Would you consider communication a key factor in the healing process? According to our guest, words matter, and language can reach beyond the conscious mind to activate the body’s healing response. Emergency medicine physician, Dr. Steve Bierman joins Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes to discuss how language, and the power of suggestion can serve as positive or negative influences on our health. Dr. Bierman challenges caregivers to choose words wisely and harness the power of communication when treating patients. Using examples from his practice, Bierman demonstrates how carefully chosen language can ease pain and yield lasting health outcomes. His approach blends humanism, hypnosis, and neurolinguistics with conventional medicine. In this conversation, Drs. Weil, Maizes, and Bierman discuss hypnosis, the placebo effect, proper informed consent, patients’ belief systems, and why communication should be taught in medical schools.  

A healthy lifestyle begins with the foods we put on our plate. According to our guest, integrative nutritionist Diana Weil, a daily practice of eating well can be both delicious and rewarding. Diana is a nutritionist, certified integrative and holistic health coach, and yoga instructor who works with clients to optimize their well-being through their relationships with food. Diana joins us on this episode to discuss creating healthy relationships with food and understanding what your body needs. Her philosophy is, "food doesn’t just taste good, it does good." In this conversation, Diana tackles common food misconceptions and makes suggestions on how to surround yourself with healthy options. She offers strategies to address anxiety and stress around eating. Dr. Weil addresses widespread myths about diet trends, including meat-exclusive diets and fear of vegetables. Dr. Maizes discusses how feasting has been a source of social connection and pleasure for humans throughout history, and why it continues to be practiced today.   Let’s enjoy!  

On today’s episode Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes sit down with Wade Davis PhD, an explorer, ethnographer, writer, and filmmaker on this episode to discuss humans and the natural world. Wade spent years living among 15 indigenous groups while collecting 6,000 botanical specimens in Amazonia and the Andes. He’s traveled around the world studying traditional herbal medicine preparations and indigenous beliefs. In this conversation, Wade examines how societal values shape our individual and collective perspective. According to Dr. Weil, there are problems arising from the separation of medicine and spirituality. Dr. Maizes suggests that our senses influence the way we perceive the world. By exploring the history of psychedelics through a cultural lens, Wade describes how indigenous use of the substance elevated consciousness. Wade, once hailed as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity”, draws on messages and lessons from his time with traditional healers, including the oldest of them all – nature.  

Jeff Nobbs, a food and technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Zero Acre Farms, dives into the critical role of cooking oils in an anti-inflammatory diet. He highlights the dominance of pro-inflammatory vegetable oils and the innovative solution of cultured oils produced through fermentation. Jeff discusses the health risks of common seed oils, the advantages of fruit oils like olive and avocado, and the environmental benefits of choosing sustainable options. Listeners will be intrigued by the culinary versatility and health benefits of cultured oils.

Your body naturally produces nitric oxide, a small gaseous molecule; while it exists for mere seconds, it is vitally important for your health. The main function of nitric oxide is vasodilation. Nitric oxide also improves brain cognition, stabilizes blood pressure, and supports exercise performance. Today we welcome, Dr. Louis Ignarro, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery that nitric oxide acts as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system. His research led him to the development of one of the most popular pharmaceuticals in the world, sildenafil, known widely by its brand name, Viagra. Yet, Dr. Ignarro has devoted his life to unlocking nitric oxide’s larger potential in advancing heart health. In this episode Dr. Ignarro shares the history of the scientific discovery of nitric oxide and its use in medical settings around the world. Dr. Weil asks what’s responsible for the rise in nitric oxide deficiencies. Dr. Maizes asks about natural mechanisms to increases nitric oxide levels, such as breathwork. Join us on a journey through the science of nitric oxide, the small molecule with a large impact.

Every parent wants to raise a healthy child. Yet, this goal is becoming more difficult as chronic pediatric diseases are becoming increasingly common. An integrative pediatrics approach emphasizes preventive care and uses a personalized approach which includes diet, environmental exposures, and healthy relationships. On this episode, we talk with integrative pediatrician Dr. Sanford "Sandy" Newmark. He is a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California and head of the Pediatric Integrative Neurodevelopmental Program at the Osher Center, specializing in the treatment of Autism, ADHD, and other developmental or chronic childhood conditions. In this conversation, Dr. Maizes asks, “What are the best first steps parents can take to raising a healthy child?” Dr. Newmark describes how integrative medicine offers several compelling, evidence-based approaches to support the development of children. He explains the connection between nutrient deficiencies and behavior, and safe, effective steps to take before a child develops a problem. Dr. Weil discusses the work of his mentor, Dr. Robert Fulford, in addressing childhood conditions with manual treatments such as craniosacral therapy. Drs. Newmark, Maizes, and Weil reflect on the changes in society and call for stronger advocacy to improve childhood health today, including reducing inequities and pushing for better nutrition standards for all.

Autoimmune diseases result when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells of the body. The tissue damage leads in the development of chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes. Our guest today is rheumatologist and integrative medicine specialist, Dr. Aly Cohen. Dr. Cohen specializes in treating arthritis, immune system disorders, and women’s health. She has lectured nationally on integrative environmental medicine and recently gave a TEDx talk, “How to Protect Your Kids from Toxic Chemicals.” In this episode, Dr. Cohen helps to explain the complex puzzle of autoimmune diseases. Who gets autoimmune diseases? What are the causes? And what precautions we can take to avoid triggers of autoimmune conditions? Dr. Weil suggests that low level chronic inflammation may be a culprit in the disease’s development. Dr. Maizes discusses how an integrative lens may be helpful in discerning which patients need medication right away and which may begin with lifestyle approaches.

On this special episode, integrative medicine experts, Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes, answer questions sent by listeners. Join us as our hosts share integrative approaches to popular questions, such as: Is a vegan diet healthy for everyone? What about popular keto and paleo diets? How can you discern gluten-intolerance facts from fiction? Is consuming insects a necessary strategy for global food sustainability? How can you support the gut microbiome with fermented foods? How often is it recommended to do intermittent fasting? How can beginners use mind-body medicine? Can you suggest help for tapering off benzodiazepines? When are blood pressure medications beneficial? Is there a link between antihistamine medications, mood disorders, and dementia? As always, we want to hear from you and warmly invite you to submit questions for the show by visiting our website or leaving us a voicemail 1-520-621-3950. We will review and answer as many questions as possible on the program. Please note, the show does not advise, diagnose, or treat medical conditions. Please seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider for questions regarding your health.

Lao Tzu, the 6th-century Chinese philosopher, wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” 500 years later a growing number of studies demonstrate the powerful compounding effects of a singular action repeated over time. We welcome Arianna Huffington and Dr. Aaliya Yaqub, leaders of Thrive on this episode. Arianna Huffington is the founder and CEO of Thrive, the founder of The Huffington Post, and the author of 15 books. Dr. Aaliya Yaqub is the Chief Medical Officer at Thrive and a board-certified internal medicine physician. Thrive, a behavior-based technology company, launched in 2016 with the mission of changing the way we work and live. Since launching they have partnered with the world's leading enterprises to study how microsteps, or small changes in behavior, impact health. Dr. Weil and Dr. Maizes meet with Arianna Huffington and Dr. Yaqub to discuss microsteps, the value of sleep, and to challenge society’s industrial-age conception of productivity. They discuss how small, intentional steps combined with a purposeful mindset can lead to long-lasting positive health outcomes in individuals and communities.

Primary care providers are often the first to recognize and treat mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Despite the growing number of pharmaceutical agents that can be prescribed, there has been a dramatic increase in mental health disorders. What is happening in our society that is leading to this increase? Our guest on this episode is a pioneer in mental health research, Dr. Charles “Chuck” Raison. Dr. Raison is a psychiatrist, the Mary Sue and Mike Shannon Distinguished Chair for Healthy Minds, Children & Families in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, and the director of clinical and translational research for the Usona Institute. He is internationally recognized for his studies on novel mechanisms in and treatment of major depression as well as for his work examining the effects of compassion training. Dr. Raison is also studying psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. In this episode, Drs Weil, Maizes, and Raison look at the future of mental health treatment. They discuss the problems with common anti-depressant medications and the link between chronic inflammation and mood disorders. Finally, they explore three new promising therapies: precision medicine, psychedelics, and compassion practices.