Neuroveda Podcast for Complex Health

SummaryIn this episode of the Neuroveda podcast, host Gillian Ehrlich engages with Ayurvedic doctor and Waldorf educator Vanita Prachi Mararca to explore the principles of Waldorf education, its unique approach to child development, and the integration of spirituality and culture in learning. They discuss the importance of nurturing the head, heart, and hands in education, the role of nature in fostering resilience, and the critiques of Waldorf education. The conversation also touches on the traditional Gurukula system of education in India and concludes with Vanita's upcoming book release.TakeawaysWaldorf education focuses on holistic child development.The head, heart, and hands are integral to learning.Cultural relevance in education is crucial for identity.Mirror stories help children see themselves in narratives.Window stories provide insight into diverse experiences.Nature plays a vital role in child development.Waldorf education emphasizes creativity over consumerism.The teacher-student relationship is foundational in learning.Gurukula education fosters deep connections with teachers.Community involvement is essential in a child's education.Bio: Vinita Prachi Murarka is an Ayurvedic Doctor, Waldorf educator, and transformational guide who bridges medicine, education, and spirituality. Born in India and raised in the United States, she later returned to India to immerse herself in Vedic sciences, gurukula education, and esoteric wisdom traditions. With over a decade of experience in integrative health and education, she brings a unique lens on how Waldorf education nurtures child development—socially, emotionally, and physiologically. Vinita is the founder of Matre Sofia, an organization dedicated to soul-centered parenting and holistic family well-being. A storyteller, writer, and curriculum developer, she translates ancient traditions into practical approaches for modern families and health practitioners alike. She currently lives between Hawaii and Colorado, consulting, teaching, and guiding others in aligning health, learning, and wholeness.

SummaryIn this episode of the Neuroveda podcast, host Gillian Ehrlich engages with Dr. John Berner, a Harvard-trained psychologist and neuroscientist, to explore the intricate relationship between mind and body in the context of mental health. They discuss the limitations of traditional medical silos, the importance of cellular communication, and the role of hormones in health. Dr. Berner introduces the concept of intersectionality in psychiatric treatment, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches. The conversation also delves into innovative treatments like rapamycin and the significance of understanding cellular interactions through advanced technologies.TakeawaysMind-body medicine should not separate mental and physical health.The shift from Newtonian to quantum thinking is crucial in medicine.Cellular communication is a localized and complex process.Hormones play a central role in coordinating bodily functions.Understanding evolutionary constraints can inform health practices.Intersectionality is key in treating mental health conditions.Rapamycin shows promise in extending lifespan and improving health.Eavesdropping on cellular conversations can enhance treatment strategies.Innovative technologies can measure cellular responses effectively.Biology is complex and cannot be simplified into binary categories.BioDr. Jon Berner, a Harvard-trained psychologist, UCLA-trained neuroscientist and physician, and University of Washington–trained psychiatrist. With over 25 years in clinical practice, his work bridges rigorous neuroscience, psychiatry, and compassionate patient care. Dr. Berner’s publications span from the cognitive effects of cocaine and memory in schizophrenia to pioneering treatments with ketamine, rapamycin, and novel metabolomic approaches for mood and pain disorders. He brings a unique lens—uniting neural networks, biochemistry, and clinical psychiatry—to reimagine how we treat complex mental health conditions with both precision and humanity.

Kendyl Morris is an Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, Certified Integrative Medicine Health Coach, and Fertility Coach with over a decade of experience helping individuals, couples, and groups navigate their paths toward inner transformation and holistic well-being. With a deep understanding of the intricate mind-body connection, Kendyl specializes in helping clients regulate stress through tailored, evidence-based approaches that meet their unique needs.Agenda:There are 3 specialties that you have: hypnotherapy, conscious conception, and breathwork: what’s your unifying factor here? What have been your influences for your work?Let’s break down each, one by one: Hypnotherapy: What is this? Why would a person do this? What kind of benefits do you see?What’s a session like? How often are sessions recommended? What are the cadence options? (like weekly x 6 wks vs once/ month, etc). How is this different from regular therapy and how would you recommend to juxtapose it with ongoing traditional therapy? Will you make a person sqwack like a chicken? Just kidding. What I meant to say is, is everybody hypnotizable?How does this work telehealth, like over the internet? Can anybody in the US/ abroad access your services? What are the costs & how do people access you? Conscious Conception: omg- the two things that would change the world we know from public health would be to increase equity & invest in the first 1000 days of life. Tell us about your program. Why is it so important to conceive consciously? Does the man really play any role in the health of the pregnancy/ infant? What if you are already well into your pregnancy & learn about your services? How early should somebody seek out your services? What are the costs & how do people access you?Breathwork: why does breath work matter? What is it doing physiologically inside of us? Why are there so many different kinds of breath work? What kind(s) have you been trained in? What kind(s) do you teach? How do you recommend people use breathwork in their pantheon of interventions/ practices? Daily/ periodic/ seasonal/ etc? Are there specific conditions or situations for which you recommend the breathwork that you teach? How come sometimes people report getting more anxious when they do breath work? What do you recommend to help them? What are the costs & how do people access you? 

We are so excited to have Khai join our clinic!Khairul Bhagwandin, EAMP, LAc—Seattle Met’s Top Acupuncturist for 2022, 2023 and 2025. She offers expert care in facial rejuvenation, focusing on fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne, rosacea, scar reduction and hair lossShe brings a deeply integrative aesthetic approach that blends the best of Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern regenerative techniques including cosmetic acupuncture, micro‑needling, RF microneedling and tailored herbal and topical therapiesBio: In her clinical work, Khai Bhagwandin has a Masters in East Asian Medicine from Bastyr University, which includes herbalism training as well as a licensed massage therapist. She specializes in holistic and regenerative beauty, offering treatments that support the body’s innate healing systems. She has been named a Seattle Met Top Acupuncturist three years and is currently launching her own herbal skincare line, Khairul Holistic Beauty, blending Traditional Chinese Medicine with hyperlocal ingredients sourced from her family farm in Southwest Washington. Outside of her practice, Khai lives life adventurously—snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing, and fire dancing—as well as making music with her band. She is also the founder of The Change Collective, an organization she launched in 2021 to advocate for marginalized communities in snow sports.  Agenda:  1.     I know as much about aesthetics as I do about, say, space travel, which is to say I see other people doing it & don’t understand it. Talk to us about a natural & healthy approach to beauty that isn’t tabloid-driven. What is it to be beautiful?  2.     And what does this mean treatment-wise? What makes a beauty treatment ’natural’ or ‘healthy’ vs a non-healthy beauty treatment? (this is a question about ingredients, products and interventions that might ‘hurt’ you but look good temporarily vs deep beauty).  3.     Walk us through the range of beauty services that you offer, from simplest that is just the relaxation, to the most in depth series of treatments. What do you do in these visits & how are they structured/ scheduled/ personalized per client?  4.     How do you pick the products you use? What do you avoid?  5.     Tells us how you got interested in beauty & aesthetics?  6.     Tell us about the rest of your knowledge base and training- acupuncture, pain management.  7.     How does this square with your activism streak?  8.     What other projects are you working on? What’s your latest passion interest? 

Agenda: 1.     What is Lyme Disease? What are the co-infections? 2.     What is special or unique about these infections' vs any other infection, like the common cold? 3.     Talk to us about the testing for these organisms. Why is it so confusing? Is there actually accurate testing?a.     Borrelia: FISH for all (but not available for all) but for: borrelia, borrelia genus for cousins, TBRF borrelia myomoti, hermensi, found in other regionsb.     Babesi: FISH with all the strains or just otocolic.     Bartonella henselae: FISH. At least 46-48 species, 13 can infect humans, only bits of testing. d.     T-Lab for FISH. Igenex also does some FISH testing. e.     To fill other holes: Vibrant TBP, Galaxy specific for bartonella4.     Talk to us about treatment. Let’s start with antibiotics & then move outwards- what’s the approach here with antibiotics? a.     Are antibiotics always needed? b.     Do anti-viral for anti-fungal have a role here? c.     What about ancillary treatments like disulfiram? Are there others like this? d.     What about mitochondrial supports, detox, and binders? e.     What about nutritional supports? f.      What about diet, lifestyle & the mind?  5.     Where does chronic Lyme sit in the pantheon of other chronic infections like Long-COVID & EBV & Strep with PANS/ PANDAS? How much does treatment overlap for these diseases?  6.     How much do environment (personal microbiome, community, environmental toxicity) & genetics contribute to the risk for developing or persisting chronic infections? How do you best like to assess or treat this?  7.     Let’s talk politics for a moment: Why won’t many conventional clinicians recognize or treat chronic Lyme?  8.     What’s up & coming in the Lyme world research & education-wise? Tell us about ILADS!  9.     Where can folks find you & more about your practice?  https://drtaniadempsey.com/Bio: Dr. Tania Dempsey, MD, ABIHM is a world-renowned expert in complex, multisystem diseases. As founder of the AIM Center of Personalized Medicine, in Purchase, NY, Dr. Dempsey uses functional and integrative medicine to get to the root cause(s) of illness and to help find the path to optimum health. Her extensive knowledge and experience with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Mold, and Lyme and other Vector-Borne Diseases, has propelled her to the forefront of the medical community as a recognized and trusted speaker, researcher, advocate, and physician. Dr. Dempsey is Board-Certified in Internal Medicine and Integrative and Holistic Medicine. She received her MD degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and her BS degree from Cornell University. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at NYU Medical Center. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors of ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society). She is also a member of the U.S. ME/CFS Clinician Coalition, the American Academy of Ozonotherapy, and ISSWSH (International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health). She is an accomplished international speaker, writer and thought leader and has 8 peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature. Her latest endeavor is cohosting the new podcast, Mast Cell Matters. At the heart of Dr. Dempsey’s work is a commitment to patients who’ve long gone unheard.

Bio:Dr. Jessy Dhanjal, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in California. He earned his Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in San Diego and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Davis. During his time at UC Davis, he participated in the Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program at the UC Davis Medical Center, gaining early clinical experience in the emergency department.Dr. Dhanjal has pursued advanced training in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine. His clinical interests include primary care with an emphasis on cardiometabolic health, autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal health, and detoxification strategies for environmental toxin exposure.Currently, Dr. Dhanjal serves as a Clinical Lab Educator at Vibrant Wellness, where he supports healthcare providers in understanding and applying advanced diagnostic testing to enhance patient outcomes.He believes deeply in the body’s innate ability to heal and is committed to helping patients restore and maintain optimal health.SummaryIn this episode of the Neuroveda podcast, Gillian Ehrlich and Dr. Jessy Dhanjal delve into the complex topic of oxidative stress, exploring its definition, causes, and implications for human health. They discuss the balance between free radicals and antioxidants, the role of oxidative stress in chronic diseases, and how genetics and lifestyle factors influence oxidative stress levels and advanced testing methods for measuring oxidative damage and the importance of personalized treatment strategies to mitigate oxidative stress and promote overall health.TakeawaysOxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants.Free radicals are normal byproducts of metabolism and play essential roles in immune defense.Chronic oxidative stress is linked to various diseases, including cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration.Genetics can affect how well the body handles oxidative stress and detoxification.Lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and exercise can influence oxidative stress levels.Advanced testing can provide insights into oxidative damage and guide treatment strategies.Glutathione is a key antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals.Oxidative stress can be both harmful and beneficial, depending on its levels and context.Personalized interventions based on genetic testing can optimize health outcomes.Monitoring oxidative stress markers can motivate patients to adhere to treatment plans.

Dr. David Rakel Talks about the connection between good medicine and the Doctor-Patient connection Bio: David Rakel, MD is professor and chair of the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Rakel joined DFMCH faculty in 2001. He founded the integrative health program (now known as the Osher Center for Integrative Health at University of Wisconsin-Madison) and received the Gold Foundation’s Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, the school’s highest honor for excellence and compassion in care. His team worked with more than 50 clinical systems within the Veterans Health Administration to implement changes to make care more personalized, proactive, and patient driven. An author of both academic and popular writings, one of Rakel’s missions is to communicate medical information in a way that is accessible to people of all backgrounds. He has published eleven books, including the Textbook of Family Medicine, Current Therapy, and Integrative Medicine, as well as peer-reviewed research on the impact of measures such as mindfulness meditation and the power of the therapeutic encounter. His 2018 book The Compassionate Connection focuses on how compassionate relationships can influence health outcomes.  AGENDA:  1.             This podcast today is about good medicine being rooted in the doctor-patient connection. Let’s start with your study on the common cold, including the unexpected twist, which makes me cry nearly every time I tell your story.  2.             Why is the patient-doctor connection so important? What is ’the clinician effect’ and its non-specific influences on health?  3.             What does the research say about this? What research should we be seeking to understand and amplify this effect further?  4.             What is the bare minimum we need to recreate this in a patient-doctor visit today? What would the ideal scenario be? Talk to us about some innovations in primary care delivery.  5.             What are the examples in which you see this working well in the world today? What’s happening in the Functional Medicine world? What’s been the transformation that’s happened in the VA? Where else?  6.             What advice to you give patients seeking to connect with their busy doctors? What advice to you give to clinicians, new & old, who yearn or ache for this but aren’t sure how to make it happen?  7.             Let’s end on an optimistic note- what are some truths and magic that you’ve seen come out of an intact patient-doctor connection? 

HER STORYDr Wahls is the clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.A., where she teaches internal medicine residents in their primary care clinics. She also does clinical research and has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, posters, and papers. In addition to being a doctor, she is also a patient with a chronic, progressive disease. She was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 2000; around the time she began working at the university. By 2003, she had transitioned to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. She underwent chemotherapy to slow the disease and began using a tilt-recline wheelchair because of weakness in her back muscles.It was clear: Eventually she would become bedridden by the disease and wanted to forestall that fate as long as possible.FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVINGWhen diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Dr. Terry Wahls had two choices for the example she could set for her children. She could model giving up, or she could model that even though life’s not fair, you get up every day and you do the best that you can. She chose the latter. Now, Dr. Wahls has a new mission: to create an epidemic of health and help millions of people reclaim their lives.She is the author of The Wahls Protocol®: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine, The Wahls Protocol®: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles (paperback),and the cookbook The Wahls Protocol® Cooking for Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions AGENDA:Tell us your story about MS & what you learned through its course.  Talk to us about the various types of brain cells and the role they play in turning MS on or off.What does the research say about your program and the various components.How widely applicable is this type of program? Yes for MS, but what about other autoimmune conditions? Toxic conditions? Alzheimer’s/ Parkinson’s, etc?How has your program evolved over the years and how does it continue to evolve?If you are a person listening to this right now with MS or these other conditions, what are the most accessible points of entry to make change, to potentially change the course of your disease?What are you excited about next in research & complex/ chronic disease development?

Dr. Sascha Sajer is an experienced physician specializing in Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Functional Medicine, with over 30 years of expertise in clinical practice, medical consultancy, and healthcare management. After earning his medical degree from the Medical University of Vienna, Dr. Sajer completed his specialization in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He further enhanced his expertise by obtaining an MBA in Health Management from Middlesex University, London, and an accredited Functional Medicine Certification (IFMCP) from The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) in the USA. Dr. Sajer is the owner and Medical Director of Revisalut GmbH, where he focuses on functional medicine and integrative healthcare. His previous leadership roles include serving as the Medical Director for the Dr. Dr. Wagner Group, overseeing nine wellness centers and five rehabilitation clinics, as well as leading the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Evangelistic Hospital of Vienna. With an internation background, he is fluent in English and German, a native Croatian speaker, and proficient in French, Dr. Sajer is also passionate about sports, sailing, photography, and the arts.Agenda Topics :  1. What is Inuspheresis & where is it under the broader umbrella of apheresis? 2.        What is the history & development of inuspheresis? 3.        What is your background in getting started with inuspheresis as a therapeutic option? For which conditions? 4.        What comes out in the effluent? Do you do toxicity testing before/ after treatments? 5.        For which patients is inuspheresis appropriate? Contraindications?6.        How you do build programs- like how many treatments/ how often/ when to repeat? What other services are typically recommended alongside inuspheresis? 7.        What are some of your favorite research papers about this Inuspheresis? What research are you looking forward to seeing up & coming? 

Let's talk about all thing's food, particularly as it relates to the Pentad community.What kind of barriers exist for people, especially with me/CFS.Why do we often see resistance to changing our diets and eliminating certain foods.How might our nutritional needs be different from the general population.What kind of resources are available to us.How do we make it a sustainable endeavor.What are some emotional or psychological tools we can employ for success.What's the best way to do an Elimination Diet.Why should somebody look to their diet for improvementWhat types of illnesses respond best to dietary restrictions.BIO:Rachel Riggs is the author of an incredible new cookbook called "in Good health' which is California-style light & fresh cooking but the twist here is that she has been suffering with ME/CFS that started in 2003, had had what is an unfortunately typical course which was waxing & waning, requiring 12 years for diagnosis and then a big exacerbation and has now been house-bound x 12 years, in fact, mostly bed-bound. She is a former specialty food shop owner whose life was upended by ME & had to sell her shop. She has worked with Dr Robert Naviaux in San Diego as his study coordinator for the last 9 years so we'll dive into the Cell Danger Response some.Blog:https://www.rachriggs.com/cookbookhttps://rachelriggs.substack.com/https://tinyurl.com/5adxvt6uhttps://www.healthrising.org/blog/2025/01/29/rachel-riggs-allergen-aware-cookbook/