The central nervous system plays a crucial role in controlling the body and setting the stage for chronic illness development, with trauma being a key factor in illness persistence. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Aimie Apigian to discuss how trauma is not just the event itself but the five physiological steps that create lasting changes in the nervous system and cellular biology. 

Dr. Apigian explains how the body transitions from startle response through stress physiology into trauma shutdown when capacity is overwhelmed, why sensitive children with biochemical imbalances like zinc deficiency or undermethylation are more susceptible to trauma responses, and how unresolved trauma keeps the nervous system stuck looping between sympathetic activation and shutdown states that block healing and detoxification, preventing recovery from chronic illness.

Episode Highlights:

• Trauma response has five steps from startle to shutdown, creating lasting cellular changes
• Adrenaline release matches perceived danger size; shutdown occurs when capacity is overwhelmed
• Zinc deficiency and undermethylation increase nervous system sensitivity to trauma responses
• Healing requires simultaneous somatic work, inner child therapy, and biological nutrient support

Listen in to learn more : 
[0:03:52] Five-Step Trauma Cascade: From Startle to Shutdown

[0:08:54] Adrenaline Scale and the Capacity Cutoff

[0:31:20] Zinc, Undermethylation, and Super-Sensitive Nervous Systems

[0:25:00] Three-Pronged Healing: Somatic, Inner Child, Biology

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Resources

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About Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH

Dr. Aimie Apigian is a double Board-Certified Physician in Preventive and Addiction Medicine, with Master's degrees in Biochemistry, Public Health, and specialized training in Functional Medicine. She is the founder of The Mind-Body-Biology Institute and trains practitioners in The Biology of Trauma®, a lens that addresses how the body holds fear, pain, and overwhelm, which make one sick and stuck. 

Learn more about Biology of Trauma https://www.biologyoftrauma.com/

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to [email protected])

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Breathing is the most fundamental thing we do, yet dysfunctional patterns like mouth breathing, shallow chest breathing, and breath holding can drive dysautonomia, POTS, and impaired tissue oxygenation in chronically ill patients. 

In this episode, Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Michael Roesslein to discuss how the way we breathe constantly signals either safety or danger to the nervous system, why low CO2 tolerance keeps oxygen locked in the blood rather than delivered to tissues, and how chronic diaphragm constriction from held emotions blocks lymphatic drainage and organ function. 

They discuss why simple nasal diaphragmatic breathing practices can shift the body from protective overdrive into a healing state, and how breath awareness serves as a free, accessible tool for restoring autonomic balance.

Episode Highlights:

• Mouth breathing and shallow chest breathing activate sympathetic overdrive, signaling danger
• Higher CO2 tolerance pushes oxygen from the blood into tissues for delivery
• Diaphragm constriction from held emotions blocks lymphatic drainage and organ function
• Nasal belly breathing for 3-5 breaths retrains the nervous system toward safety
• Introduction to breathing: https://animasomaticself.com/

Listen in to learn more :

[0:00:34] Breath: The Most Overlooked Healing Tool

[0:05:00] Functional vs “Breathwork”: How You Breathe All Day Matters

[0:05:00] CO₂ Tolerance: The Hidden Key to Oxygen Delivery

[0:18:07] Diaphragm as a Second Heart: Pumping Lymph, Emotion, and Safety

[0:28:53] Adaptations, Not Failures: How the Body Protects with Dysfunctional Patterns

About Michael Roesslein

Michael Roesslein holds a Master's Degree in Exercise Science & Health Promotion and is a certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and Advanced Facilitator of Biodynamic Breathwork and Trauma Release System, with additional training at the Luminous Awareness Institute and Dr. Gabor Maté's Compassionate Inquiry program. He is the founder of Rebel Health Tribe and has recently transitioned to Anima Somatic Self-Discovery, where he facilitates trauma-focused healing work for individuals and groups and hosts transformational retreats in Italy and beyond.

Learn more https://animasomaticself.com/

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to [email protected])

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Ozone therapy has been used for 130 years but remains largely unknown in mainstream American medicine despite extensive safety data and published research. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Frank Shallenberger, who has practiced ozone therapy for 40 years and leads the American Academy of Ozone Therapy, to discuss how ozone works by donating electrons to cells, regenerating NAD from NADH, and stimulating mitochondrial function and endothelial healing. 

Dr. Shallenberger shares clinical observations of rapid improvement in acute viral infections with high-dose protocols, explains how lower doses support chronic conditions by improving circulation and reducing inflammation, and introduces ozonated glycerin as an emerging approach for treating tumors and joint pain with sustained therapeutic effects.

Episode Highlights:

• Ozone donates electrons that regenerate NAD from NADH, restoring mitochondrial function and cellular energy production
• High-dose ozone protocols show rapid resolution of acute viral infections, and lower doses address chronic conditions over time
• Ozone therapy supports endothelial health by increasing nitric oxide, reducing inflammation, and upregulating antioxidant enzymes
• Ozonated glycerin shows promise for sustained therapeutic effects in tumors and joint pain with an extended half-life

Listen in to learn more :

[0:02:14] Ozone: Old Therapy, New Respect

[0:05:02] Crushing Acute Viruses with High-Dose Ozone

[0:11:52] How Ozone Supercharges Blood, Vessels, and Cells

[0:18:41] Zapping Pain by Fixing Mitochondria

[0:29:22] Ozonated Glycerin: A Forgotten Cancer Game-Changer

About Frank Shallenberger, MD, HMD, ABAAM

Dr. Shallenberger has been a pioneer in alternative/integrative medicine since 1978, revolutionizing anti-aging and preventive medicine by developing a method to measure mitochondrial function and oxygen utilization. He has written two popular books, The Type 2 Diabetes Breakthrough and Bursting With Energy, and has authored numerous papers in international peer-reviewed literature on ozone therapy and oxygen utilization. He is also the editor of Second Opinion alternative medical newsletter.

Learn more https://antiagingmedicine.com/

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** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Family constellation therapy traces its roots to ancient African Zulu healing practices, yet it remains one of the most powerful and least understood approaches in healing, uncovering the hidden emotional and ancestral dynamics that can drive complex, chronic illness. From the scapegoat who carries the family's pain in their body to the empath whose thin psychic boundaries mirror their biological vulnerability to infections and toxins, the connections between unresolved family trauma and persistent illness run far deeper than most patients realize.

Dr. Nafysa Parpia sits down with Zachary Feder, a practitioner who has guided hundreds of people through family constellation work, for a rich conversation about how this modality externalizes unconscious family dynamics so they can finally be seen and healed. Together, they explore how the body's receptor sites mirror our relational patterns, the archetypes of the overgiver and the scapegoat that repeatedly show up in chronically ill patients, and why true healing demands a holistic, soul-level transformation rather than a biological fix.

Episode Highlights:

• How blind constellations reveal family dynamics without bias
• The link between heavy metal detox and relationships
• Why the unconscious must agree before healing begins

Listen in to learn more:

[0:01:24] Origins of Family Constellations and Zulu Ancestral Wisdom

[0:03:10] Externalizing Intrapsychic Dynamics into the Room

[0:06:29] Beyond Western Psychology: Energetics in the Field

[0:11:32] Trauma Receptors, Minerals, and Toxic Bonding

[0:13:22] Chronic Illness as a Full-System Reboot Invitation

[0:25:31] Permeable Boundaries as Both Vulnerability and Superpower

About Zachary Feder

Zachary works with patients suffering from chronic and complex illnesses. He is a former in-house psycho-somatic specialist at Dr. Klinghardt's Sophia Health Institute. Over the course of his career, he has worked in every major psycho-emotional domain, from organizational and leadership development in Fortune 500 companies to advising best-selling authors, musicians, and single parents. 

He also currently offers training for practitioners seeking to synthesize the various modalities of the mind-body field into a coherent whole, and is passionate about developing a Standard Model of Healthy Consciousness.

Learn more at www.swordandthread.com 

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Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Traumatic brain injury doesn't require being knocked unconscious or obvious head trauma. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Mark Gordon to discuss how mild whiplash, blast exposure, or repetitive impacts trigger cellular mechanotransduction, initiating neuroinflammation that suppresses the hypothalamus and disrupts hormone production throughout the body. 

They discuss why biological resiliency determines who develops severe symptoms from minor trauma, how inflammation blocks neurotransmitter synthesis and receptor function, and why optimizing hormones like pregnenolone, DHEA, and testosterone alongside reducing neuroinflammation is essential for recovery from TBI, depression, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Episode Highlights:

• Mild or unrecognized TBI initiates chronic neuroinflammation and neuroendocrine disruption.
• Biological resiliency based on lifestyle factors determines who develops severe symptoms from the same traumatic exposure.
• Neuroinflammation suppresses hypothalamic hormone production, creating cascading deficits in testosterone, DHEA, and pregnenolone.
• Gut dysbiosis, aging, and toxins amplify neurodegenerative risk, necessitating targeted therapeutic strategies.

Listen in to learn more :
[0:00:00] Mild Trauma, Massive Impact

[0:04:34] Biological Resilience: Why the Same Hit Hurts Differently

[0:07:00] Inflammation Shuts Down Hormones—and the Brain

[0:20:00] Gut–Brain Axis: COVID, Vax, and Stalled Recovery

[0:35:32] Rewiring the Brain: Glial Cells, Nutraceuticals, and Hormones

About Mark Gordon, MD

Dr. Mark Gordon is a physician specializing in neuroendocrinology and traumatic brain injury, coining the term "Interventional Endocrinology" in 2003. Dr. Gordon has dedicated his practice to treating veterans and civilians with TBI, developing the Millennium Treatment Protocol that addresses neuroinflammation and hormonal dysfunction. His work has helped over 3,000 veterans recover from blast wave trauma and TBI-related symptoms. He authored "Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment" and continues to self-fund his military treatment program while advocating for broader adoption of neuroendocrine approaches to brain injury recovery.

Learn more https://tbihelpnow.org/

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to [email protected])

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Chronic fatigue patients often focus on infections and toxins while missing a critical piece of the puzzle: structural dysfunction and lymphatic drainage. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Raymond Perrin, the osteopath whose groundbreaking research in the early 1990s revealed how thoracic spine dysfunction and impaired neurolymphatic flow drive neuroinflammation in ME/CFS. 

Dr. Perrin explains why treating the sympathetic nervous system through spinal manipulation and cranial work can restore glymphatic drainage from the brain, and how structural injuries create the conditions for toxin accumulation and persistent inflammation that keep people chronically ill.

Episode Highlights:

• Thoracic spine dysfunction activates sympathetic overdrive and blocks lymphatic drainage, creating conditions for neuroinflammation and chronic illness.
• The glymphatic system drains toxins from the brain through specific pathways that malfunction in ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and Long COVID.
• Structural injuries and spinal misalignments create the underlying conditions that allow infections or toxins to trigger chronic illness

Listen in to learn more : 

1. [0:02:27] Thoracic Spine & Sympathetics Drive ME/CFS Mechanisms
2. [0:08:59] Lymphatics Are Neurologically Driven, Not Passive Tubes
3. [0:20:10] Neurolymphatic / Glymphatic System Clears Brain Toxins
4. [0:30:57] The Perrin Technique: Five Signs & a Drainage Strategy
5. [0:57:55] Long COVID as a Neuro‑Lymphatic Drainage Failure

About Raymond Perrin, DO, PhD

Dr. Raymond Perrin is an osteopath and researcher who has specialized in ME/CFS since 1989, when he discovered that treating thoracic spine dysfunction resolved chronic fatigue symptoms in a cyclist. He earned his doctorate in 2005 from the University of Salford for his groundbreaking work on cerebrospinal fluid and lymphatic drainage in ME/CFS, introducing the concept of the neurolymphatic system years before the glymphatic system was officially recognized. 

Learn more https://theperrintechnique.com/

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to [email protected])

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Chronic illness often traps people in a cycle where treatments stop working, and the body can reject everything, even gentle remedies. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Cathleen King, who spent over a decade housebound with Lyme, mold illness, and multiple chemical sensitivities before discovering that nervous system work was the missing piece in her recovery.

They discuss why addressing the Cell Danger Response and vagus nerve dysfunction comes first, before protocols and treatments can actually work. And also how simple daily practices can shift someone from reactive and bedbound to functional again, and why trauma processing and somatic work matter as much as any medical intervention.

Episode Highlights:

• The body stuck in Cell Danger Response will reject treatments until the nervous system signals safety through vagus nerve toning and limbic system retraining.
• Simple daily practices, such as specific breathing patterns, eye movements, and humming, can restore basic function within days to weeks for highly sensitive patients.
• Brain retraining without vagus nerve work first often fails because people with trauma histories find safety and calm threatening rather than healing.
• Somatic work and posture directly affect the autonomic nervous system through the upper cervical spine and suboccipital tension.
• Real resilience means developing the capacity to feel difficult emotions and life disruptions without crashing back to ground zero.
• Integration takes precedence over finding perfect protocols when the nervous system is dysregulated and reactive to everything.

Listen in to learn more : 
[0:01:07] Kathleen King’s Personal Experience and Development of 'Primal Trust'

[0:03:52] The Need for Scientific Understanding About the Nervous System 

[0:07:21] Vagus Nerve Toning Tools and Practical Exercises

[0:09:38] Sequencing of Tools and Safety in Brain Retraining

[0:13:34 Processing Emotions is Necessary  for True Resilience

[0:18:52]The Role of the Body’s Physical Structure and Awareness

About Cathleen King, DPT

Dr. Cathleen King is a physical therapist and neuroscience-based mind-body practitioner. Her professional focus is on chronic illness and trauma healing. She is the founder and CEO of Primal Trust, a rapidly growing global platform that helps people unlock their self-healing. Her online program combines brain retraining, vagus nerve toning, somatics, and trauma-informed practices. 

Join Daily Regulate LIVE starting February 2nd https://smpl.ro/al/gZwGJ3mPkyBTQqUtK5TtQwkF/54487-Gordon-Medical-Associates

Get your free copy of How Healing Happens https://smpl.ro/al/uQHzHXFEvY3Cker29vqmVRTy/54487-Gordon-Medical-Associates

Learn more about Primal Trust https://www.primaltrust.org/ 

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to [email protected])

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Galectin-3 is emerging as a key driver of chronic inflammation, yet most people have never heard of it. This protein creates inflammatory microenvironments that trap immune cells, disrupt circulation, promote fibrosis, and accelerate disease progression throughout the body. 

In this episode, Dr. Eric Gordon speaks with Ruby Tischoff about how elevated Galectin-3 contributes to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular dysfunction, and systemic immune dysregulation, and what can be done about it.

Episode Highlights:

• How Galectin-3 organizes inflammatory microenvironments that impair vascular and organ function
• The connection between elevated Galectin-3 and neurodegeneration, heart disease, and immune dysfunction
• Strategies to reduce Galectin-3 activity, including Pectasol modified citrus pectin, mindfulness practices, and targeted nutrition

Listen in to learn more :

[0:00:00] Galectin-3 Drives Chronic Inflammation and Fibrosis

[0:05:00] Toxins Elevate Galectin-3 and Fuel Neurodegenerative Disease

[0:10:00] Modified Citrus Pectin as a Galectin-3 Inhibitor and Detox Agent

[0:15:00] Broad Detox Benefits of Modified Citrus Pectin

[0:20:00] Galectin-3 Testing Limitations and Considerations

About Ruby Tischoff, FDN-P

Ruby Tischoff, FDN-P, is Director of Education for ecoNugenics, a functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and natural health expert with over 25 years of experience in integrative medicine and nutraceutical science. 

Ruby has worked closely under the clinical mentorship of renowned physician Isaac Eliaz, MD, and is a recognized expert in the fields of galectin-3 research and therapeutic targeting, safe detoxification, and nutritional science, among other areas.

Learn more about Pectasol modified citrus pectin: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=118927&awinaffid=2670966&ued=https%3A%2F%2Feconugenics.com%2Fpages%2Fpectasol-mcp-shop

More info on Galectin-3 and research links https://dreliaz.org/research/galectin-3-research/

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** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common yet overlooked parasites affecting human health, with potential links to chronic illness and neuropsychiatric symptoms that often go undiagnosed. In this episode, Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Eboni Cornish to explore the far-reaching effects of this elusive organism and why so many cases slip through the cracks.

Episode Highlights:

• Neurological and psychiatric changes associated with parasites
• Toxoplasmosis gondii and its impact on chronic illness
• Comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment

Listen in to learn more :

(00:00): Parasites often get missed in neurology + psych cases
 (04:45): Why U.S. patients may be more vulnerable to parasites
 (09:30): Practical screening clues + common parasites to consider
 (14:40): Toxoplasmosis and severe psychiatric/neurologic presentations
 (22:10): Brain imaging patterns that can guide treatment strategy

About Eboni Cornish, MD

Dr. Eboni Cornish, a highly regarded physician, provides integrative medicine services to a diverse global patient community. Currently serving as the Functional Medicine Director of the Amen Clinic East Coast Division, she specializes in autoimmune diseases, Lyme disease, Morgellons disease, environmental toxicity, gut imbalances, neurology, and various other chronic conditions.

Learn more about Dr. Cornish: https://amenclinics.com/

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to [email protected])

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Sacred plant medicine is moving from indigenous traditions into Western healing practices, but the gap between these two approaches raises important questions. Jason Prall and Dr. Nafysa Parpia dig into what's being lost in translation, the training, cultural context, and respect for traditions that have guided safe and effective use of these medicines for generations.

They discuss practical concerns about who should be working with these plants, why intention and preparation matter, and what actually creates lasting change. The conversation touches on the prophecy of the Condor and the Eagle, a vision of indigenous and Western cultures learning from each other, and why the real work begins after the ceremony ends.

Episode Highlights:

• Western adoption needs proper training and respect for indigenous traditions, not just copying ceremonies without understanding the context.
• Plant medicines affect the nervous system, immune function, and self-awareness as tools for healing, not quick fixes.
• Real transformation happens through ongoing integration work after the ceremony, not during the experience itself.

Listen in to learn more :
(01:57) Understanding the Power of New Tools 

(09:58) Exploring Healing Through Energetic Practices 

(15:45) Exporting Ancient Traditions for Global Awakening 

(26:15) Path of Sacred Plant Medicines 

(29:13) Exploring Paths in Shamanic Practice 

About Jason Prall

Jason Prall is a health educator, practitioner, author, and filmmaker. He created "The Human Longevity Project," a 9-part film series examining chronic disease in the modern world, and owns Cereset in Encinitas, CA, a brain-balancing center treating traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, anxiety, and fatigue. He's the author of "Beyond Longevity: A Proven Plan for Healing Faster, Feeling Better, and Thriving at Any Age" and is currently producing a film series exploring indigenous healing practices from around the world.

Learn more about Jason Prall: https://awakenedhealthacademy.com/ 

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to [email protected])

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.