The Original Medicine Podcast

MG McCullough
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

If you didn't know that Traditional Chinese Medicine was created in the 1950's, you're going to want to listen in. On this podcast, we're going to talk about the acupuncture they don't teach us in school & why it's the key to root cause healing, not just symptom management. A rising tide floats all boats, and that's the goal of this podcast!

  1. 2D AGO

    Giving Less F**ks in Midlife: Chinese Medicine Explains

    ShownotesIf you’ve hit your late 30s or 40s and feel like your ADHD is out of control and your ability to tolerate "b******t" has vanished, you aren’t alone. In this episode, MG McCullough explores the transition of perimenopause and menopause through the lens of Classical Chinese Medicine, explaining why this "shedding of layers" is actually a powerful uncovering of your true self. We dive into the physiological "helium balloon" metaphor: how your Yin (the brick) roots your Yang (the balloon), and what happens when that root naturally thins out. From why one glass of wine suddenly feels like a three-day hangover to why "hot yoga" might be the worst thing for your internal resources, this episode provides a roadmap for rebuilding Yin and navigating the midlife transition with grace and strength. Key Themes: The Yin-Yang Balance of Aging: Understanding Yin as our root and why its natural decline in midlife allows Yang (heat/symptoms) to rise unrestrained. The "Zero B******t" Threshold: Why perimenopause is a period of uncovering ourselves and becoming less susceptible to external expectations. Dietary Foundations for Yin: Why "warm and wet" foods, animal products, and healthy fats are essential for building resources, while raw foods and green smoothies can cause stagnation. Alcohol & Heat: The Chinese Medicine explanation for why midlife bodies lose the ability to tolerate alcohol and how the body creates "dampness" to extinguish internal fire. Exercise Evolution: Shifting away from HIIT and hot yoga (which drains precious Yin and blood) toward strength training and Qi cultivation. Classical Chinese Medicine vs. TCM: Why a complete system of medicine is required to address autoimmune "confluences" and deep-seated hormonal shifts. Let's Connect! WEBSITE: www.drmgmccullough.com  INSTAGRAM: @drmgmccullough

    29 min

  2. FEB 10

    Are You Doing It Wrong? Hot Colds & Cold Colds

    In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, Dr. MG McCullough breaks down the often-overlooked importance of treating the common cold. While modern society views a viral illness as a minor inconvenience to be suppressed with medication, MG explains why these "minor" events are actually critical junctions for our long-term health. She introduces the concept of the Sinew Channels—the body's first line of defense—and explains how Classical Chinese Medicine distinguishes between a "hot" cold and a "cold" cold. By understanding these energetic shifts, you can support your body’s natural ability to push pathogens out rather than driving them deeper into the body, where they can eventually manifest as chronic disease or autoimmunity. Key Themes: The Sinew Channels: Understanding the body’s most exterior layer of defense and how it protects us from "wind attacks." Hot vs. Cold Viral Illness: How to identify your symptoms (sore throat vs. chills) and why your treatment must match the presentation. The Danger of Suppression: Why taking over-the-counter suppressive medicine can lead to "latency" and future chronic health issues. Building "Mediumship": The role of the kidneys, hydration, and "warm, wet" foods in providing the energy needed to expel illness. Lifestyle as Medicine: Why rest, breathwork, and emotional processing are non-negotiable for a strong immune system. Let's Connect! WEBSITE: www.drmgmccullough.com INSTAGRAM: @drmgmccullough

    27 min

  3. JAN 27

    Your Daily Brew is Killing You

    In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough explores why daily coffee consumption may be quietly undermining long-term health through the lens of classical Chinese medicine. While modern nutrition often highlights coffee’s potential benefits, this discussion reframes the conversation by examining coffee’s energetic impact and why many chronic symptoms improve when it is removed from the daily  Themes: How coffee's bitter flavor and roasted nature act as a draining force on the body's internal resources, specifically yin, fluids, and blood.  Why overstimulating yang energy with caffeine without adequate replenishment exhausts the body's reserves.  The central role of the kidneys in sustaining energy and why protecting them is essential for aging and vitality.  Real-world shifts in anxiety, sleep, and autoimmune symptoms when coffee is removed from the daily ritual.  Understanding why caffeine and alcohol aggravate depletion differently than gentler stimulants like tea. Reflecting on whether daily habits are building internal resources or quietly eroding them over time. Let's Connect!  🍃WEBSITE: http://www.drmgmccullough.com 🍃INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/drmgmccullough

    21 min

  4. JAN 20

    Pain Relief Without Dry Needling

    In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast Dr.MG McCullough continues the conversation on dry needling and explains why it is neither a safe nor effective solution for tight muscles or athletic recovery. While dry needling is often promoted as a fast way to release tension, MG outlines how its aggressive approach can cause unnecessary trauma, contrasting it with the sophisticated framework of classical Chinese medicine THEMES: Why viewing tension as a symptom of deeper systemic imbalance is more effective than treating it as a local issue.  How a lack of blood and bodily fluids leads to muscles becoming dry, tense, and painful over time.   The role of pulse reading and constitutional patterns in determining the root cause of physical pain.  Navigating the different levels of Chinese medicine, from deep constitutional work to superficial blockages in the sinew layer.  Why diet—focusing on warm, hydrating foods—is fundamental to building the internal resources needed for muscle health.  How substances like alcohol and coffee aggravate dryness and heighten vulnerability to injury.  Let's Connect! 🍃WEBSITE: http://www.drmgmccullough.com 🍃INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/drmgmccullough

    22 min

  5. JAN 13

    Dry Needling: Not Worth the Risk

    In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough examines dry needling and explains why it presents significant risks while offering limited long-term benefit. As public interest in alternative health grows, dry needling is often mistaken for acupuncture; this episode aims to close that knowledge gap by clarifying how they differ in training, philosophy, and safety. Understanding "information asymmetry" and why brief weekend courses for dry needling cannot replace years of supervised clinical training. The dangers of aggressive needling in sensitive areas like the neck and chest, including the risk of pneumothorax. Why dry needling relies on muscle trauma for temporary relief, while classical Chinese medicine seeks to understand why the tension exists. How blood and internal resources are essential for nourishing muscles and fascia—a key principle often ignored by dry needling. Why randomized controlled trials often fail to capture the individualized nature of true acupuncture. Encouraging a shift away from "forcing change" toward restoring systemic balance. 🍃WEBSITE: http://www.drmgmccullough.com 🍃INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/drmgmccullough  THEMESLet's Connect!

    22 min

  6. JAN 6

    Blood letting: the treatment everyone thinks is crazy

    In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough delves into the concepts of Luo channels and bleeding treatments in classical Chinese medicine. She explains how these unique channels serve as protective mechanisms in the body, storing pathology and emotional trauma to prevent them from reaching the deeper organ systems. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding these channels in relation to overall wellness, emphasizing that traditional acupuncture often misses these deeper, stored issues. THEMES How the body uses these "collateral" vessels to store pathology and keep it away from the primary organs. The physiological and energetic purpose of pricking points to release stored emotional and physical blockages. Exploring how unprocessed emotions and trauma manifest as visible or palpable changes in the Luo vessels6666 . Understanding the body's capacity for "mediumship" —managing resources like blood and fluids to contain illness. How Luo channel treatments can alleviate long-standing health problems, including digestive issues and persistent emotional stagnation. The vital role of emotional expression in preventing the development of Luo vessel pathology. Let's Connect! 🍃WEBSITE: http://www.drmgmccullough.com 🍃INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/drmgmccullough 🍃SUBSTACK: www.substack.com/drmgmccullough

    27 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    What Acupuncturists Don't Know & How They Can Learn

    In this Episode of the Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough shares a vulnerable and transformative story about her experience with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She shares her experience with her mentor Anne Cecil Sturman, whose guidance opened the door to deeper learning and ultimately changed the course of her life and understanding of Classican Chinese Medicne  Initial TCM treatments didn’t help and symptoms worsened. The shift in a more supportive environment for healing and study. Doubts and limiting beliefs were major hurdles in learning. Real experience didn’t match what TCM books claimed should happen. How Mentorship and the right environment transformed MG’s Understanding of Chinese medicine Let’s Connect!  🍃WEBSITE:⁠www.drmgmccullough.com⁠ 🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

    19 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    How To Get the Most From Your Acupuncture Treatments

    In this episode of The Original Medicine Podcast, MG McCullough explores how acupuncture acts as a catalyst for transformation, not only in physical health but also in emotional and mental well-being. She explains that creating space in our lives allows for new perspectives, and that meaningful change often comes from embracing discomfort. By shifting emotions and thoughts, acupuncture can help unlock deeper physical healing and support holistic wellness. How acupuncture supports both physical and emotional transformation. Why creating space—mentally and in daily life—opens the door to new perspectives. Growth often requires discomfort and intentional change. Emotional and mental shifts directly influence physical health. Addressing emotional channels can lead to unexpected physical improvements. Let’s Connect!  🍃WEBSITE:⁠www.drmgmccullough.com⁠ 🍃INSTAGRAM:@drmgmccullough

    13 min
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About

If you didn't know that Traditional Chinese Medicine was created in the 1950's, you're going to want to listen in. On this podcast, we're going to talk about the acupuncture they don't teach us in school & why it's the key to root cause healing, not just symptom management. A rising tide floats all boats, and that's the goal of this podcast!

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