Clinical Approach: Calming Autonomic Nervous System

Have you ever wondered why your body reacts so strongly to stress on days that should feel completely normal?

In this episode, we're joined by naturopathic doctor and educator Dr. Leah Hollon to explore how early stress, family patterns, and even the pregnancies we grew in can shape our hormones decades later. We talk about cortisol patterns, histamine overload, immune shifts, stubborn weight changes, and why so many women hit perimenopause already running a nervous system that's been on high alert for years.

And yes, we get practical. Think nervous system resets, smart cortisol support, histamine-calming strategies, and the small daily practices that genuinely start to retrain your stress response.

Dr. Leah Hollon is a naturopathic doctor, international speaker, and author of Unwinding the Imprints of Disease. She teaches integrative medicine, pharmacogenomics, and epigenetics at multiple universities and co-owns Richmond Natural Medicine.

It's a grounded, eye-opening look at how stress imprints show up in midlife hormones and what you can do to shift the system starting today.

What's Discussed:

• (02:00) What intergenerational trauma is and how it affects hormones

• (08:09) How PTSD flattens cortisol and shows up in perimenopause

• (11:46) The link between ACEs and autoimmunity, allergies, and migraines

• (15:24) What famine studies teach us about metabolism and weight

• (17:49) Why chronic stress makes weight loss harder and cardio tricky

• (20:23) How your birth story shapes stress, immunity, and hormone patterns

• (39:36) Why histamine flares, sleep issues, and wired-tired energy connect

• (41:22) Tools that regulate the nervous system and support midlife hormones

Thank You To Our Sponsor:

• Timeline Nutrition: If you're feeling tired, foggy, or drained during perimenopause, Timeline's Mitopure Gummies support your energy from the inside out. Powered by clinically proven Urolithin A, they help your cells clean out damaged mitochondria and build new, stronger ones. If you'd like to give it a try, visit timeline.com/drcarrie and get 20% off.

• LVLUP Health: If you're in perimenopause, menopause, or just feel like your digestion and hormones are ganging up on you, try Ultimate GI Repair from LVLUP Health. You can grab it at lvluphealth.com and use my code DRJONES for 15% off your first order.

✍️ FREE GUIDES:

• Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101

• The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist

• The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom

• Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause

LETS CONNECT:

Dr. Carrie Jones: Website: www.drcarriejones.com Newsletter: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter IG: @dr.carriejones TikTok: @drcarriejones Youtube: @drcarriejones

Dr. Leah Hollon, ND, MPH: Website: www.drleahhollon.comIG: @leah.hollonYoutube: @DrLeahHollon

==========

Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.