’t want anyone else to succumb to the stress demon and am on a mission to help people effectively manage stress and learn to love moving their bodies in whatever way makes them happy. All of the challenges I have faced has made me realize that self love and body acceptance is key to thriving. https://frangartoncoaching.com/ https://www.facebook.com/fran.garton https://www.instagram.com/frangartonpaincoach/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-garton-4976a048/ https://www.pinterest.com/frangartonpaincoach/ https://twitter.com/frangartoncoachhttps://www.youtube.com/user/1Kheldar2/home The post Episode 219: Overcoming Chronic Pain Naturally with Fran Garton first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Did you know postpartum depression affects 20% of the women who give birth? You might be 80 years old and finally discover that you suffered from postpartum depression. There is help for people who suffer from postpartum depression and it doesn&#8217;t always include medication. Dr. Kat shares why it&#8217;s so essential for us to support women during this time of life.  Do not miss these highlights: 05:30 What does perinatal mental health mean? 07:23 How common is postpartum depression? 08:16 Signs and symptoms of perinatal mental health issues. 09:43 Myths around postpartum depression. 12:07 Distinction between baby blues and postpartum depression. 14:01 Are women who suffer from postpartum depression more inclined to suffer when they shift into menopause? 15:31 Steps you can take before the postpartum depression kicks in.  18:29 What kind of role is social media playing today in our mental health with moms and postpartum? 22:07 Finding ways to navigate the sleep situation is ultimately better for mental health. 24:05 How we can support young moms, now that things are different.&nbsp; 27:12 What&#8217;s the truth about moms? 31:43 Resources available for people who are suffering from postpartum depression today. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D. PMH-C, aka, Dr. Kat is a perinatal mental health certified psychologist, author of The Pregnancy Workbook: Manage Anxiety and Worry with CBT and Mindfulness Techniques, and host of the Mom &amp; Mind Podcast which covers personal stories and expert interviews related to perinatal mental health. She is also the board chair of Postpartum Support International, an organization whose mission is to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every country worldwide. Dr. Kat began specializing in perinatal mental health after her own experience with postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD over 12 years ago. Dr. Kat continues to work virtually with clients across California. https://wellmindperinatal.com/ https://www.instagram.com/momandmind/?hl=en https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mom-and-mind/id1125550872 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/katayune-kaeni-psyd_193-postpartum-anxiety-with-dr-carly-snyde r-activity-6744160537715765248-rcgz/?trk=public_profile_share_viewtps://linktr.ee/momandmind The post Episode 218: Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression? With Dr. Katayune Kaeni first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Are men pussy whipped or are women in control? Traditional women actually control more of the relationship than they think and it is not because they hold the gem. It is because men are afraid of rejection, misunderstanding and sharing their true feelings. Dr. Weiss shares how to help men open up to have more intimate relationships and be more connected.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 05:22 Men are very adept at hiding their fear, and they have done a marvellous job of convincing women that they are confident. 06:23 Power in an intimate relationship is very different from power in relationships in the world of work or in the external world.&nbsp; 07:19 How women hold power in families and in relationships.&nbsp; 09:27 The fascinating concept of pussy whipped. 10:23 The consequences of having most babies raised primarily by women. 14:20 How can we help men be vulnerable without having the fear of rejection? 17:49 How much it impacts women to understand men’s fears. 20:56 What&#8217;s the devastating cost of this problem not being repaired?&nbsp; 23:36 Men and loneliness. 25:37 Why do men feel like women are too needy? 27:35 Outlets are there, it&#8217;s just that men are taught not to use them.&nbsp; 29:24 Men not having other close relationships creates an enormous burden on a marriage. 31:52 How women can help men open up a conversation.&nbsp; Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Dr. Weiss is a psychotherapist, an award-winning author, and speaker. His decade-long work on understanding the internal lives of men culminated with his recently published bestseller “Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men’s Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships. Dr. Weiss is a regular contributor to the Psychology Today website and offers workshops nationally about psychotherapy with men and helping men and women understand each other. He practices psychotherapy online from his home on an island in Midcoast Maine, specializing in psychotherapy groups for men and psychotherapy consultation. https://www.avrumweissphd.com/ The post Episode 217: Pussy Whipped with Dr. Avrum Weiss first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Are you tired of the world running you? Do you want to have control over your emotions once and for all? Faust shares what you can do to control anxiety and beat depression naturally. Dr. Deb and Faust discuss why medication doesn&#8217;t work and why people experience a crisis 15 years after starting medication.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 03:01 How did Faust get started in the world of therapy? 05:16 The changes that Faust has seen with the country’s frontline responders over the last decade.&nbsp; 08:28 How PTSD is affecting our veterans. 12:00 Why does abuse and trauma keep on coming back? 14:23 The abuse that is happening on social media. 15:34 How do we maneuver mental health and socialization together? 18:53 Overview of Faust books.&nbsp; 20:08 Few tips on how to deal with anxiety. 22:40 Why you need to get away from social media. 24:30 Drug companies are not selling the drug, they&#8217;re selling you a drug culture. 28:43 Side effects of medication. 33:43 How we’ve lost all the tools that we had before. 34:22 We need a process for our life too.&nbsp; Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Faust A. Ruggiero’s professional career spans almost 40 years. He has consistently established cutting-edge counseling programs in pursuit of professional excellence and personal life enhancement. He is a published research author, clinical trainer and a therapist who has worked in settings that have included clinics for abused women, prisons, nursing homes, substance abuse centers, businesses and major corporations, and inpatient facilities. He continues to provide counseling services for veterans, first responders, law enforcement and other emergency personnel, and businesses and corporations, nationally, and internationally. During his tenure as the President of the Community Psychological Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania, he developed the Process Way of Life counseling program, and has adapted it into the formal text presented in The Fix Yourself Handbook. The Fix Yourself Handbook has received the Gold Award from Literary Titan, the Silver Award from The Nonfiction Authors Association, and the Bronze Award from Reader’s Favorite. It is available in paperback, as an e- Book, and an audio book.&nbsp; https://www.faustruggiero.com/ https://www.facebook.com/faust.ruggiero https://twitter.com/faustinspire https://www.instagram.com/faustinspire/ https://www.faustruggiero.com/media-appearances.html http://healthylife.net/ The post Episode 216: Don’t Cope With Anxiety, Beat Anxiety with Faust Ruggiero first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Peptides are a well-kept secret they reduce inflammation and produce growth factors. Dr. Deb shares how to identify where the inflammation is actually coming from and what tests are necessary to determine what type and how much inflammation is present in the body.  Do not miss these highlights: 00:46 What are peptides? 01:50 What happens when there&#8217;s cellular inflammation that&#8217;s happening? 02:35 Almost every disease is associated with inflammation, especially those with chronic disease.&nbsp; 03:14 A lot of inflammation is seen and unseen, but the unseen inflammation is typically the one that&#8217;s not detected. 04:32 The labs that we can use to detect inflammation. 05:52 The specific gene that causes disease processes to occur.  06:38 Don&#8217;t be concerned about genetics,&nbsp; we can bypass them. 07:39 Why understanding where the inflammation came from is very important.&nbsp; 10:00 Why you should be careful about peptides and amino acids and the IV bars that are popping up all over the place. 12:28 The symptoms when there&#8217;s inflammation present in the body, specifically neuroinflammation. 15:01 We have therapies and treatment protocols that can help. The key is getting to be with someone who understands and knows how to do this. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; The post Episode 215: Disease Is All About Inflammation – How Peptides Help Reduce Inflammation first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

How can you create the healthiest version of you not just for the short term but for a lifetime? Phillip Pape shares how he transformed his body during the pandemic and shares his secrets for skyrocketing one&#8217;s metabolism.  Do not miss these highlights: 02:51 How did Philip get into the world of nutrition and healthy living? 06:31 Fad diet versus flexible diet. 10:14 The importance of tracking your nutrition. 11:09 Food is your fuel. 13:30 We don&#8217;t realize how bad we feel until we start getting the proper nutrition.  14:27 Our bodies change as we get older, and we need to change with that. 15:12 The concept of Energy Flux. 17:17 The components of high-level metabolism. 20:12 Can we turn the fat we have in our body into muscle? 22:38 If your body composition is perfect, you have too reason to worry about what the scale says.  24:49 How to manage your hunger when you’re going through a changing diet, and you’re exercising more. 27:16 What does being healthy means for Philip. 29:58 Of all the fitness attributes, strength is the foundation to everything.  Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Philip Pape is a Certified Nutrition Coach, Body Composition Expert, and host of the Wits &amp; Weights podcast. Through his personal transformation to become the strongest, leanest, and healthiest version of himself, Philip learned the effectiveness of using evidence-based nutrition and strength training to optimize body composition.&nbsp; Philip’s approach emphasizes sustainability and self-mastery of both body and mind to upgrade and optimize your health even with a demanding lifestyle. He helps high-achieving people use their wits to build their best body, reclaim their time, and become their most capable, confident selves in the gym and in life so they can show up and make an impact. https://www.witsandweights.com/ https://www.instagram.com/witsandweights/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/witsandweights https://www.youtube.com/@witsandweights The post Episode 214: The Healthiest Version of You with Philip Pape first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Have you suffered from vaginal laxity, urinary incontinence, leakage, and decreased sexual pleasure? Are you embarrassed to talk about it with your doctor or your friends? It&#8217;s ok to talk about it and more importantly it is ok to do something to fix the problem! Mary Ellen Reider shares her invention the Yar Lap to assure you are doing the perfect Kegel. Do not miss these highlights: 04:12 You don’t have to live with pelvic floor problems and urinary incontinence. 06:35 If you&#8217;re using the wrong muscle, you&#8217;re not going to get the benefit. 11:42 What inspired MaryEllen to start Yarlap. 15:11 What does Yarlap actually do, and how to use it? 18:53 The little operating system of Yarlap. 20:31 Why Yarlap is good for women of all ages. 21:13 How using Yarlap makes the life of a woman so much better, even in her age of eighties. 22:34 Yarlap is getting a lot of amazing stories from women of all ages.&nbsp; 26:13 Biggest challenges with getting Yarlap in the industry.&nbsp; 27:57 They think C-section is a way to preserve the pelvic floor, but it&#8217;s not. CS cut a lot of muscles. 31:51 Once you start improving the pelvic floor, things are so much better in your life. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: MaryEllen Reider is the co-director of Yarlap®, the wellness device to treat urinary incontinence and improve sexual performance and experience through muscle control. MaryEllen spends a lot of time researching and finding out what’s new in the pelvic floor world and the social media realm. She strives to empower women through their pelvic floor muscles. She enjoys getting to know her customers through social media and speaking events, and inspiring people about why the Kegel exercises and Yarlap® are so important.&nbsp; MaryEllen and her dad have emerged as a leading voice in the pelvic floor and sex tech wellness space. Home The post Episode 213: Pelvic Floor Exercises Are Old News with MaryEllen Reider: It’s Time For Technology To Take Pelvic Floor Health To The Next Level first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Johnathan Royale shares how to stop the shoulding and shitting all over yourself by using hypnosis to heal the trauma once and for all. At the age of 13, he became the youngest hypnotherapist in the UK. Today he helps celebs heal their lives.  Do not miss these highlights: 15:51 The 3 things that helped Johnathan won against bullying. 19:50 Words used in the right way, with the right structure, with the right psychological underlying principles, can be life changing. 20:45 How Johnathan got the clinical hypnotherapist diploma at the age of 13, and became the youngest member of the Association of Professional Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists at the age of 14. 23:40 What happened to Johnathan when he missed using the techniques to himself.&nbsp; 25:28 What happened when Johnathan started using the techniques he was using to help other people to help himself.&nbsp; 26:56 Each of us is programmed for the moment we&#8217;re born. 29:45 Loads of these mini traumas as we&#8217;re growing up will remain locked within us which will be affecting us in a whole bunch of different ways. 30:20 Do not delete any memories, but delete the negative programs, delete any negative emotional charge and then install psychological mental antivirus software. 31:57 What happens if there&#8217;s any negative impact or imbalance. 32:24 Johnathan&#8217;s main job with his hypnotherapy clients.  35:14 Those underlying root causes of the imbalance will still be there unless you&#8217;ve gone in and reprogrammed yourself.  38:14 As long as you take action, then this can prove to be life-changing for you. But if you keep doing what you&#8217;ve always done, you&#8217;ll keep getting what you&#8217;ve always got. 38:57 Therapy is great, it is meant to be a bridge, get you to the other side and be done. You&#8217;re not supposed to spend your years talking about it.&nbsp; 41:15 Break the chains &#8211; Stop comparing yourself to other people, but be in daily competition with yourself to become a better, happier, more relaxed, healthier, and successful version of yourself. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Born Plain Alex William Smith on 13th August 1975 into a Showbiz family whilst travelling with Gandeys Circus, Royle made his stage debut aged 3 as Flap the Clown and by the age of 14 was a Certified Hypnotherapist treating people to help them overcome Habits, Addictions, Fears and other issues. Now aged 46 he has arguably taught more of the now successful Hypnotherapists and Stage Hypnotists in the world than any other living trainer. In 2019 he released his documentary &#8220;Extreme Danger &#8211; Extreme Hypnosis&#8221; to help people wake up to how they are brainwashed from birth and how to break the spell. https://www.facebook.com/elitehypnotherapybootcamp/ http://www.ultimatehypnosiscourse.com/ https://anchor.fm/jonathan-royle http://www.magicalguru.com/ https://jonathanroyle.sellfy.store/ https://jonathanroyle.sellfy.store/ https://vimeo.com/user27320168/vod_pages The post Episode 212: Shitnosis – Stop Shitting On Yourself with Johnathan Royale first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

There are 4 body types recognized by the weight loss industry. The new skinny fat person is growing. But Marc is going to show that it isn&#8217;t your fault! It is genetic and correlates to your spine. Once you know this and learn how to exercise properly your metabolism changes, weight can come off and you can build muscle. Do not miss these highlights: 04:11 How Marc got started on this idea of body typing. 07:34 What is skinny fat? 12:24 Currently, there&#8217;s no way to get rid of skinny fat, but there are ways to reduce it. 13:20 The best you can do to manage skinny fat and maintain your specific biotype 15:47 How can you figure out what your body type is? 17:21 How do we understand the human body and begin to understand why it&#8217;s so many different shapes? 19:21 Can chiropractic care help you with underdeveloped vertebrae? 21:34 The challenges for people suffering from skinny fat.&nbsp; 23:59 The disadvantages of not having muscle and muscle mass on your body. 27:17 As you get up over age 40, your cellular regeneration process becomes less efficient.&nbsp; 31:02 What is Scientific Biotype Quiz and where you can take it.&nbsp; Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care by calling  (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com  About our Guest: Lead scientific researcher at Fellow One Research. I have pioneered Body Type Science (The Four Body Types &#8211; genetic scientific body type) since 2003, creating the only Online Worldwide Science-Based Health Community Website which offers the Scientific Body Type Quiz including science-based Metabolism, Diet, Exercise, &amp; Lifestyle Health Score as well as Scientific Weight Loss Programs (Basic and Advanced). Our website offers free public access to the scientific health knowledge base &amp; research data, including science-based diet, exercise, lifestyle, metabolism, BMR, Body Mass Index (BMI), fat, skinny fat (normal weight obesity, cellulite, thin fat, saggy skin, loose skin, crepey skin), obesity, vertebrae &amp; muscles/muscle mass development, and genetics/DNA information. We are the ONLY scientific body types in existence. All other body types are unscientific. There is a direct scientific correlation between body type, skinny fat, excess fat, being overweight, and obesity. Our mission is to help wrangle and overcome the global health crisis including the obesity epidemic. Body Type Science is based on genetics, particularly vertebrae and muscles/muscle mass development (or lack thereof) relative to skinny fat (cellulite, thin fat, loose skin, saggy skin, crepey skin, normal weight obesity) and excess fat (being overweight or obese). It is a scientific/genetic fact that any part of the human body can be underdeveloped, to whatever degree, including vertebrae and muscles/mass. Just as it is a genetic fact that each vertebra houses a specific set of muscles, and muscle(s) directly affect posture and metabolism. https://www.facebook.com/TheFourBodyTypes/ https://www.instagram.com/thefourbodytypes/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thefourbodytypes https://twitter.com/FourBodyTypes https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE8lWxJBn5E5rZFQIip7RcA https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-nelson-lead-scientific-researcher-fellow-one-research-body-type-science-the -four-4-body-types/ The post Episode 211: Skinny Fat Is The New Obesity with Marc Nelson first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Are you tired of dieting? Are you failing at your weight loss goals? You can lose weight at any age, you can get fit at any age. Diet is a lifestyle change not a temporary fix to loosing weight.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 05:11 Age shouldn’t be an excuse for not starting to take care of ourselves and reversing what we&#8217;ve caused our bodies to go through. 06:53 The biggest reason that&#8217;s getting in the way of people eating healthy these days. 07:30 Why does diet soda cause weight gain? 08:11 Our bodies are 60 to 70% water &#8211; Drink more pure water and stay hydrated. 09:53 Direct correlation between being dehydrated and being overweight. 10:51 How we&#8217;re setting up our kids to have adult-stage diseases when they&#8217;re children. 11:47 Type two diabetes is preventable and reversible. 16:53 The problem with advertising and commercials for medications. 19:07 The nine golden rules for weight loss 26:18 Diet is like a sprint, but lifestyle is a marathon that should be done consistently. We didn&#8217;t gain weight overnight, we&#8217;re not going to lose it overnight.&nbsp; 31:08 Form habits that you like, that you enjoy and that will work for you, because we&#8217;re all different.&nbsp; 34:05 Unhealthy foods are scientifically engineered to make it addictive &#8211; Don’t start or it will make it hard for you to stop. 35:47 Breaking the chains of dieting &#8211; Don&#8217;t go on a diet, just change your lifestyle. 37:32 How David prepared himself for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: David Medansky, known as The Diet Contrarian, was born, and raised in Chicago, IL and now resides in Phoenix, AZ with his beautiful wife Debra of 7 years. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and has a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona Law School. David practiced Law for thirteen years and retired in 2005. David is an international best-selling author of ‘Discover Your Thinner Self’, ‘If Not Now When?’, ‘Break the Chains of Dieting’ and many more.&nbsp; At age 61, David was obese and told by his doctor that he had a 95% chance for a fatal heart attack. David&#8217;s doctor told him to find a new doctor because he did not believe David could lose weight and he did not want him dying on his watch. That was the pivotal point, where David realized the severity of his condition and decided to find a way to lose the weight and keep it off. During the next four months David was able to shed 50 pounds, which was 25% of his total body weight.&nbsp; David spent his legal career seeing both sides of the fence. Honest people and dishonest people. And during his weight loss journey he realized that when it comes to the food and weight loss industries, sadly there are more dishonest people than there are those telling the truth. That’s what makes losing weight so difficult. David learned 9 Golden Rules to reduce weight without going on a diet, counting calories, or exercising and is on a mission to share this message with the world. At age 67, David hiked up Mt. Kilimanjaro.&nbsp; David Medansky now travels the world both to Live and Virtual events helping men and women understand the deception of the weight-loss industry and promoting the value of being healthy and having a healthy lifestyle https://www.youtube.com/@davidmedansky1265/featured https://iamthinning.com/ The post Episode 210: Stop Dieting and Start Thinning with  David Medansky first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

There is a way to serve the world regardless of how negative your life may be now. No matter where you are at this time, a federal prison, a prison inside your mind, trapped by culture, finances, or a negative family. YOU CAN CHANGE! Join Dr. Deb and Dr. Fleet Maul as they discuss mindfulness practices that change your life for the better every day, one day at a time.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 04:04 Negativity has a significant impact on your cellular structure on your immune system 07:21 Getting to know more about Dr. Maull. 11:58 How getting into federal prison became Dr. Maull&#8217;s huge wake-up call.  14:06 Seeing the tremendous suffering in the maximum security federal prison hospital, Dr. Maul realized he was there for a reason. 16:27 While in prison, Dr. Maul was involved in deep spiritual practice and service work. 18:55 How embracing radical responsibility and ownership for his circumstances brings positivity to Dr. Maul’s life in prison. 22:20 Learning to navigate human relationships in a negative and dangerous environment. 24:10 The importance of acceptance and taking ownership for self-regulation when struggling with negativities and difficulties. 29:57 We need to train ourselves to sharpen life in a way that&#8217;s going to be beneficial for ourselves and others. 34:29 Embrace everything in our life. We don&#8217;t need to reject anything in our experience or any part of ourselves, it’s our treasure. 36:56 Dr. Maul wants the people he’s working with to get the 2 principal things. 42:49 Mindfulness is a human trait, and we can increase our default level of mindfulness. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Dr. Fleet Maull, PhD and author, is a renowned growth mindset teacher who delivers his training programs and seminars around the world both in-person and online through Heart Mind Institute. He’s a meditation teacher, executive coach, seminar leader, social entrepreneur who works at the intersection of personal and social transformation. Fleet founded the Prison Mindfulness Institute and National Prison Hospice Association, catalyzing two national movements, while serving a 14-year mandatory-minimum federal drug sentence, 1985 to 1999. Dr. Maull developed the Radical Responsibility empowerment model that embraces 100 percent ownership for each and every circumstance we face, free of blaming oneself or others.&nbsp; Fleet is a Roshi (Zen master) in the international Zen Peacemaker Order and Acharya (senior Dharma teacher) in the global Shambhala meditation community. He is the author of Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Fearlessly Live our Higher Purpose and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good in the World. Social Media &amp; Website: Radical Responsibility Book: www.radicalresponsibilitybook.com Fleet&#8217;s main website: www.fleetmaull.com Heart Mind Institute (Fleet&#8217;s courses): www.heartmind.co Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness course: https://www.heartmind.co/nsmfoundation Prison Mindfulness Institute (mindfulness for prisoners): www.prisonmindfulness.org Center for Mindfulness in Public Safety (mindfulness for correctionals officers &amp; police): www.mindfulpublicsafety.org Engaged Mindfulness Institute (trauma-informed mindfulness teacher training): www.engagedmindfulness.org National Prison Hospice Association (hospice care for prisoners) www.npha.org LinkedIn Page https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleetmaull/ Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/fleetmaullTwitter Handle https://twitter.com/fleetmaull?lang=en The post Episode 209: Mindfulness Can Change Any Negative Life Experience: What You Practice Makes You Stronger with Dr. Fleet Maull first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Mold mycotoxins are known for causing demyelinating disease or MS. On an MRI it is seen as white matter brain disease. These mycotoxins create damage and cause autism, dementia, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and ALS to name a few diseases. Can we reverse demyelinating disease, short answer is yes-sometimes. It depends on how progressive the disease is and how willing the patient is to change their life to reverse the disease.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 00:33 What are Mycotoxins? 04:00 What are symptoms of mycotoxins in the body? 04:38 What can Mycotoxin illness do in your brain?&nbsp;&nbsp; 06:57 Recommendations to patients with MS. 09:33 Just because you have a demyelinating disease, does not mean that you&#8217;re automatically going to have Dementia or Alzheimer&#8217;s. There is a potential, but you can prevent it from happening. 10:38 Several different ways to test for mycotoxins. 13:50 Implementing a treatment plan is not going to do you a lot of good, you have to find the mold source and clean it up.&nbsp;&nbsp; 17:09 You have to love yourself enough to give up all of your things, because things are replaceable but YOU can’t be. 18:39 Recommended mold test company.&nbsp; 22:46 How to check for molds in your home. 26:25 If you’re suffering from MS, take it seriously and work with a practitioner that understands mold, bacteria and virus loads. 27:30 Mycotoxin illness can also cause autism. Resources Mentioned: Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care  by calling  (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com The post Episode 208: 4 Things That Cause White Matter Brain Disease – Can Mold Cause White Matter Disease-MS? first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Are you tired of exercising? Do you just want to move and have it count? Dr. Ben Reuter shares how to incorporate movement into your daily activities to make it work for you! Movement will forever change your life.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 04:20 How Dr. Ben got started in movement, and why is movement important to him? 18:08 How would somebody start a movement practice in their life? 19:38 2 reasons why you need to work with a good personal trainer. 22:05 Figure out the things you really enjoy doing, then it will be easier to incorporate the other things in. 27:50 People who engage in regular movement, not necessarily exercise, are more functional, happier and better capable of withstanding the stresses of aging.&nbsp; 29:34 Our bodies are meant to move. 31:16 What you do will not only influence yourself, your spouse, and your kids, but also the people around you.&nbsp; 32:26 The importance of moving to our brain function &#8211; it has a calming and stimulating effect. 37:16 Everything affects your lifestyle, and everything you do has a benefit or a disadvantage &#8211; you need to make a choice. 41:47 A lot of people have a tendency to be externally motivated because of peer pressure. 43:40 Your choices are going to have a direct effect on how you are able to live the rest of your life.&nbsp; 46:31 Movement is a lifestyle. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; About our Guest: Ben is a faculty member at Pennsylvania Western University, California. An exercise physiologist, he holds certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). He has interests in injury prevention/performance enhancement for endurance athletes and using movement to enhance quality of life. After travels through Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Florida for school and work he has been in the Pittsburgh area since 2004. Ben is an active contributor to his profession, with work on a variety of committees of the NSCA, as well as presentations and publications both nationally and internationally. The idea for Moving2Live came from his interest in listening to long form movement related podcasts that were directed either towards professionals or the general public. https://www.instagram.com/reutebh/?hl=en https://www.moving2live.com/ The post Episode 207: Movement Is A Lifestyle, Not Just An Activity with Dr. Benjamin Reuter first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Can Lyme, Chlamydia, HHV6 or other infections cause white matter brain disease or MS? The research shows that Chlamydia Pneumonia and other diseases cross the blood-brain barrier. Dr. Muth shares what symptoms these infections cause and how to address them.&nbsp; Do not miss these highlights: 03:37 Viruses and bacteria can be reactivated over time and be triggered by other viruses. 06:23 Lyme Disease is real, very real &#8211;&nbsp; We see over 300,000 reported new cases a year of tick-borne illness and tick-borne disease. 10:22 Why do we need antibiotics? 12:27&nbsp; Some of the symptoms that people can get from Chlamydia Pneumoniae and from tick-borne disease. 14:32 You want to rule out everything before you say it&#8217;s a Demyelinating Disease. 15:59 Demyelinating Disease tends to be typically worse in people with Vitamin D deficiency. 16:42 There is enough evidence showing that Ms and Lyme Disease can go together. 17:34 When to test for Lyme Disease. 18:48 What triggers the autoimmune disease? 19:38 Treatment for Lyme Disease and Chlamydia Pneumoniae. 21:53 How long will the treatment take? 23:23 There&#8217;s some research that shows that MS is being triggered by the SARS-COV2 Infection. 24:51 The concern that we always have with a demyelinating disease is its progression. 25:51 Some of the things that are being used to help repair myelin and repair nerve damage. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care  by calling  (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com The post Episode 206: 4 Things That Cause White Matter Brain Disease – Does Tick-Borne Disease (Lyme) Cause MS? first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

Have you had a diagnosis that you knew wasn&#8217;t right? MS (multiple sclerosis) is one of them. What else could it be? Join this series of episodes to explain why just because you have a diagnosis of white matter disease it may not be MS.  Do not miss these highlights: 01:24 You&#8217;re not supposed to have plaque on your brain, regardless of how old you are. 03:36 If we get the diagnosis right, if we find the cause for the white matter on the brain, it can be reversed and it can go away completely.&nbsp; 07:13 Demyelinating Disease is curable and treatable.&nbsp; 08:48 First thing that causes Demyelinating Disease &#8211; Bacterial infection, bugs that enter the brain. 09:39 The blood-brain barrier is not sacred, many things can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause problems.  10:47 Second thing that causes Demyelinating Disease &#8211; Toxins, chemicals, and heavy metals.&nbsp; 12:11 Third cause &#8211; Mycotoxins that are released from mold spores. Unfortunately, mold grows everywhere in our environment.&nbsp; 16:40 Symptoms that we see from a mold illness.&nbsp; 17:33 Fourth thing that causes white matter brain disease &#8211; Traumatic and Non-traumatic Brain Injury. 22:57 We&#8217;re going to see Demyelinating Disease secondary to COVID.&nbsp; 24:35 There is treatment, it is not a treatment that&#8217;s going to suppress your immune system, nor a steroid that&#8217;s just going to decrease your symptoms so you don&#8217;t feel it. It is a protocol that is going to heal your body and repair the damage. 25:15 The tests to identify what&#8217;s going on in your body.&nbsp;&nbsp; 29:55 The treatment. Resources Mentioned Whether you are recovering from an illness or just looking to maintain your current overall health, schedule a consult with us at Serenity Health Care&nbsp; by calling&nbsp; (262)522-8640 or visit https://www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com&nbsp; The post Episode 205: 4 Things That Cause White Matter Brain Disease – It Mat Not Be MS (Multiple Sclerosis) first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.