The Integrative Health Podcast with Dr. Jen

By Dr. JenMedicine Alternative Health Health & Fitness Nutrition

The Integrative Health Podcast with Dr. Jen episodes

October 20 The Plague Is Back? Facts, Fear, and What You Need to Know
Headlines about plague can trigger fear fast, especially when pneumonic plague and person-to-person transmission enter the conversation. In this solo episode, Dr. Jen takes a calmer look at Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague, and breaks down the difference between bubonic and pneumonic disease, how quickly symptoms can develop, what warning signs deserve immediate medical attention, and why early antibiotic treatment matters.
She also discusses immune resilience, gut health, sleep, stress, travel precautions, and why fear-based social media can make a serious topic even harder to navigate. Rather than dismissing the concern or spiraling into worst-case scenarios, Dr. Jen encourages listeners to use common sense, credible information, and faith while knowing when a true medical emergency requires conventional treatment.
Support your overall health and reduce inflammation with Dr. Jen's specially formulated collection of immune-boosting supplements, designed to keep your body strong and prepared wherever you go.
Shop the collection here: https://healthybydrjen.shop/collections/immune-and-inflammatory-support
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FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
34 min
October 13 Medical Freedom, Physician Rights, and the Cost of Speaking Up
What happens when a physician believes the best option for a patient falls outside conventional standards of care? In this episode, Dr. Jen speaks with John Richardson about the legal and regulatory pressures facing integrative physicians, especially those using off-label therapies, personalized treatment plans, and approaches that do not fit neatly into insurance-driven medicine.
John shares his experience working with physicians facing medical board investigations, regulatory scrutiny, licensing disputes, and challenges that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss ivermectin prescribing, vaccine exemptions, informed consent, First Amendment concerns, insurance reimbursement, medical board standards, and why integrative doctors often choose cash-based models to preserve more clinical freedom.
The conversation also explores what practitioners can do to reduce legal risk, including stronger consent processes, careful documentation, appropriate legal guidance, and making sure patients clearly understand the benefits, risks, and alternatives involved in their care.
John Richardson is President of the Richardson Nutritional Center and Chief Visionary Officer at Operation World Without Cancer. He is an advocate for health freedom, medical choice, and greater protection for practitioners and patients pursuing individualized approaches to care.
Carrying forward the legacy of his father, the late Dr. John A. Richardson, MD, John has spent years examining the legal, regulatory, and institutional pressures surrounding alternative and integrative medicine. His work focuses on physician autonomy, informed consent, healthcare regulation, off-label therapies, licensing disputes, and the challenges faced by clinicians who practice outside conventional models.
Website: https://rncstore.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rncstoreus/
Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RNCStore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richardsonnutritionalcenter
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
24 min
October 06 Beyond Sick Visits: A Root-Cause Approach to Pediatrics
Children today are facing more chronic health challenges than many pediatricians saw decades ago. In this episode, Dr. Jen sits down with pediatrician Dr. Robert Beckman to discuss what nearly 30 years of clinical practice have taught him about helping kids thrive.
Dr. Beckman shares how his own son’s early developmental challenges pushed him to look beyond conventional pediatrics and begin studying nutrition, environmental exposures, immune health, and integrative medicine. They discuss the importance of informed decision-making with parents, vitamin D, probiotics, omega-3s, gut health, Lyme disease, mold exposure, environmental history, and why pediatric care should be personalized rather than one-size-fits-all.
The conversation also explores how parents can work with physicians to make thoughtful health decisions while supporting a child’s immune system, development, and long-term resilience.
Dr. Robert J. Beckman, DO, is a board-certified pediatrician with nearly three decades of clinical experience in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A graduate of Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, he combines conventional pediatric care with a root-cause and integrative perspective.
His clinical work spans newborn care, routine pediatrics, developmental concerns, chronic illness, Lyme disease, environmental exposures, nutrition, and immune support. Dr. Beckman is also involved with the International College of Integrative Medicine and is known for helping parents understand their options so they can make informed, individualized decisions for their children.
Website: https://robertbeckman3c2.dr-leonardo.com/
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integrativedrmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
24 min
September 29 Why Perimenopause Can Trigger Histamine Problems
Why do some women suddenly react to wine, leftovers, fermented foods, heat, supplements, or even medications they used to tolerate? In Part 3 of this solo mast cell series, Dr. Jen explains how shifting hormones in perimenopause can lower the threshold for histamine reactions and mast cell activation. She breaks down how estrogen may increase mast cell reactivity, why declining progesterone can reduce some of the body’s calming support, and how poor sleep, stress, cortisol, mold exposure, gut dysfunction, and hormone fluctuations can create a frustrating feedback loop. Dr. Jen also explains the difference between histamine intolerance and MCAS, when DAO may be helpful, why restrictive diets are not always the answer, and how women can begin looking for patterns instead of fearing every symptom.
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integrativedrmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
28 min
September 22 The Heavy Metals Hiding in Your Body
You do not have to work in a factory to accumulate heavy metals and environmental chemicals. In this episode, Dr. Jen sits down with integrative physician Dr. Megan Strauchman to discuss how mercury, arsenic, lead, nickel, glyphosate, and other environmental exposures may build up in the body over time and interfere with normal physiology.
Dr. Strauchman explains where these exposures may come from, why heavy metals often accumulate in tissues rather than showing up clearly on a basic test, and how she uses provoked urine testing to evaluate body burden. They also discuss chelation, chemical testing, cookware, contaminated food and water, rapid fat loss, GLP-1 medications, hormone disruption, thyroid health, and why detoxification should be approached carefully rather than as a one-size-fits-all cleanse.
Dr. Megan Strauchman, DO, is an integrative medicine physician and Medical Director of the Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Center in Michigan. Originally trained in obstetrics and gynecology, she shifted into holistic and root-cause medicine after becoming interested in bioidentical hormones, nutritional medicine, and environmental health.
Her clinical work focuses on hormone optimization, thyroid health, environmental medicine, heavy metal assessment, chemical exposures, IV therapies, tick-borne illness, and strategies designed to reduce overall toxic burden. Her background in women’s health gives her a unique perspective on the relationship between hormones, inflammation, environmental exposures, and chronic illness.
Website: https://nwprc.com
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integrativedrmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
28 min
September 15 Yeast, Parasites, and the Root Causes Most Doctors Miss
True integrative medicine is not about adding a few supplements to a conventional treatment plan. In this episode, Dr. Jen sits down with integrative medicine pioneer Dr. John Trowbridge to discuss what more than four decades of clinical experience have taught him about chronic illness, functional diagnostics, and root-cause care.
Dr. Trowbridge explains why physicians must keep asking “why” long after a diagnosis is made, how gut dysfunction, yeast overgrowth, parasites, toxins, mitochondrial stress, and cellular membrane damage may contribute to complex symptoms, and why personalized medicine cannot be reduced to a one-size-fits-all protocol.
They also explore his early work on The Yeast Syndrome, his concept of “deep blood fungus,” the importance of supporting the body’s defense systems, and why the best integrative practitioners remain lifelong students.
Dr. John Trowbridge, MD, is a pioneer in biological and integrative medicine with more than 40 years of clinical experience. Educated in biological sciences at Stanford University and medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he later pursued postgraduate surgical training and advanced education in immunology, preventive medicine, and nutrition.
Dr. Trowbridge is the best-selling author of The Yeast Syndrome and has spent decades studying chronic illness, functional diagnostics, heavy metal toxicology, fungal burden, parasites, mitochondrial health, and personalized medicine. Through his practice, Life Celebrating Health near Houston, Texas, he focuses on identifying the biological blocks that may prevent the body from returning to normal function.

Website: https://healthchoicesnow.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1800fixpain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1800fixpain
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7q7NDb-MxBBmjT3M9N80Og LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-parks-trowbridge-md-70691ba
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integrativedrmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
29 min
September 08 Why Mast Cells Keep You Stuck in Fight or Flight
If you have mast cell symptoms and constantly feel stuck in fight or flight, the connection may be more physical than you realize. In Part 2 of this three-part solo series, Dr. Jen explains how mast cells and the nervous system communicate with each other, creating a feedback loop that can drive histamine release, anxiety, poor sleep, palpitations, hypervigilance, inflammation, and increased sensitivity to everyday triggers.
She breaks down how stress signaling through CRH and the autonomic nervous system can influence mast cell behavior, why mast cell mediators can further stimulate nearby nerves, and how mold exposure and chronic inflammation may keep the system on high alert. Dr. Jen also explains why nervous system regulation, sleep, stable blood sugar, movement, breathing, community, and reducing ongoing triggers should be part of a root-cause approach to mast cell activation.
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integrativedrmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
24 min
September 01 Birth to Menopause: Why Your Microbiome Matters
Your microbiome starts shaping health from the very beginning of life. In this episode, Dr. Jen speaks with Tiny Health founder Cheryl Sew Hoy about how birth mode, breastfeeding, antibiotics, diet, and parental gut health can influence an infant’s developing microbiome and potentially affect immune function later in life. Cheryl explains why babies need a very different microbial balance than adults, the importance of bifidobacteria during infancy, and how low levels of beneficial bacteria may allow less desirable microbes to take over. They also explore adult gut diversity, butyrate production, Akkermansia, fiber intake, carnivore and vegan diets, and why the goal is not always to “kill the bad bugs.” The conversation then shifts to vaginal health, where Cheryl explains the importance of Lactobacillus crispatus, how hormones can change the vaginal microbiome, and why testing may help women better understand changes during postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause.
Cheryl Sew Hoy is a tech entrepreneur, angel investor, and founder and CEO of Tiny Health, a precision health platform offering at-home shotgun metagenomic testing for infant, maternal, and adult microbiomes. A Cornell-trained engineer and serial entrepreneur, Cheryl founded Tiny Health after searching for better answers about her own daughter’s early health risks following a C-section birth. Her work now focuses on helping families understand how early microbial exposures, breastfeeding, diet, gut health, and vaginal health may influence immune development and long-term wellness. Through Tiny Health, she brings advanced microbiome testing and personalized recommendations into the home, helping parents and adults better understand the microbial ecosystems that support health across the lifespan.
Website: https://www.tinyhealth.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylsewhoy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylyeoh
X: https://x.com/cherylyeoh
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integrativedrmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
54 min
August 25 Why Iodine May Be the Missing Piece in Thyroid Health
Why are thyroid disorders, hormone imbalances, and certain chronic illnesses becoming more common? In this episode, Dr. Jen speaks with integrative medicine pioneer Dr. David Brownstein about iodine deficiency, thyroid health, environmental toxins, natural hormone therapy, and the limitations of symptom-focused medicine. Dr. Brownstein shares how his father’s dramatic improvement with thyroid and testosterone treatment changed the course of his medical career, eventually leading him to investigate iodine’s role throughout the body. They discuss how bromide and fluoride may interfere with iodine, why iodized salt may not provide enough for every tissue, how iodine status can be assessed, and why individualized, root-cause care remains central to long-term health.
Dr. David Brownstein, MD, is a board-certified family physician, Medical Director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and a leading voice in integrative medicine. After recognizing that conventional medications often failed to address the underlying causes of chronic illness, he shifted his practice toward nutrition, hormone balance, thyroid care, environmental medicine, and individualized treatment. Dr. Brownstein is the author of numerous books, including Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, and is widely known for his clinical work involving iodine, natural thyroid therapy, salt, hormonal health, and environmental toxins.
Website: https://www.drbrownstein.com
PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativedrmom/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
29 min
August 18 The Science of Cannabis, Pain, and the Endocannabinoid System
Cannabis is often discussed as either a miracle remedy or a dangerous drug, but the reality is far more nuanced. In this episode, Dr. Jen speaks with naturopathic doctor and cannabinoid researcher Dr. Michelle Sexton about the endocannabinoid system, medical cannabis, chronic pain, sleep, inflammation, menopause, and opioid reduction. They explore why dose, age, product quality, delivery method, and THC potency all matter, how cannabis differs from CBD, and why modern high-potency products are not the same as the cannabis used decades ago. Dr. Sexton also shares practical guidance on starting low, avoiding unnecessary exposure during brain development and pregnancy, and using cannabis as a carefully considered medical tool rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
Dr. Michelle Sexton, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor, researcher, author, and internationally recognized expert on cannabinoid pharmacology and the endocannabinoid system. She completed her naturopathic medical training at Bastyr University and an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington, where she studied cannabis, immune function, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Dr. Sexton has also served as an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego and has worked with patients through the university’s Center for Integrative Medicine. Her work focuses on translating cannabinoid science into responsible, practical guidance for pain, sleep, inflammation, women’s health, and opioid reduction.
Website: https://www.msextonnd.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-sexton-a40408b
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msextonnd

PODCAST: Thank you for listening please subscribe and share!
Shop supplements: https://healthybydrjen.shop/
CHECK OUT a list of my Favorite products here: https://www.healthybydrjen.com/drjenfavorites
FOLLOW ME:
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Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/integrativedrmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@integrativedrmom
FTC: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my channel. Thank you for watching! Video is not sponsored.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not contain any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment advice. Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. For any medical or health related advice, please consult with a physician or other healthcare professionals. Further, information about specific products or treatments within this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
33 min

About The Integrative Health Podcast with Dr. Jen

From the publisher's feed

The Integrative Health Podcast is hosted by Dr. Jen Pfleghaar. Dr. Jen is a double board certified physician (Emergency Medicine and Integrative Medicine). This podcast is meant to educate and…