Expert Interview

ENCORE: The Benefits of Compounded Medications and Supplements, Part 1
August 17, 2023
Compounding pharmacies form a vital link in the ecosystem of functional and integrative medicine. Yet their ability to provide patients with unique personalized medications and nutraceuticals is being threatened by regulatory overreach. Dr. John Kim, Pharm.D. is an expert on compounding and is director of Robinson Drug & Compounding Center. Why is BigPharma lobbying against bio-identical HRT? How might bias against compounding pharmacies limit innovative doctors’ options to personalize treatments; Why offering custom-tailored medications is preferable to a one-size-fits-all approach; Dr. Kim discusses natural hormones, low-dose naltrexone, innovative pain formulations, and novel intravenous products. Compounding pharmacies like his are essential providers of the unique medications and supplements that require specialized delivery systems for children with autism; How consumers can push back against restrictive regulations that threaten to deny them the benefits of compounded medications—The Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding is fighting for patients’ rights. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: The Benefits of Compounded Medications and Supplements, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. John Kim, Pharm.D., an expert on compounding, about compounding pharmacies' vital link in the ecosystem of functional and integrative medicine and the threat they're under by regulatory overreach. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Natural Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases, Part 1
August 15, 2023
Autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis are on the rise in Western countries; there are now 72 of them affecting every organ of the body. Dr. Angela Lucterhand, Director of Product and Program Marketing at Ortho Molecular Products, is an expert on natural therapies for autoimmunity. Why the uptick in these diseases in the modern industrialized countries? She outlines the role diet, stress, environmental toxicity, and gut health play in autoimmunity. Elimination of food precipitants is a key to recovery; so, too, is addressing “leaky gut” and restoring balance of the microbiome. Certain supplements address gut integrity, tamp down inflammation, and support the mitochondria. Dr. Lucterhand details a functional medicine roadmap for reversing autoimmunity. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Natural Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Angela Lucterhand, Director of Product and Program Marketing at Ortho Molecular Products and an expert on natural therapies for autoimmunity. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: An Integrative Deep-Dive on Diabetes, Part 1
August 10, 2023
The incidence of diabetes is increasing across the world. It’s said we’re amidst a “twin pandemic”—there’s Covid, and then there are the millions of individuals who suffer from diabetes and metabolic syndrome that may exceed Covid in their toll. We're joined by Dr. Mona Morstein, author of "Master Your Diabetes: A Comprehensive, Integrative Approach For Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes." Are there more than just two types of diabetes? What’s wrong with the traditional treatment paradigm for diabetes? What’s the best diet? Is keto safe for diabetics? What about intermittent fasting? What supplements aid blood sugar control? Do pollutants play a role in diabetes causation? Can commonly used medications make it worse? What blood tests shed light on prediabetes? Which forms of exercise are best? Is the microbiome involved with metabolic fitness? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: An Integrative Deep-Dive on Diabetes, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Mona Morstein, author of "Master Your Diabetes: A Comprehensive, Integrative Approach For Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes." Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Everything you ever wanted to know about Low-Dose Naltrexone, Part 1
August 8, 2023
Dr. Pamela Smith joins us to provide an update on LDN, a versatile therapy that delivers a low dose of a commonly prescribed lifesaving medication used to reverse narcotics overdoses. Dr. Smith describes how LDN reboots the immune system and tamps down inflammation, accounting for its ubiquitous applications. A myriad of conditions respond to LDN: autoimmune disorders like inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis; painful conditions like fibromyalgia, many cancers, skin disorders, and infertility, even with applications for stubborn weight gain. The latest research focuses on the role LDN might play to hasten resolution of Long Covid. Dr. Smith’s most recent book, "Max Your Immunity: How to Maximize Your Immune System When You Need It Most" is a timely look at what works to fortify resilience in the face of the pandemic, with an entire chapter devoted to LDN. More information on LDN can be found at LDN Research Trust. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Everything you ever wanted to know about Low-Dose Naltrexone, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Pamela Smith, author of "Max Your Immunity: How to Maximize Your Immune System When You Need It Most." Click HERE for part 1.

Astaxanthin For Immune, Brain And Vision Health, Part 1
August 3, 2023
Neil Edward Levin, Senior Nutrition Education Manager and a product formulator for Protocol for Life Balance provides a deep-dive on astaxanthin, a naturally occurring carotenoid that plays an important role in cellular protection and healthy immune system responses. Astaxanthin has also been shown in clinical studies to promote normal cognitive function and may help to maintain a positive mood. In the eye, it helps to neutralize free radicals and manage eyestrain due to computer usage. It's an extraordinary carotenoid derived from non-GMO Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae. Due to its unique chemical structure, astaxanthin can stabilize cellular and mitochondrial membrane structures and thus protect them against free radical attack originating both inside and outside of the cell. Click HERE for part 2.

Astaxanthin For Immune, Brain And Vision Health, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Neil Levin, Senior Nutrition Education Manager and a product formulator for Protocol for Life Balance about the benefits of Astaxanthin. Click HERE for part 1.