In a world where chronic illness is skyrocketing and people are spending thousands on supplements and labs with little relief, what if we’ve been focusing on the wrong thing?

In this episode, Dr. Jannine Krause sits down with Mel Hopper Koppelman, Program Director at Synthesis Health Lab, to talk about a radically different — and incredibly effective — approach to healing. Instead of chasing symptoms or optimizing labs, Mel focuses on repairing the foundation of the nervous system and working with the first principles of health. The result? A 50%+ reduction in symptoms for many chronic illness sufferers without endless supplements or constant testing.

Mel blends ancient healing wisdom with modern neuroscience and has helped thousands recover from chronic fatigue, autoimmunity, fibromyalgia, and more — especially those who felt like they had “tried everything.”

💡 In this episode, we explore:

• Why health creation is a lifelong skill

• The 5-stage process Mel uses to guide clients through recovery

• How to understand your nervous system and immune system for better outcomes

• The role of Internal Family Systems (IFS) in healing

• The truth about neurodevelopment and chronic illness

• Tools to support healing when nothing else has worked

🧠 Whether you’re a patient or practitioner, this episode will widen your lens and give you actionable insights to rethink what healing really means.

📘 RESOURCES & LINKS:
→ Learn more about Mel and the Synthesis Health Solutions & Support Group: https://synthesishealth.co/
→ Apply for free to get guidance and ask questions
→ Connect with Dr. Jannine Krause: @drjanninekrause

📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Chronic illness recovery begins with the nervous system.

• Healing requires shifting from symptom management to true health restoration.

• The psychological aspects of healing are just as important as physical ones.

• Addressing energy management, neurodevelopment, and foundational health creates lasting change.

🎧 Listen now and discover how real healing starts by going deeper — not just doing more.

In this conversation, Dr. Jannine Krause sits down with Jennifer Brower as she shares her personal journey through chronic illness, including Lyme disease, mold toxicity, and the aftermath of COVID-19. She discusses the challenges of misdiagnosis and the emotional toll of navigating the healthcare system. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of finding the right healing modalities, building a supportive community, and advocating for oneself in medical settings. She also highlights the significance of emotional health and the need for personalized approaches to wellness.

We dive deep into:
🌿 The hidden dangers of mold and why it’s often overlooked
🦠 Jennifer’s winding path through chronic illness and what finally helped
🔥 The healing role of ozone therapy, infrared saunas, and holistic medicine
✨ Why following your intuition is non-negotiable in your healing journey
📘 Her new book The Silent Killers — a must-read for patients and caregivers

Jennifer’s story is one of resilience, hope, and fierce determination to not only survive—but thrive.

Chapters:

00:00

Introduction to Silent Killers

09:47

Jennifer's Health Journey Begins

16:32

The Role of a Support System

24:21

Nervous System and Healing

30:45

Preparing for Doctor Visits

41:28

Exploring Raindrop Therapy and Community Support

ABOUT JENNIFER C. BROWER:
Jennifer holds a degree in Communications & Public Relations from Florida State University and is a licensed commercial real estate broker. But after her own health collapsed, she channeled her passion into wellness advocacy. She now uses her voice to educate others about chronic illness, environmental toxicity, and the power of integrative healing.

📚 Grab Jennifer’s Book: The Silent Killers — A handbook for navigating mold, Lyme, and chronic illness - https://silentkillersbook.com/
Follow Jennifer: https://jennifercbrower.com/
Connect with us: The Health Fix Podcast - @drjanninekrause on Instagram

🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell to get notified when new episodes drop!
💬 Drop a comment below if this episode resonated with you or if you’ve faced similar challenges on your healing path.

If you’re a woman over 40 wondering “What is happening to me?”—this episode is your permission slip to get curious, not quiet. Dr. Jannine Krause and Theresa Lear Levine dive deep into the hormonal maze of perimenopause and menopause—from brain fog and bloating to ADHD symptoms and anxiety—and explain how these changes ripple far beyond your period tracker.

We talk hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—the myths, the magic, and the marketing of “bioidenticals.” We break down the often-missed links between gut health, detoxification, emotional regulation, and your hormone story. And yes, we talk about the things nobody wants to admit: the not so pretty results of various cleanses, the relationship between estrogen, binge eating and emotional outbursts, and why relational healing is hormonal healing.

This is the conversation your doctor probably hasn’t had with you—but your body is begging for it.

• Perimenopause isn’t just hot flashes—it’s emotional, mental, and deeply personal.

• Hormonal shifts can trigger or worsen ADHD symptoms, anxiety, and overwhelm.

• Estrogen detox is directly tied to gut health.

• How xenoestrogens from plastics, beauty products, and cleaning supplies are hormone saboteurs.

• Why detox pathways must be supported, especially in your 40s and 50s.

• Weight gain is not just calories—it’s chemistry and quantum physics.

• HRT is not one-size-fits-all and why saying Bioidentical-HRT is "natural" is misleading

• Mental clarity, mood, and libido are all influenced by estrogen and progesterone.

• Your emotional and nervou system health affect your hormones.

• Healing happens in safe, supportive relationships—this is nervous system work we're overlooking

• “All healing is relational healing.”

• “It’s not just about the uterus—your whole life changes.”

• “You can’t out-supplement a nervous system stuck in survival mode.”

• “It’s like cleaning out a sewer pipe—but for your hormones.”

• You’re in your 40s or 50s and feeling “off” but don’t know why

• You’ve tried diets, supplements, or HRT or Bio-HRT but still feel stuck

• You’ve been dismissed or misdiagnosed

• You’re craving clarity, connection, and a roadmap that makes sense

In this episode of the Health Fix Podcast, Dr. Jannine Krause interviews Njideka Olatunde, an expert in reflexology, who shares her journey into the practice and its profound impact on healing. They discuss the connection between pain and stress, the importance of touch in healing, and how reflexology can be a family practice. Njideka emphasizes the need for emotional health, especially during menopause, and highlights her current research projects aimed at integrating reflexology into conventional medicine. The conversation underscores the holistic approach to health, focusing on the mind-body-spirit connection and the power of touch.

What You'll Learn In This Episode:

• How touch is essential for emotional and physical well-being.
• Why teaching children reflexology is crucial for the entire family.
• How reflexology can serve as a preventive measure in family health.
• The power of using reflexology to lower chronic pain

Resources From The Show:

• Reflexology Today A Family Affair
• Njideka Olatunde's website - Focus on Healing

🧠💬 Ever feel like your gut and mind are out of sync?
If you're a woman over 40 navigating perimenopause or menopause, this episode is a must-listen. We’re diving into the powerful connection between your gut and brain—and how your gut health can influence your thoughts, mood, and even how you advocate for yourself in medical care.

In this enlightening conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Cecily Havert, a compassionate family medicine physician and Clinical Assistant Professor at Georgetown University. She’s a Minneapolis native, a University of Wisconsin-Madison grad, and now practicing in Virginia. (Psst—her name is pronounced Ses-a-lee Have-ERT!)

We explore how the healthcare system often pushes both patients and doctors into burnout—and how new approaches like contemplative medicine, concierge care, and self-advocacy are shifting the landscape.

✨ You’ll hear:

• How your gut-brain axis can affect anxiety, memory, and decision-making

• Why menopausal weight gain might actually be your body protecting you

• What self-advocacy looks like in a broken system—and how to get the care you deserve

• The truth about doctor burnout and how it impacts YOU as a patient

• How contemplative medicine is healing both doctors and the people they serve

• The power of building primary care offices that address both physical and mental health

Dr. Havert recently completed a fellowship in Contemplative Medicine at the New York Zen Center, deepening her ability to connect spiritually and compassionately with her patients. She’s also a writer, mentor, and co-host of the Living Breathing Medicine podcast.

This conversation is heartfelt, grounded, and full of tools for women who want to feel heard and heal better—inside and out.

👉 Listen now and take the first step toward becoming your own health advocate.
✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes that empower women over 40 to thrive.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Dr. Cecily Havert: https://www.nvafamilypractice.com/our-team/cecily-havert-md/

• Awakened Medicine on Psychology Today: Read Here

• The New York Zen Center – Contemplative Medicine Fellowship: https://zencare.org

• Living Breathing Medicine Podcast: Listen Here

In this episode of The Health Fix Podcast, Dr. Jannine Krause sits down with Forrest Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Kineon—a leading red light therapy device company—to uncover the science behind photobiomodulation and how it can reduce chronic inflammation, improve brain function, support thyroid health, and even influence the vagus nerve.

A former pro rugby player, Forrest shares his personal healing journey from a meniscus tear to full-body recovery—using a powerful blend of infrared lasers and red-light LEDs. Now, he’s on a mission to help others harness this same technology.

Whether you’re struggling with pain, fatigue, brain fog, or thyroid issues—this episode gives you insight into the healing potential of light, especially when targeted precisely.

🧠✨

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why combining red light LED with infrared laser light therapy delivers deeper, more effective results

• Red light therapy’s role in clearing out brain waste via glial cell activation

• How Kineon’s device targets both surface and deep tissue inflammation

• The science behind photobiomodulation for thyroid and vagus nerve health

• The mitochondrial energy boost from infrared therapy

• Key differences between light panels vs. portable wearables

• How thermography is being used to track red light therapy progress

• Client results: tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, insomnia relief in 15 mins a day

🔗 Resources & Links from the Show:

• 🌐 Kineon Official Website: https://kineon.io/

• 🎁 Get 10% Off: https://kineon.sjv.io/55YDDj

• 📄 Research: Red Light Therapy on Thyroid & Hormones:
  https://kineon.notion.site/PBM-Thyroid-and-Sex-Hormones-1b859efbb64c80509164d425a99c1924

• 🚀 Coming May 2025 – Heal+ Device: Boosts immune and gut function

• 📆 Coming Sept 2025 – Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Device

Let's face it - most women struggle with their weight and we've been programmed to think it's harder to get the weight off after a certain age so the process can feel hopeless. But what if there are clues as to why the weight is hanging around that lie in your relationship with food?

In this episode, Ashley Fillmore and Dr. Jannine Krause dive into why declining estrogen can trigger carb cravings and binges that may be new behavior for women over 40, or why it brings up old habits you thought you'd let go of. We discuss the frustrating cycle of binge, detox, diet and repeat - failure after failure. We explore food shame and why we keep repeating habits like diving into chips or finding ourselves with chocolate and peanut butter at certain times of the day.

Ashley Fillmore is a leading expert in sustainable weight-loss who helps women heal their metabolism, balance their hormones, and achieve body-composition changes that last a lifetime.

• Founder and President of Metabolic Fix™ - a premium online coaching company that has helped thousands of women finally break free from chronic dieting for good
• Developed the Metabolic Fix Method™ for long-term, sustainable results
• Deep commitment to helping women better their lives
• Renowned keynote speaker who frequents top-rated podcasts
• Holds a BSc in Exercise and Nutrition
• Certified PT Professional, Nutrition Coach, and Health Educator

• 00:00 Introduction to Hormonal Health and Metabolism
• 04:51 Ashley Fillmore's Journey: From Struggles to Solutions
• 10:13 The Importance of Individualized Nutrition Plans
• 15:06 Mindset Shifts: Overcoming Food Guilt and Diet Culture
• 19:59 Navigating Stress Eating and Evening Cravings
• 25:03 Addressing Metabolic Damage and Hormonal Changes
• 29:55 Proactive Strategies for Hormonal Health
• 35:03 The Metabolic Fix Program and Its Benefits
• 39:52 Conclusion and Resources for Further Support

• Website: metabolicfix.purfitstudio.com/one
• Instagram: @ashley_fillmore1
• Freebie - Phase Assessment Quiz: metabolicfix.purfitstudio.com/phase-quiz
• Freebie - Hormone Assessment & Guide: metabolicfix.purfitstudio.com/hormone-quiz

Have you struggled with hormonal weight gain or cravings? Share your experience in the comments below!

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes.

Are you struggling with a mystery illness or looking for ways to tap into your body's own healing power? 🌿💪

In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Pashko—author, functional nutritionist, and chronic illness coach with 20+ years of experience. Danielle went from thriving in her career to being bedridden with chronic Lyme disease—but she found her way back to health through the martial arts of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Kung Fu. Now, she's on a mission to make these powerful practices cool again—and trust me, she’s onto something!

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why nervous system balance is KEY in healing chronic illness
✔️ How martial arts retrain your nervous system for resilience
✔️ The surprising link between Lyme, EBV, and long-haul Covid
✔️ How Qi Gong & Tai Chi regulate the nervous system (and boost energy!)
✔️ Kung Fu secrets that helped Danielle heal her nervous system
✔️ A breathing trick to eliminate fatigue instantly
✔️ How Kung Fu was created by a woman—for women (badass alert 🚀)

💡 Ready to reclaim your health from the inside out?
We dive into 5 Element Qi Gong, the basics of Wing Chun, and why Tai Chi isn’t just for elderly folks—it’s a powerful form of self-defense.

📌 Resources from the Show:
👉 Wing Chun - Siu Nim Tao - Danielle's example of the first form HERE
👉 Soulhakker - https://soulhakker.com/
👉 Instagram: @thesoulhakker

🎧 Listen now and discover the ancient wisdom your body has been craving!