The Trip Lab

#38 – The Mysteries of Women’s Health: We notice. Then science catches up (sometimes).

What happens between the moment women notice something and the moment medicine decides it is real? In June 2026, women all over the internet started asking the same question: what happened to our periods? That strange collective conversation sent me down a much bigger rabbit hole into menstrual cycles, the moon, women’s intuition, midwives and witches, unexplained infertility, and the long history of women noticing things before science had an answer for them. In this episode, we explore: The menstrual mystery of June 2026 and what heat, light, seasonality, and even solar activity might (or might not) have had to do with it How observation becomes scientific evidence Why women’s bodies are rhythmic, even though medicine often studies them as static Whether women’s periods really sync Menstrual cycles and the moon How menstruation went from sacred and powerful to impure, pathological, and something women were expected to hide Midwives, women healers, herbal medicine, ergot, LSD, and the ancient roots hiding inside modern medicine What science can tell us about women’s intuition, interoception, pregnancy, and maternal knowing (and what it still can’t) How the witch became a symbol of dangerous female knowledge, and why she still matters Unexplained infertility and the important difference between there is no explanation and we haven’t found the explanation yet The full episode transcript, citations and companion guide is available on Substack. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#37 – Do Psychedelics Leave Biological Fingerprints? How Psychedelics Influence Stress Physiology, Immunity, and Longevity Pathways

Can a psychedelic experience leave measurable traces in the body long after the trip is over? In this episode, we explore emerging research on how psychedelics may influence: • DNA methylation and epigenetic signaling • The immune system, inflammation, and cytokines • The HPA axis, cortisol, and stress physiology • Neuroplasticity and lasting changes in brain connectivity • Cellular senescence, telomeres, oxidative stress, and longevity pathways • The bigger case for rethinking the mind-body divide Psychedelic science may be revealing something much larger than a drug effect: how experience itself becomes biology. The companion guide, full episode transcript and all studies and sources cited, is available on Substack. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#36 – Can You Prevent Preeclampsia? A Deep Dive into Root Causes and Prevention Beyond Aspirin

Can you prevent preeclampsia? In this deep dive, we look at the root causes, proposed mechanisms, and holistic support strategies for one of the most serious complications of pregnancy. We are learning more about what may contribute to preeclampsia, including placental development, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endothelial health, genetics, nutrient status, paternal factors, the microbiome, environmental toxins, and long-term cardiovascular risk. Aspirin is one of the most recommended prevention tools, and in this episode we get into why it is used, what it actually does, and where its benefits seem strongest. But it turns out, there may be a lot more to the prevention conversation. In this episode, we cover: What preeclampsia is and how it is diagnosed The two-stage model of preeclampsia: abnormal placental development and maternal vascular dysfunction Oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, platelet activation, and endothelial health Genetic factors: MTHFR, homocysteine, methylation issues Epigenetics: how lifestyle may influence gene expression in pregnancy Environmental toxins, including BPA, phthalates, PFAS, heavy metals, air pollution, and placental health The paternal factor: semen exposure, paternal antigens, sperm health, obesity, and immune tolerance Gut, vaginal, oral, and urinary microbiome research COVID infection, COVID vaccination data, and preeclampsia risk Why preeclampsia is linked to future cardiovascular disease What the evidence actually says about baby aspirin Supplements that may help with prevention: Calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, lycopene, omega-3s, CoQ10, NAC, and more Nutrition: the DASH diet, Mediterranean diet, fiber, probiotics, and food-first nutrition strategies Exercise in pregnancy and what we know about hypertensive disorders Sleep, obstructive sleep apnea, and preeclampsia risk Mind-body medicine, stress physiology, mindfulness, yoga, acupuncture, and blood pressure regulation How to think about prevention without fear, blame, or over-supplementing The full episode transcript with citations for all studies mentioned can be found at: drmaryellawood.com For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript
• Chapters

#35 – The Skin-Gut-Hormone Connection: Acne, Hair Loss, Pregnancy Skincare & Ayurveda with Integrative Dermatologist Dr. Asmi Berry

In this episode I’m joined by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Asmi Berry for a deep dive into integrative dermatology, acne, hair loss, pregnancy skincare, postpartum hair loss, anti-aging skincare, Ayurveda, hormones, nutrition, supplements, and the gut-skin axis. In addition to being a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Berry has advanced training in integrative dermatology and Ayurvedic culinary medicine. In this episode, we discuss: Integrative dermatology and whole-person skin health (including nutrition, supplements, conventional treatments and more) Acne, hormones and the gut-skin axis Hair loss, including postpartum hair loss Pregnancy skincare and pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients Anti-aging skincare and skin longevity Inflammatory skin conditions Ayurveda, including a dive into doshas and how they relate to skin health How conventional dermatology and holistic medicine can work together Learn more about Dr. Asmi Berry: Website: https://www.drasmiberry.com/ Clinic: https://bhskin.com/about-us/asmi-berry/ Instagram: @drasmiberry YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@drasmiberry For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#34 – Detox in a Toxic World, Part 5: Digital Detox and the New Age of Toxins

In Part 5 of Detox in a Toxic World, we explore digital detox and the new age of toxins. From screens, social media, and overstimulation to light pollution, red light therapy, EMFs, grounding, and nature therapy, this episode looks at how modern life may be shaping the nervous system, sleep, circadian rhythm, inflammation, and overall health. This is a grounded, evidence-based look at what the research does and does not show, along with practical ways to reduce digital burden and support a more regulated, resilient body in a world that is not just chemically toxic, but cognitively and energetically overwhelming. Companion Guide: drmaryellawood.com/guides For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#33 – Detox in a Toxic World, Part 4: An Evidence-Based Look at Detox Supplements and Protocols

In Part 4 of Detox in a Toxic World, we take an evidence-based look at detox supplements, cleanses, binders, protocols, and some of the most common products being sold in the name of detox. From milk thistle, NAC, glutathione, and sulforaphane to activated charcoal, clay binders, detox teas, colon cleanses, and coffee enemas, this episode breaks down what may actually be supportive, what has limited evidence, and what may be harmful. We also talk about how to think more clearly about “detox supplements” versus supplements that support the body’s natural detox pathways, why dramatic reactions are often mistaken for healing, and how to stay grounded in physiology rather than marketing. Companion Guide: drmaryellawood.com/guides For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#32 – Detox in a Toxic World, Part 3: Supporting the Body’s Natural Detox Mechanisms

In Part 3 of Detox in a Toxic World, we take a closer look at what “detox” actually means and how the body is already doing it every single day. This episode breaks down the body’s major detox and elimination pathways, including the liver, gut, kidneys, lungs, skin, lymphatic system, and glymphatic system, and explains how these beautifully coordinated processes help clear hormones, waste products, and environmental compounds. We also walk through practical, evidence-based ways to support these natural detox mechanisms, including nutrition, hydration, movement, sweating, lymphatic support, sleep, mind-body medicine, and time in nature. Companion Guide: drmaryellawood.com/guides For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#31 – Detox in a Toxic World, Part 2: Reducing Exposures at Home and the Home as a Health Ecosystem

In Part 2 of Detox in a Toxic World, we move from understanding the problem to actually doing something about it. This episode is all about reducing exposures to toxins, starting in the place where many of us have the most control: the home. We explore the idea of the home as a health ecosystem and walk through practical ways to lower your total toxic burden without falling into fear, perfectionism, or overwhelm. We cover simple low-cost first steps, food storage and cooking tools, pantry and food choices, air quality, mold and moisture, water filtration, cleaning products, personal care products, and even the role of furniture, textiles, and clothing in shaping everyday exposure. This episode is designed to help you think more clearly about what matters most, where to start, and how small changes in the home can add up over time. Companion Guide: drmaryellawood.com/guides For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#30 – Detox in a Toxic World, Part 1: Understanding Environmental Toxins and Their Impact on Health

Today we’re kicking off a new series, Detox in a Toxic World, with a deep dive into environmental toxins and their impact on health. In this episode, we break down what environmental toxins actually are, how they affect the body, and why this topic is both real and often wildly misunderstood. We walk through the major categories of toxins in modern life, including microplastics, pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals, food additives, and synthetic dyes, and explain the key mechanisms through which they may drive inflammation, oxidative stress, hormone disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction, and more. We also explore one of the biggest questions in this space: why do some people seem to tolerate environmental exposures just fine, while others develop chronic symptoms and disease? This episode is here to give you a more balanced, evidence-based, and deeper look at a topic that is too often led by fear, oversimplification, and misinformation, so you can better understand what matters, what may not, and how to think about your health more clearly. Companion Guide: drmaryellawood.com/guides For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#29 – The Integrative Roots of Longevity Medicine

Longevity medicine is one of the most exciting frontiers in modern healthcare. With new technology, more advanced biomarker testing, deeper aging research, and emerging interventions that aim to help us better understand and potentially shape the biology of aging, the field is opening up an entirely new level of conversation about healthspan, vitality, and the future of medicine. Today, we dive deeper into the roots of longevity medicine and why, in many ways, those roots have long existed within integrative medicine. We explore how the science of aging is evolving, why the most evidence-based longevity interventions still bring us back to foundational principles, and how older healing systems were thinking about vitality and healthy aging long before the modern longevity movement had a name for it. In this episode, we cover: why longevity is having such a major moment what longevity medicine actually is the future-facing power of the fundamentals: nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and connection functional medicine as a longevity framework the wisdom of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine what this means for the future of medicine what you can start focusing on today to support your vitality and healthspan Website: drmaryellawood.com Instagram: @drmaryella For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#28 – Women’s Health Beyond Hormones: The Missing Model

Women’s health is often approached through a hormonal lens, but hormones are only one part of the story. In this episode, we explore a broader framework for women’s health that includes the neuro-endocrine system, inflammation, metabolism, the gut, autoimmunity, and the mind-body connection. We talk about PMDD, perimenopause, PCOS, endometriosis, IBS, autoimmune disease and why so many conditions that affect women are better understood through a more expansive, systems-based model. We also touch on rhythm, intuition, and the cyclical nature of the female body, and why the future of women’s health may depend on a framework that can hold all of that complexity. drmaryellawood.com For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#27 – Psychedelics Without the Psychedelics. What These Ancient Teachers Are Telling Us

The modern psychedelic renaissance is teaching us something important, not just about psychedelic substances, but about how healing actually happens. Beyond the molecules, psychedelic science is revealing the conditions under which the human nervous system becomes capable of change. This episode explores the idea that psychedelics have long functioned as teachers, not only through ingestion, but by showing us how context, meaning, and state shape healing. By looking across history, neuroscience, and clinical research, we ask what psychedelic wisdom offers people who may never use a psychedelic drug at all. In this episode, we cover: Psychedelics as ancient teachers through indigenous and ceremonial traditions What modern neuroscience reveals about neuroplasticity, psychological flexibility, and meaning-making Why preparation, set, setting, and integration matter as much as pharmacology in therapeutic outcomes Non-drug pathways that open windows of change, including meditation, mindfulness, nature exposure, and dream states Exploratory experiences that can feel truly psychedelic, such as breathwork, ritual, childbirth, and near-death experiences How the psychedelic movement serves as a mirror for modern medicine and challenges intervention-based models of healing For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript

#26 – What Psychedelics Ask of Those Who Lead

Psychedelic medicine is moving fast. Faster than regulation. Faster than standardization. And in many ways, faster than the data itself. In this episode, we explore what psychedelics are teaching us about practicing medicine under uncertainty. From the rapid rise of training programs and self-identified experts, to the tension between lived experience, emerging science, and clinical responsibility, this conversation looks beyond hype or skepticism. Drawing on psychedelic research, integrative medicine, and historical parallels like psychotherapy, biofeedback, and hormone therapy, this episode asks a deeper question: how do we determine expertise in an emerging field? And what does responsible leadership look like when certainty would be premature? This is an invitation to steward a powerful field with humility, honesty, and care. Psychedelics are teachers, let’s let them teach us. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

#25 – We Oversimplified Psychedelics. The Brain Is Doing Something More Interesting (DMN Modulation, Network Dynamics, and the Brain–Body Connection)

Our understanding of how psychedelics work has evolved in meaningful ways over the past several years. While earlier neuroscience frameworks helped move the field forward, newer research has added important nuance and depth to how we interpret brain imaging, network behavior, and subjective experience. In this episode of The Trip Lab, I offer a refresh on psychedelic neuroscience, focusing on key updates from the past four years and how they change the story we tell about what’s happening in the brain and the body during psychedelic states. We explore: How the Default Mode Network is better understood as dynamically modulated rather than simply reduced Why psychedelic brain states are best described as time-varying and network-based rather than static How neural entropy is now understood as increased flexibility through relaxed constraints Why brain, body, and context are inseparable in shaping psychedelic experiences and outcomes This episode is designed to update earlier explanations, clarify what has changed, and highlight why the newer neuroscience offers a more accurate and more interesting framework for understanding psychedelic effects. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

#24 – Microdosing Psychedelics: Evidence Updates, the Placebo Response, and the Neuroscience Behind Why It May (or May Not) Work

Microdosing has gone mainstream and is often described as a tool for creativity, mood, productivity, and emotional healing. But what does the science actually say? In this episode of The Trip Lab, I take an evidence-based look at microdosing psychedelics. We explore what microdosing is, how it differs from full-dose psychedelic therapy, and the proposed neurobiological mechanisms that have been suggested in the literature. I review what current clinical trials and placebo-controlled studies are showing so far, and where the data remains limited or inconclusive. A central focus of this episode is the placebo response. Rather than treating placebo as “fake” or irrelevant, I explain how expectancy, meaning, belief, and context produce real, measurable changes in the brain and body. We discuss why placebo responses are especially strong in interventions involving consciousness, perception, and mental health, and how this helps explain why many people genuinely feel better with microdosing even when objective outcomes are mixed. This episode separates enthusiasm from evidence, explores where microdosing may be helpful, where claims get overstretched, and what questions researchers are actively trying to answer next. If you’re curious about microdosing and want a grounded, medically informed perspective that respects both science and lived experience, this conversation is for you. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

#23 – Functional Medicine Testing: When it’s helpful, limitations, and the truth about test validation

Functional medicine testing is everywhere. It is often marketed as “test, don’t guess,” and just as often dismissed as invalidated or unscientific. So what is the truth? In this episode of The Trip Lab, we take a deep dive into what functional medicine testing actually is, how it differs from traditional laboratory testing, and what clinicians really mean when they say these tests are not “validated.” We explore why some advanced tests can be genuinely helpful when used thoughtfully, where their limitations lie, and why more testing does not always lead to better care. We walk through several commonly used functional medicine tests that I actually do use in my practice, including DUTCH, GI-MAP, and Organic Acids Testing (OAT), breaking down what each test measures, when it can add value, and … when it might not be helpful as well. We also discuss why I typically don’t recommend mold or environmental toxin testing, and why exposure history and foundational interventions often matter more than identifying a specific toxin. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

#22 – Is Modern Medicine Still Evidence-Based? Reclaiming Evidence, Restoring Clinical Wisdom

Is modern medicine still evidence-based, or have we quietly mistaken rigor for certainty? Evidence-based medicine is essential. It’s why we save lives, advance care, and trust modern healthcare. But as medicine has become more specialized and disease more complex, something subtle has happened. Rigor has increasingly turned into reductionism, and evidence is often applied in ways that don’t fully match the realities of clinical practice or patients’ lived experiences. In this episode of The Trip Lab, I take a careful look at what we mean when we say “evidence-based medicine.” We explore the difference between statistical significance and clinical significance, how guidelines are created and why they are evidence-informed rather than infallible, and why many patients feel unwell despite having “normal” labs. This conversation also examines how modern research methods struggle to capture complexity, particularly in chronic, system-level disease. We look at where reductionism has helped medicine advance, where it now falls short, and why ancient healing systems and emerging fields like systems biology, functional medicine, and precision medicine are pointing us toward a more integrated future. This episode is not a rejection of evidence. It’s an invitation to reclaim it. To restore clinical wisdom alongside data, and to practice medicine with both rigor and curiosity. In this episode, we cover: What “evidence-based medicine” actually means and how it’s evolved Statistical significance vs. clinical significance The strengths and limitations of medical guidelines Why reductionist models don’t fully explain chronic disease Why patients can feel unwell even when labs are “normal” How medicine might evolve to better study complexity Why medicine is both a science and an art The podcast name, The Trip Lab, nods to psychedelics, but a “trip,” psychedelic or otherwise, is ultimately an exploration. A willingness to step outside familiar frameworks, question what we think we know, and notice connections that weren’t obvious before. If you’ve ever felt tension between what the data says, what the guidelines allow, and what the patient in front of you actually needs... or if you are a patient who has been failed by modern medicine, this episode is for you. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

• Transcript
• Chapters

#21 – Psychedelics & Mystical Experiences: Why Medicine Is Uncomfortable Talking About Them

Why do psychedelic experiences so often feel spiritual, sacred, or life-changing? Why are mystical-type experiences so closely linked to lasting therapeutic benefit? And why does medicine struggle to talk about them at all? In this episode, we explore the neuroscience and psychology behind mystical experiences in psychedelics. We examine how shifts in brain networks involved in meaning, identity, and self-referential thinking can give rise to experiences of unity, insight, and transcendence, and why these subjective moments may matter more than the drug itself. A grounded exploration of what psychedelic science is revealing about meaning, consciousness, and healing. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

#20 – NAD, Longevity, and the Line Between Promise and Proof

NAD has become one of the most talked-about molecules in longevity medicine—showing up in supplements, IV clinics, lab testing, and bold claims about aging and healthspan. But what does the science actually show? In this episode of The Trip Lab, we take a clear, evidence-based look at NAD and use it as a lens to explore the broader field of longevity medicine. We break down what NAD does in the human body, why it’s linked to the hallmarks of aging, and why declining NAD is often a signal of cumulative cellular stress rather than a simple deficiency. We also dive into the realities of NAD testing, the limitations of blood-based biomarkers, and what clinical trials of NR and NMN supplementation have—and have not—demonstrated so far. Along the way, we unpack why longevity research is both exciting and vulnerable to overhype, and why translating aging biology into meaningful human outcomes takes time. This episode is for anyone curious about longevity medicine who wants clarity without hype—and a better framework for thinking about promise versus proof. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.

#19 – DEEP DIVE SERIES: Hyperlipidemia (Why Cholesterol and Statins Aren’t the Villains You Think They Are)

In this Deep Dive episode of The Trip Lab, we unpack hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) beyond the oversimplified “LDL bad, HDL good” narrative. We also take a clear-eyed look at the most common concerns people have about statins, what the evidence actually shows, and where these medications fit—and don’t fit—within a thoughtful, individualized approach to cardiovascular risk. From there, we explore integrative strategies for managing elevated cholesterol and why, for many patients, lifestyle, metabolic health, and inflammation-targeted interventions may be more effective than medications alone. In this episode, we discuss: Why cholesterol is biologically essential and not inherently pathological The limitations of relying on LDL alone to assess cardiovascular risk How inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, hormones, and lifestyle influence lipid metabolism When elevated cholesterol truly signals disease—and when it may reflect a compensatory or adaptive response The role of advanced markers such as ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP and CAC scores Why risk stratification—not fear-based medicine—should guide clinical decision-making What statins can (and cannot do) and we break down the concerns people have with them Why integrative approaches (nutrition, exercise, herbal options and mind-body medicine) truly treat the root cause of disease This episode is for clinicians, patients, and anyone looking to move beyond simplistic cholesterol narratives toward a more nuanced, evidence-based understanding of cardiovascular health. For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.