Intelligent Medicine | The Best of High Tech Medicine and Alternative Modalities

Dr. Corey Schuler, PhD(c), FNP, DC, CNS, and director of medical affairs at Allergy Research Group, details his paper “Energy Allocation Resilience and Endocrine Integration” in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. He introduces the Energy Allocation System (EAS), which emphasizes how the body allocates energy—not just produces it—and links many symptoms to impaired bioenergetics and resilience. They discuss mitochondria as energy generators and cellular signaling hubs, the integrated stress response and endocrine coordination (HPA axis, thyroid, gonads), and mitohormesis/eustress (exercise, fasting, heat/cold, circadian “zeitgebers”). Schuler explains nuanced testing for fatigue (diurnal cortisol, CGM patterns, thyroid markers including T3/reverse T3) and a case of a perimenopausal woman where oral contraceptives and cortisol dysregulation affected glucose patterns. They cover mitochondrial support (removing obstacles like pollutants/antibiotics, triglycerides, carnitine, dietary fats, micronutrients) and pacing/sequencing lifestyle interventions.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Corey Schuler, PhD(c), FNP, DC, CNS, and director of medical affairs at Allergy Research Group.

Dr. Marty Makary out as FDA Commissioner—was he the victim of a BigPharma purge? Are “liquid biopsies” useful for predicting recurrences, as well as guiding therapy, for cancer? Nighttime smartphone by adolescents surges, eroding kids’ sleep needs; Persistent itch may require an “all of the above” approach to break its vicious cycle—could topical vitamin B12 provide an answer? Study critiques research methods that fast-tracked new Alzheimer’s drugs.

You won’t believe this new medical use for Classic Coca-Cola; The solution for menopausal sleep problems goes beyond mere hormone replacement; Paxlovid strikes out vs. Covid in new trials; Pesticide exposure may explain rising colorectal cancer rates in young people; Big Food touts faulty study that claims healthier food regulations will cost consumers; Higher aerobic fitness boosts size of the brain’s memory centers—as does memorizing London taxi routes.

Eccentric Exercise: Better Results with Less Effort. Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian nutritionist, discusses eccentric exercise and research suggesting it may deliver better results than strenuous workouts that cause muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). She explains contraction types—isometric, concentric, and eccentric—highlighting that eccentric contractions involve muscle lengthening during the lowering phase (e.g., lowering a dumbbell, walking downstairs) and can provide greater mechanical loading with lower perceived effort, less fatigue, and broad accessibility across ages and health conditions, though requiring more focus and control. She cites studies including stair-descending in elderly obese women improving cardiovascular function, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol, and strength, and a five-minute home routine (chair squats, wall pushups, chair reclines, heel drops) improving strength, flexibility, mental health, and encouraging continued exercise. She notes athletic benefits and the need for further research.

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, an Integrative Medicine physician, researcher, and best-selling author specializing in chronic fatigue syndrome, details “adrenal fatigue,” contrasting Endocrine Society guidelines focused on overt adrenal failure with his view that the adrenals can be functionally exhausted and may be missed by standard testing and “normal ranges.” They discuss adrenal roles in stress response, blood sugar regulation, blood pressure, immunity, and symptoms suggesting low adrenal function (irritability when hungry, sugar cravings, fatigue, recurrent infections, lightheadedness/brain fog, mood shifts). Contributors include high sugar intake, chronic stress, dehydration, and salt restriction, with modern media fear/divisiveness cited as a major stressor; hypothalamic dysfunction and circadian rhythm disruption may cause “tired but wired” insomnia. They cover options such as licorice (not DGL), dietary and lifestyle changes, Adrenaplex, adaptogens (ashwagandha standards, HRG80 red ginseng study), phosphatidylserine for high nighttime cortisol, cautious low-dose hydrocortisone thresholds, and DHEA/pregnenolone considerations, plus resources at endfatigue.com.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, an Integrative Medicine physician, researcher, and best-selling author specializing in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Beyond the Bends—Wounds, Stroke Recovery, Radiation Injury, and Performance. Nicole Garrett, founder and COO of Under Pressure Hyperbarics, details hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). She explains how HBOT treats divers’ decompression sickness by recompressing nitrogen bubbles and reducing inflammation, and how therapeutic benefits depend on reaching adequate pressure (commonly around 2.0 atmospheres or more; diver treatment may begin at 2.8). Garrett describes HBOT’s history, FDA-approved uses such as diabetic wound healing, radiation injury, and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (often combined with steroids), and off-label use for stroke/TBI recovery, cognitive issues, autoimmune flares, Crohn’s disease, athletic recovery, anti-aging research (including telomere findings), and adjunctive cancer care. She contrasts “soft” chambers with higher-pressure medical chambers, discusses treatment courses (often 10–60 sessions), safety and contraindications (ears, pneumothorax, retinal bubble procedures), and practical barriers like cost, insurance coverage, and facility/oxygen regulations.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Nicole Garrett, founder and COO of Under Pressure Hyperbarics.

Now do we have to start worrying about Hantavirus? Digestive enzymes for pancreatic insufficiency; Space exploration yields new treatments for resistant bacterial infections; Alternatives to prednisone for autoimmune hearing loss; Casey Means bows out of Surgeon General nomination—next up, Nicole Saphier; Multivitamins found to slow biological aging.

Hydrogen water—breakthrough or scam? Osteoporosis fixes; Nattokinase for cardiovascular prevention; Why vitamin D helps a subset of diabetics; When oral vitamin D doesn’t work, sublingual D may normalize blood levels; Vitamin D found beneficial for colitis; Why fructose stokes food cravings; Flawed fluoridation study claims no IQ harms to kids.

Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses a listener question about whether agave nectar can contribute to obesity like high-fructose corn syrup, arguing that regular use of sweeteners—including agave, honey, monk fruit, stevia, aspartame, sucralose, allulose, and sugar alcohols—can maintain sweet cravings, spike insulin, and contribute to weight-loss plateaus, with added concerns such as microbiome effects, GI upset, and aspartame’s neurotoxicity. She notes insulin’s role in fat storage and blood pressure via sodium retention, and suggests that needing a sweetener in coffee or tea may indicate dependence on sweetness. She then covers a newly developed, validated Food Noise Questionnaire (FNQ) published in Obesity to measure intrusive food-related rumination, highlighting its five Likert-scale items, study sample characteristics, and the need for further research, including effects of GLP-1 drugs.

Sugarless: Dr. Nicole Avena on Hidden Sugars, Brain Addiction, and Practical Steps to Cut Back: Neuroscientist and author Dr. Nicole Avena reveals sugar’s pervasiveness and health impacts, drawing on her book “Sugarless: The Seven-Step Plan to Uncover Hidden Sugars, Curb Your Cravings, and Conquer Your Addiction.” Avena explains how modern industrialized, highly processed foods—many containing added sugars—have transformed innate preferences for sweetness into harmful overconsumption linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and possible dementia via insulin signaling changes. She discusses research showing sugar can stimulate dopamine reward pathways similarly to drugs and that prenatal exposure may alter offspring metabolism, preferences, and sensitivity to drugs/alcohol. For solutions, she discourages strict “cold turkey” approaches due to hidden sugars and relapse psychology, emphasizes inventorying sources and triggers, starting with eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages and sugary coffee drinks, improving breakfast, choosing protein/fat-based snacks, and viewing alternative sweeteners as a temporary crutch; she also notes diet changes can improve mood stability and reduce anxiety.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with neuroscientist and author Dr. Nicole Avena.

Functional Diagnostic Nutrition: Using Saliva Testing, Food Sensitivity Labs, and Lifestyle to Find Root Causes: Reed Davis, Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) and Certified Nutritional Therapist (CNT), is founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN). He discusses using functional testing alongside conventional care to uncover “dysfunction” when standard labs appear normal. Davis describes assessing adrenal and metabolic stress via saliva testing for circadian cortisol patterns, cortisol-DHEA balance, sex hormones, secretory IgA, and melatonin, emphasizing clinical correlation and individualized “studies of one.” He outlines an approach targeting multiple “healing opportunities” (H-I-D-D-E-N: hormones, immune, digestion, detoxification, energy, nervous system) and applying D-R-E-S-S (diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction, supplementation) rather than relying on supplements alone. A case example links chronic hives, medication-related weight gain, and food triggers identified through additional testing, including the Mediator Release Test. The discussion also covers stress-driven gut dysbiosis, digestion decline, and EFT tapping for stress-related symptoms, and notes FDN practitioners can be found via FDNtraining.com/medicine.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Reed Davis, Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP), Certified Nutritional Therapist (CNT), and founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN).