Back in Control with David Hanscom, MD

Oxytocin and Human Sociality

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with Dr. Sue Carter, the former director of the Kinsey Institute and a world-renowned scientist. She talks about oxytocin’s important role in human social behavior. She underscores the fact that oxytocin affects every tissue of the body and is the physiologic basis for pair bonding and relationships. Under stress, the body produces large amounts of oxytocin, and can help us make better judgments about who it is safe to connect with. She shares how her understanding of oxytocin grew out of her research studies on the social behavior of prairie voles. Sue Carter, PhD is the former director of the Kinsey Institute and a world renowned scientist. Her research program has discovered important new developmental functions for oxytocin and vasopressin, and implicated these hormones in the regulation of human connection and early social experiences. She is also studying oxytocin’s implications for controlling stress and chronic pain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oxytocin, Healing and Health

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with Dr. Sue Carter, the former director of the Kinsey Institute and a world-renowned scientist. She shares how the importance of oxytocin has come to be recognized in the scientific community over time. She discusses the evolutionary history of oxytocin and explains the role that oxytocin plays in lowering inflammation and reducing stress. It also helps the body to build and repair bone tissue and plays an important part in healing processes. Sue Carter, PhD is the former director of the Kinsey Institute and a world renowned scientist. Her research program has discovered important new developmental functions for oxytocin and vasopressin, and implicated these hormones in the regulation of human connection and early social experiences. She is also studying oxytocin’s implications for controlling stress and chronic pain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Perils of Sugar for Health

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with neuroendocrinologist and bestselling author Rob Lustig.  He explains the different types of sugar we consume in our diet and how the body metabolizes each type. In particular, he focuses on the dangers of the sweetener fructose and discusses how it results in fatty liver disease and diabetes. The problem with fructose is that it is both toxic and addictive. Our liver has a limited capacity to metabolize fructose. However, it stimulates the production of dopamine which makes us want it more and is why food manufacturers put it into so much of our processed foods. Robert H. Lustig, M.D., M.S.L. is Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, and Member of the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF. Dr. Lustig is a neuroendocrinologist, with expertise in metabolism, obesity, and nutrition. He is one of the leaders of the current “anti[1]sugar” movement that is changing the food industry. Dr. Lustig graduated from MIT in 1976, and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. He also received his Masters of Studies in Law (MSL) degree at University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2013. He is the author of the popular books Fat Chance (2012), The Hacking of the American Mind (2017), and Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine (2021). He is the Chief Science Officer of the non-profit Eat REAL, he is on the Advisory Boards of the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, the Center for Humane Technology, Simplex Health, Levels Health, and ReadOut Health, and he is the Chief Medical Officer of BioLumen Technologies, Foogal, Perfact, and Kalin Health.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Fiber Keeps Us Healthy

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with neuroendocrinologist and bestselling author Rob Lustig. He shares how he first got interested in nutrition when he studied the role of the hypothalamus in driving obesity in pediatric patients with brain cancer. He discusses the symbiotic role of gut bacteria in our digestion, immune response and even the experience of pain. He explains six importance benefits of fiber in keeping the gut microbiome healthy, regulating appetite and protecting the gut. Robert H. Lustig, M.D., M.S.L. is Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, and Member of the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF. Dr. Lustig is a neuroendocrinologist, with expertise in metabolism, obesity, and nutrition. He is one of the leaders of the current “anti[1]sugar” movement that is changing the food industry. Dr. Lustig graduated from MIT in 1976, and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. He also received his Masters of Studies in Law (MSL) degree at University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2013. He is the author of the popular books Fat Chance (2012), The Hacking of the American Mind (2017), and Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine (2021). He is the Chief Science Officer of the non-profit Eat REAL, he is on the Advisory Boards of the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, the Center for Humane Technology, Simplex Health, Levels Health, and ReadOut Health, and he is the Chief Medical Officer of BioLumen Technologies, Foogal, Perfact, and Kalin Health.Pain, Chronic Pain, Healing, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Collaborative Approach to Healing Pain

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with Charlie Merrill, a physiotherapist, clinician educator and consultant to startup Lin Health.  He outlines his collaborative approach with patients. This begins with a physical assessment to look for a pattern that makes sense. If his findings don’t add up, the pain could be due to psycho-social factors. He uses treatments that interrupt the brain’s reaction and creates new wiring. He changes the physical treatment as the client’s nervous system calms down. Throughout the treatment process, he shares the science of pain with his clients and helps dispel myths about their pain and reduce their fear. He has found that people heal best when they let go of their anger. Charlie Merrill is a Boulder, CO based physiotherapist synthesizing mind/body strategies to treat acute and chronic pain symptoms. He supports clients across the life span, including elite athletes, in un-learning symptoms by addressing their fear about the pain itself as well as fear about the emotions related to life stress and change.  In addition to teaching clinicians, Charlie’s work with startup Lin Health is normalizing, scaling, and improving access to the idea and treatment strategies that acknowledge and address the ways in which emotions manifest as physical symptoms. For more information, visit: lin.health.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices