Insightful conversations with thought-provoking doctors, specialists, authors, and researchers at the forefront of integrative health and wellness. Hear about the ideas and research that are changing medicine and explore age-old wisdom backed by modern science. Hosted by Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes.
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In an accelerated world, with constant connectivity, it’s more important than ever to balance our technology dependence with time in nature. For the first time in human history, we spend the greater portion of our lives indoors. And, not surprisingly, feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression are on the rise. Forest Bathing or Shinrin Yoku is a gentle technique which Japanese researchers have studied for nearly 40 years. It seeks to understand the connection between mental health and time in nature. Dr. Victoria Maizes and Dr. Andrew Weil welcome Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, OB-GYN,
Psychedelics are a family of psychoactive substances that induce a non-ordinary state of consciousness and altered sensory perception. Many individuals who have experienced psychedelics report transformative experiences, including a profound sensation of ego dissolution and deep spiritual awakening. While psychedelics have a long and interesting history of human consumption, they were banned by the FDA in the 1970s, and to this day they hold the most restrictive classification as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. However, careful research by a dedicated group of scientists reveals that MDMA m
Adaptogens are a unique group of plants and mushrooms that helps to normalize the functions of the body. They are favorites among many herbalists, naturopaths, and integrative medicine practitioners as they’ve been clinically proven to help the body to cope with acute and long-term stress, boost immunity, and increase energy. Highly regarded in traditional medicine they have been used for thousands of years in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Our guest today is Dr. Lise Alschuler, a naturopathic doctor with board certification in naturopathic oncology. Lise is the Associate Director of the Fell
Dr. Robert “Bob” Langer joins us to discuss his work microencapsulating probiotics, micronutrients, and even human cells. Microencapsulating is the scientific process which creates a protective barrier around a cell and has been a lifesaving technology for a variety of conditions. Researchers are just on the cusp of nano-encapsulating technology. Dr. Langer, a chemical engineer and Institute Professor at MIT, has been called “the Edison of Medicine” by Times for his breakthrough innovations. He has over 1,350 patents and it’s estimated that over 2 billion people worldwide have been impacted by
Cannabis research has caught the attention of medical providers and patients for its many potential health benefits. For decades cannabis has been categorized as a Schedule 1 drug, which is defined as a drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. And while 33 states have approved its medical use, it continues to be federally prohibited. Cannabis contains more than 100 active compounds that react with cannabinoid receptors in our nervous systems. In spite of prohibitive policies, medical researchers around the world have managed to conduct studies. Research revea
Breathing is an essential function of the body influencing nearly every organ and metabolic process. We average 20,000 breaths per day, often without much thought. Breathwork, or the action of controlled breathing, is a powerful and simple technique that can be used to alter physical and mental states. Studies show that it can regulate the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and even reduce stress. As vital as breathing is to our health, as a species, we are losing the ability to breathe properly. Human beings evolved to breathe through the nose, which warms and moistens the air and traps partic
For many months, grief has been at the forefront of our collective global consciousness. We have been pushed to confront a world of uncertainty from the tragic loss of millions of lives, to the loss of social relationships and identity, to the sudden disruption of daily structure. The events of the last year have certainly been a lesson in impermanence. Our guest on this episode is Roshi Joan Halifax, a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, medical anthropologist, and author of Being with Dying. She is the founder, Abbott, and headteacher of Upaya Zen Center, a Buddhist monastery located in Santa Fe,
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, affecting more than 10% of the population. Symptoms include chronic constipation, diarrhea, or acute abdominal pain a short time after eating. The unpredictable and disruptive nature of these symptoms along with their emotional toll can lead to heightened levels of stress, which in turn, may worsen symptoms. Our guest on this episode is Dr. Peter Gibson, Professor and Director of Gastroenterology at The Alfred and Monash University in Australia. Prof. Gibson’s clinical research has revealed a surprising link b
Fungi have shaped our world for billions of years and are present in us, on us, and in nearly every environment. They are one of the oldest lifeforms found on earth and throughout time formed landscapes and helped to give rise to the plant and animal kingdoms. These organisms forge mutually beneficial life-sustaining partnerships with us and can teach us a great deal about whole systems thinking. Our guest is Merlin Sheldrake, biologist and best-selling author of Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures. Merlin has spent his career investigating the ro
At some point in your life, you’ve likely been told to “trust your gut” when making a decision or experienced a “gut reaction” to external stimuli. Medical research indicates that these gut idioms might just be right about the role of the gut! It turns out that the gut microbiome communicates with the brain and can potentially influence our behavior. Researchers have named this link the gut-brain axis and it provides a robust communication network between the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. At its core is the enteric nervous system which has more than 5 times the number of n
Dr. Andrew Weil is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. His philosophy is centered on a healing-oriented approach to healthcare which encompasses the body, mind, and spirit. So, what is integrative medicine? How does it differ from conventional medicine? In the new series, Body of Wonder, Dr. Weil and internationally recognized integrative leader, author, and women's health expert, Dr. Victoria Maizes will discuss integrative medicine with thought-provoking researchers, authors, and doctors. For two decades, Weil and Maizes have led a training program at th
Psychedelics, such as ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD have been tightly controlled and highly debated substances for decades, but after several years of clinical trials, the FDA has recently awarded both MDMA and psilocybin, when used in conjunction with psychotherapy, with breakthrough status for the research of challenging mental health disorders, like PTSD. The breakthrough status designation means that the FDA will expedite the review of the research. Mental health advocates are keen to open these treatments to a wider demographic of patients. And, it’s important to note that there’s b
Plants have provided human beings with nourishment, medicine, fibers, and other resources for millennia. And, the passing of botanical knowledge through generations not only ensured survival, it shaped how cultures understood their world. Occasionally, this knowledge would be exchanged with neighboring people in the forms of stories, rituals, and daily practices. In the 1800’s Western anthropologists studying indigenous cultures began to categorize this relationship between plants and people as a new science called, ethnobotany, “ethno” meaning people and “botany” meaning plants. Over the last
Living with chronic pain can be both physically and emotionally challenging. Nearly 50 million individuals in the US report experiencing chronic pain. The symptoms may become worse over time, spread to new areas of the body, and result in restricted mobility and limitations in daily activities. Evolving research has demonstrated that for some sufferers emotions can be the source of chronic pain and may be the key to treating the symptoms. Studies have demonstrated that identifying, expressing, and releasing difficult emotions, like fear, can successfully reduce chronic pain. Our guest is Dr. H
Our daily food choices can have a lasting impact not only on our personal health but also on the health of our planet. The worldwide population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050 and research shows that human dietary patterns may have a staggering effect on climate change. Today we’re joined by Brent Kim, MHS a global disease epidemiologist and researcher at the Center for a Livable Future at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Kim has published works on sustainable diets, climate change, industrial food, animal production, soil safety, and urban food systems. As we witness dramatic co
Addiction is a public health crisis, made worse in the last year by the emotional stress and grief experienced by so many during the pandemic. It is characterized by compulsive actions despite harmful consequences. Our guest on this episode is addiction expert and author, Dr. Gabor Maté. He is internationally known for his work on mind-body unity in health and illness, attention deficit disorder and other childhood developmental issues, and his breakthrough analysis of addiction as a psycho-physiological response to childhood trauma and emotional loss. Dr. Maté contends that a deeper understan
What are the keys to living a long, healthful life? Insights from regions where people thrive well into their 100’s demonstrates that diet, physical, social, and even spiritual factors contribute to longevity. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes sit down with award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and National Geographic explorer, Dan Buettner to discuss the habits that contribute to a live a long, healthy, meaningful life. In 2000, Dan, National Geographic, and the NIH Institute on Aging identified the regions in the world where people lived the longest, healthies
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
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, la
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
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 compl
What is consciousness? Are "you" your body or your mind...or something else entirely? Is it possible to quiet the mind and free it from wondering thoughts? Can psychedelics and cannabis help you reach higher states of consciousness? In this episode of Body of Wonder, Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Deepak Chopra, two of the most well-known integrative health advocates, are interviewed by Dr. Victoria Maizes for a conversation that explores the experience of human consciousness and perception. Hear how Dr. Weil and Dr. Deepak personally define consciousness, their recommendations for healthy aging of t
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
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 br
Vegetable oils are the most consumed food in the world second only to rice and wheat. Cooking oil now accounts for 20% of our daily calories, representing the greatest increase in the sources of calories since the globalization era. Today, cooking oils are a staple in our diets, with canola, sunflower, soy, peanut, and palm oil being the most consumed. A growing number of studies demonstrate that many vegetable oils are pro-inflammatory and linked to disease. Research has shown that they are particularly harmful when heated or consumed in large quantities. Our guest this episode is Jeff Nobbs
