The Reality of Herbal Therapy

In this second part of a two-episode conversation, host Jim Applegate and Lynn continue their discussion with Mike Berkley, a board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist in New York City who specializes in helping infertile couples achieve pregnancy. If you missed part one, they recommend listening first for the acupuncture and testing context; this episode focuses on herbal medicine and how it complements acupuncture. Mike explains the inside-out/ outside-in analogy—acupuncture stimulates local blood flow from the outside in, while herbs act from the inside out—and argues that herbs are a more powerful and sophisticated modality that often need to be prescribed as individualized formulas. He walks through real clinical examples: a male patient with a left-sided varicocele (diagnosed in Chinese terms as heat trapped in the liver channel with heart-blood and spleen-qi deficiency), and several female scenarios including endometriosis, PCOS (and the role of sex hormone binding globulin), thin uterine lining, irregular or scant periods, and low ovarian reserve concerns. For each, Mike describes treatment principles—clearing heat, tonifying spleen, nourishing blood, improving blood flow, and supporting follicular quality—and how herbs can influence inflammation, hormones, digestion, and menstrual patterns. The episode also covers practical and safety issues: why individualized, written formulas matter (rather than one-size-fits-all patent pills), how pharmacies can prepare decoctions or granules, the importance of geographic proximity and follow-up (including a cautionary story of dehydration and hospitalization when a remote patient took a strong herbal prescription without supervision), and why integrative care is best—refer for testing, consider Western treatments like GLP-1 for weight loss when appropriate, and combine modalities when indicated. Key takeaways: herbs can be potent and clinically effective for many fertility-related problems, but they must be customized to the whole patient; acupuncture and herbs are synergistic; board-certified, experienced herbalists who write bespoke formulas are essential; and integrating Western diagnostics and treatments alongside Chinese medicine yields the best outcomes. The hosts close by thanking Mike Berkley and encouraging listeners to share the episodes with anyone struggling to conceive.

On this episode of the Reality of Herbal Therapy podcast with Jim Applegate, host Jim and Lynn speak with Mike Berkley, a New York City–based licensed and board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist who has specialized in fertility care for nearly three decades. Mike introduces his practice philosophy: a strict focus on helping people have children using acupuncture and herbal medicine while collaborating with Western reproductive specialists when needed. The conversation covers common fertility challenges and how functional and integrative approaches can help. Mike explains female reproductive aging and follicle dynamics, male factors such as sperm DNA fragmentation, and why standard semen analyses may miss key problems. He stresses the importance of testing and treating both partners, and of committing to treatment timelines (typically three months) to affect egg and sperm development. Listeners will learn how acupuncture may improve mitochondrial function and egg/sperm quality by increasing local blood flow through mechanisms like nitric oxide release, and how targeted needling can direct nutrients, hormones, and oxygen to the ovaries, testicles, and endometrium. Mike also discusses endometriosis as a pro-inflammatory condition that can impair implantation, how reproductive immunology can block pregnancy, and when Western interventions (for example, Lupron or immunomodulatory therapy) should be used alongside Chinese medicine. Practical themes include case examples, the limits of single-modality thinking, the need for thorough diagnostic workups (hysterosalpingogram, sperm DNA fragmentation, reproductive immunophenotyping), and realistic expectations—no practitioner can guarantee outcomes. The hosts tease a follow-up episode focused on herbs: why Mike considers them a powerful tool, how to distinguish an experienced herbalist from a dabbler, and stories about Dr. James’s herbal approach. This episode is for anyone exploring integrative fertility options and wanting a clearer picture of how acupuncture, herbs, and Western reproductive medicine can be combined to improve chances of conception.

On this episode of the Reality of Herbal Therapy with Jim Applegate, the hosts pick up from last week’s conversation with Cherie Calbom and dig into a surprisingly common source of hidden seed oils: dietary supplements. They trace how industrial seed oils became ubiquitous, explain why those processing methods matter for health, and introduce the difference between seed oils and fruit oils like olive, avocado, and coconut. The episode covers the science behind fat-soluble vitamins and why the carrier oil matters for absorption. Listeners will learn why vitamin D must be delivered with a fat, how the body produces vitamin D from sun exposure, and why D3 (calciferol) is the preferred, bioavailable form. The hosts describe product details of their own formula — a 5,000 IU D3 softgel carried in extra virgin olive oil — and why they chose that formulation over the seed-oil alternatives. Key practical advice includes how to read supplement labels to find the carrier oil listed under "other ingredients," which oils to prefer (extra virgin olive, avocado, coconut), and which to avoid (sunflower, safflower, canola/rapeseed and other heavily processed seed oils). The show also highlights shelf-life considerations: the risk of rancid oils, the importance of dark sealed bottles, cool storage, and checking expiration dates. Listeners will also hear dosing guidance and real-life uses from the hosts' experience — daily maintenance dosing versus short-term higher doses to boost immunity during seasonal transitions — plus tips on administration formats (softgels vs. powders) and why powders often require dietary fat to be effective. The episode references prior guest Cherie Calbom and the teachings of Dr. James as important influences on these recommendations, and it weaves practical pantry-check tips with herbal-therapy context so you can make informed choices about the supplements on your shelf. Expect clear, actionable takeaways: how to identify hidden seed oils in supplements and foods, why the type and freshness of the carrier oil matters for vitamin D effectiveness, and what to look for when choosing a high-quality D3 product for everyday support.

In this episode Jim and Lynn Applegate sits down with Cherie Calbom — the internationally known "Juice Lady," MS in nutrition, author of 36 books (including the global bestseller Juicing for Life) and the new exposé The Truth About Seed Oils — to unpack why seed oils became so popular, how they affect our health, and what practical changes you can make today. Topics covered include the history of seed oils (their wartime origins and rebranding as "vegetable oils"), the science linking seed oils to inflammation and oxidative damage (aldehydes, lipid peroxides), connections to heart disease, migraines, fatty liver and rising childhood health issues, and how decades of marketing reshaped American diets. Cherie, Lynn and Jim give clear, actionable guidance: which fats to embrace (olive, avocado, coconut, ghee, grass‑fed butter and tallow), which to avoid (canola, soybean, corn, safflower, sunflower, grapeseed, rice bran, peanut and other industrial seed oils), why smoke point and processing matter, and how good fats support cell membranes, brain health, and calm the nervous system. The episode is rich with practical tips — label‑reading strategies, the Seed Oil Scout app and resources at juiceladyinfo.com and thetruthaboutseedoils.com, restaurant and grocery swaps, easy ways to sneak healthy fats into kids' diets (freezer coconut treats, cacao‑avocado pudding), and recipe ideas pulled from Cherie's book and her 50 real‑food recipes and 21‑day meal plan. Cherie also shares personal healing stories — from a life‑changing juice cleanse to dramatic improvements after removing seed oils — and explains why change matters now: our bodies continually renew themselves, so cleaner fats and fewer processed foods can produce measurable health gains. Resources and next steps mentioned include Cherie's book The Truth About Seed Oils, free downloads and meal plans at her site, the Seed Oil Scout scanner, and an upcoming wellness retreat (no seed oils, organic meals, juicing and cooking classes) in Carefree, Arizona. Expect science, history, recipes, shopping hacks, and inspiring stories to help you reduce seed oils and reclaim vitality.

Join host Jim Applegate on the Reality of Herbal Therapy podcast as he explores why antacids often only mask heartburn and what to do about the underlying causes. Drawing on the teachings of Dr. James (and his work with Veronica), this episode explains how stomach pH and digestion really work, why low stomach acid can mimic "too much" acid, and how conventional antacids can make the problem worse over time. Topics covered include stomach acidity and the pH scale, the role of liver function and bile in digestion, common dietary triggers (especially refined "white" carbohydrates), and lifestyle factors like eating late or lying down after meals. Jim breaks down Dr. James' food-combining system into three simple groups—concentrated proteins, concentrated starches, and neutral foods—and gives practical rules (eat veggies first, separate proteins from starches, and give fruit 15–20 minutes alone) to reduce fermentation, bloating, and heartburn. The episode also reviews herbal and supplemental supports recommended in the clinic: Zime for supporting digestion (including a tip to open the capsule into hot water if nausea is severe), Col Cer  to soothe and rebuild the stomach lining, and Liv Clean to support healthy bile flow and liver function. Jim shares a simple tea-honey recipe (apple cider vinegar and honey concentrate diluted in water) as a soothing drink before or during meals, plus guidance on short-term use of formulas and a month-long approach for rebuilding digestion. Key takeaways: heartburn is a messenger, not the root problem—address digestion, liver health, and food combinations rather than simply neutralizing acid. Try food combining and supportive herbs like Zime and Col Cer if you suffer frequent indigestion, but seek professional medical evaluation if symptoms are severe, getting worse, or accompanied by difficulty swallowing or chest pressure.