Neuroveda Podcast for Complex Health

Dr Aly Cohen. MD and environmental health specialist (and very entertaining speaker), gives us the full low-down about our drinking water in the U.S.. She starts out describing how the 160,000 treatment plants in the US make up ~80% of our water sources and are bound only to the regulations, restrictions and testing from the Safe Water Drinking Act of 1974. At that time, and since, it's only federally required to test for 91 known toxic chemicals; 95,000 chemicals have been introduced into our environment since the 1950's, leaving 94,909 untested for in our drinking water, at least 1000 known to be endocrine disruptors (most others are not tested so, for the most part, we don't even know their impact). She reviews some of these in detail (including a review of why endocrine disruptors are called 'disruptors'. What is in our water is cumulative of everything that goes down our drain- pharmaceuticals, metals in pipes, dead animals and literally anything that gets flushed down your toilet or washes into sewers including industrial chemicals and farm run-off. When that is 'purified', it's often done with other chemicals- chlorine or flourine, etc, that often isn't removed after it does its cleansing action. She also notes the variability of the wastewater quality can intimately depend on the day, including any climate events like floods, that also flood the wastewater plants. This is one way that climate change can directly, day by day, impact our water quality. So what to do?!? First of all, avoid chemicals in all ways possible (check out Dr Cohen's website (https://thesmarthuman.com/), TEDx talk "How to Protect Your Kids from Toxic Chemicals" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSCeP0hyuTI), Smart Human Podcast (https://thesmarthuman.com/podcast/) and her Instagram, Twitter & FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheSmartHuman/). We then do the deep dive into water filtration with the highest recommendations for reverse osmosis (including how this is the minimum set standard for dialysis water used with patients). Listen in! It's not an option! This is information that we need to hydrate our bodies & grow & protect our babies' development, and age with grace. It's water! 

Despite being born into an Ayurvedic culture, Dr Anup Mulakaluri, ND, didn't seek out Ayurvedic training until his mom gained medical benefit this ancient science. As soon as he started his training, he knew he was at home and brings the cozy comfort of Ayurveda to each patient he sees and the teaching he does, like in our show today. He starts out describing Ayurveda as 'a system of healing, a way of life, a spiritual practice and as a functional medicine'. He then dives into how we can understand ourselves through our doshic makeup, meaning the three components of our constitution termed vata, pitta, and kapha. With his clear definitions and descriptions of how to stay balanced, lovingly shares what to do when it's hard to wake up in the morning, for example. We then shift to the Ayurvedic perspective of neurology. He describes the nervous system is the action arm of consciousness, where choices are made. He discusses the innate connection between the nervous system and the gut as they can be connected through vata dosha and 'vatagati', meaning 'vata goes there'. Dr Mulakaluri unfolds the beauty of Ayurveda to meet the patient exactly with what they need. Typically with neurological disease, primary treatments are to apply soothing oil topically with massage but also internally with ghee, oils, and fatty animal tissue like cold-water fish in the diet. He explains how the lipophilic nature of oil allows it to penetrate through membranes to address neurological tissues. From here, Dr Mulakaluri reviews a few cases with treatments given for a patient with Parkinson's Disease, a patient with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). In brief, he also reviews the incredible and unique process that is Ayurvedic panchakarma for detoxification, cleansing, restoration and rejuvenation. Panchakarma is the tool for hitting the reset button. He bravely answers our question about 'why does Ayurveda work for neurological conditions'. This was such a relaxing show to record and we are thrilled to offer you this look into Ayurveda today.  For more information about Dr Anup Mulakaluri, ND, and his clinic, Natural Rhythms Ayurvedic Naturopathy: https://ayurvedicseattle.com/ Parkinson's:  AV Mungale, et al. Role of Panchkarma and Shaman Chikitsa in Parkinson’s Disease. World Journal of Pharmaceutical research, Vol. 10(2), 1430-1437. Verma J, et al. An Open Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Shirobasti and Nasya with and without Levodopa in the Management of Kampavata w.s.r. to Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Research & Reviews: A Journal of Ayurvedic Science, Yoga & Naturopathy Volume 8, Issue 3. Sagar M. Bhinde, Kalpana S. Patel,1 Virendra Kumar Kori,1 and S. Rajagopala. Management of spastic cerebral palsy through multiple Ayurveda treatment modalities. Ayu. 2014 Oct-Dec; 35(4): 462–466. Multiple Sclerosis: Shailesh VD, et al. Effect of Ayurvedic and Panchkarma treatment in Ashti Majja Gata Vata: A Case Study. J. of Ayurved and Holistic Medicine, Vol. 5 (6), Nov-Dec. 2017. Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Nakanekar, Amit et al. “An ayurvedic approach in the management of Guillain-Barre syndrome: A case study.” Ancient science of life vol. 35,1 (2015): 52-7 Myasthenia Gravis:  Ashwini HA, et al. ROLE OF PANCHAKARMA IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS– A CASE STUDY. Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2018;6(3):61-65. Vidyasagar, Prashanth A.S. A critical understanding of Myasthenia Gravis and it's Treatment in Ayurveda. Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2018;6(8):55-61

Marilyn (Micki) Maes, MS. RT, (R), (MR), (f), CRT, is a radiologic technologist, professional educator, researcher, 3D quantitative analyst, consultant, and manager with over 15 years of experience in performance and training regarding diagnostic imaging. Prior to her last 6 years at CorTech working with the Neuroquant, which is a specific type of volumetric analysis and report regarding cognitive decline, she was director at Stanford's 3D quantitative radiology department doing manually what CorTech reports now do digitally. This show walks through brain/head imaging from A-Z, or should we say from X-ray to CT, to MRI, to PET and back through circulatory vessel imaging including CTA (CT-angiogram) and MRA/MRV (magnetic resonance angiogram & venograms). She brings to light how the imaging study is done, what body structures are best seen with each test, types of dye (iodine vs gadolinium), contraindications and which clinical situation is best elucidated by which study (for example, Parkinson's and dopamine with PET scanning or how & why cancer lights up with gadolinium). Micki then dives into nitty gritty details of what is being seen (or not) with the CorTech Neuroquant report comparing volumetrics as applies to long-COVID brain fog, Alzheimer's, hippocampal asymmetry, ventricular sizes and global atrophy. She also reviews imaging abnormalities with MS and vascular abnormalities. This information can be hard to find and especially difficult to understand. Micki teases apart what type of information is sought with the various imaging options. More information about the Neuroquant reports can be found at the CorTech website.  Cortech: https://www.cortechs.ai/

Dr Virtaj Singh, MD, gives us the physical medicine and rehabilitation perspective of the hypermobile body. We start out talking about how 'hypermobility' presents, starting with the various joints that can get hypermobile (spoiler alert: it's all of them). He explains how lax ligaments may trigger muscles to tighten in order to protect a vulnerable joint which is why sometimes treatment is to loosen muscles and sometimes treatment is to tighten ligaments as a way to address a root cause of pain. We review the various stages of dysfunction including acute, subacute and chronic stages and how to look for microscopic injuries that might not be visible on imaging. Dr Singh explains looking for the what, the how and the why- the cause- of pain and dysfunction versus just trying to dull pain with opiates. He walks through a broad range of treatment options top to bottom- medications (anti-inflammatories vs muscle relaxants vs tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline/nortriptyline, low dose naltrexone, opiates), physical and occupational therapies, steroid injections, prolotherapy (injections to tighten ligaments as some say 'scar it down'), IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation which is sort of like 'if acupuncture and massage therapy had a baby'), trigger point injections, PRP (platelet rich plasma), stem cell injections into joint spaces, and surgery (fusion/ fixation). We discuss CCI, craniocervical instability, as one possible trigger for many of the global symptoms of neuroinflammation and that it's a very dangerous area from an interventionalist standpoint; Dr Singh refers to the Centeno-Schultz Clinic in Colorado for injection treatments Sprinkled throughout are tips and pearls for understanding the different joints and their role in supporting your full body. Dr Singh walks through various conditions, placing imaging studies like MRI in their proper context- not as diagnostics, but as supports for the physical evaluation of the patient. We finish with a discussion about fixation & fusion surgeries and then recap what is hypermobility and how to think about it when trying to address pain. Jump on board- this is a thorough discussion about physical treatments for the hypermobile body that you don't want to miss.  Find Dr Virtaj Singh at Seattle Spine & Sports: http://seattlespine.com/seattle #hypermobility #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #hypermobilitysyndrome #EDS #chronicillness #mecfs #chronicdisease #pain #chronic pain #chronicfatigue #chronicallyill #chronicpainwarrior #chronicfatiguesyndrome #spoonie #spoonielife #spoonies #spoonieproblems #jointpain #jointhealth #regenerativemedicine #medicine 

Tami Hafzalla hails originally from Cairo, Egypt, and found her spirit grounded & home-grown through her explorations of Yoga and Ayurveda. In this podcast, she brings us along on her journey originating in a curious & contemplative childhood, through psychology studies in college that triggered her introduction to Yoga, breath work, meditation and self-discipline. "Yoga is here to liberate me." Her drive to be of service to humanity drove progressively deeper through experiences all over the world with Vedic sciences: music, chanting, ancient texts, Jyotish (Ayurvedic astrology), and bhatki, which means devotion. Bhakti is the style of practice that spoke most to Tami across the decades of her journey and has sustained her through years of parenting, working, breathing and living. "The truth of being a householder in the world is that we can't spend all the hours in the day in spiritual awareness, but we can be in devotion." She quotes Jack Kornfield's book, "After the Ecstasy, the Laundry." She shares with us one of her personal favorite mantras, 'begin again' because the nature of being human is honoring recurrent imperfection. We then discuss Tami's brilliant approach to attending to your Ayurvedic constitution during a group Yoga practice. Tami's grasp and application of the science to the daily life is palpable, regardless of wrestling toddlers into pants or on retreat abroad at a spiritual retreat. "This is my practice. My body is changing and this is my practice." Hearing her story is inspiring. Listening through her humility is an honor. 

Dr Alessandro Bitto is a researcher at the University of Washington who studies biological aging, mitochondrial function and metabolic disease. He walks us through the history, current thinking and some of the experimental data of cellular senescence, including the role of DNA damage and telomeres, some of the senolytic drugs (quercetin, Dasatinib and others), and how different cells effect senescence differently, like epithelial cells vs neurons vs immune cells. He talks about the root of cancer being cells that escape cellular instructions. From this foundation, Dr Bitto layers in the role of mitochondria with deep explanations of metabolism as the summary of actions that cover the cycles of catabolism and anabolism- the breaking down of our food, water and oxygen intake into their individual constituents and then the process of building membranes, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, etc. He discusses the actions with the mitochondria which govern oxidative phosphorylation including the Kreb's cycle (aka Citric Acid Cycle) and the electron transport chain and the importance of membranes to govern the passage and connection of these elements to do the work. We discuss macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates and proteins) as well as the vitamins and minerals that act as co-factors. Next, Dr Bitto links mitochondrial activity with aging. Dr Bitto then shares the research he's been personally working on, which revolves around the impact on aging (in mice) by rapamycin, acarbose and butryrate. Of note, acarbose and butryrate are active in the gut and suddenly, here we see the direct link between the gut, the mitochondria, and biological aging- wow! Listen in for a ride through the science and research of metabolism, mitochondria and aging. 

Prisca Nwizubo is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who found herself most at home working with mental health and illness in innovative ways including especially with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and runs Eastside TMS Wellness in Washington State. She brings us through her journey that starts in a public area in Nigeria at age 6 years old seeing a group of mentally ill people being mistreated by their guards or caretakers, all the way through to this cutting-edge modern TMS technology. She walks us through the process that includes consultation, mapping to target the neural location, and then the 'tap tap tap like a woodpecker' sensation of their 18-minute treatment. This is an FDA-approved treatment, generally covered by insurance and lasts across 36 sessions. TMS seems able to reach illness patterns where and when medications might not. While mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are obvious treatment targets, TMS has also been used for Bell's Palsy, Circadian Rhythm disturbances and other sleep issues. If you have been looking for a treatment option to complement therapy and medications (or possible replace medications or reduce the number of necessary medications), listen in to hear all about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.  Find our more about Prisca Nwizubo and Eastside TMS Wellness: https://www.eastsidetmswellness.com/ Contact Prisca directly at (425) 919-6826.

Ms Hiba Jameel grew up in Iraq during the Gulf War and transitioned from coming to the US as a refugee to studying Blue-Zone longevity & nutrition including the biomarkers regarding mTor & IGF1 during her Masters training at Tufts University. She paints us a gorgeous picture of sitting at her grandmother's table as a child with the fruits, nuts, vegetables and spices of the Iraqi table and moves through her understanding of people through her understanding of food, nutrition and the world 'healthy'. Her love of food is palpable and it's evident especially in her respect for the variety of diets in Blue-Zones around the world. She's sharp on policy as well and lays into our food policies that are driving national health vulnerabilities. As she talks about her art and creativity which was present in her since childhood, she lights up again. This is a wide-ranging show about art, culture, trauma, nutrition, emotion, policy, inequities, and health, all as told through the warm and sweet voice of Ms Jameel that truly represents the ways in which we can choose healing from diverse aspects of our lives. Enjoy!  Contact Ms Jameel for nutritional consultation: hjameel2019@gmail.com. 

How can we find authentic freedom, everlasting joy, and unshakable sovereignty? In this episode, Acharya Shunya shares the seven stages of falling through desire from consciousness to unconsciousness to discover our true nature and improve our health. Acharya Shunya is the first female leader in her 2,000 year Vedic lineage from India. Her insight is profound and under the heel of her gentle, poetic tone, she crushes the Ego that keeps us isolated and alone to hand us our larger Self. This is the process we all walk through over the course of our lives as we search for connection and continually must remember that the connection we seek is to our Self. By finding the Self, "the nightmare is over and you have awakened".  We may romanticize spirituality as something that happens away from families and work and the daily life, but Acharya Shunya breaks these assumptions. We enlighten right where we are, up in the night with children, sick ones and elders. We don't need any particular thing in our external life to be one way or another. The battle for our spirit exists in finding our way to come correct to every breath, while we grocery shop and stand in lines and take out the trash and pay bills. "Find the Himalaya within you."  This householder spirituality was part of the Vedic tradition from thousands of years ago. In fact, she shares how the Vedas were written in part by 27 Rishikas (women seers). The Vedas are older than Hinduism and note the equality of power held by women and men, the widely-noted presence of divinity in the 'male body, female body or mixed body'; divinity is present in all life, in all faiths and religions and cultures. "When we sleep, we all return to that one common womb." Acharya Shunya's website: https://www.acharyashunya.com/ Acharya Shunya's book, Sovereign Self: Claim Your Inner Joy and Freedom with the Empowering Wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita: https://bookshop.org/books/sovereign-self-claim-your-inner-joy-and-freedom-with-the-empowering-wisdom-of-the-vedas-upanishads-and-bhagavad-gita/9781683645818

Dr Alissa Zingman is a physician board-certified in Occupational & Environmental Preventative Medicine. Prior to medical school, she was a professional dancer & pilates instructor. She also has a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type, or hEDS, which makes her one of every 5000 people who may be functioning like 'canaries in the coal mine of biomechanics'. She’s had five orthopedic surgeries, several herniated discs in her spine and had to leave her orthopedic surgery residency to pursue intensive rehabilitation for her spine & pelvis. Being a physician did not shield her from the medical neglect and abuse that is unfortunately common amongst hEDS patients and advocacy remains one of her passions. In this episode, we hear about her story from both sides- the patient as well as the clinician perspectives for this condition which is garnering growing awareness. Learn which clinicians to seek out, how wide-ranging effects can be (think heart valves and blood vessels and immune miscommunications resulting in conditions like MCAD (Mast Cell Activation Disorder) as well as joints & skin stretchiness), diagnostic issues & criteria, a global approach to treatment (organize, stabilize, mobilize, dynamise), what type of therapies might be helpful (including prolotherapy & PRP), some of the medications that are used, and how and why EDS/ HMS dysfunction might be on the rise (hint: pollution!!). She knows it all! Come listen to learn the nuances of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.  Resources:  PRISM Spine & Joint: https://prismspineandjoint.com/ Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Research Foundation at https://edsrf.org/