#737 - Is Trauma Passed Down Through DNA? With Amie Apigian, M.D.

EVEN MORE about this episode!Can trauma live in the body long after the story has faded—and even be passed down through generations? In this powerful episode, Julie Ryan sits down with trauma expert Dr. Aimie Apigian to explore how trauma is stored not just in the mind, but deep within our biology. Drawing on cutting-edge science and lived experience, Dr. Aimie reveals how inherited trauma can shape stress responses, health patterns, and emotional regulation through epigenetics and cellular memory.We also uncover the surprising links between food, movement, and trauma recovery—why certain foods feel comforting, why others leave us anxious or overstimulated, and how everyday choices like caffeine and inactivity quietly fuel adrenaline and stress. Dr. Aimie explains how gentle movement and intentional nutrition can help release stored stress and restore a sense of safety in the body.Through real-world stories, including a veteran who pushed beyond his limits, this conversation highlights the delicate balance between stress and rest, resilience and recovery. With practical tools and compassionate insight, this episode empowers you to listen to your body, rebuild trust from the inside out, and step into a more grounded, regulated version of yourself.Guest Biography:Dr. Aimie Apigian is a double board-certified physician in Preventive and Addiction Medicine with master’s degrees in biochemistry and public health, known for revolutionizing trauma healing by revealing how trauma is stored in the body’s cells—not just the mind. Her bestselling book The Biology of Trauma (with a foreword by Gabor Maté) reframes how we understand the physiological impact of trauma and the body’s capacity for healing. Inspired by adopting a child during medical school, Dr. Aimie developed a science-based, integrative approach to trauma recovery, which she now shares through practitioner trainings, international speaking, her podcast, and YouTube channel—bridging functional medicine, attachment theory, and trauma therapy to demonstrate that true healing of mind, body, and biology is possible.Episode Chapters:(0:00:01) - Healing Trauma Through Science and Spirituality(0:17:07) - Foods That Discharge Adrenaline(0:33:22) - Understanding Stress, Rest, and Growth(0:37:15) - Understanding Trauma's Biological and Spiritual Impact(0:51:55) - Healing Trauma Through Ancestral Reincarnation➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Español YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Português YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Deutsch YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Français YouTube✏️Ask Julie a Question!🌟Follow on Instagram!Please join Julie next week with your question.Thursdays at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 5pm PT.https://askjulieryanshow.comAnd, please leave a five-star review and subscribe so you can hear all the new episodes.Sponsors & RecommendationsDisclaimer: This show is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be medical, psychological, financial or legal advice. Please contact a licensed professional. The Ask Julie Ryan show, Julie Ryan, and all parties involved in producing, recording and distributing it assume no responsibility for listener’s actions based on any information heard on this or any Ask Julie Ryan shows or podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.