Intelligent Medicine

Transforming healthcare--listeners respond. How can I produce a crop of measurably thicker hair on top of my head? Do you think high folic acid and B12 levels in pregnant women are linked to autism?

I’m taking Niacel to prevent glaucoma, can I continue taking Niacinamide too? My 82-year-old mother has moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation, will she need a valve replacement? Your patient workups are so thorough! How do I get my doctor to do the same for me?

Alan Bell was a successful prosecuting attorney when he suddenly developed a mystery illness. After consulting numerous specialists, he finally met one who informed him that he had likely been poisoned. His medical odyssey is described in the new book "Poisoned." Bell ultimately discovered that he had developed Sick Building Syndrome after relocation to a new office. The only answer was a lonely sojourn in a chemical-free dwelling in the middle of the Arizona desert. How did Bell move toward recovery? How has his experience led to his environmental activism? Bell details the top ten chemicals to avoid; the 20 lifestyle tips that help prevent and reverse environmental illness. He estimates that millions of Americans, the vast majority unaware, are suffering the consequences of environmental toxicity. The chemical lobby opposes reform and American medicine silently colludes. What can be done to bring about change?

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Alan Bell, author of "Poisoned: How a Crime-Busting Prosecutor Turned His Medical Mystery into a Crusade for Environmental Victims."

What does and doesn't work for low back pain; Researchers can't make up their minds whether recommendations for vitamin D too high, or too low? What could cause a body-wide rash to spring up suddenly? A listener professes "shock" that I recommend capsule form of vitamin D; 20 percent of patients with serious conditions are first misdiagnosed; Which fruit are most likely to contribute to diabetes?

Common bug-killers cause early puberty in young boys; Do eggs cause dementia or Alzheimer's? Deep sleep may be the key to healthy old age; Sleep trackers may contribute to "orthosomnia"; Ostinol vs. bone loss; Are chemical additives, not nicotine, responsible for the harmful effects of cigarettes; Going gray early means you're at an increased risk of heart disease.

Are dietary lectins a real concern for most people? How can we avoid them if they're in so many healthy foods?

Dr. Terry Wahls discusses her new book, "The Wahls Protocol: Cooking for Life--The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions." Dr. Wahls was a conventional physician who developed multiple sclerosis which was unresponsive even to powerful MS drugs. Though initially skeptical of natural medicine, she felt she had little recourse when she became wheelchair-bound, and turned to a Paleo diet. Within weeks her symptoms improved, and after several years she has achieved lasting remission. Her research led her to formulate the Wahls Protocol which has brought relief to thousands of sufferers of autoimmune disorders. How pervasive is autoimmunity? Why might diet aid recovery? Dr. Wahls dispels some misconceptions about the Paleo diet: Is it all meat? Very low carb? Are nightshades and beans permitted? Why the emphasis on bone broths? Organ meats? Seaweed? Coconut? Must all food be organic, grass-fed or wild-caught? How does the Wahls diet square with the ultra low-fat Swank diet for MS? Which supplements are beneficial? Dr. Wahls details an ongoing clinical trial meant to validate her protocol. How can one join the large community of Wahls Protocol adherents?

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Terry Wahls, author of "The Wahls Protocol: Cooking for Life--The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions."

The latest on nut allergies and the ultimate test to determine which you’re allergic to. Study -- Titanium dioxide may interfere in digestive processes -- where it is and how to avoid it. Can I take strontium one hour before Westhroid for hypothyroidism?

An ingenious solution to the problem of night-time urination. Is huperzine useful in older adults with memory decline, at what dose? Unflavored coconut oil vs. regular coconut oil. Would low dose naltrexone be helpful with intractable foot fungal infection? Does magnesium L-threonate work directly on the brain?

Dr. Jonathan Lamb, author of "Scurvy: The Disease of Discovery," does a deep-dive on the history of scurvy. Contrary to what we learned in school, it wasn’t “cured” by Sir James Lind in the 1700s after he began advising the British Navy to stock citrus fruit for long voyages (hence the origin of the term “Limeys”). It took years before nutritional science characterized ascorbic acid in the 1930s. It’s estimated that the death toll of scurvy exceeds that of US Civil War. What does vitamin C do in the body? Why are humans among the few species who can’t synthesize it and must obtain it from outside sources? What are the symptoms of scurvy? How is scurvy reflected in literature, from “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge to “1984” by George Orwell? Why is scurvy making a comeback in the 21st Century? Why might the body require more vitamin C when under stress? Could there be a rationale for high-dose oral or even intravenous vitamin C?

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Jonathan Lamb, author of "Scurvy: The Disease of Discovery."

Trump administration invites Dr. Hoffman to Mar-a-Lago to discuss healthcare reform (April Fools!); How food stamps undermine the health of Americans; A caller who is "floxed"; What's glutathione good for? A simple remedy for night-time bathroom visits; Dueling news stories: Vitamin D does/does not reduce risk of cancer; Arthroscopic surgery worthless for meniscus tears; A new cell phone app offers sperm counts.

How high doses of vitamin C curtail cold symptoms; Pricey new cholesterol drugs have only moderate effects on heart risks; How effective are knee injections for osteoarthritis? Is the "NJ Diet" program any good? Are statins worthwhile for heart patients over 80? Is vitamin K compatible with blood-thinning meds? Rating "oral chelation" products; CoQ10 vs. metabolic syndrome.