Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses often go undiagnosed because standard commercial laboratory tests provide a false negative approximately 50% of the time. The problem stems from outdated conventional testing methods that look at one single strain of bacteria, B31, found in a tick from an island off New York's coast in the 1980s. The reality is that this does not accurately represent the diversity, as there are now over 20 different species that can cause Lyme disease and tick-borne illness.

Dr. Nafysa Parpia sits down with Dr. Joseph Burrascano, widely recognized as the father of Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment to unpack the critical differences between conventional and specialty laboratory testing, explore why patients often don't show positive results on standard tests, and discuss the FDA clearance of advanced immunoblot technology that's revolutionizing how we diagnose these conditions.

Episode Highlights:

• Find out why your doctor's Lyme test might miss your infection because standard labs only look for one strain, B31, isolated in the 1980s, when there are 20+ species currently affecting patients.
• Learn the signs that distinguish different tick-borne diseases - each infection has its own specific pattern of symptoms that help with diagnosis.
• Understand why Lyme rarely travels alone - most people actually have multiple tick-borne infections at once, which explains why symptoms can be so confusing.
• Specialty labs that are game-changers with FDA-cleared tests detecting all species with 97% vs 50% accuracy.
• Review of the Long COVID connection, where 50-70% of Long COVID patients also have tick-borne infections.

Listen in to learn more :

(00:01) Specialty Lab Testing for Tick-Borne Illnesses
(07:21) Specialized Testing for Tick-Borne Diseases
(16:02) Lyme Disease and Functional Medicine
(20:30) Advanced Lab Testing for Tick Infections
(31:32) Advancements in Lyme Disease Testing
(38:19) Intersection of Long COVID and Lyme
(43:03) Specialized Testing for Chronic Infections

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About Joseph Burrascano, MD

Pioneer in the clinical assessment, testing, and treatment of the major tick-borne diseases; began seeing Lyme patients in the early-mid 1980s. Author of lay and professional articles, textbook chapters, plus authored the first comprehensive diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Founding member of ILADS and ILADEF. No longer in practice- works in the biotech arena for a private company but spends much time educating physicians and allied health providers.

Learn more about the IGeneX Immunoblot Test: https://igenex.com/save-money-igenex

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Dr. Pejman Katiraei was following standard protocol—treating patients with combinations of binders, such as cholestyramine, charcoal, and clay, to remove mycotoxins from mold exposure. But after years of practice, he noticed a troubling pattern: only a handful of patients were getting significantly better, while many remained stuck with persistent symptoms.

Even more puzzling, despite aggressive binder use, urine mycotoxin levels often stayed unchanged or even increased. This clinical reality forced him to step back and question whether the widely accepted model of chronic mycotoxin recirculation was actually correct, prompting him to explore an entirely different treatment approach.

In this episode, pediatric physician Dr. Pejman Katiraei and Dr. Eric Gordon discuss why antifungals may be more effective than binders for treating mold-related illness. Dr. Katiraei shares his clinical journey from relying heavily on binding protocols to focusing on gut inflammation and fungal overgrowth as the real drivers of persistent symptoms.

Together, they explore how bacterial endotoxins from an inflamed gut may be causing more damage than circulating mycotoxins, why the microbiome plays a critical role in detoxification, and how antifungal medications can break the cycle of chronic inflammation that keeps patients sick long after leaving moldy environments.

Episode Highlights:

• Dr. K's journey from binders to antifungals after seeing patients remain stuck despite aggressive binding protocols
• Mycotoxins degrade in hours to days - the real problem is ongoing gut inflammation, not long-term toxin recirculation.
• Fungal overgrowth perpetuates leaky gut and bacterial endotoxin release
• Bacterial endotoxins may be more neurotoxic than mycotoxins themselves
• Antifungals like itraconazole have powerful anti-inflammatory effects beyond killing fungus
• Peptides that help stabilize gut integrity and improve antifungal tolerance
• Some patients can heal even with ongoing low-level mold exposure through gut strengthening

Listen in to learn more :

(00:01) - Chronic Illness and Gut Inflammation

(15:21) - The Dangers of Bacterial Endotoxins

(19:16) - Understanding Inflammation and Healing Options

(24:42) - Antifungals and Gut Healing

(40:04) - Healing the Gut

(47:35) - Learning and Sharing for Healing

About Dr. Pejman Katiraei

Dr. Pejman Katiraei (Dr. K) is a board-certified pediatrician who completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA and then obtained his osteopathic medical degree at Western University. He completed a pediatric residency at Loma Linda University, where he remained as teaching faculty for over four years. He has also completed two fellowships in integrative medicine and has over a decade of clinical experience helping children with severe learning and behavioral challenges. Dr. K is now in private practice in Santa Monica, where he focuses on helping children with mold-related illness, autism, and other mental health challenges.

Learn more about Dr. K www.wholistickids.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.

Millions of people are struggling with persistent brain fog, fatigue, and cognitive issues following COVID, not realizing these symptoms share striking similarities with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Both conditions represent what researchers call "network insufficiencies" in the brain, where chronic inflammation, toxins, and nutrient deficiencies create an imbalance that conventional medicine often fails to address effectively.

In this conversation, renowned Alzheimer's researcher Dr. Dale Bredesen, author of "The End of Alzheimer's," joins Dr. Eric Gordon to explore the connections between long COVID and brain health. They'll discuss practical strategies for resolving chronic inflammation, optimizing nutrients, and addressing the root causes that can help restore cognitive function and prevent future decline.

Episode Highlights:

• Anyone who has had COVID is at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
• Three types of toxins damage the brain: air pollution, organic solvents like glyphosate, and biotoxins from mold.
• Actionable steps you can take to protect your cognitive function
• Extra virgin olive oil outperformed expensive anti-amyloid drugs in Alzheimer's studies
• Hidden infections from the gums, gut, and sinuses can migrate to the brain and trigger harmful amyloid production
• COVID creates microthrombi (small blood clots) throughout the body that nattokinase or pycnogenol can help dissolve
• Poor ventilation and high CO2 levels in tight houses impair brain function, especially with gas stoves and many plants

Listen in to learn more :

00:01) - COVID and Alzheimer's Connection Explained

(08:51) - Addressing Cognitive Decline Risks and Causes

(17:23) - Optimizing Treatment for Chronic Illness

(25:59) - Optimizing Cognitive Function and Treatment

(38:05) - Treating Chronic Illness and Toxin Exposure

(43:42) - Preventing Neurodegenerative Disease and COVID

(53:19) - Empowering Self-Care for Cognitive Health

About Dale Bredesen, MD

Dr. Bredesen graduated from Caltech and received his MD from Duke. He served as Resident and Chief Resident in Neurology at UCSF and was then a postdoctoral fellow with Nobel laureate Prof. Stanley Prusiner. He was the Founding President of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.

The Bredesen Laboratory studied basic mechanisms underlying the neurodegenerative process and the translation into effective therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease, leading to the publication of over 230 research papers. He established the Alzheimer’s Drug Development Network with Dr. Varghese John, leading to the identification of new classes of therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease. His work led to the discovery of subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease, followed by the first description of reversal of symptoms in patients with MCI and Alzheimer’s disease, with a precision medicine protocol, and a recent successful proof-of-concept trial. He is currently a professor at UCLA.

Learn more about Dr. Bredesen

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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.

In today's complex world of increasing environmental toxicity and inflammatory illnesses, understanding the relationship between our bodies and the environment has never been more crucial. The concept of detoxification goes far beyond simple cleanses or supplements - it's an intricate dance between our biological systems, our environment, and even our spiritual well-being, affecting everything from cellular function to gene expression.

In this episode, Dr. Isaac Eliaz and Dr. Nafysa Parpia discuss the "Survival Paradox" - the concept that what helps us survive can ultimately cause suffering and disease.

Dr. Eliaz shares his revolutionary research on blocking this protein through modified citrus pectin and specialized apheresis, while explaining how true healing requires addressing both biochemical detoxification and deeper transformation of our relationship with change itself. Don't miss this profound conversation that weaves together cutting-edge science, traditional medicine, and spiritual wisdom.

Episode Highlights:

• Dr. Eliaz explains his "Survival Paradox" concept - how survival mechanisms can lead to chronic illness.
• The critical role of galectin-3 protein in driving inflammation and creating environments where toxins thrive
• Understanding detoxification as a natural process reflected in breathing patterns and seasonal changes
• The connection between environmental toxicity and the rise of inflammatory conditions
• Why detoxification must be approached differently based on seasons, individual constitution, and specific health challenges
• The importance of targeted detoxification for different organs and systems rather than a one-size-fits-all approach
• How effective healing requires addressing both biochemical clearing and spiritual transformation

Listen in to learn more :

(00:01) - Understanding Detoxification and Chronic Inflammation

(10:47) - Survival Paradox and Galactin-3 Research

(25:50) - The Importance of Detoxification

(40:42) - Transforming the Survivor Paradox Through Detox

About Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc

Dr. Eliaz has been a pioneer in integrative medicine since the early 1980s, focusing on cancer, immune health, detoxification, and mind-body medicine. He’s a respected clinician, researcher, author, and educator. He is the author of The Survival Paradox, founder and Medical Director of Amitabha Medical Clinic and Healing Center, and founder and CEO of Eliaz Therapeutics, a medical device company dedicated to transforming the treatment of sepsis and other life-threatening diseases.

Dr. Eliaz is a lifelong student and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhist practices. One of them is Tonglen Meditation, a practice that involves the art of exchanging suffering with love and compassion. After decades of practice and study, Dr. Eliaz created Open Heart Medicine, a modality that combines science, meditation, and a unique understanding of the heart’s physiology and its inherent ability to perform Tonglen meditation as a unique approach to promoting healing on all levels.

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Dr. Kent Holtorf's path to pioneering immune system treatments began with his own health crisis. When conventional medicine offered little hope for his heart failure, he discovered peptides during treatment in Europe. Within days, he experienced a dramatic turnaround that would not only reverse his condition but transform his entire approach to treating chronic illness.

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Kent Holtorf and Dr. Eric Gordon dive deep into the overlooked world of immune system regulation and its crucial role in chronic illness. They challenge conventional medical approaches to Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), thyroid dysfunction, and persistent infections, revealing how the dysregulated innate immune system keeps many patients chronically ill - with or without mold exposure. The doctors share their groundbreaking work with bioregulators and peptides, offering hope for conditions previously considered untreatable.

Whether you're struggling with chronic fatigue, mysterious symptoms dismissed by conventional doctors, or simply interested in cutting-edge approaches to wellness, this conversation illuminates the powerful connection between immune function and healing that could revolutionize your understanding of health.

Episode Highlights:

• Innate immune system dysfunction in chronic illness
• Why TSH testing fails patients with thyroid issues
• Introduction to bioregulators and their cellular effects
• Bioregulators' tissue-specific actions on gene expression
• Peptides for resetting immune function
• The vicious cycle of chronic inflammatory conditions
• Why binders alone aren't enough for CIRS
• T3's surprising benefits for depression and heart health
• How lab test processing affects CIRS diagnosis
• Reversal of "irreversible" conditions through immune modulation

Listen in to learn more :

(14:20) - Immune System Peptide Therapy Benefits

(18:39) - Challenging Conventional Medical Approaches

(32:55) - Peptides and Immune System Regulation

(42:49) - Revolutionizing Health With Bioregulators

(57:16) - Expressing Gratitude and Closing Remarks

About Kent Holtorff, MD

Dr. Holtorff is the medical director of the Holtorf Medical Group and the founder and medical director of the non-profit National Academy of Hypothyroidism (NAHypothyroidism.org). He is also the founder of Integrative Peptides (IntegrativePeptides.com), bringing doctors and patients the highest quality bioidentical peptides as supplements with unique delivery systems.

He is also dedicated to training physicians about ground-breaking peptide and bioregulator therapies for TBI, depression, immune dysfunction, PTSD, cancer therapies, longevity, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, difficult-to-treat chronic infections, CFS, fibromyalgia, CIRS, autoimmune disease, biologic age reversal, hormone dysfunction, and multisystem chronic illness.

Learn more about Holtorf Medical Group http://HoltorfMed.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.

Ever wonder what happens when a physician rediscovers a century-old treatment list from 1922? Dr. Carol McMakin's journey with Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) began when she received frequencies written on scraps of typing paper—remnants of medical knowledge nearly lost after the 1910 Flexner Report drove alternative therapies underground.

In this fascinating interview, Dr. Eric Gordon and Dr. Carolyn McMakin explore how tiny electrical currents at specific frequencies can communicate with the body at a cellular level. They discuss how FSM therapy can serve as an effective supportive treatment in patient protocols, particularly for reducing inflammation, enhancing vagal tone, and offering an innovative therapeutic approach for challenging health conditions.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) therapy
• FSM treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Vagus nerve function and regulation through FSM
• Trauma's impact on chronic illness and FSM intervention
• Post-operative applications of FSM for pain-free recovery

Listen in to learn more :

(04:08) Treatment of Fibromyalgia Through Inflammation Reduction

(10:22) Cell Membrane Communication and Frequencies

(15:10) Mitochondria and Vestibular Frequency Protocols

(22:34) Treating Vagus for Central Sensitization

(26:33) Frequency-Specific Therapy Education and Benefits

(30:10) Frequency Therapy for Healing Inflammation

(34:57) FSM in Medical Treatment

(43:24) Medical Use of Electricity for Healing

About Carolyn McMakin, MA, DC

Carolyn McMakin, MA, DC, developed Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) in 1995 and began teaching it in 1997. Her practice treats chronic illness and pain, and she teaches FSM seminars in the US, Europe, and Asia. She has lectured at the National Institutes of Health and fibromyalgia and pain conferences in the US, Australia, England, Kuwait, Taiwan, and Germany. Elsevier published the textbook “Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management” in 2010. Penguin/Random House published “The Resonance Effect: How Frequency Specific Microcurrent is changing medicine” in 2017. www.frequencyspecific.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.

In this episode, the conversation explores the connection between long COVID and CIRS, examining how treatment requires addressing foundational health factors rather than following rigid protocols. Dr. Kelly Halderman explains that these conditions may share a crucial underlying mechanism: in approximately 22% of the population, genetic factors prevent proper antigen presentation, keeping the innate immune system chronically activated and creating an inflammatory storm.

The discussion emphasizes that successful treatment means recognizing the body's inflammatory responses as appropriate reactions to environmental stressors rather than systems that need suppression.

Episode Highlights:

• Similarities between CIRS and Long Haul
• What is CIRS (pathophysiology, signs & symptoms, tests to confirm)
• The role of hydration and water in healing
• 453 Genetic Marker does not determine your fate
• How to unload the stressors on your system
• Correlation between CDR and CIRS

Listen in to learn more :

(02:18) Advancing Medical Knowledge Through Biotech

(07:36) Correlation Between Sears and Long Haul

(10:50) Understanding Long COVID and Root Causes

(20:48) The Power of Water

(26:34) Stress Management and Recovery Process

(35:50) Understanding Complex Health Diagnoses

About Kelly Halderman, MD

Dr. Halderman has over 15 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, as a biotech executive, previous medical physician, published researcher, author, lecturer, podcast host, and nutraceutical formulator.

Learn more about Dr. Halderman and her work visit: https://drkellyhalderman.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.

The role of the nervous system in chronic illness is often overlooked, yet it may be the crucial missing piece in many healing journeys. When our body remains in a defensive state, it creates an environment that can resist even the most promising treatments. For many struggling with complex conditions, addressing nervous system dysregulation might be the key that unlocks their body's natural capacity to heal.

Alex Howard sits down with Dr. Eric Gordon to share his personal journey of recovering from ME/CFS, twenty years of clinical experience, and his framework for resetting the nervous system. As a patient and practitioner, Alex brings unique insights into how addressing the nervous system's dysregulation can unlock the body's innate healing abilities. His RESET approach offers a systematic pathway for recognizing patterns, examining triggers, stopping harmful habits, processing emotions, and transforming our relationship with ourselves—potentially making all other healing interventions more effective.

Episode Highlights:

• Recurring triggers that drive nervous system dysregulation
• Why we normalize being imbalanced
• 5 key steps to reset your nervous system

Listen in to learn more :

(00:01) - Healing Through Nervous System Regulation

(08:02) - Navigating the Healing Journey's Complexity

(13:18) - Understanding Chronic Stress Responses

(22:33) - Evolution and Humility in Healing

(29:16) - Emotional Healing Through Self-Transformation

(34:39) - Understanding Childhood Trauma and Healing

About Alex Howard

Alex Howard is the Founder & Chairman of The Optimum Health Clinic (OHC) and creator of the Therapeutic Coaching methodology. since March 2020, he has been documenting his therapeutic work with real-life patients via his In Therapy with Alex Howard YouTube series.

Alex has published academic research in publications such as the British Medical Journal Open and Psychology and Health, and is the author of the books Why Me?, Decode Your Fatigue. and, It’s Not Your Fault - Why childhood trauma shapes you and how to break free.

To learn more about Alex Howard’s RESET program, visit: https://www.alexhoward.com/reset-eg

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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.