Dr. Manna Semby is a naturopathic and functional medicine doctor and Menopause Society certified practitioner. She specializes in midlife transformation through hormone optimization, brain health, and systems biology. She is the founder of Aruna Personalized Medicine and creator of the Aruna method, a multimodal model designed to help high achieving women reclaim energy, clarity and resilience during life's most pivotal transition. A ReCODE 2.0 certified practitioner and recent TEDx speaker, Dr. Semby brings together science, wisdom and strategy to help her patients not just feel better, but step fully into the next chapter of their lives as clear, confident leaders.

In this episode of Conversations for Health, we dive into all things peri and post menopause, including brain health, bone health, heart health, and some of the issues that aren’t getting enough attention when it comes to supporting women during this exceptional transition. Dr. Semby offers resources for oncology hormone guidelines, highlights situations when hormones are not safe while treating breast cancer, and shares the optimal timing for introducing bioidentical hormones. Dr. Semby’s insights are filled with information for practitioners and patients alike, and offer actionable encouragement for supporting women through one of life’s greatest changes.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Manna Semby: https://arunamed.com/about/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

The Designs for Health Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

01:55 Dr. Manna Semby is lit up about finally writing her first book.

02:45 A journey from finance to naturopathic and functional medicine in her 40s.

05:45 Dr. Semby’s experiences led her to practicing in brain health and midlife women’s health.

12:58 Situations when hormones are not safe while treating breast cancer.

16:55 Resources for oncology hormone guidelines.

19:33 A brief history of the timing of prescribing hormones.

24:45 Partnering with organizations in your community to share information.

25:40 Optimal timing for introducing bioidentical hormones.

32:27 Latest research findings about ending hormone treatments.

39:05 The relationship between hot flashes and brain health.

43:15 Educating women about heart disease and cardiovascular health.

47:11 Financial considerations in bioidentical hormone treatments.

49:44 The natural progression or medicalization of menopause.

54:11 Bone health and bone loss in perimenopause.

57:00 Supplement recommendations for perimenopause and menopause.

1:02:32 Dr. Semby’s personal favorite supplement, favorite health practices, and changed view of doctors and hormones.

Kalea Wattles, ND, IFMCP, is a naturopathic physician and functional medicine practitioner specializing in fertility optimization. Currently serving as the Clinical Special Projects Manager at The Institute for Functional Medicine, where she has been on staff since 2017, she is committed to the advancement of the field through research and education. She is the host of IFM’s podcast Pathways to Well-Being. Dr. Wattles earned her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University, where she developed a keen interest in functional medicine. She went on to receive additional training from The Institute for Functional Medicine, where she further honed her skills in a root-cause, science-based, body-systems approach to healthcare.

In this episode of Conversations For Health, we explore how Dr. Kalea applies a functional medicine lens to fertility, highlighting the clinical relevance of mitochondrial health, oxidative stress, inflammaging, and more when it comes to female and male fertility. We discuss the narrative of the fertility cliff, how to assess diminished ovarian reserve even in patients in their 20s, and how to interpret AMH values in context. Our conversation is filled with actionable insights into preconception care protocols, fertility focus, lab interpretation, and how to personalize support for patients preparing for IVF or egg freezing.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Kalea Wattles - https://drkaleawattles.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

The Designs for Health Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

02:02 Dr. Kalea is delighted about the current headlines about fertility into the 40s.

03:40 Dr. Kalea’s journey into motherhood aligned with her professional focus.

06:50 AMH is the top trending biomarker in ovarian reserve.

11:41 Markers to consider in relation to oxidative stress and inflammation.

16:02 Top tier oxidative stress markers, including 8-OHdG and F2-IsoP.

18:54 The importance of mitochondrial health in ovarian health, egg quality and sperm.

23:50 DNA fragmentation and other potential findings from a semen analysis.

27:00 Shifts in the fertility conversation in recent years.

31:01 CoQ10 and melatonin recommendations that Dr. Kalea implements with her patients.

37:09 The role of glutathione in protecting against oxidative stress.

39:50 Dr. Kalea’s personal experience with ovarian age testing.

43:05 Cycle Day 3 hormone measurements, including DHEA sulfate and prolactin.

49:32 Diet, environment, and other major factors in diminished ovarian reserve.

53:01 Redefining unexplained infertility.

55:06 Androgens and the impacts on eggs.

57:11 Ideal DHEA and testosterone levels.

1:00:05 The vaginal microbiome, gut health, and urea plasma.

1:03:10 Dr. Kalea’s favorite personal supplements, favorite health practices, and the maternal fertility limits that she has changed her mind about.

Dr. Keith McCormick is a board certified chiropractic physician, athlete, founder of OsteoNaturals, and author of Great Bones: Taking Control of Your Osteoporosis, which delves deeper into the science of osteoporosis, providing both patients and healthcare professionals with the latest insights and strategies for achieving optimal bone health. He takes a functional and integrative approach to bone health when treating patients.

On this episode of Conversations for Health, Dr. McCormick and I discuss bone density, bone quality, lab tests, scans and markers, medicines, exercise and dietary recommendations for optimal bone health. He highlights power foods and tocotrienol dosing, the connection between the endothelial glycocalyx and bone health, warnings for Vitamin K recommendations for patients on blood thinners, the value of DEXA scans and lab marker recommendations. Whether you are treating patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis or simply looking to expand your protocols and learn more, this conversation is filled with clinical pearls about optimizing bone health.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Keith McCormick - https://www.osteonaturals.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

The Designs for Health Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

01:47 Dr. McCormick views the skeletal system as the core of our entire existence.

3:09 12 fractured bones led Dr. McCormick to study osteoporosis.

5:29 Dr. McCormick’s definition of osteoporosis.

10:04 Lab tests, scans and markers that accurately asses bone quality.

15:01 Is a combination of medications, nutrition and strength training enough to improve bone quality?

17:48 The role of AI in standardizing bone quality testing.

19:00 Risks and benefits of medications used to treat osteoporosis and osteopenia.

24:48 Diet recommendations for optimal bone health.

28:00 The importance of vitamin K in bone health.

31:10 Power foods and tocotrienol dosing for bone health.

40:07 The connection between the endothelial glycocalyx and bone health.

42:05 Vitamin K recommendations for patients on blood thinners.

42:50 DEXA rescan and lab marker recommendations.

45:42 The exercise component of bone health.

47:40 The role of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy within bone health.

52:29 Additional nutrients for optimal bone health.

53:21 Dr. McCormick’s favorite supplements, favorite health practices, and the idea about doctors that he wishes he could change his mind about.