Fx Medicine Podcast Central

Cardiovascular disease is still the major killer, along with cancer, in our society. It is responsible for 11% of deaths in Australia. As a preventable disease there is an opportunity to make a big difference for about 2 to 3 million Australians. In this podcast Dr Mark Donohoe and Andrew Whitfield-Cook discuss what clinicians need to know and do to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Topics covered include: the truth about statins, the real role of cholesterol in the body, dietary and lifestyle factors that make genuine change and when drug therapy is required.

Depression and anxiety disorders are exploding in prevalence. It is believed that at least 3 million Australians, at any given time, suffer from these conditions. And, while we do have standard medication for many psychiatric and psychological conditions, research shows that anywhere between 60-90% of people prescribed antidepressants fail to get a benefit that is superior to placebo. What these statistics suggest is that we are not addressing the underlying causes. The fact is that depression and anxiety disorders are multifactorial conditions that require a wholistic approach to treatment. In this episode of FX Medicine Andrew Whitfield-Cook interviews Belinda Reynolds on the numerous contributing factors that underpin mood disorders and explores the role of nutrition and lifestyle as an essential component to clinical therapy.

Listen in to hear FX Medicine host Andrew Whitfield-Cook interview delegates from the 2015 BioCeuticals Research Symposium. Hear first hand from attendees their highlights, clinical pearls and light bulb moments. BioCeuticals' 3rd Research Symposium was held on April 17-19 at the Hilton, Sydney. Keynote speakers were: Mike Ash ND, Dr David Haase, Dr Mark Houston and Dr Joe Pizzorno.

In this podcast Andrew Whitfield-Cook interviews Stacey Roberts on her approach to fertility, pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. Stacey is a former physiotherapist turned herbalist and naturopath who has been involved in healthcare since 1989, in both conventional and complimentary medicine. As an internationally recognised fertility and women’s health expert she has assisted people in over 32 countries with improving their overall health and wellbeing by addressing their physical, physiological and psychological wellbeing. Stacey is an international speaker and author who has written over seven books including the best seller 'The Fertility Bible'. She has been featured on television in World News, A Current Affair, Oprah, Discovery Channel and Sunrise in Sydney amongst many others. This is vital listening for anyone wanting to lean more about optimising health for pregnancy and preventing potentially serious conditions.

Dr David Haase is an expert in Integrative Holistic Medicine and specialises in functional neurology, neuroendocrinology and neuroelectrophysiology. He will be a keynote speaker at the 3rd BioCeuticals Research Symposium and will present several lectures and workshops on how to optimise the brain-body. In this podcast, Dr Mark Donohoe interviews Dr Haase on some of the key themes and insights attendees can expect at this upcoming event. This is fascinating listening for anyone who is interested in understanding the brain (and brain therapy) from a systems biology perspective.

Sarah Franklin is a registered nurse and naturopath with many years experience in oncology. Her special areas of interest lie in the successful integration of complementary medicine with conventional treatments. In this podcast interview, Sarah discusses how she approaches each cancer patient care in a very personalised way. Every patient that presents with a cancer is unique and complementary practitioners require an awareness of the risks and benefits of any chosen treatment. Sarah also reviews her approach to nutrition, diet and herbal medicines as well as interactions and contraindications. This is a very important podcast for anyone interested in cancer care and better patient support and outcomes.

For more than a century, scientists have recognised that Vitamin D3 is involved in bone health. The latest research, however, shows that Vitamin D3 deficiency is linked to a range of other health conditions such as depression, back pain, cancer, both insulin resistance and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, impaired immunity and macular degeneration. While it is clear that a large percentage of individuals are deficient, what is also becoming apparent is that our previous understanding of adequate dosing is way off the mark. In this FX Medicine podcast Professor Michael Holick is interviewed on the latest evidence in support of higher dosing of vitamin D and the most recently identified health implications for deficiency.

In today's fast-paced and high-demand world adrenal exhaustion is one of the most common clinical presentations. in this podcast, Andrew Whitfield-Cook interviews Dr Bob Buist on the impact of chronic stress on adrenal function and how this may affect normal thyroid and immune function.

The relationship between the gut and the immune system is one of the most exciting and clinically relevant areas of research in molecular medicine. We have learnt that disturbances in gut homeostasis and microbial balance can activate the innate immune system in several ways causing wide and systemic dysfunction. In this interview Mike Ash, an immunologist and naturopath, discusses the latest research in this field. He explains how you can use gastrointestinal immunology to enhance mitochondria and consequently reduce activation of the innate immune system, reduce oxidative stress and reduce inflammation. Mike Ash presents a compelling view of how gut can be a point of intervention for the safe treatment of chronic disease while providing an opportunity for multiple organ system resolution.

There is no doubt that iodine deficiency is one of the most profound nutritional concerns in Australia. In fact, iodine deficiency is the biggest non-communicable disorder and also a major cause of mental disorder. In this outstanding interview, Mark Donohoe expertly explains the critical importance of this typically misunderstood mineral. After reviewing it's many roles in the body, well beyond thyroid function, he pays special attention to dosing and key clinical strategies for addressing iodine deficiency.

This interview is essential listening for anyone who is interested in implementing practical measures for improving male reproductive health and sexual function. Following up from his recent national seminar series, Dr Bob Buist discusses the healthy male physiology, the key factors that can interfere and impede on this and the nutritional, herbal and lifestyle approaches that have been shown to be of real benefit.

In this interview, Dr Mark Donohoe expertly describes what happens to the adrenal glands when we undergo various types of stress. His comprehensive knowledge of adrenal structure and function brings new insights into this often misunderstood organ. In doing so, Dr Donohoe is able to draw a framework for assessment and treatment that will be helpful to all health care practitioners.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of liver disease in Australia. There is increasing evidence for considering NAFLD as part of metabolic syndrome including obesity, hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridaemia and hypertension. Therapies which focus on targeted anitoxidant and anti-inflammatory actions are therefore a worthwhile consideration. Such therapies have the potential to improve liver function leading to a drop in serum aminotransferase levels and inflammation, along with improvements in liver histology and steatosis. In particular, several natural agents have been studied to demonstrate such improvements. Trials using St Mary's thistle, coffee, vitamin E and zinc in NAFLD have shown improvements in liver enzyme levels and biochemistry. In this interview with Dr Bob Buist, we review some of these key areas of research and offer practical and effective options for treating this increasingly prevalent condition.

Mark Houston is clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School, and Medical Director at Hypertension and Vascular Biology Institute and the Life Extension Institute at Saint Thomas Hospital and Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.In this interview Dr Houston discusses his advanced understanding of the real causes of hypertension, lipid disorders and explores the treatment and nutritional therapies that he uses in his practice that make measurable improvements in his patients.

In this podcast we interview Hub Regtop on the protective benefits of the 'missing nutrient'.

We have reached a limit in our ability to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) utilising the traditional evaluation, prevention, and treatment strategies for the top 5 cardiovascular risk factors – hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity and smoking. Statistics show that approximately 50% of patients continue to have CHD or myocardial infarction (MI) despite “normal” levels of these five risk factors as traditionally defined. A more logical and in depth understanding is required of these top five risk factors.Mark Houston is clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School, and Medical Director at Hypertension and Vascular Biology Institute and the Life Extension Institute at Saint Thomas Hospital and Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He specializes in hypertension, lipid disorders, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, nutrition, clinical age management and general internal medicine.In this interview,

Professor Michael Holick, the world's leading expert on vitamin D research, responds to some of the more recent negative studies that seem to be so readily picked up by the media. He then goes on to provide a roundup of some of the exciting, upcoming trials of this vitally important nutrient.

In this episode Andrew Whitfield-Cook interviews Hub Regtop on his research into the use of specific plant extracts, nutrients and probiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Hub draws on his extensive knowledge and experience as a research scientist to explain the options practitioners have in treating this common and often recurrent condition. Areas covered include:- how to release important therapeutic enzyme components from pomegranate extract to inhibit bacterial replication - the use of certain probiotic species for specific antibacterial effects - how to inhibit E. coli colonisation and replication - blocking bacterial receptor sites on the urinary tract wall - managing urinary tract pH - the role of cathelicidin in the prevention of infection and how this can be influencedHub goes on to explain how a specific combination of nutrients and probiotics can work together to provide an optimal formula for the prevention and treatment of UTIs.

We are all familiar with what it feels like to react to a stressful or threatening event. That uneasy feeling of worry or panic, coupled with an increased heart rate, rapid breathing and loss of hunger, is a typical physiological response known as ‘fight or flight’. Of course, once the perceived threat goes away, so too should this reaction, and we soon after expect to return to a normal and relaxed state. However, for a considerable number of people, that uncomfortable feeling of fear or impending danger can be a persistent presence and so too can those distressing physiological symptoms. It is an unfortunate feature of the 21st Century that anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric presentation in Australia, affecting one in seven people.In part 2 of our interview with Dr Jerome Sarris, we explore some truly exciting nutraceutical and herbal therapy developments that may contribute a substantial piece of the anxiety treatment puzzle.

Depression is a common condition, affecting more than one million Australians each year. When it takes hold, it can be a debilitating illness that robs people of their ability to experience joy, meaning or motivation. Instead, sadness and anxiety can take over. Rather than there being a specific cause, depression seems to be associated with a combination of life events, personal factors and changes in brain chemistry, particularly serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. As every individual is affected by depression in a unique way, there is no single treatment that cures depression. Traditional treatments typically include a range of psychological therapies, medication or both, but have we been overlooking some potentially powerful options?In part 1 of this interview with Dr Jerome Sarris, we review some of the impressive research on the herbal medicines and nutraceuticals found to be effective in the treatment of depression.