The Holistic Healing Project

Please note: This is the last episode in this season as I’m taking a break from the podcast while I move back to the UK. If you’d like to get in touch please find me at @holistichealingproject or via my website www.drlaurenmacdonald.com In this episode we discuss:-     What we mean by Integrative Medicine-     Dani’s journey to working with cannabis-     The endocannabinoid system in the human body-     The cannabis plant and key cannabinoids including CBD and THC-     The various uses for industrial hemp-     Current indications for medical cannabis eg. chronic pain, epilepsy, MS, chemotherapy-related nausea etc-     The challenges prescribers in the UK currently face-     Cannabis and cancer-     Over-the-counter CBD, potential uses and the wellness industry-     Dani’s new book The CBD Bible [out now]-     And so much more…I’d love to hear your thoughts on this rapidly growing industry. Have you tried CBD oil? Let me know @holistichealingproject.Find out more about Dani at: www.drdanigordon.com and @drdanigordon.The CBD Bible is available to buy at all good bookshops now. Please support local booksellers whenever possible.A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we discuss:-    Julian’s journey from physiotherapist to oyster mushroom farmer-    The process of setting up urban mushroom farms using coffee waste-    Key medicinal mushrooms [AKA functional mushrooms] including chaga, turkey tail, lions mane and reishi-    How medicinal mushrooms can be used to support the immune system-    The research showing psilocybin [“magic mushrooms”] may help reduce depression and anxiety in terminally-ill cancer patients-    Mushrooms as a planet-friendly meat replacement-    The importance of soil health and regenerative agriculture-    Mycelium biotechnology and the circular economy business model-    The ethos behind Life Cykel and advice for would-be business owners-    And so much more…Please note: Where possible I advocate for a whole-foods diet rather than using supplements. Mushrooms are among the few natural sources of dietary vitamin D - essential for maintaining overall health, especially for bones, teeth and muscle. A simple hack for increasing the vitamin D content in your culinary mushrooms is to place them on a windowsill in the sunshine for 15 minute before cooking. Culinary mushrooms like shiitake are nutritionally rich and may support the immune system but mushrooms alone are not a cure-all . Instead, they should be included as a vital part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. With regards to COVID, several fungi experts, including Paul Stamets, suggest that you might want to stop using medicinal mushrooms if you get a fever and show symptoms of COVID-19. Some mushrooms may increase the production of inflammatory compounds in the lungs. These compounds are called cytokines, and the body may release them as a natural response to some polysaccharides found in fungi. Please consult a medical professional to discuss this fully if you become unwell. One last thing, please avoid eating foraged mushrooms unless they can be properly identified - some mushrooms are poisonous.www.drlaurenmacdonald.comFind out more about Life Cykle: https://lifecykel.comConnect with Life Cycle on Instagram @LifeCykelA Fascinate Productions podcast

Professor David Nutt is a neuropsychopharmacologist who has spent his career making the argument for a rational, evidence-based approach to drug policy and drug use. Since 2019 he’s also headed up the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London alongside Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris. This episode explores the latest research in the field of psychedelics as well as the historical war on drugs and the ongoing challenges that come with studying psychedelics.In this episode we discuss:-    Why psychedelic research is so important-    The War on Drugs as one of the worst examples of censorship of research in the history of science-    How current drug policy that does not reflect the truth about the majority of illegal drugs-    The societal impact of poorly informed drug policy-    The therapeutic potential for a range of psychedelics-    Psilocybin for the treatment of depression and end of life anxiety-    LSD, MDMA and ayahuasca (DMT)-    How psychedelics can expand our understanding of consciousness itself-    The evidence for microdosing-    Medicinal cannabis-    The detrimental impact of alcohol on health-    And so much more…I’d love to hear how this episode lands with you. Please get in touch to let me know your thoughts @holistichealingproject.Find out more about Drug Science: www.drugscience.comConnect with Professor David Nutt on Twitter @ProfDavidNuttand on The Drug Science Podcast.Professor Nutt is Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit at Imperial College London, President of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and Chair of the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs. He is also the current Edmund J Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London.www.drlaurenmacdonald.comA Fascinate Productions podcast

Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning pioneer in the field of time-lapse cinematography. His work can be seen in his “Moving Art” Netflix series, in films like “Wings of Life” narrated by Meryl Streep, his Visual Healing series played in hospitals in the USA, and as part of his three hugely popular TED talks. More recently, he brought us Fantastic Fungi with mycologist Paul Stamets. This informative, educational and breath-taking documentary invites us to not only observe nature but recognise that we are nature.In this episode we discuss:-      Why Louie was drawn to time-lapse photography and specifically to capturing nature-       How his work aims to shift human consciousness to aid the healing of the planet and how we treat each other-       How the underground mycelium network is a beautiful model for how we can live our lives; a shared economy where nutrients are shared without greed to enable ecosystems to flourish-       Fantastic Fungi as an exploration of nature, science, history, medicine, psychedelics, death, spirituality and environmentalism-       The power of Visual Healing in the hospital setting-       How gratitude, wonder and awe support our physiology-       Nature as a portal to spirituality-       Why we should celebrate the interconnectedness, rhythms and beauty of life on Earth-       And so much more…"Beauty and seduction are nature’s tools for survival, because we protect what we fall in love with. It opens our hearts and makes us realise that we are a part of nature and not separate from it. When we see ourselves in nature, it also connects us to every single one of us, because it’s clear that it’s all connected and one.”Find out more about Louie Schawatzberg at www.movingart.comConnect with Louie @louieschwartzbergPlease pop over and say hello at @holistichealingprojectAdditionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to: www.drlaurenmacdonald.com A Fascinate Productions podcast

My guest this week is Mary Hoang. Mary is the head psychologist and founder of The Indigo Project, Australia's largest and most progressive psychology practice. Working as a psychologist for a youth charity early on in her career, Mary observed the stigma surrounding her profession often prevented young people who needed support from seeking it. Combining a creative approach to psychology, alongside a refreshing willingness to be open with her own struggles, Mary has helped open up the conversation about mental health and wellbeing. Through a combination of 1:1 therapy [including online sessions], workshops, events and online courses, Mary and the team at The Indigo Project help you “get your shit together”In this episode we discuss:-     Why it’s import to think creatively about mental health and wellbeing-     How being vulnerable invites deeper connection-     Why it was important to Mary to dismantle any hierarchy between therapist and client-     Holistic approaches to mental health-     Why finding your Purpose isn’t as difficult as you think-     The role of music, dance, breathwork and meditation in helping us move from head to heart-     Simple self-care practices that support human flourishing-     How we can access more joy, awe and wonder-     And so much more…Books mentioned during this conversation: - Lost Connections - Johann Hari- Phosphorescence On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark - Julia BairdFinally, please remember if you’re currently going through a challenging time there is always someone you can speak to. The Samaritans UK are available 24/7 on 116 123. Your own GP is always another person you can speak to. The Indigo Project, although based in Australia, also offers online courses and Zoom therapy sessions.Find out more about The Indigo Project: https://www.theindigoproject.com.auConnect with Mary Hoang on Instagram: @maryhoangindigoPlease pop over and say hello at @holistichealingprojectAdditionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to: www.drlaurenmacdonald.com A Fascinate Productions podcast

Charles is a speaker, writer and self-described “degrowth activist” who focuses on healing humanity and planet Earth. He is the author of several books including The Ascent of Humanity, The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible, and Climate: A New Story. More recently he explored the COVID-19 pandemic in two insightful essays, The Coronation and The Conspiracy Myth - both well worth your time. In this conversation with Charles we discuss:-     The interconnectedness of health-     Healing as a return to wholeness-     Why we need to explore our unconscious beliefs and biases-     COVID-19 and the various narratives being put forward-     The role of viruses, bacteria and fungi in human evolution-     How the “Story of Separation” has led to suffering, loneliness and poverty-     How believing we’re on "team good" leads to the endless quest for power and control-     How myths play into the massive polarisation of society-     How the pandemic could potentially be a pivot point in human history. From here we can choose another story - one of interdependence and love rather than fear and separation.-     And soooooo much more…I hope you enjoy this episode. Please rate and review of you do.Sending love to you all.Find out more about Charles at www.charleseisenstein.comPlease pop over and say hello at @holistichealingprojectAdditionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to: www.drlaurenmacdonald.com A Fascinate Productions podcast

Hello everyone. I hope you're doing OK and managing to navigate this surreal time. I’m presuming the vast majority of us are doing our bit by staying at home and whilst there’s a sense of being “in it together”, I appreciate we also have unique situations and challenges to contend with during this time. In some ways it all feels very uncertain, yet there are still some things within our control. We explore some of these factors during this episode. We also discussThe importance of self careThe role of gratitude The lifestyle changes that helped Rupy overcome his own health challengeNutrition as a key pillar of health and wellnessHow Lifestyle Medicine is becoming increasingly important as diseases of poor lifestyle choices affect increasing numbers of people around the world – resulting in rising incidences of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, auto-immune diseases, cancer and dementia. Simple tips to support immune healthThe importance of living an authentic life - both personally and professionallyTrauma and post-traumatic growthAnd so much more…I hope you enjoy the episode and that it brings you some comfort as you go about your day. Sending love to you all.Find out more about Rupy at www.thedoctorskitchen.comPlease pop over and say hello at @holistichealingprojectAdditionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to: www.drlaurenmacdonald.com A Fascinate Productions podcast

In this episode we explore:- How Nick’s intention for his music has evolved over the years-   The creative process involved in making music that moves people-   How Nick came to collaborate with East Forest for the re-work of “Please Pass The Bliss”-   Nick’s journey to finding his voice and letting himself be truly seen on stage-   The power of storytelling-   The importance of connecting to nature in light of accelerating climate change and the rapid decline in biodiversity-   And so much more…I really hope you enjoy our conversation. If you do, please take a moment to subscribe and review.Find out more about Nick at www.nickmulvey.comFind Please Pass The Bliss on Apple or Spotify under: Nick Mulvey, East Forest, Ram Dass - Please Pass The Bliss (Nick Mulvey Rework)Find out more about Embercombe and Mac Macartney at www.embercombe.orgPlease pop over and say hello at @holistichealingprojectAdditionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to: www.drlaurenmacdonald.comA Fascinate Productions podcast

Wherever you are around the world, I really hope you’re doing OK out there. There’s no doubt that life has been turned upside down by COVID-19 and it’s understandable if you’re a little discombobulated. Right now we’re navigating not only our individual fear and anxiety but also that of the collective - something we’ve never experienced on this scale in our lifetime. Fortunately, there’s plenty that we, as individuals, can do during this time to support not only ourselves but our wider communities.In this episode I share simple tips and practices that can help you navigate uncertainty, support your immune system and come to a place of acceptance and surrender. I hope you enjoy this episode and that it offers you some comfort and support. Please remember to rate and review if you find it helpful.Sending love xPlease pop over and say hello at @holistichealingprojectAdditionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to: www.drlaurenmacdonald.comA Fascinate Productions podcast

*Please note this episode was recorded in early March*In this episode we explore:- Tara’s own healing journey from burnt out NHS Psychiatrist to Executive Coach,Author and Speaker- Her rock bottom as the catalyst for her reinvention- Self-awareness as the first step on any healing journey- The practices and tools that can help us switch from autopilot to conscious living- The science behind the law of attraction- Moving from lack thinking to abundant thinking- The Source as the alignment of our brain, body, and spirit- The role of journaling, visualisation and action boards in manifesting- How we can support our gut-brain axis and tap into our intuition- Micro-changes as being key for behavioural change- How growth, healing and fulfilling your potential is a journey not a final destination- And so much more…I really hope you enjoy our conversation. If you do, please take a moment to subscribe and review. Find out more about Tara at www.drtaraswart.comAdditionally, if you’re interested in my Holistic Healing Inner Circle membership head on over to:www.drlaurenmacdonald.com Instagram: holistichealingprojectA Fascinate Productions podcast