(0:00 - 3:07) Hello and welcome. I'm so glad you're here. Whether you stumbled across this series looking for alternatives to the medical system or you've already been walking the path of natural and functional healing for a while, this space is for you. This is the Informed Healing Series and it's not just about health tips or trendy solutions, it's about giving you a framework to think clearly, act confidently and reconnect deeply with your biology, your story and your own inner wisdom. I'm your host, Dr. Rochagné Kilian and in each episode we'll explore the tools, the insights and questions that help you become a more empowered, informed and sovereign participant in your own care. So let's begin. But we'll move through this series in three stages. First, we'll rethink. That means pulling back the curtain on what you've been told by doctors, media or even wellness culture. We'll look at diagnostics, data and deeper questions that challenge the normal way of doing things. Then we'll reconnect with the body's own intelligence through nervous system work, fascia, bioenergetics and terrain-based healing. We'll explore how to listen to the signals your body has been sending you all along. And finally, we'll reclaim. We'll talk about how to become your own advocate, how to build a personal health blueprint and how to move forward without fear, just grounded in clarity and inner conviction. Who is this series for? The ones who have said, I've tried everything or I still don't feel well or this can't be the whole story. It's for anyone who's tired of being dismissed, overwhelmed or lost in protocol confusion and who's ready to become back to their own authority. What to expect out of this? You'll hear about tools like thermography, HTMA, GI map, fascia work and bioenergetics scans, but always with the focus on mechanisms, not just methods. Each session will be short, clear and layered. Some are scientific, some are intuitive, some are deeply practical, but all are here to help you become more confident in navigating your health journey. My hope is that this series helps you stop chasing symptoms and start asking better questions, that it helps you feel less afraid, less confused and more deeply connected to your own body and truth. So take what resonates, question what doesn't and trust the process. Join us on this journey of discovery. You've probably heard a story like this before, it might even be your own. I start every morning with a cold plunge, a drop of methylene blue under my tongue, a shot of celery juice, red light therapy beaming on my face, sulfageo frequencies vibrating in the background and I felt like death warmed over, bloated, wired, anxious, crashing by 2pm and yet I was doing everything right. (3:07 - 4:57) All the things social media, wellness podcasts and biohacking blogs told me to do, but the truth is, they weren't helping. Why? Because I was missing the most important question. What is this actually doing inside my body? And even more importantly, is my body even ready for it? I'm a physician trained in both conventional and integrative medicine with a deep clinical interest in systems biology and root cause healing. Over the years I've watched hundreds of patients, many intelligent, motivated, well-read, get caught up in the same trap. They weren't lacking effort, they were lacking strategy. Because in a world flooded with wellness fads, the difference between healing and harm is timing. But the global wellness industry is now worth over 6.3 trillion dollars. And each week, a new protocol promises to be the missing piece. Methylene blue for your brain, full moon parasite cleanses, cold plunges for dopamine, NAD drips, castor oil packs, carnivore diets, seed cycling, zeolite, grounding, breathwork. Some of these are powerful tools, some are time tested, some are rooted in solid science. But here's the hard truth. A good tool at the wrong time can still cause harm. What works for one body may sabotage another. Meet Sarah, a high-performing entrepreneur, anxious, inflamed, running on adrenaline. And then you have Rachel, the stay-at-home mom of three, hypothyroid, depleted, cold hands and feet, barely sleeping. Now imagine giving both these women the same protocol. Cold plunges, intermittent fasting, methylene blue, a 30-day parasite cleanse. Would it help both? Or would it crash the one while helping the other? Biology is not a one-size-fits-all. (4:58 - 10:59) Healing is not about what works, it's about what works for you. Too often we isolate symptoms or biomarkers, like inflammation, estrogen or cortisol, and try to fix them directly. But true healing requires seeing the whole terrain. Just like a forest isn't just trees, your body isn't just labs and protocols, it's a living ecosystem. And just like an ecosystem, every pot responds differently depending on the season it's in. Let's break down the trends by mechanism, not hype. First we'll look at methylene blue. Originally used as the textile dye and antimalarial drug, methylene blue is now trending as a nootropic and mitochondrial enhancer. And for good reason. Research shows it improves mitochondrial electron transport, boosts ATP and protects neurons from oxidative stress. But here's the caveat. Methylene blue is also a potent oxidizer. In someone who's under-oxidized or struggling with cognitive decline, it may revive. But in someone already anxious, inflamed or on antidepressants, it can cause the following. Insomnia, panic attacks, serotonin syndrome, especially if combined with SSRIs or MAOIs. Bottom line, it's not about whether it's good, it's about whether it's good for you. Then number two, cold plunges. Cold exposure triggers a surge in norepinephrine, enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and activates brown fat for thermogenesis. It's a form of hermesis, a beneficial stressor that builds resilience. But if your body is already in a state of freeze, burned out, hypothyroid, low cortisol, you're adding stress to a system already maxed out. Dr. Mel Hopper Copeland refers to this as a winter metabolism. For these patients, cold plunges can trigger the following. Lower immunity, suppressed thyroid output, increased fatigue and food cravings. So ask yourself, am I resilient enough to recover from this stressor? Then number three, we've all heard it before, parasite protocols are all the rave. The full moon cleanse hype is everywhere. Black walnut, clove, mimosa, paducah. And yes, parasites exist and can cause real dysfunction. But here's what gets missed. If you kill pathogens, but your liver, your lymph and your bowels aren't open, you're just liberating toxins into a blocked system. The result, die off, rashes, insomnia, panic and so much more. Before you cleanse, ask, is my drainage funnels open? And then number four, fasting. Fasting has incredible benefits. It increases insulin sensitivity, triggers autophagy, lowers inflammation, but it's also a stressor. And in cycling women, fasting can disrupt ovulation and tank thyroid hormones. Fasting works based in the following. Metabolically inflexible men, obese individuals, insulin resistant states. But if you're depleted, low carbs, stressed and running on caffeine, fasting is just, well, starvation in disguise. So ask yourself this, is this a season for stress or is it a season for nourishment? So how do we make wise choices in a noisy world? Here's a five steps framework to navigate trains with clarity. Step number one, zoom out and ask, what system does this tool target? Is it detox, nervous system, mitochondria, hormones? Instead of saying, is this good or bad? Ask, is this warming or cooling? Is it stimulating or nourishing? Is it pushing or supporting? The tools you use need to be matched to the systems needing the support. Then step number two, know your season. Ask the following, where is my body right now? Are you in burnout or bouldering? In survival or restoration mode? A good doctor doesn't just match pills to systems, they match timing to terrain. Then number three, track response, not hype. If you feel worse, it doesn't necessarily mean it's not working, it might mean your body's not ready. Symptom flares are messages, not failures. And step number four, be your own scientist. Track the following, your energy, your sleep, your mood, your cycle, digestion in your body. Your body is the best lab you have. And then lastly, step number five, reclaim common sense. Your ancestors healed with sun, salt, food and rest. No red light panel, no methylene blue, just rhythm, nourishment and connection. Although it is wonderful to be proactive with health and wellness, modern doesn't always mean better. Wisdom isn't anti-science, it's contextualized science. And as my final words in this first episode, you are not a machine to be fixed, you are a garden to be tended. Gardens don't heal with force, they heal with the following, timing, nutrients, patience. So the next time someone says you have to try this protocol, it changed my life, smile and say thank you. Then ask, what does my body need right now? Because not everything that heals helps everyone. Dr. Gabor Mate said, wisdom is not knowing more, it's knowing what matters most. Thank you for joining me on this journey of rethinking, reconnecting and reclaiming your health. If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone you love or take a moment to reflect on what resonated most for you today. And if you have any questions, send them our way. Remember, healing isn't a protocol, it's a process, and you're allowed to ask better questions. Until next time, stay curious, stay connected and stay empowered.