Occupy Health

Susan Downs, MD
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Occupy Health provides leading edge health information to allow you to take proactive steps towards optimal health. We help you look under the hood to find the underlying contributing causes to illness. We also interview health and functional medicine experts to provide answers to questions and to arm you with questions for your health provider. Tune in to Occupy Health, broadcasting every Friday at 11 AM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel.

  1. 5d ago

    A Funeral Director's Observations with John O'Looney

    John Discusses his observations in the deceased, and how this has changed over the last decade.

  2. Aug 7

    Do parasites contribute to cancer? with Lee Merritt, MD

    Some people propose that parasites underly many chronic diseases.  Of course, underlying infections, viruses, and parasites must be addressed in moving towards optimal health.  Early stage covid was successfully treated with the anti parasitic medications ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine However, there are some that are finding some success in treating cancer with anti parasitic medications.   bio Dr. Lee Merritt began her career in medicine at age 4 when she carried her father's black bag along the back roads of Iowa. She graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1980, and was awarded lifetime membership in the Alpha-Omega-Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Merritt completed an Orthopedic Residency and Fellowship in Spinal Surgery and served 11 years as a physician and surgeon in the United States Navy. She is past president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, served on the Board of the Arizona Medical Society and on the Navy Research Advisory Committee--a subcommittee of Congress. During 40 plus years in medicine Dr. Merritt has been an advocate for private practice, cash pay, patient centered medicine. She appeared on the John Stossel show to argue against Obamacare, and now is working to restore scientific integrity and Hippocratic ethics to the profession of Medicine.  She is the author of the upcoming book Escaping the Medical Matrix, which shares groundbreaking research on Dr. William Russell's "characteristic organism of cancer," how "Russell bodies" replaced the parasite explanation in textbooks, and why parasites + terrain (sugar, vaccines, toxins) may explain what we call cancer today.   website  www.themedicalrebel.com   rumble channel   the medical rebel

  3. Jul 31

    Tips for dealing with cancer with Professor Robert Thomas, MD

    Has the war on cancer been successful?  What can we do to decrease our risks for getting cancer?  What can we do to increase our prognosis once the cancer diagnosis is given.    What can we do to feel we have some efficacy or input into what happens to us in the future.  The WHO and crUK predicted that 42% of cancers are lifestyle related.   Within that 40% are caused by obesity.   Reducing inflammation and oxidative can improve most health outcomes including cancer.   Phytochemicals, stress reduction, good gut health, moderate exercise, good sleep and vitamin D should help cancer prevention and prognoses.  Are there cases where this does not apply?   For example, some say antioxidants interfere with chemotherapy.   the antioxidants from vitamin A and vitamin E may make outcomes worse?   Also previously held warnings  about turmeric/ curcumin and whole soy foods for breast cancer may not be supported in the research.  This does not necessarily hold for soy infused supplements   Omega threes have effect in women not men?  (could this be due to the addition of vitamin E to some omega thre preparations?   Did you know that some studies show the popular supplement sal palmetto has no benefit or can promote cancers?     Bio Professor Robert Thomas, MD is a NHS Consultant Oncologist and clinical teacher at two Cambridge University linked Hospitals in the UK, treating patients with breast and prostate cancer using chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone and biological therapies. He's is also a health journalist for National World News, a Professor of sport and nutritional science and was recently appointed head of Integrative Oncology for The Royal London Hospital for Integrative Medicine at UCHL. He leads a UK research unit with links to Australia and California which evaluates the impact lifestyle, exercise and dietary strategies to enhance well-being, reduce side effects of treatments, improve cancer outcomes, long covid, longevity and sports performance. The unit has published over 100 national and he is currently chief investigator of the ongoing national covid vaccinenutritional intervention study. In early 2026 he published the YourPhyto studywhich found that boosting phytochemical rich foods and gut health slowed prostate cancer progression, improved urinary symptoms and erectile function. He latest trial found that the same nutritional combination improved biomarkers of longevity - grip strength and inflammation and testosterone. The results of this research and personal experience gained over the last 30 years have been summarised in his talks, his bestselling book "How to Live", his regular blog and YouTube channel.  This book thoroughly  discusses diet, and life style choices including exercise, sleep, and exposure to environmental toxins.  He also wrote a excellent comprehensive book on how to keep healthy after cancer.   For this work, he has been awarded the Royal College of Radiologist and Oncologist research medal, a Fellowship in the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and "Oncologist of the Year" by The British Oncology Association.    Youtube: ProfThomasMD Blog: Keep-healthy.com X: cancernetuk Intagram: healthnetuk/   Recent scientific papers:  The Effect of Boosting Dietary Lactobacillus and Phytochemical Rich Foods on Biomarkers of Longevity—A Phase II Randomised Placebo Controlled Trial. Thomas, R.J.; Williams, M.; Aldous, J.; Kenfield, S.A.; Newton, R.U. J. Ageing Longev. 2026, 6, 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/jal6020035    Increasing Phytochemical-rich Foods and Lactobacillus Probiotics in Men with Low-risk Prostate Cancer—A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial. R J. Thomas, S A. Kenfield, M Williams, R U. Newton, J Aldous. Euro Urology Oncology, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euo.2025.10.003    Dietary consumption of tea and the risk of prostate cancer in the Prostate, Lung,    Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. R Thomas, B Greef, A McConnachie, B Stanley and M Williams. British Journal of Nutrition (2022), 128, 653–658    A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo RCT Evaluating Concentrated Phytochemical-Rich Nutritional Capsule in Addition to a Probiotic Capsule on Clinical Outcomes among Individuals with COVID-19. Thomas, R.; Williams, M.; Aldous, Chater, A et al . COVID 2022, 2, 433-449.    Why exercise has a crucial role in cancer prevention, risk reduction and improved outcomes, R Thomas, Stacey Kenfield, Y Yanagisawa, Robert U Newton, British Medical Bulletin, 2021;, ldab019, https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldab019    A Systematic Review of the Biological Effects of Cordycepin. Radhi, M.; Ashraf, S.; Lawrence, Thomas, R. nde Moor, C.H. et al. Molecules 2021, 26, 5886.    Multiple biological mechanisms for the potential influence of phytochemicals on physical activity performance: a narrative review. R Thomas, M Williams, J Aldous and K Wyld. (2023) Nutraceuticals 3 (3), 353-65.    Precision nutrition in breast cancer: Towards patient and tumour informed dietary strategies (2026) C Crespo-García, R Thomas, R U. Newton et al Clinical Nutrition Volume 61106670

  4. Jul 24

    Health Tips with Dr. Michael Gaeta

    The US spends 20 % of its GNP on health care and has some of the worst outcomes. Over 50 % of adults and children have at least one chronic disease.   In the 1960's less than two percent had chronic diseases.   We have 4.6 % of the world's population yet use 50 % of the world's pharmaceuticals.    Just because your doctor tells you that your lab results are normal, that is no reason to cheer as these values are based on 95 % of a very sick population.   For example, statins are given out readily, but did you know a doctor has to treat 100 patients for five years to get one patient to benefit?  Did you know about the side effects of statins?  Did you know that some studies show that satins have no benefits for women? In the past there was a war on cholesterol.   Yet one half of the heart attacks occur in people who have normal cholesterol.  Cholesterol is actually protective. It is the source of our adrenal and sex hormones, for vitamin D and cell membranes and myelin the nerve protection. the LDL cholesterol particles rush to repair damage to the blood vessels lining.     Bio  Dr Michael Gaeta's purpose is to co-create a world of vital, resilient people who choose a lifestyle of "nature first, drugs last." To accomplish this, he treats patients with Chinese and functional medicine, and helps natural health professionals upgrade their patient care and practice success. His teaching is informed by 36 years of successful clinical practice.   Michael holds licenses in acupuncture, dietetics-nutrition, and massage therapy. He is also an herbalist, and a doctor of acupuncture in Rhode Island. He earned his Master of Science degree in acupuncture from the New York College of Health Professions, where he was a faculty member for ten years. He holds additional degrees in massage therapy, Asian bodywork therapy, and health sciences. Dr Gaeta is Board-Certified in Natural Functional Medicine by the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners.    Over his 33 years of teaching, Dr Gaeta has trained over 20,000 practitioners. Over 14 years, he was a faculty member at Tri-State College of Acupuncture, New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, New York Chiropractic College, Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine, and Southwest Acupuncture College. He has taught hundreds of professional continuing education seminars, and spoken at dozens of natural healthcare colleges and conferences internationally.   Michael co-founded Acupuncture for Veterans, which provided free treatments in New York City. He is past president of the Acupuncture Society of New York, earning awards for State Association and State Association President of the Year. Dr Gaeta appeared on the CBS Early Show and NBC News, and his wellness radio show (2009-2013) attracted over 100,000 subscribers. Michael is also a pianist and composer, which was his first career.   Through the accredited Gaeta Institute for Wholistic Health Education, Dr Gaeta gives live and online trainings in wholistic health, and clinical and business success for practitioners. These include the Clinician's Mastermind Circle, a one-year Board certification program in natural functional medicine, the Autoimmune Mastery Program; Cancer Support & Prevention; the Cardiovascular Mastery Program, and the Herbal Schools. Since 2020, he has hosted the Mondays with Michael weekly podcast on natural health and health freedom. Dr Gaeta is also active nationally in promoting health choice and informed consent. Courses, patient health consultations and treatment, writings and other resources at michaelgaeta.com.     Resources/ links School, clinic, podcast: https://michaelgaeta.com/   Read the first two chapters of Dr Gaeta's upcoming book, Chinese Wormwood: Ancient Herb for Today's World: https://michaelgaeta.activehosted.com/f/65   Learn from Dr Gaeta about one of the most important herbs for modern times in his course on Black Cumin Seed: https://michaelgaeta.activehosted.com/f/61   Monday Podcast: https://michaelgaeta.com/mwm/   Consultations: https://michaelgaeta.com/patients/   Home care medical device for optimal circulation: https://michaelgaeta.com/pemf/   Courses on natural health: https://michaelgaeta.com/course/

  5. Jul 17

    Obstetrical Complications during Covid with James Thorp, MD

    James Thorp is an obstetrician who attempted to alert his employer to the adverse birth outcomes he observed in women who had received the covid vaccines.  He discusses how Pfizer tried to hide preliminary adverse results for 75 years.  James (and the interviewee whose program aired on May 29, 2026) were fired after testifying in US Senate hearings.  He discusses how over 60,000 obstetricians were bribed into encouraging these shots and how they were punished if they raised questions.  His hospital received hundred of millions of dollars shortly after he was fired.  Pregnant women are the most vulnerable members of society, and previously were not subject to experimental procedures.      Bio Dr. Thorp is a Board-Certified Obstetrician Gynecologist and Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician with 46 years of obstetrical experience and continues in active clinical practice. While serving as a very busy clinician his entire career he has also been active in clinical research with 224 publications including about 30 on COVID-19. Dr. Thorp has seen large volumes of high risk pregnant women. He has served as a reviewer for major medical journals and served on the Board of Directors for the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine for three years, and as an Examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. He served in the United States Air Force as an Obstetrician Gynecologist having been awarded a Health Professions Scholarship for his medical school education. Dr. Thorp testified in the US Senate under the Bush administration in 2003 for his expertise in "treating the fetus as a patient" with in-utero therapies. On December 7th 2022, and again on May 21 2025 he testified in the U.S. Senate on the "Corruption of Science and Government Agencies". Most recently Dr. Thorp has focused his research efforts on the COVID-19 pandemic and published over 30 scientific publications. His most recent book was released February 18, 2025 and is entitled "Sacrifice. How the Deadliest Vaccine in History Targeted the Most Vulnerable". Dr. Thorp premiered in several movie documentaries including "Shot Dead" and "Died Suddenly".  He currently serves as a founding member of The Advanced Biological Research Group ABRG.org and serves as The Chief of Maternal and Prenatal Health at The Wellness Company TWC.health .

  6. Jul 10

    The Health of our Children's Brains with Tom O'Bryan DC, CCN

    In California, the most current statistics from the CDC tell us that 1 boy in 12.5 is on the autism spectrum by the age of 4.  One in 12.5 !  The national average is on child in 32.  Why is California leading the nation in this horrible statistic and what can be done.   The most biologically decisive period of human life unfolds silently in the womb.  Emerging research reveals how maternal immune activation, microbiome disruption, and environmental toxicants can alter implantation, fetal brain development and life long neurological resilience.  What are the hidden drivers linking preconception health to autism, cognitive decline and autoimmunity.  How do we identify the risk, intervene upstream and protect brain development before symptoms ever appear?   Our society has become increasingly ill.  Tom O'Bryan discusses how children and even babies have brains that are severely damaged.  Some have Alzheimer's and Frontal dementia signs that are comparable to those found in seniors in their mid eighties.     Bio Tom O'Bryan, CDC, CCN When it comes to getting healthy, Dr. Tom O'Bryan's goal for you is 'Making It Easy To Do the Right Thing'. As an internationally recognized, admired and compassionate speaker focusing on food sensitivities, environmental toxins, cognitive decline, and the development of autoimmune diseases, Dr. Tom's audiences discover that it is through a clear understanding of how you got to where you are, that you and your doctor can figure out what it will take to get you well.   Often referred to as a 'Sherlock Holmes' for chronic disease, he teaches that recognizing and addressing the underlying mechanisms that activate an immune response is the map to the highway towards better health.   His award-winning books, webinars, Summits and DocuSeries are viewed and appreciated by tens of thousands. And He has trained and certified thousands of practitioners around the world in advanced understanding of the impact of food sensitivities and environmental toxins fueling the development of individual autoimmune diseases. He is the Founder and you can see the library of his work at www.theDr.com

  7. Jul 3

    Avoiding Burnout with Glee with Bianca Best

    Are you feeling burnt out?   Do you feel there too many demands on your time?   Are you saying yes to things you don't want to do?  We women have a challenge there. We were brought up to nurture and play nice.  If we don't play nice as children, we are not allowed to play dolls with the others.  Men on the other hand are brought up to be independent and to win.   So if we women say "yes" to something, men might take it in stride, and for us it is a great sacrifice.  Do we say "yes" to many things and then feel we are sacrificing too much when to others it might not be seen as a sacrifice?  How do we learn to say no to protect our boundaries?  I found that after cooking and cleaning for one whole week for a beau who sat and watched television. (as we were supposed to), and I "let him have it" so we then shared those activities.  So today not only do we have the wifely duties instilled in our childhoods, we are out in the workforce trying to create something there   WHO declared burnout as a global epidemic acknowledging that the industrialized society is in serious trouble. burnout is calculated to cost the global economy  in the region of one trillion dollars per year in lost work time,    Interesting statistics despite ¾ of UK workers believing annual leave s an effective way to reduce burnout, last year only three in five employees used all of their holiday entitlement and one in five workers under 25 took no holiday at all. UK's 2023 Careers after Babies Report 85 %  of women leave workforce within 3 years of having their first child   Guest Bianca Best is a woman of impact! She is a 2 x best-selling author, award-winning C-suite exec (WPP & Publicis Groupe), techpreneur, charity ambassador, bio-energetics practitioner, founder of The Energy-Scape™ method, host of The Big impact Show™ and solo parenting mother of 4 who deeply understands how to thrive during both business and personal pressure.    Bianca's unique Energy-SCAPE™ system blends psycho-spiritual dynamics, neuroscience and advanced energy management to unlock positive change, and has consistently transformed leaders and teams within organizations such as Google, Amazon, Accenture and British Gas.   As a renowned therapist to celebrities and high achieving entrepreneurs , Bianca's clinic is grounded in the latest science and integrative wellness best practices with Bianca being regularly consulted by the media for her expert opinion. Bianca's mission is to Heal Humanity with Soft Power, by proving and teaching that joy and impact don't require self-sacrifice and success with grace through harmonious energetic flow is the magic we all hold.

  8. Jun 26

    What the Dead Tell Us: a Mortician's Observations with Richard Hirschman

    Since 2021, Richard noticed white rubbery structures in the veins and arteries of those he embalmed.  While he had not seen these clots previously, he observed these clots in about 40 % of the population since 2021..  He saw more fetal demises than he had seen in the previous twenty years.  The media discredited his observations   Bio Richard Hirschman, a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Alabama, and has worked in the trade since the tragedy of 9 /11

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Occupy Health provides leading edge health information to allow you to take proactive steps towards optimal health. We help you look under the hood to find the underlying contributing causes to illness. We also interview health and functional medicine experts to provide answers to questions and to arm you with questions for your health provider. Tune in to Occupy Health, broadcasting every Friday at 11 AM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Downs, MD
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Susan Downs, MD
  • Show Website
    Occupy Health

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