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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 -...

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 discuss I hope you enjoy the...

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...

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...

*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...

Bronnie Ware is an international best selling author, an inspirational speaker, artist, singer-songwriter and mother. Best known for her international bestselling book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, a memoir based on her time as a palliative care worker, Bronnie is also the author of several other books including Your Year For Change and Bloom. Through her words she invites us, the reader, to recognise the sacredness of time and embrace our power of choice in any given moment. This...

In this episode we explore: - Why cases of spontaneous remission are so challenging to study - How Dr Rediger has changed his own life as a result of studying these cases - The key pillars identified in his research - How nutrition, the immune system, reducing stress, love, beliefs, faith and identity all contribute to healing - The importance of an individual N=1 approach to healing - And so much more… Dr Jeffrey Rediger is a Psychiatrist, the Medical Director of McLean SE Adult...

In this episode we discuss: - Sophie’s personal journey to setting up Trew Fields - The festival as a space where integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, spirituality and shamanism collide - The role of community in health and healing - The challenges and gifts that come with working in the cancer space - Death and dying - And so much more This is a raw and honest conversation so I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please take a moment to subscribe and review. Trew Fields will be held...

In this episode we discuss: - Erin’s personal journey to work with plants - The gap between conventional medicine and naturopathic medicine - How many modern day pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants - Key plants, herbs and spices that can help support your health and wellbeing - The hidden dangers of plants/herbal supplements and how to keep yourself safe - How plants can support the gut microbiome - The importance of consulting with a herbalist for individualised care - How...

In this episode we discuss: - The Mind-Body connection - How emotions impact our physiology - The impact of trauma on physical, mental and spiritual health - Addiction as something we all experience - Multigenerational trauma - Plant medicine as a tool for healing - The other tools that have helped Gabor on his own healing journey - The need for a more holistic approach to “illness” especially regarding mental health I really hope you enjoy the episode. If you do, please subscribe...

Anthony is a teacher, breathwork practitioner, motivational speaker and the founder of Alchemy of Breath. I first came across Anthony about 18 months ago and was touched by how much love and warmth he radiates out into the work but also his mission to empower people to self-heal and transform using the power of breath. In this episode we explore: - The practice of breathwork - Anthony’s personal journey to breathwork, including the survival and transformation of a his own serious...

Robin is also a dōTERRA essential oil advocate and a TED X speaker. Most recently Robin has been recovering from breast cancer and in this episode we explore: - The two big life events that helped Robin understand the difference between healing and curing - How she now views her own cancer diagnosis as a transformative experience - Healing as a return to wholeness - Nature as being a key part of her healing journey - The practice of medicine as an art rather than a science - The...

In this episode we explore: - Candace’s personal journey from stock broker to kundalini yoga teacher - The catalyst for her career change - How kundalini differs to other styles of yoga - The role of breathwork, the movement kriya sets and chanting - Why kundalini teachers always wear white - The science behind yoga and meditation - How sound healing impacted her fellow traders on the stock exchange floor - How to start a daily meditation practice - The way cacao supports...

Stefana is Co-Director of the UK Psychedelic Society and regularly facilitates the Society’s Psychedelic Experience weekends in the Netherlands. After gaining a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford and a subsequent Masters in International Affairs she previously worked in Human Rights before following her intuition to work with psychedelics. She is also a Holistic Counsellor and a Forrest Yoga teacher. I recently joined Stefana to take part in a legal,...

When you hear the term “energy medicine”, what do you think? For many people it’s a case of rolling their eyes and declaring it “woo woo”. But what if energy medicine can support health and healing? I’m hoping this week’s guest can persuade you to keep an open mind. Dr Gemma Newman has a huge following on instagram under @plantpowerdoctor and regularly appears on TV and podcasts. She is passionate about the study of psychology and meditation, and uses techniques she has learned to help her...