Integrative Women's Health Podcast Jessica Drummond

“My passion is to be able to change things for women. No one should be dismissed; no one should be told it's all in their head. We have so much catching up to do in women's health care.” - Heather Florio
When we work with complex chronic conditions, we have to become very integrative. In our practice, we take a multidisciplinary approach to helping women with bladder pain heal from the root causes by starting with a whole-system assessment.
When it comes to treatment, many of these cases cross systems and require us as practitioners to have a deep and well-understood toolbox to be able to work with these clients who have been struggling for years, if not decades. That toolbox will often include high-quality supplements, which, in many cases, can be safer and more effective than pharmaceuticals.
As practitioners, we need to ensure that the products we recommend to our clients are of good quality and efficacy and of high value for the cost. Today, I’m excited to explore this topic deeper with Heather Florio of Desert Harvest, who has been on the cutting edge of using aloe vera and other natural products for over 30 years.
In this conversation, Heather and I discuss the complexities of bladder pain, the use of aloe vera for managing conditions like interstitial cystitis, challenges with the diagnosis and treatment of complex bladder conditions, the role of diet and supplements in bladder health, the safety of long-term use of natural products, potential autoimmune aspects of bladder conditions, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!


Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/how-to-heal-bladder-pain-syndrome-and-interstitial-cystitis-with-top-quality-aloe-as-part-of-the-protocol-with-heather-florio-ceo-of-desert-harvest/.
Connect with me and access our entire platform at IntegrativeWomensHealthInstitute.com (https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/).
Find and follow us @integrativewomenshealth on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@integrativewomenshealth) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/integrativewomenshealth/).

“In the last ten years, I really began to appreciate the gap between sports medicine and pelvic health.” - Dr. Ginger Garner
When you’re living with chronic pain and acute conditions, it’s easy to miss the potential interconnectedness of your symptoms. An appendix issue leads to appendix surgery, a gallbladder issue leads to gallbladder removal, and the list goes on. But what happens when there’s an underlying issue connecting these conditions?
In the conventional medical system, doctors will likely miss it because of the siloed approach to treatment. Even with a functional medicine approach, it gets tricky. Today’s guest, Dr. Ginger Garner, lived with endometriosis for decades with fertility challenges and a broad range of symptoms before being able to get an accurate diagnosis.
Ginger’s insights are particularly valuable since she has both the skillset and training to understand her journey from a practitioner’s perspective, as well as experience with her clients and as a patient herself. With that unique lens, she can look back at her story and show us, as women’s health professionals, areas that were missed and where we may need to change the way we screen for endometriosis.
In this conversation, Ginger and I discuss the potential connection between endometriosis and orthopedic health, the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, the importance of a holistic approach, endometriosis and infertility, the complexity of endometriosis symptoms, challenges with healthcare access in rural areas, the role of physical therapists, the need for legislative advocacy, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!


Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/when-multiple-hip-surgeries-is-a-sign-of-endometriosis-with-dr-ginger-garner/.
Connect with me and access our entire platform at IntegrativeWomensHealthInstitute.com (https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/).
Find and follow us @integrativewomenshealth on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@integrativewomenshealth) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/integrativewomenshealth/).

"It's really important to know that endometriosis is not always progressive." - Katie Edmonds
A healing journey can be a nourishing experience. When we stop thinking of food as medicine but instead as part of a bigger lifestyle shift with social connection and emotional support, we can see the transformative potential of a truly holistic approach to optimizing our health.
It’s not about finding the perfect endo diet. Start with eating whole foods and tuning into what your body tells you about what it needs. From there, you can start fine-tuning as you figure out what’s best for your unique body. Give yourself time to get familiar and comfortable and let go of rigidity. Nourishing every part of your body and soul at the same time is critical.
Today, I’m joined by endometriosis author, educator, and Nutritional Therapist Katie Edmonds to explore why nourishment is an essential part of bringing your endometriosis into symptom remission. Katie wrote the 4-Week Endometriosis Diet Plan and Heal Endo: An Anti-Inflammatory Approach to Healing From Endometriosis. She lives on the North Shore of Kaua`i next to the biggest mahogany forest in the United States (fun fact) with her loving husband and two wonderful “miracle” kiddos. She's absolutely passionate about helping women with endometriosis.
In this episode, Katie and I talk about why endometriosis requires a holistic approach, Katie’s struggle with endometriosis and fertility issues, the role of stress, the complexity of endometriosis, the impact of diet and lifestyle on symptom management, Katie’s three pillars of nutrition for endometriosis, the value of individualized care, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!
Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/hope-and-nourishment-for-people-with-endometriosis-with-katie-edmonds/.
Connect with me and access our entire platform at IntegrativeWomensHealthInstitute.com (https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/).
Find and follow us @integrativewomenshealth on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@integrativewomenshealth) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/integrativewomenshealth/).

“How can we better help ourselves and our clients with endometriosis or other complex conditions navigate perimenopause and menopause?”
Given some of the pervasive myths around perimenopause and menopause in the endometriosis community, many people are confused about the core challenges they may experience while navigating this transition.
As with everything when it comes to our health, what is needed are more nuanced conversations. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all fix that suits everyone. For example, for some people, hormone replacement therapy is a crucial element in their toolbox; for others, it’s a bad fit. As coaches and health and wellness practitioners, this is where we can guide our clients to find the best path forward for their specific needs.
In this episode, I’m doing a deep dive into the research and our unique approach to helping women with endometriosis and other complex conditions navigate this transition. I’m debunking common myths, discussing the importance of personalized treatment protocols, outlining the pillars of our seven-step protocol for navigating hormonal health during these transitions, exploring the interconnectedness of bodily systems, the role of lifestyle factors, risks and benefits of specific treatment options, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!


Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/navigating-perimenopause-and-menopause-with-endometriosis/.
Connect with me and access our entire platform at IntegrativeWomensHealthInstitute.com (https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/).
Find and follow us @integrativewomenshealth on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@integrativewomenshealth) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/integrativewomenshealth/).

“Good surgery matters, but a lot of other things matter too.” - Dr. Sallie Sarrel
At the Integrative Women’s Health Institute, we take a multidisciplinary approach to endometriosis care. From balancing the gut and uterine microbiomes to utilizing tools like hormone therapy and GLP-1 agonists, there are many more options available today for women with endometriosis.
A big part of this shift resulted from the work of people like today’s guest, my friend and colleague Dr. Sallie Sarrel. After taking 23 years to get her endo diagnosis, Sallie has been a strong voice in advocating for people with endometriosis for her entire career. In addition, for the past seven-plus years, she has partnered with Dr. Andrea Vidali to produce The Endometriosis Summit, which is now expanding globally and highlights the integrative and multidisciplinary conversation we need around endometriosis care.
In this conversation, Sallie and I discuss the need for a multidisciplinary approach to endometriosis treatment, her passion for advocacy, the role of physical therapy, nutrition, and mental health in managing endometriosis, misconceptions about menopause and endometriosis, the impact of the Endometriosis Summit, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!

Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/cutting-edge-endometriosis-care-and-research-with-dr-sallie-sarrel/.
Connect with me and access our entire platform at IntegrativeWomensHealthInstitute.com (https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/).
Find and follow us @integrativewomenshealth on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@integrativewomenshealth) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/integrativewomenshealth/).

“Filmmaking storytelling narratives can create large-scale social change.” - Shannon Cohn
Like many conditions that primarily affect women, endometriosis is a condition that still has more questions than answers. Conventional medicine tries hard to fit it into a one-size-fits-all box that can be treated with birth control pills and surgery, but in truth, it’s highly individual. What works for one may not work for someone else, and the best path forward is through a transformative amount of research funding and radical new approaches to that research.
Today, I’m excited to be joined by producer Shannon Cohn, who is behind the fantastic films “Endo What?” and “Below the Belt.” Shannon is a rockstar in endometriosis advocacy at the highest levels. She’s not just education donors and large funders but also helping individuals share the lived experience of having endometriosis.
In this conversation, we discuss challenges in advocacy and research, the need for a multidisciplinary approach, why systemic change is crucial, Shannon’s endometriosis journey, her films' role in raising awareness and driving policy change, and more.
As you listen, think about how you could get better care if you're managing endometriosis yourself. Also, check out some of Shannon's recent wins in advocating for better research funding and a more multidisciplinary approach to using this funding. I think you’ll be inspired.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!

Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/update-on-the-state-of-womens-health-research-with-shannon-cohn-producer-of-endo-what-and-below-the-belt/.
Connect with me and access our entire platform at IntegrativeWomensHealthInstitute.com (https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/).
Find and follow us @integrativewomenshealth on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@integrativewomenshealth) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/integrativewomenshealth/).