Autoimmune Diseases

Q&A with Leyla, Part 2
October 4, 2017
What is your opinion of the Shingles vaccine? Would you please discuss sero-negative autoimmunity? Red yeast rice doesn't work for me, what else can I take for my cholesterol? I have delayed orgasm due to peripheral neuropathy from chemo, is there any help for me? Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Natural Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases, Part 1
June 27, 2017
Integrative Rheumatologist Dr. Aly Cohen discusses natural treatment of autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, spondylitis, and polymyositis. Her knowledge of the risks and benefits of the latest conventional medicines enlightens her decisions on how much to rely upon just natural modalities like diet change and supplements. Why so much auto-immunity today? Is there such a thing as an anti-inflammatory diet? What are the roles of Leaky Gut Syndrome and alterations in the intestinal microbiome in promoting autoimmunity? Is the Paleo Diet helpful? What vitamins and nutraceuticals decrease inflammation? Do nightshade vegetables promote arthritis? How does environmental toxicity contribute to autoimmunity? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Natural Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Integrative Rheumatologist Dr. Aly Cohen about natural treatment of autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, spondylitis, and polymyositis. Click HERE for part 1.

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for June 3, Part 1
June 5, 2017
Olive oil may prevent brain cancer; An Arizona man got a bug bite and now feels achy--could it be Lyme? European Union calls out pesticide hazards--urges more organic produce; Arthroscopic knee surgery no better than sham procedures; High-fiber diet combats knee osteoarthritis; A 31-year-old man got a tattoo--and 3 weeks later he was dead. My doctor says take aspirin, but ditch the fish oil--what to do? Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 1
May 17, 2017
I’m a 60-year-old woman recently told I have osteopenia, is this a real diagnosis? What do you think of applied kinesiology? WebMD is still touting the benefits of vegetable oils and the dangers of saturated fat, have they not caught up or do they know something we don’t? Every time I follow an autoimmune diet I become constipated, what gives? Would you recommend radioactive iodine for Grave’s disease? Click HERE for part 2.

Clinical Focus: Natural Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis, Part 1
April 20, 2017
Multiple Sclerosis Is a devastating condition for which drugs, with their attendant side effects, have little to offer. Yet it is extraordinarily responsive to natural therapies. In this Clinical Focus podcast episode, we explore the evidence supporting diet modification: Which is better, the Swank Diet, or the Paleo Autoimmune Diet, as popularized by the Wahls Protocol? What about environmental factors like chemical exposure and mercury? We summarize the research behind vitamin D, omega 3s, B12, antioxidants, alpha lipoid acid, pycnogenol, curcumin, sulforaphane, nicotinamide riboside, CoQ10, and carnitine. Is bee venom helpful? What about a controversial surgery for MS? Is there a gut connection to MS? What about marijuana derivatives like CBD? Does low-dose naltrexone help MS sufferers? Click HERE for part 2.

Clinical Focus: Natural Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his talk on natural therapies for MS. Click HERE for part 1.

Relief for Autoimmune Disorders, Part 1
April 6, 2017
Dr. Terry Wahls discusses her new book, "The Wahls Protocol: Cooking for Life--The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions." Dr. Wahls was a conventional physician who developed multiple sclerosis which was unresponsive even to powerful MS drugs. Though initially skeptical of natural medicine, she felt she had little recourse when she became wheelchair-bound, and turned to a Paleo diet. Within weeks her symptoms improved, and after several years she has achieved lasting remission. Her research led her to formulate the Wahls Protocol which has brought relief to thousands of sufferers of autoimmune disorders. How pervasive is autoimmunity? Why might diet aid recovery? Dr. Wahls dispels some misconceptions about the Paleo diet: Is it all meat? Very low carb? Are nightshades and beans permitted? Why the emphasis on bone broths? Organ meats? Seaweed? Coconut? Must all food be organic, grass-fed or wild-caught? How does the Wahls diet square with the ultra low-fat Swank diet for MS? Which supplements are beneficial? Dr. Wahls details an ongoing clinical trial meant to validate her protocol. How can one join the large community of Wahls Protocol adherents? Click HERE for part 2.

Relief for Autoimmune Disorders, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Terry Wahls, author of "The Wahls Protocol: Cooking for Life--The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions." Click HERE for part 1.

Living Well with Chronic Autoimmune Disease, Part 1
February 14, 2017
"The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook: A DIY Guide to Living Well with Chronic Disease" by MickeyTrescott and Angie Alt. Mickey and Angie are autoimmune disease sufferers and nutritional therapy consultants who learned through personal experience that diet and lifestyle are crucial to recovery. Autoimmune disorders are strikingly prevalent, especially among women. Many suffer from subclinical autoimmunity, which eludes diagnosis. Symptoms may be attributed to anxiety or depression in the absence of confirmatory blood tests, which only emerge after the diseases become full-blown. It’s best to identify and head off autoimmunity early, before serious damage occurs. Patients often need to be their own advocates for proper diagnosis and care. What is it about our modern Western lifestyles that contributes to the pervasiveness of autoimmunity? A comprehensive lifestyle strategy comprising stress management, support, movement, sleep optimization and diet can go a long way towards ameliorating symptoms. Why is the Paleo Diet a cornerstone of autoimmune wellness? Why are nightshades problematic for many sufferers? Click HERE for part 2.