The Trip Lab

Mary Ella Wood, DO
  • 5.0 (9)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Trip Lab, kitchen table conversations about integrative medicine and psychedelics with your host and attending physician, Dr. Mary Ella Wood. Taking an evidenced-based approach, we will break down the latest research, interview leaders in the field, and answer all the questions that don't often get brought up in the doctor's office. Instagram: @thetriplabpodcast - Email: thetriplabpodcast@gmail.com

  1. 12/22/2025

    #19 – DEEP DIVE SERIES: Hyperlipidemia (Why Cholesterol and Statins Aren’t the Villains You Think They Are)

    In this Deep Dive episode of The Trip Lab, we unpack hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) beyond the oversimplified “LDL bad, HDL good” narrative. We also take a clear-eyed look at the most common concerns people have about statins, what the evidence actually shows, and where these medications fit—and don’t fit—within a thoughtful, individualized approach to cardiovascular risk. From there, we explore integrative strategies for managing elevated cholesterol and why, for many patients, lifestyle, metabolic health, and inflammation-targeted interventions may be more effective than medications alone. In this episode, we discuss: Why cholesterol is biologically essential and not inherently pathologicalThe limitations of relying on LDL alone to assess cardiovascular riskHow inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, hormones, and lifestyle influence lipid metabolismWhen elevated cholesterol truly signals disease—and when it may reflect a compensatory or adaptive responseThe role of advanced markers such as ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP and CAC scoresWhy risk stratification—not fear-based medicine—should guide clinical decision-makingWhat statins can (and cannot do) and we break down the concerns people have with themWhy integrative approaches (nutrition, exercise, herbal options and mind-body medicine) truly treat the root cause of diseaseThis episode is for clinicians, patients, and anyone looking to move beyond simplistic cholesterol narratives toward a more nuanced, evidence-based understanding of cardiovascular health.

    39 min

  2. 08/06/2025

    #18 — Psychedelics and the Feminine: Healing Cycles, Hormones, and the Womb

    In this season 2 opening episode of The Trip Lab, I return from maternity leave with a deeply personal exploration of how psychedelic experiences mirror one of the most profound transitions in a woman’s life: motherhood. From the sudden crash of postpartum hormones to the full dissolution of identity and the slow reconstruction of self, I reflect on how becoming a mother felt strikingly similar to a psychedelic journey — raw, disorienting, expansive, and sacred. We dive into the neuroscience of hormonal transitions, ego death, and neuroplasticity — exploring how estrogen, the Default Mode Network, and maternal brain remodeling all connect to the psychedelic experience. We also examine the often-overlooked wisdom of the menstrual cycle, the energetic sensitivity of pregnancy, and why the womb may be one of the most powerful maps for understanding transformation and healing. This episode is for anyone curious about the intersection of psychedelics and the feminine — whether you’ve given birth, are hoping to one day, or simply want to understand how cycles, hormones, and identity shifts can open portals into deeper layers of self. Topics include: Postpartum as ego death and rebirthEstrogen, neuroplasticity, and the psychedelic brainPsychedelics and the Default Mode Network in womenHormonal cycles and their influence on medicine journeysAncestral wisdom, womb intelligence, and the sacred feminine

    18 min

  3. 01/22/2024

    #17 — The Yoga and Osteopathic Medicine Connection

    Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a hands on diagnostic and treatment modality that DOs learn in medical school. You may have seen the DO (rather than MD) after your doctor's name and never really understood what that meant. We dive into the difference between MDs and DOs and talk all about what osteopathic medicine is in this episode. Many OMT treatments actually mirror what a yoga practice can do for you as well. Whether we are talking about the poses (or asanas) creating simultaneous activation and relaxation... or even the connection to the breath the augment healing... there are connections everywhere. This podcast  is also available in written form (with supplemental pictures and diagrams) at www.drmaryellawood.com.

    19 min

  4. 08/08/2023

    #16 — DEEP DIVE SERIES: Hypertension

    In this episode we will take a deep dive into one of the leading causes of the global burden of disease-- hypertension, or high blood pressure. We will go over the pathophysiology, learn how hypertension develops and why it is so bad for the body.  After understanding the root causes, we can then better understand how our traditional pharmaceuticals, lifestyle interventions, and holistic integrative therapies work to treat this disease. ... and SPOILER! Holistic approaches turn out to be MORE effective than drugs to treat this one.  If you want to see another disease or disorder in this series, shoot me an email at thetriplabpodcast@gmail.com.

    31 min

  5. 08/07/2023

    #15 — DEEP DIVE SERIES INTRO: How Big Pharma Lead Us to Call Eastern Medicine ‘Alternative’

    Today I will be introducing a new 'deep dive series' on The Trip Lab. We are going to be looking into the most common medical conditions to really understand what is happening in the body and how they develop. With that understanding, we can better understand how our treatments work-- including pharmaceuticals and surgery as well as integrative therapies like herbal medicine and mind-body medicine.  To start this series, we will look at how this divide between 'modern' medicine and 'alternative' medicine came to be. Why do we call western medicine the gold standard and ancient eastern approaches alternative? Well-- big pharma played a role. Take a listen if you want to learn how and why.

    9 min

  6. 04/27/2023

    #14 — Integrative Approaches for Anxiety & Depression

    This episode is going to be a high level overview over all of the primary causes of anxiety and depression, and integrative approaches to treat them. Anxiety and depression is a lot more complicated than just writing a script for sertraline or recommending therapy. These disorders definitely have a psychological component that can stem from chemical imbalances in the brain... but other causes include nutritional deficiencies, inflammation and adrenal fatigue, poor sleep hygiene, not exercising enough, improper use of medications or underlying medical causes like hormonal fluctuations or imbalances, thyroid disorders and anemia. We will dive deeper into these causes and go over traditional medical approaches as well as evidenced-based complementary treatments like psychedelics, nutrition and mind-body medicine. Also in this episode I introduce my NEW professional website where you can learn about medical services I will be offering at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern in Chicago, IL. Additionally, I am now offering yoga & meditation classes, spiritual practices like tarot and astrology, and a whole lot more. Check out my website at drmaryellawood.com. This course is a preview of an upcoming course I am developing called 'Integrative Approaches for Anxiety & Depression.' In this course we dive deeper into what is discussed in this podcast, break down the science in an easy to understand more, look at more specific treatment options, and help you understand YOUR body and your personal  mental health journey. The course also works well as a crash course for healthcare providers that want to learn more about integrative medicine treatment options that they can prescribe to their patients. Website: drmaryellawood.com Instagram: @drmaryella YouTube Channel: Dr. Mary Ella Podcast Instagram: @thetriplabpodcast

    38 min

  7. 10/24/2022

    #13 — Demystifying Psychedelics, Archetypes & Tarot with Psychiatrist Emily Willow, MD

    Today we interview UCSF psychiatrist Emily Willow, MD. She has a robust career in psychedelic medicine and has worked on clinical trials using MDMA, psilocybin and ketamine. Currently, she has a private practice where she does ketamine assisted psychotherapy and psychedelic integration therapy. We chat all about her experience using these different psychedelic compounds, and the benefits and cautions of each depending on what each patient is trying to heal. We also discuss cognitive liberty and the idea of using psychedelics to explore your consciousness without the need for a psychiatric disorder like depression and anxiety. Dr. Willow and I also both use Tarot cards as a tool to explore your consciousness through an archetypal lens-- so we discuss different ways to do this. I also include a little bonus at the end of the episode about tarot, and specifically we look at one card that generates most of the misconceptions about Tarot. Connect with Emily Willow, MD Website: www.emilywillowmd.com Instagram: @EmilyWillowMD

    46 min

  8. 09/12/2022

    #12 — Unlock Your Mind: Psychedelics in Physics, Creativity & Religion

    A Trip Lab Thought Experiment: We will dive into an alternate reality where psychedelics can be used by anyone to explore their consciousness and place in the world (without having a mental health disorder like depression to make it legal). Find out how psychedelics can help you understand the complex topics of quantum physics, string theory, the illusion of time and parallel universes. We will also discuss exciting new research papers looking into how psychedelics have been proven to increase creativity both in an artistic and scientific discovery setting. Last, we will see how psychedelics have shaped religions throughout the world and time-- from Christianity to Witchcraft. Mentions: - Psychedelics as potential catalysts of scientific creativity and insight - Spontaneous and deliberative creative cognition during and after psilocybin exposure - 'Dancing Naked in the Mind Field' by Kary Mullis - 'Seven Brief Lessons on Physics' by Carlo Rovelli - 'Reality Is Not What It Seems' by Carlo Rovelli - 'The Order of Time' by Carlo Rovelli Email me at: thetriplabpodcast@gmail.com Follow The Trip Lab on Instagram @thetriplabpodcast

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Trip Lab, kitchen table conversations about integrative medicine and psychedelics with your host and attending physician, Dr. Mary Ella Wood. Taking an evidenced-based approach, we will break down the latest research, interview leaders in the field, and answer all the questions that don't often get brought up in the doctor's office. Instagram: @thetriplabpodcast - Email: thetriplabpodcast@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Mary Ella Wood, DO
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Trip Lab
  • Show Website
    The Trip Lab