Itchy and Bitchy

(00:00:00) 221: Itchy & Bitchy ClinicCrawl: Your Dog Brought a Killer Into Your House; Skipping Your Meds could Kill You (00:00:11) Welcome to the Itchy and Bitchy Podcast (00:00:42) Doc Itchy Medical Pets Supplements (00:01:34) Hypertension and Medication Compliance (00:03:52) The Importance of Taking Medications as Prescribed (00:07:40) Ticks and Tick Prevention (00:11:34) Closing Remarks and Call to Action Two Silent Threats: What's Hiding on Your Dog and in Your Medicine CabinetItchy & Bitchy is the podcast for anyone who has ever felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health and hormone health to autoimmune disease and chronic pain, we investigate what science actually says. We examine functional medicine, holistic health, and alternative medicine with the same skeptical If it’s pseudoscience, we’ll call it. If it’s medical gaslighting, patient advocacy failure, or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers, and wellness skeptics WE OFFER No filters. No BS. Just the truth your doctor didn’t have time to tell you.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS

(00:00:00) 220: From TikTok to Doctor's Office: The Truth About 'Cortisol Moon Face' (00:00:11) Welcome to the Itchy and Bitchy Podcast (00:00:42) Doc Itchy Medical Pets Supplements (00:01:05) Revisiting Cortisol Face Controversy (00:04:21) The Importance of Sleep in Young Adults (00:09:02) Melatonin's Benefits for Dogs and Humans (00:12:45) Brief Intermission (00:13:01) Hormones and Growth During Sleep (00:19:17) Second Intermission (00:19:45) Melatonin's Wide-Ranging Benefits (00:21:52) Melatonin Safety and Dosage Scroll through TikTok for five minutes and you'll find thousands of teenagers diagnosing themselves with "cortisol face" puffy cheeks, a rounded jawline, swelling they swear is proof their stress hormones are out of control. It's everywhere. It's viral.And it's terrifying parents and confusing doctors in equal measure.We reveal what cortisol actually does to a teenager's face and body, how to tell a real hormone disorder from a viral delusion, and why dismissing every kid who brings this up to their doctor could be a dangerous mistake.Buckle up. This one's controversial.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS

Karen unpacks the fast-growing world of digital health, from Apple Watch and smartphone apps to telehealth and new hospital tech that can improve care and streamline recovery at home. She also addresses the downsides, raising concerns around the security of these technologies.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS

Karen shares a deeply personal episode on the human-animal bond after the loss of her family’s lovebird, Saki, exploring why pet grief can feel so profound and practical ways to heal. She offers suggestions, from letting yourself feel what you feel to creating memorial rituals, revisiting joyful memories, and caring for your body while you mourn, plus when to seek professional support.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS

Karen Nickell revisits menopausal mammal, this time with brand new context: new research from Uganda’s Ngogo chimpanzees shows some chimps experience menopause too. She explains what makes humans evolutionary outliers, unpacks the grandmother hypothesis, and explores why certain toothed whales (like orcas) stop reproducing yet continue to live for decades.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS

Karen takes a look at GLP-1 receptor agonists, best known for weight loss and diabetes. She explores the rapidly expanding list of conditions these medications may help treat. From emerging and sometimes conflicting research on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease to FDA-approved benefits for cardiovascular health, kidney disease, and fatty liver disease, Karen breaks down what the science currently shows and where caution is still needed.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS

Karen counts down her top 10 Itchy & Bitchy moments of 2025, from smarter New Year’s resolutions and promising UTI vaccines on the horizon to updated insights on HRT.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS

Karen breaks down red light therapy (photobiomodulation) and where it actually helps: smoothing signs of aging, supporting hair regrowth, calming acne (especially paired with blue light), easing chronic pain and inflammation, and even emerging research for cognition in dementia.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too. For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER No BS