JTG #74 The Link Between Histamines, Rosacea & Acne With Holistic Nutrition Practitioner Luka Simons

JTG #74 The Link Between Histamines, Rosacea & Acne With Holistic Nutrition Practitioner Luka Simons

In this episode of the Journey to glow podcast we talk to Holistic Nutritionist Luka Simons about the link between histamines and rosacea, acne and other skin “issues”.

Luka Symons is a Holistic Nutrition Practitioner for people who are wondering where their food + body groove has disappeared to.

Through her uplifting & informative workshops, talks, and one-on-one consults, she’s here to shake up your approach to food and your gorgeous self — while making it all feel like a walk in the park.

As a former radio host and child #3 of 4, she isn’t known for being quiet nor shy. When she’s not being all nutrition-y, you can find her daydreaming of driving her red scooter with a milk crate full of books on the back with her two favourites in tow (husband & daughter), on the hunt for the best cup of joe on the planet.

Luka works one-on-one with clients via private consultation and runs classes around her adopted hometown of Calgary. Check out both the live and online classes to see what might best suit you!

Luka is one-half of the mavens at Histamine Haven; she is also on staff as one of the instructors at The Light Cellar in Bowness, Calgary.

In this episode Holistic Nutrition Practitioner Luka Symons and Journey To Glow founder Caroline Frenette talk about: 

1. Your skin is NOT against you, she’s showing you what’s happening IN the body
2. The link between histamines and rosacea, acne and other skin “issues”
3. What is a low histamine diet
4. The SIBO + histamine aka BI-PHASIC diet
5. How histamines and SIBO may be the missing link in healing rosacea
6. How histamine can actually “trigger” skin “issues”
7. What are histamines and how they work
8. What are mast cells and how they influence inflammation in the body
9. The immune system, inflammation and rosacea
10. Foods to avoid if you have a histamine intolerance
11. Hidden ingredients that can trigger a histamine reaction and make your rosacea worse

If you loved this conversation on the topic of histamines, rosacea and acne, you’ll love episode #32 Histamine Intolerance And Acne With Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist Vivien Allred.

Link & Resources:

Luka’s website lukasymons.com

Histamine Haven histaminehaven.com

Luka’s Instagram instagram.com/lukasymonschnc

Functional Nutrition & Herbal Medicine For Rosacea

As a Functional Nutrition Practitioner, Skin Herbalist, Certified Advanced Transformative Coach, and someone who’s personally been on a rosacea healing journey, I’m equipped to work with clients in a unique capacity.

My approach – which is personalized and designed to support each of my clients’ bio-individuality – enables me to get to the root cause(s) that brings about skin inflammation.

Once we’ve pinpointed the possible root causes (emotional, physical, or environmental), we work to support the body back into balance, so it can heal itself.

The result? Clear, glowing skin.

Key takeaway from the session

Ingredients that can trigger a histamine reaction and make your rosacea/acne worse:

• Guar gum
• Carrageenan
• Acacia gum
• Preservatives
• Colorants
• Fake foods / processed foods

What to do about it:

Tip # 1 Eat REAL food meaning make your food from scratch using fresh organic ingredients

Tip #2 Eat as fresh (in season) as possible

Tip #3 Reduce high histamine heavy hitters: bone broths, vinegar, fermented foods

The Link Between SIBO & Rosacea written by Sara Kahn, MS, CNS, CDN

The Link Between SIBO and Rosacea
Guest post by Sara Kahn, MS, CNS, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist & Founder of Belly Bliss Nutrition

1. What are the underlying causes of SIBO?

SIBO is essentially a symptom of digestive dysfunction that has resulted in the slow motility of the small intestine.  Normally, it should move food and bacteria down and out towards the large intestine.  With SIBO, the motility has slowed allowing our good gut bacteria to overgrow.

The key to resolving SIBO is determining and addressing the root cause or the underlying reason for the slow motility.  Some of the more common causes we see in our practice include:

• Food poisoning or traveler’s diarrhea.  The bacteria that cause these types of stomach upset can lead to an autoimmune response from the body attacking cells that are involved in the motility in the small intestine.

• Hypothyroidism or slow thyroid function can cause slow motility.

• Adhesions caused by abdominal surgery such as c-section, hysterectomy, gall bladder removal, appendectomy, and more.  Abdominal surgeries can create scar tissue that can cause narrowing of the intestines.

• Chronic stress can cause SIBO in numerous ways.  Chronic stress can lower stomach acid, which is one of our defense mechanisms against bacteria entering the body through the mouth. We need stomach acid to activate enzymes, which help digest food and also help kill bacteria.  Stress also produces a hormone called cortisol.  Too much cortisol can lead to intestinal inflammation, which can cause slow motility in the small intestine.

Altogether, this can create a perfect storm setting one up for SIBO.

2. Why would someone with rosacea consider looking at SIBO for the possible root cause?

Rosacea is associated with various GI disorders in addition to SIBO such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Celiac disease H. pylori infection, and more.  If you have symptoms of SIBO such as bloating, gas, constipation, and/or diarrhea then a SIBO breath test may help determine if this is contributing to rosacea.

3. Is it possible to have SIBO but not have symptoms?

A practitioner well-versed in SIBO understands that the test results need to be interpreted in the context of symptoms.  In the medical literature, there are healthy controls, who based on test results, would be diagnosed with SIBO but were not experiencing digestive symptoms.  They would not be diagnosed with SIBO because they don’t have symptoms.

Because we specialize in digestive health, all of our clients have GI symptoms.  So if it’s not SIBO then we keep digging.

4. Any recent research you’ve found helpful on SIBO and rosacea?

A January 2021 systematic review entitled Rosacea, Germs, and Bowels: A Review on Gastrointestinal Comorbidities and Gut–Skin Axis of Rosacea by Wang and Chi (2021) nicely summarizes the current theories on how various gastrointestinal conditions, including SIBO, are related to rosacea.

Wang, F.-Y., & Chi, C.-C. (2021). Rosacea, Germs, and Bowels: A Review on Gastrointestinal Comorbidities and Gut–Skin Axis of Rosacea. Advances in Therapy, 38(3), 1415–1424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-021-01624-x

5. A question we get a lot is: “How does SIBO actually affect the skin, specifically rosacea?” It is difficult to understand how gut dysbiosis is mirrored on the surface of the skin as localized redness/inflammation.

One thing people may not realize is that up to 70% of our immune system cells reside in our gut.  Our gut microbiome (the collection of bacteria in the colon) plays a huge role in modulating our immune system.  So when we have dysbiosis and our gut is inflamed, this can cause increased inflammation in areas besides the gut and can manifest in symptoms across the whole body.  Further, gut inflammation can result in increased intestinal permeability (otherwise known as “leaky gut”).  This means bacteria, toxins and allergens can escape into the bloodstream and cause trouble elsewhere.  We have many clients who have GI issues also have eczema, psoriasis, hives, rashes, and rosacea.

6. We know that to treat SIBO we can go with herbal anti-microbials or antibiotics, how does one choose?

There is no right or wrong but rather it’s about finding a treatment that works.  We have seen antibiotics work well and we have seen herbal antimicrobials work well.  We have also seen both approaches not work well.  Xifaxan (Rifaximin is the brand name) stays local to the small intestine and doesn’t affect the good gut bacteria in the colon.  However, methane dominant SIBO requires the use of Xifaxan plus either metronidazole or neomycin.  These antibiotics do have an effect on other bacterial populations such as the colon, vagina, etc.  All antibiotics have benefits and risks associated with them along with the potential for side effects.

Herbal antimicrobials may have a halo effect because they are natural but they are not benign.  For those with environmental allergies, or for those on certain medications, herbal antimicrobials may not be appropriate.  Further, they don’t stay local to the small intestine so there is a risk of causing further dysbiosis in the colon.  One of the benefits is that they can be used in small doses with increasing doses to tolerance.  This may be better tolerated in those who are sensitive to the powerful effects of antibiotics.

Keep in mind, that antibiotic or herbal antimicrobial treatment is just one piece of the puzzle.  We still need to address slow motility and the underlying root causes to clear SIBO and prevent it from returning.

7. How do we pinpoint the root cause of SIBO, what are the underlying causes, and do we treat the root cause of SIBO first or the bacterial overgrowth?

Identifying the cause of slow motility of the small intestine is the key to resolving SIBO.  If we are able to work with our clients before SIBO treatment, we prefer to improve digestive function as much as possible first before their SIBO treatment.

This may mean naturally increasing stomach acid and enzyme production, chewing food thoroughly to make digestion easier, eating in a calm environment, reducing stress, having regular bowel movements, and improving motility of the small intestine.   We find when we are able to do this work first, not only do our clients feel better but it makes clearing SIBO and tolerating SIBO treatment much easier.

8. Once SIBO is addressed, how quickly does it reflect on our skin?

Every client has a different experience.  We are often not just addressing SIBO but also histamine intolerance, allergies, food sensitivities, leaky gut, nutrient deficiencies, etc.   Some clients see improvements in their skin even before SIBO is treated because we are determining triggers and improving digestive function.  And for others, their journey is longer.  Just like with fitness, if you stop exercising, you’ll be less fit.  Same with gut health.  Gut health needs constantly evolve and there are always opportunities to make sure our digestive system works optimally.

Wanna learn more about healing rosacea naturally and holistically? Dive into our podcast interviews with holistic skin experts.

Sara Kahn, MS, CNS, CDN is a board-certified clinical & functional nutritionist in New York City and as the founder of Belly Bliss Nutrition works virtually with clients all over the country.

Like most of her clients, she struggled with digestive issues for years as well as anemia, nutrient deficiencies, and skin conditions. It wasn’t until she understood the root cause of her symptoms that she started healing.

To learn more about Sara’s work and her program Solving SIBO visit sarakahnnutrition.com/solving-sibo

Journey To Glow readers can save $50 off the pay in full price using code SIBOGLOW.

Functional Nutrition & Herbal Medicine For Rosacea

As a Functional Nutrition Practitioner, Skin Herbalist, Certified Advanced Transformative Coach, and someone who’s personally been on a rosacea healing journey, I’m equipped to work with clients in a unique capacity.

My approach – which is personalized and designed to support each of my clients’ bio-individuality – enables me to get to the root cause(s) that brings about skin inflammation.

Once we’ve pinpointed the possible root causes (emotional, physical, or environmental), we work to support the body back into balance, so it can heal itself.

The result? Clear, glowing skin.

JTG #68 Histamine & Acne Rosacea With Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner Tamy Anderson

JTG #68 Histamine & Acne Rosacea With Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner Tamy Anderson

In this episode, Tamy Anderson — Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner– and I talk about how histamine intolerances can trigger skin issues such as acne, rosacea and eczema.

We also cover:

How digestion starts as we prepare and cook our food
The importance of eating with presence (not with Netflix)
Simple things you can do to lower inflammation in your body
The different detox pathways of the body and how to support them
How to maximize detox without creating a skin crisis, especially if you have acne, rosacea or eczema
Why you should avoid toxins in your environment such as plastic bottles,  chemicals in your skincare and foods
How to be strategic eliminating trigger foods
The impact of too much histamine on the body
Why grains can create inflammation in the body
The problem with phytic acid and lectin
Why gluten never gets a free pass with Tamy

Tamy’s website tamyanderson.com

Tamy on Instagram instagram.com/tamyanderson_fdn

Tamy’s quiz on histamine tamyanderson.com/histamine-quiz

JTG#63 Herbal Medicine For Skin Health With Alicia Hamilton Founder of Wild Bloom Botanicals

Herbal Medicine For Skin Health With Alicia Hamilton Founder of Wild Bloom Botanicals

In this podcast interview, my guest Alicia Hamilton founder of Wild Bloom Botanicals, and I dive into herbal medicine to support skin health as well as how to tune into the spirit of plant allies with the help of our intuition.

About our guest:

Alicia is a certified Holistic Nutritionist and Herbalist who’s passionate about holistic health. Her journey to health started after years of being sick with mystery illnesses that the doctors couldn’t help her with. She struggled with PCOS, adrenal fatigue, extreme deficiencies, brain fog, poor memory, anxiety and depression. For years she thought that she was going to live her entire life feeling unwell because she was just ‘unlucky’ and living in a faulty body but then discovered yoga and herbal medicine.
After years of experimenting with diet, herbs, and supplements, she diminished all of her symptoms and finally felt amazing in her body. Alicia decided to go to school for holistic nutrition and herbalism so that she could make it her life’s work to help others heal the same way she did.
Since then, her brand of Wild Bloom Botanicals has been growing and she now ships health products all over the world and teaches as much as she can about diet and natural wellness.

What we cover in the interview:

• The mistakes people make when following the Medical Medium advice

• Underlying cause of brain fog

• How to improve your digestive system

• Symptoms of low stomach acid

• Do digestive enzymes work?

• Understanding the role of stress and its impact on our skin

• The concept of Shen in Chinese Medicine and how it affects our inner radiance

• The difference between tinctures and supplements

• Choosing between alcohol-based or glycerin-based tinctures

• How to shift into a more loving, compassionate state of mind

• Why self-acceptance does not mean giving up

• How to talk to and get messages from plant allies

• Easy to incorporate herbal medicine that supports skin health and overall wellbeing

Shop Wild Bloom Botanicals wildbloombotanicals.com

Wild Bloom Botanicals on Instagram instagram.com/wildbloom.botanicals

Herbs for beauty blog wildbloombotanicals.com/wildbloomblog/herbs-for-beauty

FREE ROSACEA MASTERCLASS

Get FREE access to a 30-minute masterclass where you’ll explore 9 misconceptions about rosacea and how to create momentum on your healing journey.

JTG #62 Healing Acne & Perioral Dermatitis By Healing The Gut With Zoe Vezina

JTG #62 Healing Acne & Perioral Dermatitis By Healing The Gut With Zoe Vezina

Today on the Journey To Glow podcast we talk to Zoe Vezina of wellbeinginbloom about healing perioral dermatitis by healing the gut and lowering stress and anxiety in our everyday life.

About our guest 

Zoe Vezina is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist specializing in acne and perioral dermatitis. She became interested in the world of health and wellness after struggling with her own health for well over a decade. After years of painful gut problems and cystic acne, she enrolled in the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition in Vancouver BC with the hopes that she could heal herself, without the use of toxic pills and creams. Since then she’s been able to find the answers to her symptoms and has healed her gut and cleared her skin of both acne and perioral dermatitis. She now helps women who are in search of holistic, lasting solutions for their skin.

In this interview we cover:

• The trial an error of figuring out a difficult skin condition on your own
• The difference between Perioral and contact dermatitis
• The link between Perioral Dermatitis and histamine intolerance
• SIBO and Perioral Dermatitis
• Functional testing for gut issues
• Demodex mites reaction and rosacea versus perioral dermatitis
• How Zoe damaged her skin even more by overusing essential oils
• How to prepare yourself to work with a functional practitioner and choosing the right functional tests which can be costly

Zoe’s website wellbeinginbloom.com

Instagram instagram.com/wellbeinginbloom

Interview with The SIBO Doctor Nirala Jacobi

FREE ROSACEA MASTERCLASS

Get FREE access to a 30-minute masterclass where you’ll explore 9 misconceptions about rosacea and how to create momentum on your healing journey.

JTG #55 Functional Mushrooms For Optimum Health & Radiant Skin With Danielle Ryan Broida

JTG #55 Functional Mushrooms For Optimum Health & Radiant Skin With Danielle Ryan Broida

If you’re curious about the benefits of functional mushrooms for optimum health and radiant skin, you’re going to love this conversation with Danielle Broida!

In this interview, we get a little personal about what was going on in my life back March 2020 (which is when this interview was recorded) that affected my sleep and stress. I decided not to edit out this part of the conversation so that you could get a glimpse of what it’s like to work with a really good herbalist who’s looking for the root cause, not treating the symptoms.

On the Journey to Glow podcast, our focus always aims directly at skin health. But sometimes we need to dig deeper than the surface to get to the root cause. And this is exactly what we do in this episode with Danielle.

We cover:

• How to feed the probiotics already in our gut instead of constantly replenishing with probiotics
• What are prebiotic plants and which functional mushroom contain the most prebiotic fibers that are supportive for gut health
• How to use Calendula flowers to repair gut lining
• The importance of right dosage of plants to make it medicinal and effective
• Plant infusions versus decoctions
• The importance of designing the right plant protocol to support specific body constitutions
• Danielle’s preferred way to figure out if someone is nutrition deficient (hint: it doesn’t involve expensive testing)
• How the body gives us clues all the time as to what it needs to heal and thrive
• The reality of the supplements industry and where supplements really come from (even if it says USA on the bottle!)
• How adaptogenic mushrooms work to support the body
• Functional mushrooms for gut, skin and brain support

Also included in this episode: loud outbursts of laughter!

Danielle is a Registered Herbalist (RH) of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), Certified Holistic Nutritionist and National Educator at Four Sigmatic. Prior to joining forces with Four Sigmatic, she received her BA in Environmental Studies and Philosophy from Whitman College.

She studied Ayurveda in India and became a Certified Yoga Instructor on the banks of the Ganges River. She then worked with a Naturopathic Doctor in Indonesia where she became a Certified Raw Chef and Detox Coach. But it was leading trekking adventures into the backcountry of Thailand where she became particularly fascinated by herbal medicine.

After several years in Asia, she landed in Boulder, Colorado to formalize her education in holistic medicine. Upon completing her graduate studies at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism (CSCH), she opened a private practice, Danielle Ryan Wellness, where she worked with hundreds of clients across the US, specializing in treatment for individuals with autoimmune conditions and chronic illness. She was invited to become the Instructor of Mycology at CSCH, where she still teaches.

Danielle brings her passion and expertise in herbal medicine, clinical practice, teaching, formulation, and her deep love for fungi, to the Everyday Magic™ of Four Sigmatic as their National Educator.

In her free time, you can find her outside—whether under the sun or stars, summer heat or winter snow. She’ll either be gardening, foraging, cooking plant-based recipes, rock climbing, hiking, skiing, surfing, or scuba diving.

Danielle’s website: danielleryanwellness.com

Instagram instagram.com/danielleryanbroida

How to identify real functional mushrooms realmushrooms.com/how-to-identify-myceliated-grain

Full review of my favorite supplements for clear glowing skin

JTG #53 Healing SIBO Naturally & Holistically
With Ramona Remesat

JTG #53 Healing SIBO Naturally & Holistically With Ramona Remesat

It’s a pleasure for me to share this episode with Ramona Remesat, a fellow Canadian, inspiring woman and aspiring herbalist who kindly agreed to share in details her journey into healing SIBO.

If you have a diagnosis of SIBO or are suspecting gut issues and can’t for the life of you figure out what’s going on, this episode will be of tremendous value!

About our guest…

After suffering from uncomfortable gut symptoms for several years, Ramona finally received a diagnosis of SIBO. She immediately dove into learning all she could about this condition. Her thirst for knowledge and her fierce determination to uncover the underlying cause for her condition led her to become a SIBO educator and advocate and to return to school to study Herbal Medicine. Today, she helps others, new to the SIBO journey, by sharing resources, research, and ways to advocate for themselves with their medical doctors and healthcare practitioners.

In this episode, Ramona Ramesat talks to Journey To Glow host Caroline Frenette about:
✔ Her journey healing SIBO and every step she took along the way
✔ Healing SIBO naturally & holistically
✔ The importance of taking the healing process into her own hands and never giving up, even when conventional medicine doesn’t have clear solutions
✔ How to work with your allopathic doctor, even if he doesn’t know about SIBO
✔ Functional testing to pinpoint the root cause of SIBO or other health issues

If this conversation was helpful, please consider leaving a written review on iTunes or sharing on social media tagging @lovemyjourneytoglow. Thank you!

Ramona Remesat on Facebook

Monsanto Bayer payout BBC News

Dr. Ruscio’s website drruscio.com

Dr. Nirala Jacobi’s interview journeytoglow.com/sibo-rosacea-doctor-nirala-jacobi

Phoebe Lapine’s interview SIBO Made Simple With Author & Chef Phoebe Lapine

Benefits of Drinking Pure Filtered Water For Clear & Glowing Skin

We’ve all heard how important water is to our health and the benefits of drinking pure water for clear, glowing skin but did you ever stop to think (or test!) what’s in your water?⁣
⁣
I was doing a little research to prep for an upcoming podcast episode with Melissa Gallico, author of the Hidden Cause of Acne, and was reminded, yet again, of the importance of CLEAN water.⁣

Clean as in devoid of the various toxic crap you’ll find in tap water such as:⁣
⁣
Fluoride⁣
Lead⁣
Chlorine⁣
Chloramines⁣
Mercury⁣
Copper⁣
VOCs (Volatile organic compounds)⁣
Pharmaceuticals⁣
Herbicides⁣
Pesticides⁣
⁣
I don’t know about you but none of that stuff sounds like a good idea to have in my water (or in my body).⁣
⁣
A few years back my naturopath insisted that I get my well water tested — she suspected there might be something in there burdening my system (my liver and gut sprcifically) and she was right.⁣
⁣
Even though my well water is waaaay better than the city water, we still found traces of unwanted naturally occurring chemicals.⁣
⁣
I’ve been filtering my water ever since.⁣ (I use Santevia’s Gravity Water System. It’s afforable, has a fluoride filter and boosts pH and alkalinity to make mineralized alkaline water. More on this filter below…)
⁣
As a reminder, here are the benefits of drinking pure, filtered water:⁣
⁣
1. Improves Skin Tone & complexion⁣
2. Skin feels more hydrated⁣
3. Prevents premature aging⁣
4. Increase elasticity in the skin⁣
5. Flush out toxins⁣
6. Maintains pH Balance⁣
7. Promotes healthy gut ⁣
8. Supports digestion + detoxification⁣
9. Electrolyte balance⁣
10. Nutrient + oxygen transportation⁣
⁣

How Much Water Do You Actually Need to Drink to Be Properly Hydrated Within?

A simple way to calculate this is to divide your weight in half and drink that amount in ounces. In other words, if you weigh 140 pounds, you’ll want to drink around 70 ounces(about 8 cups) of water each day.

If you’re not a big water person, try adding sliced cucumbers, berries, mint or basil (or any fresh herb that appeals to you), lemon, lime, orange…just make sure you have washed the fruits properly and that they are organic other you’ll have pesticides or herbicides in your water which defeats the purpose.

You can also hydrate through water-rich foods such as watermelon, fresh lettuce, peaches, cucumber…

As you add more water to your daily life, make sure that you don’t cancel it’s benefits by drinking too much coffee or alcohol which dehydrates the skin.

PS: A lot of my clients ask me if a water filter is necessary, the answer is yes. Well water can contain contaminants, and don’t get me started on disgusting city water filled with other people’s drugs that aren’t properly filtered and the disgusting chemicals they sue to “purify” the water. Save yourself the toxins, get a good water filter. 

JTG #47 Adaptogenic Mushrooms & Plants To Support Your Immune System with Clinical Herbalist & Mycologist Danielle Ryan

JTG #47 Adaptogenic Mushrooms & Plants To Support Your Immune System with Clinical Herbalist & Mycologist Danielle Ryan

In this episode of the Journey to Glow podcast we talk to Danielle Broida Ryan, Mycologist and Clinical Herbalist, about adaptogenic mushrooms and plants to support the immune system.

Talking to Danielle is always such a treat and this interview is no exception! Danielle is so incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to plants and medicinal mushrooms that honestly, we could have recorded a 4-hour episode.

What stood out from my conversation with Danielle is the importance of making a shift from “let’s defend against” to how we use plants and functional mushrooms to support us from the inside-out.

But the thread that came coming back was an invitation to be empowered to take your health into your own hands. Don’t expect the medical system to teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle (which, ironically, could prevent disease in the first place.) Ultimately, it’s up to us to inform and educate ourselves, and take inspired action in creating optimum health.

This episode is a MUST listen if you want to learn how to use herbs and plants to support your immune system at this time and it’s PACKED. So grab a pen and a pad, and get ready to take notes and to implements practical tips in your everyday life.

Before you dive into the content, I want remind you to talk to your doctor (functional or conventional) if you need guidance should you want to try any herbs and mushrooms mentioned in this episode.

About our guest

Danielle is a Registered Herbalist (RH) of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), Certified Holistic Nutritionist and National Educator at Four Sigmatic. Prior to joining forces with Four Sigmatic, she received her BA in Environmental Studies and Philosophy from Whitman College.

She studied Ayurveda in India and became a Certified Yoga Instructor on the banks of the Ganges River. She then worked with a Naturopathic Doctor in Indonesia where she became a Certified Raw Chef and Detox Coach. But it was leading trekking adventures into the backcountry of Thailand where she became particularly fascinated by herbal medicine.

After several years in Asia, she landed in Boulder, Colorado to formalize her education in holistic medicine. Upon completing her graduate studies at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism (CSCH), she opened a private practice, Danielle Ryan Wellness, where she worked with hundreds of clients across the US, specializing in treatment for individuals with autoimmune conditions and chronic illness. She was invited to become the Instructor of Mycology at CSCH, where she still teaches.

Danielle brings her passion and expertise in herbal medicine, clinical practice, teaching, formulation, and her deep love for fungi, to the Everyday Magic™ of Four Sigmatic as their National Educator.

In her free time, you can find her outside—whether under the sun or stars, summer heat or winter snow. She’ll either be gardening, foraging, cooking plant-based recipes, rock climbing, hiking, skiing, surfing, or scuba diving.

In this episode we cover:

• What are functional mushrooms and how they differ from “regular” mushrooms we find at the grocery store
• Why Chaga is dubbed The King Of Mushrooms and why it’s Danielle go-to to support her immune system
• Reishi, The Queen of adaptogenic mushrooms: how to take this powerhouse to support your immune system in your everyday life
• Why medicinal mushrooms come from China
• How to make sure you are buying real medicinal mushrooms and what to look for on a company’s website to make sure you are getting the highest quality
• The difference between stimulants (such as echinacea) and modulators (such as adaptogenic mushrooms) and how to use them properly
• Danielle’s top herbs to build the body’s resiliency and stamina
• How to energy test or use a pendulum to figure out if a supplement is right for you

PS: I had previously recorded another episode with Danielle which focused on skin health but felt it was timely to release this conversation first as it will give you so many options to support your body for optimum health at this time. Stay tuned for that one!

“A post about hands, dirt, immunity and my perspective at this wild glimpse in time.

Hand sanitizer and wipes are sold out at nearly every supermarket. There is widespread fear out there. A unified action of the masses to kill, sanitize, disinfect whatever may be “out there” in an attempt to avoid it getting “in here.” I see mass fear, disconnection and victimhood bleeding from this perspective. It is scary. It makes us feel powerless and defensive.

You all know I see the world a little differently. And I want to shake up this non-serving perspective, turn it upside down and inside out with all the love and compassion possible.

What would it feel like to be a warrior? To be so strong that you knew nothing from the outside world could take you down? To be your own bodyguard? When you read those questions, I urge you to pause. What is happening in your body? How are you feeling? I want to empower each and every one of you to nourish yourselves, strengthen your core, fuel each cell in your body to be that fearless warrior.

What if at this time of ultimate disconnection, you found a way to connect? For me, that looks like putting my bare hands on the Earth (and maybe finding a mushroom or two when I’m down there!). When we can’t gather in rooms and offices and closed spaces, can we get outside, breathe fresh air, soak in the aromatherapy of the trees and remember who we are and what we are a part of?

My motto the last few days is simple: SHROOMS & SURRENDER. Shrooms, particularly Chaga and Reishi, are some of the most powerful ways to build ourselves up to be those warriors. And surrender to the fact that we cannot and will not ever know everything.

Unknowns are part of the human experience. Instead of letting it cause fear and insecurity, can you lengthen your exhalations today to be even a few seconds longer than your inhalation’s and surrender to the great mystery we call life?”

Follow Danielle on Instagram

Danielle’s website: danielleryanwellness.com

Instagram instagram.com/danielleryanbroida

How to identify real functional mushrooms realmushrooms.com/how-to-identify-myceliated-grain

Full review of my favorite supplements for clear glowing skin

JTG #46 MRT (Mediator Release Test) For Food Sensitivities with Megan Pennington

MRT (Mediator Release Test) For Food Sensitivities with Megan Pennington

In this episode, we’re talking Megan Pennington about MRT testing (Mediator Release Test) and how food testing to pinpoint food sensitivities can help you get the root cause of a skin issue.

Before diving into my conversation with Megan, I talk about the importance of working with pure essential oils and how to decipher high quality oils from adulterated oil you’ll currently find flooding the market. This was brought on because I came across an essential oil company that is selling a wide array of essential oils all at the impossibly low price of $10 to $20, including precious oils such as Frankincense and Blue Tansy. So I thought it was necessary to clarify why essential oils cannot be sold all at the same price and why it’s a big huge red flag.

Unfortunately, there are companies that will flat out lie to our face (and lie on their website) and people will fall prey to their marketing, thinking that all essential oils are created equal and why not pay as little as possible!

If you care about quality and want to purchase and use essential oils that are actually effective, you’ll want to research companies properly AND know what to look for so you don’t fall prey to greenwashing.

About our guest:

Megan Pennington is a Food Sensitivity Specialist and Certified Holistic Health Practitioner with a BSc in Dietetics and Human Nutrition. She specializes in immune related conditions and inflammatory disorders. She works with the biophysical, emotional, spiritual, energetic and psychological aspects of the body for a full healing experience.

In this episode, Journey To Glow host Caroline Frenette and Megan Pennington explore:

• How to stay grounded during challenging uncertain times
• Megan takes us through an exercise that connects us to Higher Self & the Cosmos
• How state of mind impacts your health and your skin
• The impact of genetics and epigenetics
• What is MRT testing
• How food sensitivities may be the missing link in your skin healing journey

Megan’s website: mpholisticnutrition.com

Facebook facebook.com/mpHolisticNutrition

Instagram instagram.com/meganpenningtonig

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