The Holistic Healing Project – Details, episodes & analysis

Please note: This is the last episode in this season as I’m taking a break from the podcast while I move back to the UK. If you’d like to get in touch please find me at @holistichealingproject or via my website

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com

In this episode we discuss:

-     What we mean by Integrative Medicine

-     Dani’s journey to working with cannabis

-     The endocannabinoid system in the human body

-     The cannabis plant and key cannabinoids including CBD and THC

-     The various uses for industrial hemp

-     Current indications for medical cannabis eg. chronic pain, epilepsy, MS, chemotherapy-related nausea etc

-     The challenges prescribers in the UK currently face

-     Cannabis and cancer

-     Over-the-counter CBD, potential uses and the wellness industry

-     Dani’s new book The CBD Bible [out now]

-     And so much more…

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this rapidly growing industry. Have you tried CBD oil? Let me know @holistichealingproject.

Find out more about Dani at: www.drdanigordon.com and @drdanigordon.

The CBD Bible is available to buy at all good bookshops now. Please support local booksellers whenever possible.

A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we discuss:

-    Julian’s journey from physiotherapist to oyster mushroom farmer

-    The process of setting up urban mushroom farms using coffee waste

-    Key medicinal mushrooms [AKA functional mushrooms] including chaga, turkey tail, lions mane and reishi

-    How medicinal mushrooms can be used to support the immune system

-    The research showing psilocybin [“magic mushrooms”] may help reduce depression and anxiety in terminally-ill cancer patients

-    Mushrooms as a planet-friendly meat replacement

-    The importance of soil health and regenerative agriculture

-    Mycelium biotechnology and the circular economy business model

-    The ethos behind Life Cykel and advice for would-be business owners

-    And so much more…

Please note: Where possible I advocate for a whole-foods diet rather than using supplements. Mushrooms are among the few natural sources of dietary vitamin D - essential for maintaining overall health, especially for bones, teeth and muscle. A simple hack for increasing the vitamin D content in your culinary mushrooms is to place them on a windowsill in the sunshine for 15 minute before cooking. Culinary mushrooms like shiitake are nutritionally rich and may support the immune system but mushrooms alone are not a cure-all . Instead, they should be included as a vital part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. With regards to COVID, several fungi experts, including Paul Stamets, suggest that you might want to stop using medicinal mushrooms if you get a fever and show symptoms of COVID-19. Some mushrooms may increase the production of inflammatory compounds in the lungs. These compounds are called cytokines, and the body may release them as a natural response to some polysaccharides found in fungi. Please consult a medical professional to discuss this fully if you become unwell. One last thing, please avoid eating foraged mushrooms unless they can be properly identified - some mushrooms are poisonous.

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com

Find out more about Life Cykle: https://lifecykel.com

Connect with Life Cycle on Instagram @LifeCykel

A Fascinate Productions podcast

Bronnie Ware is an international best selling author, an inspirational speaker, artist, singer-songwriter and mother. Best known for her international bestselling book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, a memoir based on her time as a palliative care worker, Bronnie is also the author of several other books including Your Year For Change and Bloom. Through her words she invites us, the reader, to recognise the sacredness of time and embrace our power of choice in any given moment.

This weeks episode was recorded last month [before coronavirus took centre stage across the globe] so whilst we don’t touch on this specific topic, we do explore life, death, courage, uncertainty, surrender and everything in between - all highly relevant topics given the current global crisis. There’s no doubt that things have certainly escalated since the last episode came out [only a week ago] so whether you are feeling vulnerable or unwell, are a healthcare worker on the front line, are worrying about elderly loved ones, or you have a business that is struggling… my heart goes out to you and I hope this conversation offers you some loving support and guidance during this difficult time.

In this episode we explore:

-     Bronnie’s own path to healing and heart-led living

-     The five major regrets of the dying

-     Key suggestions for how we can all live a more courageous, regret-free life.

-     The importance of conscious choice to create a life free of regrets

-     Bronnie’s own debilitating illness and the power of surrender

-     Pain and discomfort as a path to growth and awakening

-     The self care tools Bronnie relied on during her time working in palliative care

-     And so much more…

This is a beautifully honest and inspiring conversation. My hope is that it will help support you in overcoming any life challenges and help you to live a happier, more fulfilling life. If you can take a moment to rate and review our conversation that would be hugely appreciated too. Thank you for being here.

Find out more about Bronnie at www.BronnieWare.com

Instagram: Bronnie.Ware

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com Instagram: holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we explore:

-    Why cases of spontaneous remission are so challenging to study

-    How Dr Rediger has changed his own life as a result of studying these cases

-    The key pillars identified in his research

-    How nutrition, the immune system, reducing stress, love, beliefs, faith and identity all contribute to healing

-    The importance of an individual N=1 approach to healing

-    And so much more…

Dr Jeffrey Rediger is a Psychiatrist, the Medical Director of McLean SE Adult Psychiatry and Community Affairs at McLean Hospital and the Chief of Behavioural Medicine at Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Centre. Find out more about Dr Jeffrey Rediger at www.drjeffreyrediger.com

HIs new book Cured: The Science of Spontaneous Healing is available to buy online and in bookshops now.

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership or want to find out more about my retreats head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com @holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we discuss:

-  Sophie’s personal journey to setting up Trew Fields

-  The festival as a space where integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, spirituality and shamanism collide

-  The role of community in health and healing

-  The challenges and gifts that come with working in the cancer space

-  Death and dying

-  And so much more

This is a raw and honest conversation so I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please take a moment to subscribe and review.

Trew Fields will be held from 3rd-5th July 2020. You can find out more about Sophie and the festival at www.trewfields.com or @trewfields

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership or want to find out more about my retreats head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com @holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we discuss:

-  Erin’s personal journey to work with plants

-  The gap between conventional medicine and naturopathic medicine

-  How many modern day pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants

-  Key plants, herbs and spices that can help support your health and wellbeing

-  The hidden dangers of plants/herbal supplements and how to keep yourself safe

-  How plants can support the gut microbiome

-  The importance of consulting with a herbalist for individualised care

-  How you can bring more plants into your everyday life

-  The intention behind Erin’s new book: Plants For The People

-  The reciprocal relationship between people and plants

I really hope you enjoy the episode. If you do, please subscribe and leave a review.

You can find out more about Erin at www.ErinLovellVerinder.com and @erinlovelverinder

Her beautiful new book Plants For The People is available to pre-order from book stores and online now

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership or want to find out more about my retreats head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com @holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we discuss:

-   The Mind-Body connection

-   How emotions impact our physiology

-   The impact of trauma on physical, mental and spiritual health

-   Addiction as something we all experience

-   Multigenerational trauma

-   Plant medicine as a tool for healing

-   The other tools that have helped Gabor on his own healing journey

-   The need for a more holistic approach to “illness” especially regarding mental health

I really hope you enjoy the episode. If you do, please subscribe and leave a review.

You can find out more about Dr Gabor Maté at www.drgabormate.com

This is the link the article we discuss regarding aboriginal trauma: https://theconversation.com/strength-from-perpetual-grief-how-aboriginal-people-experience-the-bushfire-crisis-129448

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership or want to find out more about my retreats head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com @holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast

Anthony is a teacher, breathwork practitioner, motivational speaker and the founder of Alchemy of Breath. I first came across Anthony about 18 months ago and was touched by how much love and warmth he radiates out into the work but also his mission to empower people to self-heal and transform using the power of breath.

In this episode we explore:

- The practice of breathwork

-   Anthony’s personal journey to breathwork, including the survival and transformation of a his own serious illness

-   How ancient practices like pranayama, the Sufi breathing of chanting and holotropic breathwork informed the breathwork practice Anthony created with Alchemy of Breath

-   How breathwork supports healing on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level.

-   The role of the breath in healing from trauma

-   Breathwork as a tool to elevate consciousness

-   Simple breathing techniques you can try today

-   The importance of conscious communities

-   Breathing practices as a way to restore self-awareness, love and compassion in the world

I loved speaking with Anthony so I really hope you enjoy our conversation too. As always if you can rate and review that continues to help me to spread the message of self-healing and empowerment with world.

And finally, just to say…

Inhale.

Exhale.

Because all we have is this moment.

Lauren Xx

You can find more about Anthony and Alchemy of Breath at www.alchemyofbreath.com and @alchemyofbreath

DISCLAIMER: Breathwork is not recommended for people with certain conditions like severe asthma, epilepsy or heart problems. Pregnant women should also seek advice before trying this practice. If you are totally new to breathwork I recommend joining a local class in the first instance so you can be properly guided and supported through the practice.

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership or want to find out more about my retreats head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com @holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast

Robin is also a dōTERRA essential oil advocate and a TED X speaker. Most recently Robin has been recovering from breast cancer and in this episode we explore:

-   The two big life events that helped Robin understand the difference between healing and curing

-   How she now views her own cancer diagnosis as a transformative experience

-   Healing as a return to wholeness

-   Nature as being a key part of her healing journey

-   The practice of medicine as an art rather than a science

-   The crucial role of the Doctor-Patient relationship

-   Holistic healing as being intuitive and heart-led

-   And so much more…

Please leave a review if you enjoy the episode and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

You can find more about Robin over on Instagram @drrobinfawcett

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership or want to find out more about my retreats head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com

@holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we explore:

-   Candace’s personal journey from stock broker to kundalini yoga teacher

-   The catalyst for her career change

-   How kundalini differs to other styles of yoga

-   The role of breathwork, the movement kriya sets and chanting

-   Why kundalini teachers always wear white

-   The science behind yoga and meditation

-   How sound healing impacted her fellow traders on the stock exchange floor

-   How to start a daily meditation practice

-   The way cacao supports heart-opening in a ceremonial setting

-   The importance of maintaining a sense of fun and lightness on any spiritual journey

-   The difference between feminine and masculine energies and how we all need to embrace the feminine to help the world heal

-   Alignment of body, mind and soul as being key for healing

Please leave a review if you enjoy the episode and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

You can find more about Candace at: https://soulfiresocial.com

Instagram: soulfiresocial

Additionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership or want to find out more about my retreats head on over to:

www.drlaurenmacdonald.com @holistichealingproject

A Fascinate Productions podcast