FX Medicine Podcast Central

Today we are joined by Belinda Reynolds to explore the many factors which may trigger autoimmunity, and explore the evidence behind the naturopathic tenet of treating the gut to restore normal function to seemingly disparate tissues. Supporting autoimmunity in those on medications can be done safely with natural approaches which balance, rather than block the immune system. Belinda expertly discusses the herbs, nutrients and lifestyle changes which have been shown to help manage autoimmune conditions.

The existence of Lyme-like disease is hotly debated in Australia, with many doctors being ostracised by their colleagues for even mentioning the four letter word. Today, we are joined by Jennie Burke of Australian Biologics, who is no stranger to the controversy surrounding the existence of Borrelia species in Australia. She shares with us her experience, the challenges with adequate testing, and the politics of this emerging Borrelia, or "Borrelia-like" infection - which may or may not be the classical tick-borne disease found in every other continent bar Antarctica.

Dr Chris Shade's background as a pharmacist, environmental chemist and organic farmer eventually led him down an interesting path, doing clinical mercury research. In today's podcast Dr Shade takes us through the various species of mercury and the synergistic layering that can occur with heavy metals, toxins and other environmental pollutants to the detriment of human health. Dr Shade has developed comprehensive detoxification systems designed to help peel away the layers of overlapping dysfunction using innovative liposomal technology that revolutionises nutrient delivery for healing.

There are far more people abusing legal drugs than there is illicit drugs, it's a much bigger problem! Some prescription drug classes cause major social issues with addiction or dependence with subsequent deleterious effects on personal health and family welfare. Following on from our previous podcast on the detoxification/withdrawal of illicit drugs, today Pharmacist and Integrative Medicine Practitioner Greg Mapp takes us through the safe and responsible detoxification of several classes of pharmaceutical drugs and instructs practitioners on the practical aspects of supporting patients through prescription drug detox.

The humble cup of tea has long been associated with inducing a "sense of calm”. As it turns out, tea is a key source of the non-protein amino acid, L-theanine, which has some profound calming effects within the brain and nervous system. In this episode, Andrew and Belinda expertly takes us through the mechanisms of action of this exciting new nutraceutical and how it can benefit adults and children in coping with the increasing demands of life.

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has been used in the medical arena for decades as a rescue for paracetamol overdose and as a mucolytic in Cystic Fibrosis, but newer research leans towards possible uses in Psychiatry. Although too early to provide guidelines, Professor Michael Berk takes us through the exciting possible future uses of this precursor to glutathione production. Professor Berk explains some of the more recent trials, where the link to Psychiatric benefit came from and where future research into NAC in mental health needs to head.

Growing up in rural New South Wales gave Sarah Lantz a grounded appreciation of food. A connection to food origins is something most of society has now lost, but its an area Sarah is passionate about. Her love for nutritious, local, wholesome food combined with her formal qualifications as a Nutritionist, and her concerns about the abundant and unregulated use of chemicals during food production gave her the perfect springboard to research the toxins transmitted between mother and baby. Suffice to say, analysis of cord blood led to some startling revelations! Today Dr Lantz takes us through her research and also reveals her journey into the world of fermented foods, which led to her latest venture "Buchi Kombucha", a traditional fermented tea company that is now teaching this lost art to the public.

Beth Bundy is a Melbourne based naturopath with a strong focus on the interplay of the thyroid, adrenals and sex organs. In this interview, she reveals the benefits of functional pathology as an objective measurement to show patient benefits of treatment over time. Beth takes our listeners through the differences in functional testing as opposed to standard pathology testing, and shows the practitioner some of the commonly useful tests to determine or confirm clinical suspicions of what's going on inside the patient's body.

Greg Mapp's history as an integrative pharmacist includes setting up a truly revolutionary drug detox centre for both illicit and prescription drugs on Queensland's Gold Coast. In Part one of a two part series Greg takes us through the history of the clinic and how medical care of illicit drug detox commonly involves integrative therapies and judicial supplementation to manage symptoms experienced by patients.

In today's podcast, Andrew discusses gut repair with Amie Skilton. As a naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist with 13 years experience, Amie takes us through some core Naturopathic Principles that form the vital components of a successful, and wholistic gut repair program. Drawing on her clinical expertise, Amie shares how she guides her patients through the practicalities of healing digestion, by teaching them how, what, when and why to eat, as well as herbal and nutritional supplements that she recommends with great success.