Drs Gordon and Parpia have a unique and proven approach to healing chronic conditions with over 50 years of clinical experience combined; they created the Gordon Medical Forum Podcast to introduce some of the most overlooked and important factors for overcoming chronic illness.
Eric Gordon, MD, is the Medical Director of Gordon Medical Associates, and Nafysa Parpia, ND, is the Director of Naturopathic Medicine. Gordon Medical Associates is the premier tick-borne illness, Lyme disease, and environmentally acquired illness clinic on the West Coast. To learn more about the team at Gordon Medical Associates, go to gordonmedical.com.
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Sacred plant medicine is moving from indigenous traditions into Western healing practices, but the gap between these two approaches raises important questions. Jason Prall and Dr. Nafysa Parpia dig into what's being lost in translation, the training, cultural context, and respect for traditions that have guided safe and effective use of these medicines for generations.
They discuss practical concerns about who should be working with these plants, why intention and preparation matter, and what actually creates lasting change. The conversation touches on the prophecy of the Condor and the Eagle, a vision of indigenous and Western cultures learning from each other, and why the real work begins after the ceremony ends.
Episode Highlights:
Western adoption needs proper training and respect for indigenous traditions, not just copying ceremonies without understanding the context.
Plant medicines affect the nervous system, immune function, and self-awareness as tools for healing, not quick fixes.
Real transformation happens through ongoing integration work after the ceremony, not during the experience itself.
Listen in to learn more : (01:57) Understanding the Power of New Tools
(09:58) Exploring Healing Through Energetic Practices
(15:45) Exporting Ancient Traditions for Global Awakening
(26:15) Path of Sacred Plant Medicines
(29:13) Exploring Paths in Shamanic Practice
About Jason Prall
Jason Prall is a health educator, practitioner, author, and filmmaker. He created "The Human Longevity Project," a 9-part film series examining chronic disease in the modern world, and owns Cereset in Encinitas, CA, a brain-balancing center treating traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, anxiety, and fatigue. He's the author of "Beyond Longevity: A Proven Plan for Healing Faster, Feeling Better, and Thriving at Any Age" and is currently producing a film series exploring indigenous healing practices from around the world.
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
Five Years In: The Latest on Long COVID Research and Recovery
Season 3 · Episode 41
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • Duration 56:22
Dr. Eric Gordon and investigative science journalist Gez Medinger return for a five-year update on the evolving science of Long COVID. Together, they explore what has changed, what still challenges researchers, and where new hope is emerging for those living with post-viral illness.
Their conversation examines the latest findings on immune and metabolic disruption, why many clinical trials have yielded disappointing results, and what current data reveal about viral persistence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and recovery pathways. They also discuss treatments showing promise, along with a growing emphasis on individualized approaches to managing complex chronic illness.
Episode highlights • Why many trials have failed and what this shows about the complexity of Long COVID • New biomarkers related to immune, metabolic, and mitochondrial function • Findings on viral persistence, brainstem inflammation, and energy metabolism • Updates on low-dose naltrexone, niacin, fasting, and rapamycin research • The importance of personalized medicine and whole-system regulation • Reasons for optimism for those navigating post-viral illness
Listen in to learn more: (06:52) Personalized Medicine and Biomarkers
(10:54) Antibody Variants in Long COVID
(16:51) Listen to Your Body, Keep Trying
(23:47) Viral Persistence in the Immune System
(28:13) Exploring LDN Treatment Mechanisms
(31:58) Similarities Between ME-CFS and Long COVID
(35:51) Symptoms and Impact of Long COVID
(41:02) Managing Heat Intolerance in Dysautonomia
(48:55) Potential Benefits of Low-Dose Treatments
About Gez Medinger
Gez Medinger is an investigative science journalist and patient advocate for Long COVID. His YouTube channel has over 6 million views, and he is the author of The Long COVID Handbook.
Mold & Mycotoxins: Binders vs Antifungals
Season 2 · Episode 32
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 • Duration 48:37
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
Alzheimer's in the Long COVID Era: What You Can Do Now
Season 2 · Episode 31
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 • Duration 55:13
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
The Limitation and Shifting Landscape of Detox Protocols
Season 2 · Episode 30
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 • Duration 50:21
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
Peptides, Bioregulators, and the Future of Medicine
Season 2 · Episode 29
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 • Duration 59:13
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
Frequency Medicine and How It Uplevels Healing
Season 2 · Episode 28
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 • Duration 46:31
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
Long COVID and CIRS: When Inflammation Persists
Season 2 · Episode 27
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 • Duration 43:14
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, DCN
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:
The Nervous System's Impact on the Healing Journey
Season 2 · Episode 26
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 • Duration 44:42
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.
Botanical Allies: Fighting Long COVID and Inflammation
Season 2 · Episode 25
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 • Duration 29:55
While pharmaceuticals are traditionally the "go-to" solution, vulnerary herbs offer often overlooked power as effective natural allies against long COVID, inflammation, and cellular repair challenges.
In this episode, Dr. Jill Crista and Dr. Nafysa Parpia weave through the intricate relationship between these healing plants and the body's epithelial cells—those crucial barriers lining our respiratory tract, digestive system, and blood vessels—revealing how these botanical allies promote cell turnover, reduce hypercoagulability, and enhance lymphatic flow when conventional treatments fall short.
Dr. Crista shares her success using plantain, red clover, cleavers, and nettles to help patients with long COVID and mold-related chronic fatigue. Her approach combines traditional herbal knowledge with a modern understanding of viral resistance, offering options for those suffering from persistent symptoms long after their initial infection.
Episode Highlights:
How vulnerary herbs help to repair the epithelium and epithelial cells (these cells line our respiratory tract, digestive tract, and blood vessels)
How vulnerary herbs promote cell turnover, reduce hypercoagulability, and improve lymphatic flow
Top four vulnerary herbs important for Long COVID, especially in mold-affected CFS patients
The antiviral potential in vulnerary herbs against respiratory viruses
Exploring the benefits of Plantain, Red Clover, Cleavers, and Nettles
How to incorporate vulnerary herbs into your healing protocol and the expected timeframe for results
Listen in to learn more : (02:46) Long COVID and Mold Connection
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
(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.
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
(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.
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
(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.
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
(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
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
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
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
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
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
(20:52) Benefits of Cleavers for Health
(27:03) Herbs for Long COVID Treatment
About Jill Crista, ND
Dr. Jill Crista is a pioneering naturopathic doctor, best-selling author, devoted educator, and creative innovator. Her superpower is to make complex medical concepts simple and digestible for the average person.
Her passion is to elevate the well-being of the planet by assisting in the healing of her inhabitants. She focuses on conditions that cause injury to the brain and nervous system, including mold, PANS/PANDAS, Lyme disease, concussion, and post-COVID syndromes. Her books, products, and online courses support those wanting concrete steps to conquer health challenges.
** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.
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