The Informed Health Initiative

Today we will be talking to Dr. Henry Barham. Dr. Barham is a trailblazer in rhinology, dedicated to providing cutting-edge care for sinus, nasal, and allergy-related conditions. As a board-certified specialist at Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Louisiana, he combines advanced surgical expertise with a deep commitment to research and education, helping patients find real, lasting relief.After earning his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Dr. Barham honed his skills in otolaryngology at the University of Colorado before pursuing elite fellowship training in Sydney, Australia. Under world-renowned experts Prof. Richard Harvey, Prof. Raymond Sacks, and Dr. George Marcells, he gained specialized expertise in rhinology, rhinoplasty, and skull base surgery—bringing a global perspective to the care he provides in Louisiana.Now back in his home state, Dr. Barham is one of the few dedicated rhinologists in the Southeast. Whether performing complex surgeries, advancing medical knowledge, or speaking at leading conferences worldwide, Dr. Barham’s mission remains the same: to help patients breathe better, feel better, and live better.In this episode, we discuss the fascinating role of taste receptors beyond the tongue, their influence on immunity, and how understanding these mechanisms can lead to innovative health solutions. This conversation bridges science and practical health applications, offering insights into how our body's sensory systems impact overall health. We'll alsoexplore the fascinating intersections of biophotonics, taste receptors, and the future of health science as well as discuss how natural light, diet, and sensory inputs influence brain health and disease prevention. Finally, we explore how taste receptor genetics influence health, immunity, and dietary choices, and Dr. Barham discusses a pioneering phenotypic test that helps individuals understand their taste receptor expression and how it impacts their immune response and disease susceptibility.Key TopicsTaste receptors beyond the tongue, including in the nasal and other organsThe role of bitter taste receptors in innate immunity and infection defenseGenetic and phenotypic testing of taste receptor expressionImpact of diet and lifestyle on taste receptor expression and immune functionPotential therapies including nose sprays and oral droplets to stimulate receptorsThe connection between smell, taste, and neurodegenerative diseasesPublic health implications of personalized immune testing and educationFurther information can be found at Dr. Barham's websites:Sinus and Nasal Specialists | Louisiana ENTPhenomuneThe Pituitary & Skull Base Institute

Today we will be talking to Megan Mansell, who served as a rare voice of reason and common sense concerning masking during the worst days of the COVID hysteria.Megan is a former district education director over special populations integration, serving students who are profoundly disabled, immunocompromised, undocumented, autistic, and behaviorally challenged; she also has a background in hazardous environs PPE applications. She is experienced in writing and monitoring protocol implementation for immunocompromised public sector access under full ADA/OSHA/IDEA compliance. She is the author of the book Accommodating Chaos, and a contributor at Brownstone Institute and Rational Ground publications.I today's show, we will address the following:PPE is highly regulated and hazard specific. There is an entire field — Industrial Hygiene — dedicated to making sure that PPE meets specific thresholds to be deemed mitigating. Aerosol mitigation in medical settings is not under the purview of medical practitioners.Many people complied not out of personal fear but because they thought they were being helpful, but instilling a false sense of security for the truly medically vulnerable is antithetical to the efforts made. We’re stuck. New pathogens require us to look at transmission method, particle size, minimum infective dose, terms of viability, and specific mitigation measures for each hazard or pathogen. This is not one size fits all. We skipped these critical steps and continue to do so. Megan's book can be found at Accommodating Chaos: Correcting course on a plague of misinformation: Mansell, Megan Kristen: 9798765561461: Amazon.com: BooksHer writings can be found at Megan Mansell, Brownstone InstituteRational Ground by Justin Hart | SubstackFollow her on X at: Megan Mansell@mamasaurusMeg

Today we will be talking to Dr. Sarah Duhon, ND, BSN, about the role of naturopathic medicine in the evolution of our present health care paradigm.Dr. Sarah Duhon has her doctorate in naturopathic medicine and bachelors in the science of nursing. She earned her doctorate from Bastyr University of California and bachelor's in nursing from Southern University of Louisiana. She has successfully passed part I and II of the Naturopathic Physician Board Licensing Examination and is licensed in the state of Kansas. Dr. Sarah’s passion is to bring an abundance of education to help empower the community to take control of their health, so they may learn to “doctor themselves”. Her passions in natural medicine encompass Ayurvedic, functional neurology, and Naturopathic approaches to treat infertility, preconception, pregnancy and postpartum wellness, autoimmune disease, pediatric neurological developmental disorders, Lyme disease, and mold toxicity among other environmental toxicity conditions. She has the knowledge of and ability to apply healing modalities such as nutrition, lifestyle counseling, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, craniosacral therapy, aromatherapy, and functional neurology, among others to assist in the most appropriate, individualized healing path for optimal well-being.Further information about Dr. Duhon and her clinic, Illuminate Natural Health, can be found at:Dr. Sarah Duhon N.D.Illuminate Natural Health

Today we will be talking to Sally K. Norton. MPH, Ivy-league nutritionist & author of the book, "Toxic Superfoods: How Oxalate Overload is Making You Sick-and How to Get Better".Sally K. Norton, MPH holds a nutrition degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree in public health. Her path to becoming a leading expert on dietary oxalate includes a prior career working at major medical schools in medical education and public health research. Her personal healing experience inspired years of research that led to her book, Toxic Superfoods: How Oxalate Overload is Making You Sick-and How to Get Better which was released in January 2023 from Rodale Press and is available everywhere books are sold. Our topics for today will include:Functional Medicine and Oxalates How Sally recovered from her chronic health issues by lowering her oxalate intake! Sally's NEW COOKBOOK Sally K. Norton's book, “Toxic Superfoods: How Oxalate Overload is Making You Sick-and How to Get Better” is available everywhere books are sold., The Data Companion to Toxic Superfoods is available at https://sallyknorton.com/toxic_superfoods/data_companion. Sally’s latest project, the long awaited cookbook, Sally’s Recipe Collection, is filled with amazing recipes; it can be found at Shop.SallyKNorton.com. For more information, visit SallyKNorton.com or follow Sally on YouTube and social media. She’s @sknorton and @toxicsuperfoods_oxalate_book (on Instagram), @BeFreeToThrive (on Facebook), and @BetterLowOx (on X) LINKS:Website: https://sallyknorton.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/sknorton IG: https://www.instagram.com/toxicsuperfoods_oxalate_book FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeFreetoThrive X: https://twitter.com/BetterLowOx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFpmJtV19QCyjzaC5U691-A "Toxic Superfoods" Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593139585?tag=randohouseinc7986-20 "Data Companion" Book: https://sallyknorton.com/toxic_superfoods/data_companion Sally's Recipe Collection: https://shop.sallyknorton.com/products/low-oxalate-recipe-book-pdf-only

Today we will be talking to Christi Oden, a local physical therapist, about a variety of subjects, primarily focusing on aspects of exercise prescription in older adults, and the importance of exercise in maintaining good health as we age.Some of the areas we will talk about include:1. Fall statistics 2. PT fall risk assessment 3. Risk factors for falling4. Tips to lower fall risk5. Strength, core, balance and reaction time exercises to lower the incidence of fallsWe will also touch on: 1. Backward walking: why is that so helpful?2. How can more elderly pts adjust exercises for their own homes?3. Why should elderly patients lift weights?4. Is motion truly lotion (aka exercise is youth promoting anti-aging)?

Today we will be talking to Dr. Bob Calhoun, who practices in the Monroe, LA area. Dr. Calhoun was on the frontline of physicians who used early treatment for COVID-19 in the state of Louisiana. He continues to be involved in the treatment of COVID, as well as associated conditions, and also maintains a practice utilizing various aspects of functional and integrative medicine. We will be discussing his experiences during the early days of COVID, as well as his ongoing thoughts concerning this subject. We will also touch on other issues in functional and integrative medicine.For further information: Convenient, compassionate care, on your terms - Paraclete Health Solutions | Dr. Bob Calhoun

Today, we will be talking to Dr. Kathy Willis, who has been a prominent voice for medical and health freedom in the state of Louisiana over the past four years. She will share her thoughts and ideas on what occurred during this time, where we are now, and where we need to go moving forward. Some of the issues we will attempt to address include: 1. The rise of self-reliance over health/holistic overhaul: Back to basics. Vast public interest in optimizing health with healthy eating, supplements, outdoors, sunshine, adequate sleep, red light therapy, grounding, fasting, etc. 2. Collapse of institutional trust: Self Induced. Will hospitals be more for emergency care/surgeries, etc. in the future? People are avoiding healthcare. 3. Tech as a double-edged sword: AI driven protocols. How do we know how and who trained the AI? Diagnostic wearables - ingenious or invasive? Mental health and the mind games played on the public via social media. AI bots promoting narratives that cause stress, fear and panic regarding health/outbreaks.4. Backlash against pharma: People felt betrayed. Will pharma regain the public’s trust? What would it take to regain trust?5. Community driven care: A future model where communities come together to help take care of each other. Community gardens, sharing and trading crops, herbs, remedies. Relying on each other instead of “experts”.6. Rejection of One-Size-Fits-All: Vaccine/masks mandates don’t make sense when you think about the complexity of the human body and its systems. Everyone is unique and has a different genetic makeup, different environmental exposures, different eating habits, exercise habits, etc. Was it ever wise to categorize the entire world population into “needs a vaccine and a mask”? How did we get to that point?7. Preparedness, not dependence: The public should be educated on how to prepare for health emergencies and not wait to hear from the authorities who then subvert and violate freedoms.

Today we will be talking to Dr. Tim Nicholls concerning the loss of confidence in organized medicine since 2020., when COVID really pulled back the curtains for many of us. Among the topics we will touch on:What went wrong with American Medicine and when were the inflection points?What is the true extent of the influence of Big Pharma and Big Food and when did this occur?What are the reliable sources (influencers, organizations, journals, experts) of medical information now?How does Evidence Based Medicine work when the "Evidence" is controlled by unreliable sources?MAHA updates...what is being done now by RFK Jr, Oz, Makary, Bhattacharya to begin to correct the course of Public Health?MALA updates...what is going on in our state in this regard?Is it possible to organize local and state providers who have similar concerns about these matters?How can we most efficiently add to our nutritional/functional/traditional medicine fund of knowledge?