Trauma is one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic illness and stalled healing, and it's not just psychological, new research is suggesting it is biological, too. In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks to Dr. Aimie Apigian about how trauma reshapes the body and nervous system, drawing from Apigian's bestselling book, The Biology of Trauma. Together, they explore why creating safety in the body is essential to healing and how understanding trauma's biology can unlock a new path forward.

https://youtu.be/WhAfbdEJccY

00:00 – Why Trauma Healing Requires Mind, Body, and Biology

00:00:14 – Welcome to Next Level Health

00:00:45 – Could Trauma Be the Root Cause of Chronic Illness?

00:01:54 – Trauma Isn't Just Big Events—It's Chronic Overwhelm

00:03:04 – Nothing Is Wrong With Your Body: Removing Shame From Trauma

00:04:11 – When Love Feels Unsafe: How Trauma Shapes Relationships

00:07:09 – Burnout Isn't a Failure—It's a Trauma Pattern

00:08:02 – When the Body Finally Says No: Trauma and Autoimmune Disease

00:10:53 – Trauma Is a Biological Survival Response

00:14:53 – Do All Bodies React the Same Way to Trauma?

00:18:00 – The Five Stages of the Trauma Response

00:22:42 – Freeze and Shutdown Are Not Weakness

00:23:52 – How Trauma Gets Stored as Chronic Inflammation and Pain

00:27:38 – Trauma: The Missing Root Cause in Functional Medicine

00:28:31 – Trauma or Gut Health: Which One Comes First?

00:29:30 – Why Pushing Through Trauma Can Make You Sicker

00:31:23 – Healing Begins With Nervous System Safety

00:34:53 – Your Nervous System Is Always Listening

00:36:57 – How Trauma Patterns Get Passed Down (And How to Stop It)

00:41:14 – Simple Somatic Practices That Help the Body Feel Safe Again

00:43:30 – How to Gently Shift Out of Survival Mode

00:43:50 – A Hopeful Path Forward in Trauma and Chronic Illness Healing

Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

There are science-backed strategies for accelerating recovery from illness and injury by tapping into our body's innate healing intelligence. In this episode, Dr. Melinda Rings talks with Integrative Medicine pioneer Dr. Victoria Maizes about practical advice, actionable steps and integrative approaches for various health conditions, including sleep issues and immune support during illness.

00:00 Introduction to Next Level Health

01:02 Meet Dr. Victoria Maizes

02:32 Maizes' Journey into Integrative Medicine

06:33 Integrative Medicine vs. Lifestyle Medicine

08:07 The Power of Supplements

12:38 Unlocking the Rapid Recovery Reflex

27:32 The Importance of Sleep

33:05 Cold and Flu Season Remedies

37:40 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern

Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/

Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

Over half of cancer cases and deaths are considered preventable by making healthy lifestyle changes. In this episode, Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, a leading expert in integrative oncology and Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Dr. Melinda Ring, discuss six key areas of health and wellness people can use to reduce risk for developing cancer or to support healing and the reduce the risk of recurrence after a cancer diagnosis and treatment. They also delve into the controversial topic of biofield therapies and their potential impact on cancer treatment. The episode offers science-backed insights and personal anecdotes, providing actionable steps for optimizing health and well-being both before and after a cancer diagnosis.

https://youtu.be/HX0rCCZzrAk

00:00 Introduction to Next Level Health

00:49 Personal Story and Cancer Prevention

01:17 Meet Dr. Lorenzo Cohen

02:26 Understanding Integrative Oncology

04:26 Stress and Its Impact on Cancer

05:29 Integrative Medicine at MD Anderson

08:46 Biofield Therapies and Energy Medicine

18:18 The Mix of Six for Anti-Cancer Living

22:46 Final Thoughts and Personal Wisdom

25:10 Conclusion and Resources

For the first time in history, today's children are expected to have shorter lifespans than their parents — largely due to diet and lifestyle-related diseases. But there are things parents can do to help reverse this trend. In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with integrative pediatrician Dr. Elisa Song, author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, to explore how families can nurture true resilience — from the gut to the brain and beyond.

https://youtu.be/hilJIFyIfGw

00:00 – Kids' lifespans are shortening: why this matters
00:20 – Welcome to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring
00:51 – Introducing Dr. Elisa Song: integrative pediatrician and mom
03:11 – The alarming rise of chronic illness in children
05:35 – The microbiome at the root of modern childhood diseases
06:59 – How gut health shapes immune and mental health
12:17 – The role of birth and breastfeeding in microbiome development
13:26 – Why today's babies have fewer beneficial gut bacteria
18:03 – Antibiotics and long-term health: what parents need to know
23:34 – Restoring gut health through food and fermented recipes
26:23 – The vagus nerve: the bridge between the gut and brain
32:20 – Tools and devices that build calm and resilience
36:11 – Final advice for parents: small steps, big impact
37:23 – Closing thoughts from Dr. Ring

Protecting our brain and body in a world that's not always built for it can be a challenge. In this episode, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, a board-certified internal medicine physician unpacks the forces that inflame and impair our brains and offers tools to protect, nourish, and even rewire them.

00:00 Introduction to Brain Health

00:59 Meet Dr. Austin Perlmutter

01:36 Modern Challenges to Brain Health

04:06 Environmental Impacts on Brain Health

05:18 Diet and Brain Health

17:22 Inflammation and Brain Health

19:42 Practical Steps for Brain Health

19:50 Polyphenols and Brain Health

30:04 Muscle Health and Brain Health

32:53 Supplements and Brain Health

40:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern

Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/

Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

Food is finally being recognized as an essential part of medicine in institutions and kitchens across the United States. In this episode of Next Level Health, Dr. Melinda Ring welcomes Dr. David Eisenberg, a Harvard-trained physician, pioneer of culinary medicine, and founder of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative—for an in-depth conversation on the Food is Medicine movement.

Watch on YouTube

https://youtu.be/zATxfxaBbE0

Topics include:

• Dr. Eisenberg's journey from baker's son to physician and integrative medicine leader

• The creation of Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives and the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative

• How teaching kitchens are being scaled across hospitals, schools, and workplaces

• The research proving their impact on patient outcomes and lifestyle change

• National policy advances and nutrition competencies for medical education

00:00 – Introduction: Eat, Move, Think Better

00:30 – Welcome to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring

02:00 – Dr. Eisenberg's personal story: From bakers' son to doctor

09:00 – Early experiences in China: Acupuncture, tai chi, and culinary lessons

13:30 – Founding Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives

15:40 – The birth of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative

19:55 – Pilot studies: Teaching kitchens as laboratories for health

25:00 – The COVID pivot: From in-person kitchens to virtual learning

29:20 – Scaling impact: Teaching kitchens as broadcast studios

30:30 – Food is Medicine movement and national policy advances

36:40 – Nutrition competencies for medical education

41:50 – Challenges and future of implementation in medical schools

45:37 – Dr. Eisenberg's personal wisdom: Teach children to cook

47:41 – Closing reflections and gratitude

In this episode of Next Level Health @DrMelindaRing talks with @DrewRamseyMD about  how to build better mental health through our daily choices. Dr. Ramsey is a board-certified psychiatrist and pioneer in nutritional psychiatry. They cover the significance of essentials like sleep, nutrition, movement, and social connections for optimal mental health. Dr. Ramsey explains the concept of mental fitness and its scientific foundations like neuroplasticity and the role of inflammation and the microbiome. Practical tips on dietary choices, particularly the benefits of seafood, greens, nuts, and beans are shared. The conversation also touches on the importance of self-awareness, movement, and connection in mental health, and addresses the stigma around mental health, especially among men. Dr. Ramsey emphasizes simple, actionable steps for improving mental health through everyday choices.