Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations with Dr. Izabella Wentz

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Dr. Richard Horowitz, an integrative physician who has spent more than 40 years working with complex chronic illness, including Lyme and tick-borne diseases. His work eventually led him to develop the MSIDS model, or Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome, which looks at 16 different factors that may contribute to chronic illness rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis or individual symptoms.

Dr. Horowitz explains why he believes infections, environmental toxins, gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, sleep problems, and other factors can overlap beneath chronic symptoms. He also shares his perspective on the connection between Lyme and thyroid health, the complexities of testing for tick-borne illnesses, the gut-histamine-nutrient connection, and why he believes conventional medicine and root-cause approaches don't have to be opposing philosophies.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

The “six rivers of inflammation” that may be fueling chronic illness: Since multiple health factors can lead to symptoms, knowing where to start with your healing can feel overwhelming. Dr. Horowitz shares how addressing foundational factors, including infections, environmental toxins, gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, and sleep problems, can help you start putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

Why thyroid symptoms may start elsewhere in the body: The thyroid is part of a connected hormone system, with the brain helping direct how it works. Dr. Horowitz explains how inflammation from Lyme may disrupt those signals, potentially affecting thyroid function, adrenal hormones, and sex hormones such as testosterone.

Why a single Lyme test may not tell the whole story: Getting tested can seem like it should lead to a simple “yes” or “no,” but Dr. Horowitz describes why the picture isn’t always so clear. He discusses how different testing methods, symptoms, and other clues help him put the pieces together when evaluating a possible infection.

How gut health, histamine, and nutrients may be connected: Gut problems, reactions to foods, and low nutrient levels can seem like separate concerns. Dr. Horowitz explores how intestinal permeability, changes in gut bacteria, and histamine intolerance may overlap, and why he sometimes takes a closer look at nutrient status when someone still isn’t feeling better.

How conventional medicine and root-cause care can work together: Treatment doesn’t have to come down to choosing between “natural” and “pharmaceutical.” Dr. Horowitz shares how medications can play an important role while he continues investigating what may be driving the illness, making room for both symptom relief and care that addresses underlying contributors.

Tune in to learn more about the root causes of chronic illness, the connection between infections and thyroid health, and Dr. Horowitz’s approach to uncovering the factors that may be keeping people stuck.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
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In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with hormone expert Dr. Jolene Brighten about why ADHD is so often missed in women and how hormonal changes throughout a woman’s life can influence the way ADHD symptoms show up. From puberty and hormonal birth control to postpartum, the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and postmenopause, they explore why some women may not recognize their neurodivergence until midlife, and why understanding how the brain works can be a powerful first step toward finding the right tools and support.

The conversation also takes a strengths-based look at ADHD, highlighting creativity, passion, intense focus, big-picture thinking, and other ways a neurodivergent brain can work differently. Dr. Wentz and Dr. Brighten discuss the relationship between hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain function, as well as research around nutrition, supplements, hormone therapy, and other individualized approaches.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Why ADHD is often missed in women: We often picture ADHD as something that a hyperactive little boy has, but girls are often taught to sit still, follow the rules, and take care of others. Girls and women with ADHD may mask symptoms because they are trying to fit in with social norms or just trying to manage a busy life. Dr. Brighten explains how people-pleasing and overachieving can hide ADHD symptoms for decades.

Why perimenopause can bring ADHD symptoms to the surface: Hormonal transitions can change the amount of energy women have available to maintain the strategies they've relied on throughout their lives. For some women, this may be when longstanding difficulties with focus, organization, time management, or executive function become much more noticeable.

Why estrogen isn’t the whole story when it comes to ADHD symptoms: If your focus or memory seems to change before your period, there may be more going on than an estrogen dip. Dr. Brighten connects the dots between progesterone, brain chemicals, and the patterns women may notice throughout their cycle.

What if the traits you’ve been trying to “fix” are also strengths? An ADHD brain can bring creativity, passion, and an ability to see possibilities others miss. Dr. Brighton talks about how to make room for those gifts while getting support with the tasks that take more out of you.

Can certain supplements and hormone therapies help ADHD? Dr. Brighten discusses the research around omega-3s, saffron, creatine, and hormone therapy, along with how these tools can fit into a more personalized approach that also considers nutrition, lifestyle, and other options.

Tune in to learn more about ADHD in women, the connection between hormones and brain function, and how understanding your unique brain can help you find strategies that work with it rather than against it.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
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In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Erin Kinney, naturopathic doctor and author of The Cortisol Cure. She offers a fresh perspective on cortisol and its role in energy, stress, and healing. Rather than viewing cortisol as a hormone that is always “bad” and needs to be lowered, Dr. Kinney explains why understanding how the body uses and replenishes cortisol can change the way we approach burnout, chronic stress, and autoimmune health.

Using her “cortisol bank account” framework, Dr. Kinney explores the everyday factors that can drain your energy reserves, why high achievers may be especially vulnerable to burnout, and how small, practical habits can help support resilience and recovery.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why cortisol isn’t the villain it’s made out to be. Dr. Kinney explains that cortisol is your body’s natural anti-inflammatory and helps provide the energy you need to respond to stress. She also discusses why low cortisol, rather than high cortisol, may contribute to symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and sleep disturbances.

The "cortisol bank account" concept. Learn how every stressful activity, internal inflammation, or food sensitivity acts as “withdrawals” from the bank, while rest, parasympathetic practices, and doing things you simply enjoy are more like “deposits” that help replenish and balance energy.

Internal vs. external stressors. How hidden internal drains like nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and chronic infections consume your energy just as much as work, family, and busy schedules.

Why "high achievers" fall into burnout. Dr. Kinney discusses the emotional and mindset patterns common in high-performing individuals, such as difficulty resting, lack of boundaries, and saying yes to everyone except themselves, and how to flip the script.

Building your "relaxation muscle." Just like physical exercise, resting requires practice. Dr. Kinney shares why relaxation can feel uncomfortable at first and how quick daily micro-practices can strengthen your parasympathetic response over time.

Simple two-minute daily resets. Practical, low-barrier tools you can use immediately, including box breathing, belly breathing, humming, and even focused activities like puzzles can help to interrupt anxious thought spirals.

Tune in to learn more about cortisol, burnout, stress resilience, and practical ways to support your body's ability to recharge and recover.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Miles Nichols, DAOM, MSOM, LAc, founder of Medicine With Heart Clinic and the Medicine With Heart Institute. Dr. Miles shares his personal Hashimoto’s healing journey, including his experience with debilitating fatigue and brain fog despite being told that his initial testing looked “normal.” His search for answers ultimately led him to look beyond conventional thyroid markers and uncover several potential root causes contributing to his symptoms.

Dr. Miles and Dr. Wentz explore why Hashimoto’s can be more complex than a single thyroid diagnosis and how factors involving the gut, immune system, infections, environmental exposures, and nutrient status may fit into the bigger picture. He also shares how he approaches complex cases in his practice, the types of testing that can uncover less obvious contributors, and some of the emerging therapies he believes could shape the future of personalized care.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The overlooked connection between the gut and the thyroid: Dr. Miles shares a surprising discovery from his own health journey involving parietal cell antibodies and H. pylori. He explains how gut-related issues may affect thyroid and immune health, even when someone has no obvious digestive symptoms.

What to investigate when the basics have already been addressed: What happens when someone has improved their diet, supported their gut health, prioritized sleep, and worked on stress, and has “normal” thyroid labs, but still doesn’t feel well? Dr. Miles explains what he investigates when a person has done the “right” things but continues to struggle with symptoms.

The less obvious contributors to Hashimoto’s symptoms: Dr. Miles discusses the testing that can help uncover hidden factors, including nutrient deficiencies, immune markers, infections, and environmental exposures. He explains why examining these pieces together can provide more useful information than focusing on a single lab value.

How environmental exposures may affect thyroid and immune health: Mold, chemicals, microplastics, and other environmental exposures may place additional stress on the body. Dr. Miles explains why identifying and, when possible, addressing the source of an exposure can be an important part of supporting recovery.

What the future of thyroid care could look like: From peptides and nervous system therapies to emerging approaches focused on repair and regeneration, Dr. Miles shares the innovations he’s watching closely. He also explains why advanced therapies still need to be considered alongside foundational areas such as nutrition, sleep, stress, and gut health.

Tune in to learn more about the root causes that may be influencing Hashimoto’s, what to investigate when conventional testing doesn’t tell the whole story, and the future of personalized thyroid care.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
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In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, host Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Shivani Gupta, an Ayurvedic expert, author of The Inflammation Code, and founder of Fusionary Formulas. Dr. Gupta shares how her own childhood health struggles and a damaged gut microbiome led her to India to discover Ayurveda – an ancient, preventative system of healing that transformed her health and inspired her life's work.

Dr. Wentz and Dr. Gupta dive deep into how Ayurvedic principles can be directly applied to modern thyroid and autoimmune health. They break down the concept of "elemental design" (otherwise known as the doshas – vata, pitta, and kapha) to help listeners understand their unique mind-body constitutions, why different body types experience different thyroid symptoms, and how to use targeted lifestyle practices, warm foods, and grounding techniques to bring the body back into balance. They also explore the therapeutic power of high-dose turmeric for reducing inflammation, healing the gut lining, and supporting cellular longevity, along with practical routines to optimize sleep and align daily habits with the Ayurvedic circadian clock.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Discover your unique Ayurvedic "elemental design" and why it holds the key to your health. Dr. Gupta reveals how your primary constitution – vata, pitta, or kapha – shapes everything from your stress response to your optimal daily habits. Tune in to learn how identifying your specific type can transform the way you approach your diet, movement, and healing.

Why symptoms and imbalances can look different for everyone: One person may struggle with cold intolerance and anxiety, while another experiences a slower metabolism, weight changes, inflammation, or skin flare-ups. Learn how Ayurveda uses different body types to explain these variations – and why the wellness practices that help one person may not be right for another.

Turmeric acts like a “cellular janitor” for inflammation and gut repair. While most people know turmeric helps with aches and pains, its ability to clear out damaged "zombie" cells and repair the gut lining requires a very specific approach. Dr. Gupta breaks down the exact therapeutic standards needed to target over 30 inflammatory pathways, and why your kitchen spice rack simply isn't enough.

Are you absorbing your supplements, or just wasting money? Discover the science behind spice synergy, including a simple pairing that could boost turmeric absorption by 2,000%. Tune in to hear what to look for on product labels so you can ensure you're getting true therapeutic benefits rather than low-quality imitations.

The hidden time window that can make or break your lymphatic detox. According to Ayurveda, this restorative sleep window helps your body clear accumulated waste and inflammation. Learn how eating your largest meal around midday, winding down earlier, and protecting your sleep can better support digestion, lymphatic health, and recovery.

How to stop pantry raids and soothe your nervous system naturally. Reaching for comfort foods or forcing trendy wellness hacks might be pushing your body further out of balance. Discover simple, grounding rituals, from Epsom salt baths to earthing, that address what your body is truly craving when stress hits.

Tune in to learn more about applying ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, smart supplementation, and circadian alignment to restore your thyroid and cellular health!

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: ⁠https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/⁠

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: ⁠https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices