GW Integrative Medicine

Latest Episodes:

ICYMI: Energy Work & the Autonomic Nervous System Jun 30, 2022

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Rewind! We talk about Energy Work and the autonomic nervous system with Mara Benner, a Certified Energy Medicine Practitioner, Reiki Master, founder of Four Directions Wellness, and Spiritual Director at the GW Center for Integrative Medicine. Mara has more than 30 years in the health care and aging fields. She began her career majoring in gerontology and working at various times in hospitals, nursing homes, home health, hospice and elder protective services. She has worked at the Federal and state level on healthcare and aging policy. She is now focused on mind-body-spirit connections through Reiki, Integrative Reflexology, meditation/guided imagery, Yogic Chakra Healing, executive coaching, transitional coaching, and integrative healthcare consulting. Mara has always been intrigued by the body-mind-emotions-spirit connections. Her passion is in how we can adopt “whole person” care in partnership with the current healthcare system and with each person. ◘ Related Content Four Directions Wellness https://bit.ly/39Uj3K6 Effects of Reiki Versus Physiotherapy on Relieving Lower Back Pain and Improving Activities Daily Living of Patients With Intervertebral Disc Hernia. bit.ly/2H3vPoP Effects of Reiki on Post-cesarean Delivery Pain, Anxiety, and Hemodynamic Parameters: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial. bit.ly/2VnAO7x Reiki Reduces Burnout Among Community Mental Health Clinicians. bit.ly/2tC5GWl The Effect of Reiki on Work-related Stress of the Registered Nurse. bit.ly/2NsGmLk Neurophysiology of human touch and eye gaze in therapeutic relationships and healing: a scoping review. bit.ly/2NsH1fM ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/3bvECB8 ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

A Reproductive Psychiatrist on Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Jun 15, 2022

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Reproductive Psychiatry is an emergent specialty within medicine that focuses on women's mental health. Lucy Hutner, MD, an internationally recognized expert in women's mental health, gave a lecture centered around postpartum depression and anxiety that was titled "Skills to Support Women’s Well-being: Effectively Discussing and Assessing Mood Without Judgment" as part of the GW Resiliency & Well-being Center's Women’s Well-being Lecture Series. Dr. Hutner is one of a small group of psychiatrists with extensive expertise in reproductive psychiatry, which focuses on the mental health needs of women and families before, during, and after pregnancy. She is the lead editor of the American Psychiatric Association's "Textbook of Women’s Reproductive Mental Health." She has also authored/co-authored over twenty peer-reviewed articles and chapters focusing on reproductive psychiatry and medical education. In 2018, Dr. Hutner was invited to be one of the speakers in the inaugural TEDxWesleyan speaker series. In this talk, she discusses the evolution of women's reproductive mental health as a field within medicine. She illustrates her personal and professional experiences as a physician and psychiatrist focused on the well-being of women throughout preconception, pregnancy, and childbirth. This new lecture series is organized by the center and supported by the Rosemary Bowes, PhD, Women's Mental Health Fund. ◘ Related Links Video of the lecture https://bit.ly/3QpJhV9 Presentation slides https://bit.ly/3txWPV2 Dr. Hutner's website https://bit.ly/3xN3SKT Dr. Hutner's TEDx Talk https://bit.ly/3tAllon ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/3HyELQf ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

ICYMI: Stress Response & the Neuroendocrine System Jun 01, 2022

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Today's guest is Andrew Heyman, MD, Fellowship Director, Integrative Medicine Programs (INTM), at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Founding medical director of the INTM Programs, Dr. Heyman is an expert on stress response and neuroendocrine system. We discuss the physiologic stress response, evaluate the impact of cortisol on nervous and immune system, examine common illnesses in the context of hypocortisol states that mediated disease progression and prognosis, and treatment strategies. Dr. Heyman's research interests include the stress response and neuroendocrinology, cardiometabolic disease, men’s health, and clinical outcome research methodologies. (Originally published in April 2019) ◘ Related Content Chronic Stress and the HPA Axis: Clinical Assessment and Therapeutic Considerations bit.ly/3hYgJk0 The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication bit.ly/31YXl0T Understanding the stress response: Chronic activation of this survival mechanism impairs health bit.ly/3jFVYKm ◘ Transcript bit.ly/2QVe12R ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

The Healthspan-Cruciferous Vegetable Connection May 15, 2022

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Today's guest is Jed Fahey, ScD, a leader in healthspan extension (chemoprotection). Most of his work has focused on sulforaphane, a compound found most abundantly in cruciferous veggies and particularly in sprouted broccoli seeds. Dr. Fahey is a nutritional biochemist with broad training and extensive background in plant physiology, human nutrition, phytochemistry and nutritional biochemistry. He spent 27 years as a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Until retiring in mid-2020, he ran the Cullman Chemoprotection Center, which he helped to create, and which has for many years developed plant-based agents for the purpose of preventing chronic disease and enhancing healthspan. His research addresses the induction by phytochemicals, of cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant responses in mammalian systems. This work draws on elements of natural product chemistry, enzymology, nutritional epidemiology and clinical research to develop nutritional strategies for chronic disease prevention in humans. ◘ Related Content Dr. Fahey's website https://www.jedfahey.com/ The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Chemoprotection Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine https://bit.ly/3LamDMM Phytochemicals: Do they belong on our plate for sustaining healthspan? https://bit.ly/3PktWov Recent study identifies biomarkers for response to sulforaphane treatment in boys with autism https://bit.ly/3FPySgx Sulforaphane and Epilepsy https://bit.ly/3Mgv62v Cruciferous Vegetables https://bit.ly/3yDEE3m ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/3ldCBv4 ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

An Integrative Perspective on Women's Hormonal Health May 01, 2022

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Listen in on this GW Women's Well-being Lecture Series talk on "An Integrative Perspective on Women's Hormonal Health" by Lara Williams, MD, MSHS`20, FACOG, IFMCP, FAARM, ABOIM. Download the presentation slides and handouts at https://bit.ly/3KsI0IE. Dr. Williams is an obstetrician and gynecologist and the managing partner of The Oregon Clinic – OBGYN North. She provides a holistic approach to women’s health care issues including menopause and hormone replacement therapy. She finds new avenues for education utilizing telemedicine and group visits to meet her patients’ wide variety of needs. Her philosophy is to build a partnership with women in promoting physical and emotional health through nutrition, exercise and medicine, while exploring both traditional and alternative routes. She is also passionate about education for both her patients and students. She has helped train MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs and NDs through OHSU and National University of National Medicine. Dr. Williams completed her Master of Science in Health Sciences in Integrative Medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences in January, 2020 The Women's Well-Being Lecture Series is supported by the Rosemary Bowes Women's Mental Health Fund. ◘ Related Content GW Resiliency & Well-being Center's Women’s Well-being Initiatives https://rwc.smhs.gwu.edu/womens-well-being Integrative Women's Health (2 ed.) by Victoria Maizes, MD, and Tieraona Low Dog, MD https://bit.ly/3y1JcjZ NIH National Center for Complimentary & Integrative Health on Women's Health https://bit.ly/37SAhXh Website of Tieraona Low Dog, MD https://www.drlowdog.com/ Boston University School of Medicine Integrative Women's Health https://bit.ly/3vU3Bo7 ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/37WkhUe ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

ICYMI: Taking an Integrative Approach to Lyme Disease Apr 14, 2022

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Nature’s dirty needle. That’s how Lyme disease researchers and physicians refer to the ticks that spread the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, throughout the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled, with more than 640,000 cases reported during the 13 years from 2004 through 2016. During that time period, nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the United States. Lyme disease is a complex illness whose diagnosis and treatment requires a deeper understanding than just the characteristics of the infection, says like tick-borne disease researcher Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA. It is an often misdiagnosed, misunderstood disease that behaves in ways that makes it very difficult for standard tests to identify correctly. Dr. Heyman, an internationally recognized expert in Integrative Medicine and the Director of the GW Integrative Medicine Fellowship Program at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He is a ‘last resort’ practitioner for patients with this multi-system illness. Three Lyme disease takeways from Dr. Heyman: 1.) Other biotoxin exposures, such as mold, can mimic Lyme disease and therefore increase the difficulty of obtaining an accurate diagnosis. 2.) The body's reaction to a Lyme infection is a genetically mediated, Neuro-inflammatory response that can persist in about 20 percent of patients, even long after the infection has been treated. 3.) The consequences of chronic inflammation due to Lyme disease can be devastating, including organ injury - especially to the brain and nervous system more broadly - and even induce persistent, aberrant gene expression, leading to loss of normal cell functioning. (Originally published in 2018) ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/3KsEqyc ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

The Many Faces of Vitamin C Mar 31, 2022

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For many people, vitamin C was the first vitamin they had ever heard about – and it is mostly due to one man: Dr. Linus Pauling. His work put vitamin C in the collective unconsciousness, especially for its role in the common cold. Because of Dr. Pauling's efforts, the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI) at Oregon State University now stands as a world leader in the study of micronutrients, phytochemicals, and other dietary factors, and the role these compounds can play in promoting optimum health or preventing and treating disease. So, there is no better person to talk to us about vitamin C than LPI's own expert, Alexander Michels, PhD, who has an extensive background in the research on vitamin C, with a specialty in understanding vitamin C transport through the body. His expertise also extends to research on other aspects of antioxidant vitamin metabolism and the action of phytochemicals. ◘ Related Links LPI's Micronutrient Information Center https://bit.ly/3JYMdV5 LPI's Vitamin C page https://bit.ly/36H8KYg LPI Webinar: What You Need to Know about Vitamin C and COVID-19 https://bit.ly/35q12RB Is IV vitamin C effective against COVID-19? https://bit.ly/3wOWmA8 ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/38apg3j ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Diet, DNA, & the Science Behind a Younger You Mar 11, 2022

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Today, we’re excited to talk to Kara Fitzgerald, ND, a leader in the field of Functional Medicine and author of several textbooks that have become bibles for this specialty. Dr. Fitzgerald recently had a new book published for healthcare consumers, “Younger You: Reverse Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better.” The book is based on her groundbreaking study on reversing epigenetic age using a diet and lifestyle interventions that was published in the journal Aging in April 2021. Dr. Fitzgerald is actively engaged in clinical research on the DNA methylome using diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her practice in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. She is a research clinician for The Institute for Therapeutic Discovery. Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine, an IFM Certified Practitioner, and lectures globally on the field of Functional Medicine. ◘ Related Content Study: Potential reversal of epigenetic age using a diet and lifestyle intervention: a pilot randomized clinical trial https://bit.ly/3t3JHHm Digital Program/Ongoing Study https://bit.ly/3I61MIZ Dr. Fitzgerald's website https://bit.ly/3vX9W3Q New Frontiers in Function Medicine (Dr. Fitzgerald's podcast) https://bit.ly/3vZBFRI ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/3vUNzMB ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Integrative Pediatrics Mar 01, 2022

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Today, we talk about taking a whole-health approach to treating pediatric patients with Santisree “Santi” Tanikella, MD, FAAP, ABIHM, ABOIM, who is board certified in both Pediatrics and Integrative Medicine and currently practices General Pediatrics and Pediatric Integrative Medicine in Pennsylvania. She graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine and completed her residency training in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Montefiore. She went on to complete fellowship training in Integrative Medicine at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. Dr. Tanikella’s goal is to find the easiest and least invasive approach to care. “Sometimes pharmaceuticals are necessary, but if a condition can be treated with lifestyle or dietary changes, natural supplements, mindfulness, meditation or aromatherapy, I prefer to try these approaches first,” she says. She has a strong foundation in meditation, energy healing, and Ayurvedic medicine, and received certification as an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Instructor from the Chopra Center in California. A planner for the Spirituality in Medicine Leadership Training Institute since 2011, she enjoys working with medical students and trainees, and helping them discover joy and purpose in their careers and personal life. ◘ Related Links Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine – Integrative Medicine Fellowship: https://bit.ly/3M9ENQF University of Arizona – Integrative Medicine Fellowship: https://bit.ly/3sxc40c Stanford Pediatric Integrative Medicine Program: https://stan.md/3sxkuVf Academy of Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://www.apim.org/ ◘ Transcript & References https://bit.ly/3hs9mTx ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

The ABCs of Vitamin D Jan 31, 2022

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 50 to 70 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient. This is no bueno because a growing body of evidence shows that the "sunshine vitamin" is essential to your immune system, mood, and more. Today we talk about vitamin D and the immune system with Adrian “Fritz” Gombart, PhD, principal investigator from the Linus Pauling Institute and a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Oregon State University. Dr. Gombart’s research focuses on understanding how vitamin D status influences how well the immune system works, including the body’s ability to fight off infection. GW Integrative Medicine podcast co-host Leigh Frame, PhD, MHS, executive director of the GW Office of Integrative Medicine & Health, is joined by guest co-host Emily Ho, PhD, Director of the Linus Pauling Institute and a professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University. GW and LPI is doing a series of podcasts on nutrition topics LPI is a world leader in the study of micronutrients, phytochemicals, and other dietary factors, and the role these compounds can play in promoting optimum health or preventing and treating disease. Major areas of research include approaches to combat aging, metabolic dysfunction, and neurodegenerative disease. ◘ Related Content Linus Pauling Institute lpi.oregonstate.edu/ Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic Dr. Gombart’s bio and recent publications https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/faculty-staff/adrian-gombart ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/3roFZr3 ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

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