Host: Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP Guest: Ann Shippy, MD Cannabidiol (CBD) seems to be everywhere these days, but how much of the available information is based on research, and how much is just hype? In this discussion, Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP queries her guest, Ann Shippy, MD, about the legality surrounding CBD, about the questions every patient or practitioner should ask of the product manufacturer, and about the benefits of CBD for a variety of conditions. Dr. Shippy…

by Erik Lundquist, MD Metagenics Institute sat down with family physician Erik Lundquist, MD for a Q&A session to bust some myths about the Cannabis plant and glean current insights for our readers on the clinical utility of phytocannabinoids naturally found in Cannabis, like cannabidiol (CBD). Read on to learn how, based on the scientific literature and in Dr. Lundquist’s clinical experience, these unique bioactives with actions in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may be relevant to you and your patients.…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Erik Lundquist, MD In this discussion, Erik Lundquist, MD and Deanna Minich, PhD explore thyroid physiology, assessment, and clinical pearls for treating patients with thyroid dysfunction or disorders. The crux of the discussion is treating the individual patient, not the labs. You will learn valuable insights and effective clinical strategies that Dr. Lundquist utilizes every day in his clinic to provide personalized support to patients with thyroid disorders. Dr. Lundquist shares that in his medical school…

by Sara Gottfried, MD and Melissa Blake, BSc, ND Hormones drive the many functions of our body and mind. For example, hormones and their receptors influence metabolic function, heart rate, appetite, tissue growth, and development. Ultimately, the body relies on the hormonal signals of a strikingly choreographed endocrine system. Most of the endocrine system is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid-gonadal (HPATG) axis, which is instrumental in regulating mood, reproductive health, and general homeostasis.1 Unfortunately, the HPATG axis is remarkably sensitive to…

by Nikky Contractor, PhD, and Sara Gottfried, MD Cannabis is a booming growth industry. As cultural attitudes evolve, prevalence of consumption is rising exponentially. You may wonder if our knowledgebase regarding cannabis is based on best evidence or interest-driven pseudoscience. Meanwhile, many medical conferences now offer a cannabis track, as education channels scramble to catch up to demand. Perhaps you are curious about the emerging role of the endocannabinoid system and if it is safe to recommend hemp oil, or…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Amylee Amos, MS, RDN In this discussion on cognition, Amylee Amos, MS, RDN and Deanna Minich, PhD examine how nutrition and lifestyle factors can be leveraged in an individualized way in primary intervention for different subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease. Amylee brings a unique set of nutrition knowledge, having trained under neurologist Dale Bredesen, MD, a pioneer in the area of individualized treatment for  cognitive decline who believes we have entered an era of treatable Alzheimer’s disease.…

by Sara Gottfried, MD Physician burnout and suicide rates are alarmingly high.1 Some blame the two hours of charting in an electronic health record (EHR) for every hour of patient care.2-3 Others cite the rushed 7.5-minute patient appointment that limits the delivery of high-quality care.4 Numerous challenges coexist: an aging population, the rising burden of chronic disease, billing requirements, workforce shortages (particularly in primary care), increasing health disparities, and shifting healthcare policies. Many physicians feel disempowered and hopeless about the…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Jennifer Stagg, ND In this discussion, Jennifer Stagg, ND and Deanna Minich, PhD examine the relationship and connection between psychological stress and emotions with health and chronic disease states, and the mediating role that inflammation and oxidative stress play. As a naturopath, Dr. Stagg considers the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Incorporating her robust science background in biochemistry and nutrigenomics, Dr. Stagg has discovered in clinical practice that, even when critical aspects of wellness and lifestyle…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP Guest: Deborah Maragopoulos, MN, FNP "The hypothalamus is like the CEO of your entire body. Everything else are workers." – Deborah Maragopoulos, MN, FNP In this edifying discussion, Deborah Maragopoulos, FNP and Deanna Minich, PhD explore the neuro-immune-endocrine system and how the hypothalamus, specifically, is at the core of many patients’ chronic health issues, from mood and metabolic disorders to insomnia and autoimmunity. Over 30+ years of working in healthcare, Deborah explains that her…

by Sara Gottfried, MD  Introduction Anxiety is on the rise, and it occurs more commonly in women compared with men. Identifying anxiety in patients, performing root cause analysis, and collaborating on natural solutions beyond a pill-for-every-ill requires clinicians to practice both the art and science of medicine. Fortunately, the biological underpinnings of anxiety involving the gene/environment interface, along with a growing evidence base of natural remedies, provide a strong foundation for us to help our patients. One of the most…