Dr. Josh Axe: Healing Through Mindset, Thyroid Issues, Fertility, Hashimotos & PCOS
In this episode from the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Dr. Josh Axe highlights the significant impact of mindset on physical health outcomes. He shares strategies for overcoming limiting beliefs and discusses the connections between one's purpose and overall wellbeing.
Axe delves into holistic approaches to address issues like hypothyroidism, PCOS, and fertility challenges. He explores the roles of diet, supplements, lifestyle practices like sauna use and acupuncture, as well as techniques for reducing stress and cultivating emotional balance. The episode examines how fostering supportive relationships and adopting simple routines for nourishing the mind, body, and spirit can enhance overall wellbeing.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jun 17, 2024 episode of the Pursuit of Wellness
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1-Page Summary
The power of mindset and beliefs in health and healing
Josh Axe emphasizes the profound impact of mindset on physical health outcomes. He cites historical examples of the placebo effect and his own recovery experiences, underscoring how positive mindsets trigger the body's natural healing mechanisms while negative self-talk inhibits wellness. Axe also highlights the link between living out one's purpose and improved health and happiness.
Overcoming limiting beliefs
Axe introduces strategies for overcoming limiting beliefs, including identifying their origins and consequences through an "ABCDE" method, disputing their validity, and replacing them with empowering truths. He shares personal stories of overcoming doubts and finding validation through supportive mentors and spiritual practices.
Holistic approaches to hypothyroidism, PCOS, and fertility
Hypothyroidism
Axe outlines connections between birth control use, nutrient deficiencies, and hypothyroidism development. He suggests supporting adrenal and thyroid function through diet, supplements like B vitamins and adaptogenic herbs, lifestyle factors like sleep and sauna use, and practices like acupuncture. Axe also notes the role of mindset and emotional states, as highlighted in Chinese medicine.
PCOS
Axe frames PCOS as an [restricted term] regulation issue, recommending a high-protein, high-fat diet, supplements like chromium and berberine, and continuous glucose monitoring. He advocates reducing stress through adrenal support measures like infrared saunas and warming foods.
Fertility
For fertility, Axe emphasizes the impact of worry and lack of emotional safety on conception. He suggests dietary strategies like warming foods and fertility-supportive herbs like ashwagandha and vitex, as well as acupuncture. However, Axe and Llewellyn agree that prioritizing spiritual, mental, and relational wellbeing is more than half of the fertility process.
Lifestyle factors for overall wellbeing
Diet, supplementation, and therapies
Axe advocates living purposefully and choosing natural foods for optimal health. He touts the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV therapies, saunas, and acupuncture in his own health journey.
Community and relationships
Axe emphasizes the significance of supportive communities and carefully choosing one's inner circle, referring to a Harvard study linking longevity to strong social connections.
Daily routines
Axe shares his "spiritual triathlon" morning routine involving gratitude, nutrition, spiritual reading, and prayer, showcasing his approach to holistically nourishing the body, mind, and spirit each day through simple practices.
1-Page Summary
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Counterarguments
- While positive mindsets may contribute to better health outcomes, it's important to recognize that they are not a cure-all. Serious illnesses and conditions often require medical interventions beyond mindset changes.
- The placebo effect, while powerful, is not a substitute for evidence-based medical treatments and should not be relied upon as a primary treatment method.
- Overcoming limiting beliefs is beneficial, but it's also important to acknowledge that some beliefs may have a basis in reality and may require more than just a change in mindset to address.
- The connection between birth control use and hypothyroidism is not conclusively established, and suggesting a direct link may oversimplify a complex issue.
- While diet and supplements can support thyroid function, they should complement, not replace, conventional treatments for hypothyroidism, such as hormone replacement therapy.
- The recommendation for a high-protein, high-fat diet for PCOS management may not be suitable for everyone and should be personalized based on individual health needs and medical advice.
- Continuous glucose monitoring is a useful tool for managing PCOS, but it may not be accessible or necessary for all individuals with the condition.
- The role of emotional states in fertility is complex, and while stress reduction techniques may be helpful, they should not overshadow the importance of medical evaluation and treatment for fertility issues.
- The efficacy of alternative therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV therapies, and acupuncture is still a subject of debate, and their benefits may not be universally accepted by the medical community.
- While strong social connections are associated with longevity, it's important to recognize that the quality of relationships may be more important than the quantity, and that social connections alone cannot prevent all health issues.
- Daily routines like the "spiritual triathlon" may be beneficial for some, but they may not be practical or appealing to everyone, and their impact on health can vary from person to person.
Actionables
- You can enhance your mindset's impact on health by starting a "belief journal" where you document daily positive affirmations related to your health and wellbeing. Write down statements like "I am healing more each day" or "My body has the strength to overcome any challenge," and reflect on any changes in your physical health over time.
- Create a "purpose map" to visually connect daily activities to your larger life goals, which can improve your sense of purpose and potentially your health. Draw a flowchart that starts with your core purpose and branches out to your daily routines, illustrating how each task contributes to your overarching goals.
- Develop a "community wellness circle" with friends or family where you share health goals, support each other's wellbeing, and discuss new habits or lifestyle changes you're implementing. Meet regularly to encourage accountability and share resources like healthy recipes, stress-reduction techniques, or exercise tips that align with improving adrenal and thyroid function, managing PCOS, or enhancing fertility.
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The power of mindset and beliefs in health and healing
Josh Axe and Mari Llewellyn explore the critical impact of mindset and beliefs on physical health outcomes, underscoring the power of mental states in healing.
Mindset has a profound impact on physical health outcomes
Axe stresses the importance of mindset in both healing and everyday health. He illustrates this with a historical example where soldiers experienced pain relief when given placebos instead of [restricted term], underscoring the body's remarkable ability to produce pain-numbing neurochemicals. Axe highlights that a positive mindset can activate these natural healing mechanisms while negative mindset and self-talk can inhibit wellness.
Positive mindset and beliefs can activate the body's natural healing mechanisms
Axe discusses how living out one's purpose can lead to happiness, fulfillment, and better health. He attributes part of his recovery from severe bulges in his discs to his positive mindset and the efficacy of stem cell treatment. After facing a grim prognosis for a spinal infection, Axe shifted from despair to hope, underscored by his faith, which aided his recovery.
Negative self-talk and limiting beliefs can inhibit healing and wellness
Llewellyn speaks candidly about how a controlling mindset regarding health can create a negative spiral, worsening health problems. She expresses that her concerns about acne, specifically the fear it instilled regarding public appearances, could be holding her back due to fear of judgment.
Strategies for overcoming limiting beliefs
The episode focuses on countering negative self-talk, fear, worry, and limiting beliefs as they relate to health and healing. Axe reflects on his own academic challenges growing up, including being labeled with a learning disability and being told he would struggle to learn his whole life, resulting in him believing he was unintelligent. He underscores the importance of not fixating on illness, as doing so can prevent the body from healing.
Identifying the origin and consequences of limiting beliefs
Axe details an "ABCDE" method for addressing limiting beliefs, starting with identifying the origin (A) of negative beliefs and understanding the consequences (C) of continuing to believe them. He speaks about his own previous limiti ...
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The power of mindset and beliefs in health and healing
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While mindset can influence health outcomes, it is not the sole determinant; genetics, environment, and access to healthcare also play significant roles.
- Positive thinking alone may not activate healing mechanisms for all individuals or in all situations, particularly in the case of chronic or severe diseases.
- The placebo effect, while powerful, has limitations and cannot replace evidence-based medical treatments.
- Overemphasis on mindset may inadvertently lead to victim-blaming, where individuals with health issues are made to feel responsible for not being able to "think" their way to better health.
- Identifying the origin of limiting beliefs is not always straightforward, and some individuals may require professional psychological support to address deep-seated issues.
- Disputing and ...
Actionables
- Create a daily affirmation deck tailored to your health goals to reinforce a positive mindset. Start by writing down specific, positive statements that align with your desired health outcomes. For example, if you're aiming to improve your cardiovascular health, you might write, "Every step I take strengthens my heart." Use these cards each morning to set a positive tone for the day, focusing on the belief that your actions are contributing to your healing.
- Develop a 'belief audit' journal to track and transform limiting beliefs. Each day, jot down any negative thoughts that come to mind regarding your health. Next to each, write down a factual counter-statement. For instance, if you catch yourself thinking, "I'll never recover from this injury," counter it with, "Many people have recovered from similar injuries, and I'm taking the right steps to heal." This practice helps you become aware of and actively dispute lim ...
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Holistic approaches to managing specific health conditions
Holistic health experts discuss managing various health conditions, focusing on hypothyroidism, PCOS, and fertility, with in-depth insights into the holistic management of these conditions.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, a condition that has been observed to affect a significant number of women in their 30s and 40s, particularly those starting families, has been related to nutrient deficiencies resulting from birth control use.
Link between nutrient deficiencies (from birth control use) and hypothyroidism
Josh Axe points out that birth control can lead to the loss of certain nutrients, including vitamins B2, B6, B9, and B12, which are key for the methylation process necessary for thyroid health. Coming off birth control can lead to deficiencies contributing to thyroid issues, and Axe indicates that a considerable amount of time may be required to rebalance gut health post-birth control use.
Importance of supporting adrenal and thyroid function through diet, supplements, and lifestyle
Addressing nutritional needs, it's recommended to take a methylated B complex, selenium, zinc, and probiotics. Furthermore, consuming glandulars and organ meats from reputable sources, along with adopting a purposeful diet and lifestyle modifications such as getting adequate sleep and using infrared saunas to warm the body, can support thyroid function. Weekly acupuncture is suggested as a practice to improve organ function and thus aid in adrenal and thyroid health.
Josh Axe lists multiple adaptogenic herbs that support adrenal health and consequently benefit thyroid function, such as ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, cordyceps, and ginseng. Low body temperature, thinning hair, fatigue, and weight gain are common hypothyroid symptoms, with the implication that these could be linked to adrenal health.
Role of mindset and purpose in thyroid health
Axe discusses that one's mindset and beliefs play a significant role in healing from health conditions, which extends to thyroid health. Engaging in purposeful activities and ensuring good quality sleep, which is when the body heals, are emphasized as crucial for thyroid health. Also, according to Chinese medicine, emotional self-attacks like negative self-talk can worsen autoimmune diseases related to the thyroid.
PCOS
PCOS is highlighted over the course of the discussion, specifically concerning its management, even though no concrete information about the condition's connection to [restricted term] regulation is provided.
PCOS as an [restricted term] regulation issue
Josh Axe supports that PCOS is an [restricted term] regulation issue and underlines the importance of a diet high in protein and healthy fats to balance blood sugar. Recommended supplements include chromium, berberine, cinnamon, and fenugreek. The use of a continuous glucose monitor for awareness is suggested, and the value of acupuncture in managing PCOS is also mentioned.
Mitigating stress and "rushing" to support reproductive health
Axe advocates for addressing adrenal states, as a fight or flight response can negatively impact reproductive health. He recommends switching from cold plunging to infrared sauna use and eating foods like berries, fish, bone broth, mushrooms, and warming herbs like cinnamon. Reducing fear and worry and strengthening adrenal and reproductive organs through diet are proposed for improving fertility.
Fertil ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Holistic approaches to managing specific health conditions
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- Birth control and nutrient deficiencies:
- Some studies suggest that while birth control may affect nutrient levels, the clinical significance of these changes is not always clear, and not all individuals may experience deficiencies.
- It's important to consider that birth control has been a critical tool for family planning and has benefits that may outweigh the risks of nutrient deficiencies for many individuals.
- Rebalancing gut health for thyroid function:
- The relationship between gut health and thyroid function is complex, and while improving gut health may benefit some individuals, it is not a guaranteed solution for hypothyroidism.
- Diet, supplements, and lifestyle for adrenal and thyroid support:
- The efficacy of glandulars and organ meats for thyroid health is not widely supported by high-quality scientific evidence.
- While adaptogenic herbs are popular in alternative medicine, their effects on adrenal and thyroid health need more robust clinical evidence to be considered reliable treatments.
- Mindset and beliefs impacting health:
- While a positive mindset can influence overall well-being, it should not be seen as a substitute for medical treatment, especially for conditions like hypothyroidism, which typically require medication.
- PCOS and [restricted term] regulation:
- The management of PCOS is multifaceted, and while diet plays a role, other factors such as genetics and hormone regulation are also critical.
- The recommendation for continuous glucose monitoring should be personalized, as not all individuals with PCOS may require or benefit from this level of intervention.
- Stress and reproductive health:
- While stress management can be beneficial, it is not the sole factor in managing PCos ...
Actionables
- You can create a personalized nutrient tracker to monitor your intake of vitamins B2, B6, B9, and B12, ensuring you're getting enough of these essential nutrients for thyroid health. Start by researching the recommended daily allowances for these vitamins and use a simple spreadsheet or a mobile app to log your daily food intake, focusing on foods rich in these vitamins. For example, include foods like spinach for B9 or salmon for B12 in your meals and track their vitamin content.
- Develop a bedtime ritual that promotes quality sleep to support your thyroid and overall health. This could include setting a consistent sleep schedule, creating a relaxing pre-sleep routine such as reading or meditating, and optimizing your sleep environment by reducing light and noise. You might also incorporate practices like gentle yoga or deep breathing exercises to calm your mind before bed, which can improve sleep quality and, in turn, thyroid function.
- Engage in a weekly meal-prepping session to support a diet high in protein and healthy fats, which is ben ...
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The importance of lifestyle factors in overall wellbeing
Josh Axe and Mari Llewellyn share insights about the critical role various lifestyle factors play in enhancing overall health and wellbeing, suggesting that balance, purpose, and supportive relationships are fundamental.
Transformative power of diet, supplements, and modalities like hyperbaric therapy
Josh Axe highlights the importance of living out one's purpose and choosing natural foods for optimal health. He underscores the need for balance and advises against focusing solely on illness. The conversation points to diet as a fundamental aspect of a healthy lifestyle, implying that foods like fruits and vegetables are part of the pathway to wellbeing.
Mari Llewellyn notes the calming effect of acupuncture and how it aids her, revealing the value placed on such alternative practices. Axe also speaks about his regimen for health recovery, including daily treatment in a hyperbaric chamber for around 40 days, along with various IV therapies. He elaborates on the health benefits of saunas and acupuncture, therefore acknowledging the significance of both traditional and novel modalities in maintaining and restoring health.
Building a supportive community and inner circle
The podcast conversation suggests that a supportive community is paramount for emotional and psychological health. Axe touches on the theme of relationships indirectly, mentioning the need for sacrifice and giving to others for true fulfillment. He also places heavy emphasis on the inner circle's influence on identity, advising careful choice of mentors and companions. Referring to a Harvard study, Axe notes the primary determining f ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The importance of lifestyle factors in overall wellbeing
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While diet and natural foods are important, the role of genetics and access to healthcare also significantly influence health outcomes.
- Supplements and alternative therapies like hyperbaric therapy may not be universally effective or accessible, and their benefits can vary from person to person.
- The emphasis on alternative practices such as acupuncture may overlook the need for evidence-based medical treatments in certain health scenarios.
- The idea that a supportive community is crucial for emotional and psychological health might not account for the fact that solitude and independence also contribute to some individuals' wellbeing.
- The concept of a morning routine being essential for setting a positive tone for the day may not consider individual differences in circadian rhythms and productivity patterns.
- The focus on daily spiritual practices may not resonate with those who are non-religious or who find spirituality in non-traditional forms.
- The suggestion that simple changes like breakfast choices can significantly impact health might oversimplify the complexity of nutritional science and individual dietary needs.
- The advice to carefully choose mentors and companions could be seen as overly strategic ...
Actionables
- You can create a "wellbeing wheel" to visually map out your lifestyle balance, including sections for relationships, purpose, and health practices. Draw a circle, divide it into equal segments for each aspect of your life you want to balance, and shade in each segment according to how satisfied you are with that area. This visual tool can help you identify which areas need more attention and set specific goals to improve them.
- Start a "gratitude chain" with friends or family where each person sends a daily text or email stating one thing they're grateful for, which can include aspects of health, relationships, or personal growth. This practice not only fosters a sense of community but also encourages a daily routine of reflection and gratitude, contributing to emotional wellbeing.
- Implement a "s ...
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