Are you ready to stop being a victim of your diagnosis and become the master of your own body?
In this powerful episode of Mind Body Medicine for Self-Healers, host Sarah Dawkins welcomes Karen Zuzu Armes, an international holistic health educator and founder of the School of Natural Medicine. Zuzu shares the science-backed, practical strategies she used to reverse "permanent" conditions: epilepsy, scoliosis and arthritis.
We Explore:
The GABA Connection: How Zuzu ended 34 years of seizures by repairing her nervous system with GABA-rich foods and healthy oils.
The Truth About Topical Oils: Why coconut oil won't absorb into your skin and why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the secret "humectant" for delivering minerals like magnesium into your body.
Reversing Scoliosis: A deep dive into Myofascial Release, the "Angel of Pain" and how stretching and oxygenation can literally straighten the spine.
Healing Arthritis with Alkalinity: Why arthritis only thrives in an acidic environment and how Zuzu used collagen and a pH-balanced diet (80/20 rule) to clear spinal inflammation.
The Frequency of Emotion: The fascinating link between stuck emotions and physical organs, why anger lives in the liver and sorrow in the lungs.
The "Master of Your Body" Mindset: Zuzu’s ultimate tip for anyone facing a health crisis and how to find your "inner pharmacy."

Key Highlights & Timestamps:

03:33 Why your nervous system is made of the oils you eat.

11:10 Reversing scoliosis at age 55 through fascia manipulation.

20:46 The ultimate list of GABA-rich foods (from almonds to shiitake mushrooms).

25:50 Debunking the Coconut Oil Myth: Why it's not the best carrier for topical healing.

28:55 The emotional roots of arthritis: How releasing trauma can heal the joints.

30:40 Organ frequencies: Understanding how the liver, kidneys, and heart vibrational frequencies with specific emotions.

33:10 "Where focus goes, energy flows"—Zuzu’s final message on self-belief.

Karen's Bio

Karen “ZuZu” Ziemer Armes is a holistic health educator, author and speaker known for her practical, science-backed approach to helping people restore and sustain vibrant health.

After reversing her own epilepsy, scoliosis, and arthritis through holistic strategies, ZuZu has dedicated decades to empowering others to reclaim their health. She has presented more than 2,500 seminars, authored four health books and guided thousands through transformative, action-oriented education.

ZuZu is the co-founder and co-owner of Holistic Health Educators (HHE) and Lilly Fields Retreat Center, where she leads a global holistic health education platform serving over 45,000 wellness seekers worldwide. Her work focuses on gut and cellular healing, sustainable energy and integrative longevity, blending lived experience with accessible science to inspire confidence, awareness, and lasting health transformation.

Connect with Zuzu

www.ZuZuUnleashed.com

https://www.instagram.com/lillyfieldscenter/

https://www.facebook.com/LillyFieldsWC/

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com

#epilepsytreatment #scoliosistreatment #arthritisrelief #naturalhealing

Are you exhausted from tracking your steps, perfecting your cold plunges and managing your macros, yet still feeling "stuck"? In this episode of Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers, host Sarah explores the hidden pressure behind the biohacking trend.

While tools and protocols have their place, they often become a sophisticated way of overriding the body’s natural intelligence. Sarah challenges the belief that your body is a problem to be solved or a machine to be optimized. Instead, she invites you to see your symptoms; fatigue, pain and anxiety, as vital communication.

Key Information Timestamps

02:02 – The Biohacking Trap Sarah discusses how curiosity can quickly turn into pressure, leading you to manage your life rather than live it, often fueled by the belief that something in you is "broken."

04:11 – The Burden of "Wellness" A look at how high-achieving women often turn healing into another standard to meet, creating "pressure dressed up as wellness" that stresses the nervous system.

05:06 – Performance vs. Connection Sarah explains the shift from the medical model of "fixing" to the mind-body model of "listening," sharing her personal realization that symptoms are communication, not problems.

06:13 – Biohacking vs. Healing A direct contrast between the two: why biohacking focuses on performance and control, while true healing focuses on connection and releasing what’s been held.

07:18 – Guided Reflection & Listening A dedicated space to stop "figuring it out." Sarah leads a somatic exercise to help you tune into your body’s current state and ask what it truly needs.

10:15 – Coming Back to Yourself Closing thoughts on trusting that your body is working for you and how to move forward when you feel stuck despite following all the "tools."

Key Takeaways:

Real healing doesn't come from more pressure. It comes from safety.

Biohacking adds input; healing involves releasing.

Symptoms are not random; they are intelligent responses to your life environment.

Healing begins when you stop forcing and start trusting your body is working for you, not against you.

Enjoyed the show?

Please leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear that they are enough, exactly as they are.

Connect with Sarah:

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the root causes of your symptoms and move beyond the "optimization" mindset, visit our website www.sarahdawkins.com and connect with us on social media.

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

#biohackinghealth #healingmeditation #MindBodyMedicine #SelfHealers #ListenToYourBody #RootCauseHealing #BodyIntelligence #HealingJourney #SomaticHealing

#Biohacking #WellnessCulture #AntiHustle #NervousSystemRegulation #BeyondBiohacking #HealthOverHustle #WellnessWarrior

#HighAchievingWomen #BurnoutRecovery #StressManagement #EmotionalHealth #SelfCompassion #InternalSafety #MindfulLiving

#NotAHack #BodyConnection #HealFromWithin #MindBodyConnection

Today, I sit down with Alex Lombardi, founder of The Brain Edit™, to discuss a missing link in traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment: Lifestyle.

After surviving three traumatic brain injuries, ranging from freak accidents to a near-death car crash, Alex realized that the traditional medical model often leaves patients stuck in a cycle of symptom management.

01:10 A simple accident in a bunk bed caused a subdural hematoma (bleeding in the brain), emphasizing that you don't need a "massive accident" for a life-altering injury.

06:02 A crucial discussion on the "victimhood mentality." Alex explains why you must validate your pain but set a strict time limit on staying in that headspace to allow the brain to transition from trauma to recovery.

11:37 Introducing a missing piece of many recovery plans: Eye retraining. She discusses how "tracking" issues can manifest as severe cognitive dysfunction and why vision therapy is a game-changer for brain fog.

14:42 Rehab routines, convergence and divergence exercises (the finger-to-nose method) and the "rotating chair" movements to retrain balance.

25:17 #1 life hack: The Order of Eating. By eating greens first, then protein, fats and carbs last, you create a barrier that prevents the glucose spikes and crashes responsible for "brain fog" and the "2 p.m. slump."

27:37 Debunking the "low-fat" myths, why the brain requires cholesterol and saturated fats (butter, tallow, ghee) to repair the myelin sheath, the protective coating around your nerves.

40:34 Learn the "science of the brake pedal." Alex explains why a 20-minute sensory deprivation reset is superior to a nap for calming the nervous system without disrupting your circadian rhythm.

44:52 Recovery doesn't happen in a doctor’s office, but in the 23 hours of the day spent at home focusing on habits and environment.

Whether you are recovering from a concussion, supporting a loved one through a TBI, or simply looking to optimize your brain health and focus, this conversation offers a roadmap for healing from the inside out.

Alex's Bio

Alex Lombardi is the founder of The Brain Edit™, the lifestyle-based brain recovery platform redefining how women stop managing symptoms and start living again. After experiencing three traumatic brain injuries over the course of a decade, she recognized a critical gap in the recovery model.

Medical care addresses what happens inside appointments, but the other 23 hours of daily life determines how the brain actually functions.

Through The Brain Edit™, Alex guides women toward clarity, cognitive stability, and renewed momentum by focusing on the structure of modern life itself. Routines, environment, energy management, nutrition, and identity become the foundation for sustainable capacity.

Positioned at the intersection of brain health, lifestyle intelligence, and modern living, Alex is known for introducing the missing conversation in recovery: if you’re not talking about lifestyle, you’re not talking about recovery.

Connect with Alex https://alexlombardiofficial.com/thebrainedit

https://www.instagram.com/alexlombardiofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/alexmarielombardi

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/enriched-with-alex-lombardi/id1561272941

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach.

Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com

#tbi #tbihealing

Burnout isn’t just stress and that’s why your "self-care" isn't working.

If you’ve tried taking a vacation, sleeping more, or clearing your inbox, but you still feel like a hollowed-out version of yourself, this episode is for you.

We’re diving into the two hidden drivers of burnout that go far beyond a heavy workload: Identity-linked pressure and Nervous System Dysregulation.

In this episode, we explore:

The Burnout Misconception: Why vacations don't work.

The Identity Trap: Why high-achievers can't "turn off."

The Biological Reality: Burnout as a nervous system shutdown.

The Signs: From "tired but wired" to emotional flattening.

The Solution: Shifting how you view your value.

Do you recognize these patterns in yourself?

Let’s talk about it in the comments.

🔗 About Sarah Dawkins

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

LET’S CONNECT

https://www.sarahdawkins.com

https://x.com/dawkins_sarah

https://www.facebook.com/dawkinsse

https://www.instagram.com/sarah.dawkins.health

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdawkins-holistichealthcoach/

#Burnout #MentalHealth #HighAchiever #NervousSystem #SelfCare #ProfessionalGrowth

Are you tired of managing symptoms without ever finding a cure? I sit down with Dr Jen Draper, a former General Practitioner with 30 years of experience who walked away from a thriving clinical practice to redefine what "healing" actually means.

Together, we pull back the curtain on the sickness industry and the subtle dependency model created by modern healthcare. Jen shares her personal journey recognizing that her physical pain was a direct message from her body that she was on the wrong path.

Key Information

01:29 Jen shares her journey with pain and excessive weight, mirroring her emotional state.

04:49 Jen shares her personal struggle and realization that the pain in her feet was a somatic metaphor: every step she took into her high-stress clinic was a step on the wrong path and healing only began once she stepped away

06:21 Both former medics discuss the difficulty of relinquishing the prefixes of Dr or Nurse when your entire self-worth has been layered on top of a professional persona since childhood

16:00 Jen offers a cynical yet candid look at Continuing Professional Development. She describes how pharmaceutical companies influence medical education and how doctors are often trained to switch patients from one form of chemical dependency to another

26:03 The conversation shifts to a specific nutritional approach that challenges Western medicine. Jen explains why she stopped prescribing expensive compounded supplements in favor of bioavailable copper, magnesium and the emotional willingness to let go

34:54 Jen argues that the current system encourages us to outsource our health to experts, whereas true healing requires taking radical self-responsibility and trust your own body's intuition

41:58 A provocative look at why preventative care can actually be a nanny state tactic that keeps the nervous system in a state of constant reactivity and fear, often leading to false positives and unnecessary treatments

49:54 Jen describes a startling experiment using a magnet to detect iron filings in fortified cereals and multivitamins, illustrating how the sickness industry may be contributing to iron toxicity under the guise of nutrition

Ready to stop being a patient and start being your own healer?

Dr Jen's Bio

Dr Jen Draper is a former medical doctor with nearly 30 years of clinical experience who chose to leave the conventional healthcare system after recognising the subtle dependency model it creates.

After decades of prescribing within a system structured around symptom management, she began asking a deeper question. Why are intelligent, capable adults becoming lifelong patients of their own patterns?

Today, she is the founder of Well Being Holistic, the creator of The Insourcing Method™ and The Unpatient Way™, and the author of UNPATIENT: How to STOP Outsourcing Your Healing and Rebuild Self Trust in a World That Profits from Your Disconnection.

Her work helps high performing professionals recalibrate nervous system conditioning, reorganise survival based identity structures, and reclaim regulated clarity.

Her approach integrates nervous system science, subconscious restructuring, and Human Design™ as a mirror for self recognition rather than a belief system.

She is known for her grounded authority, clinical precision, and calm clarity. The doctor who left the system and built a better one for those it left dysregulated.

Her core message is simple.

You do not have a mindset problem.

You have a nervous system that learned to survive instead of lead.

Connect with Dr Jen

Website: https://wellbeingholistic.net/

Facebook Group Courage to Conquer: https://tinyurl.com/couragetoconquer

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/drjen.wellbeingholistic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjen.wellbeingholistic/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjen-wellbeingholistic/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjen.wellbeingholistic

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wellbeingholistic

🛑 Stop the cycle of "quick fixes" and heal naturally.

Download your Free Holistic Weight Loss Root Cause Guide here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UtZa5LiwRcKum6lPVFGwpf86rDwnUwtJ/view?usp=sharing

Is losing weight worth losing your ability to walk? Today, I’m talking about a high-profile case where a popular weight loss drug left a woman crawling on her hands and knees.

In this episode of Mind Body Medicine for Self-Healers, host Sarah Dawkins discusses the controversial side effects of pharmaceuticals like Mounjaro and why a recent viral post triggered a massive debate on social media.

Sarah dives deep into why we must look beyond calories and protocols to address the mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and metaphysical root causes of weight gain and the power of natural healing.

Sarah shares why she moved away from the 'diet' mindset to lose three and a half stone / 50 lbs / 24 kg, naturally by looking at the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual root causes. It’s time to stop fighting your body and start listening to it.

There is a free resource to help you identify your unique root cause, whether it’s physical, emotional or even metaphysical.

📥 Download the Free Holistic Weight Loss Resource here : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UtZa5LiwRcKum6lPVFGwpf86rDwnUwtJ/view?usp=sharing

Let’s take a hard look at what it actually takes to heal.

Key Information and Timestamps

00:51 – The hidden risks of weight loss jabs and injections

Sarah discusses the case of Jenny Murray and the severe side effects (loss of mobility) associated with the drug Mounjaro.

01:37 – How to access Sarah’s free resource for natural weight loss

Sarah introduces her free resource that helps listeners determine their specific root causes and supports a natural weight loss journey.

📥 Download the Free Holistic Weight Loss Resource: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UtZa5LiwRcKum6lPVFGwpf86rDwnUwtJ/view?usp=sharing

02:13 – How to identify the mental, physical, and spiritual root causes of weight gain

A breakdown of the different levels where weight gain originates—mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and even metaphysical.

02:38 – Why traditional dieting and strict calorie counting often fail

Sarah explains why focusing solely on "diet and calories" or "strict adherence to protocols" is less effective than addressing the actual reason for weight gain.

03:31 – The importance of self-awareness and belief systems in the healing process

Sarah highlights why we must take a "hard look at what we believe, what we say, and what we do" to achieve true self-awareness and healing.

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com

#naturalweightloss #weightloss #sideeffects #MindBodyMedicine #selfhealing #rootcausehealing #mounjaro #holistichealth #holistichealing #metabolichealth #emotionaleating #weightlossjourney #triggered

Can you truly heal yourself from trauma when the system fails you? In this episode of Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers, I sit down with Simone Swartz an Army veteran, author and PTSD expert, to discuss her powerful journey from military sexual trauma (MST) to holistic recovery.

Simone opens up about the "silent battle" of surviving sexual assault SA within the military, the dangers of self-medicating with alcohol and how she eventually reclaimed her voice. Shifting the narrative from PTSD as a lifelong "sentence" to a treatable condition. Simone explains why traditional talk therapy is often only half the battle.

Key Information & Time Stamps

01:34 Simone recounts her experience with Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and the systemic lack of medical care and justice that followed her assault.

04:08 A deep dive into how suppressed mental distress shows up as physical symptoms, including sleeping disorders and chronic body tension.

07:19 Simone discusses the research-backed truth that PTSD is not a "life sentence" and can be successfully treated if faced head-on.

11:58 An honest look at the use of alcohol as a "crutch" to numb trauma and the importance of recognizing when a coping mechanism has become toxic.

15:43 How transitioning to physical exercise and "positive addictions" provides the necessary structure for long-term sobriety and healing.

17:31 Why talk therapy often reaches a plateau and the necessity of "body work"—such as martial arts, massage, and Reiki—to move trauma out of the physical frame.

21:59 Simone explains why dogs are uniquely qualified to help sexual assault survivors regain a sense of safety and trust when human interaction feels overwhelming.

28:50 The ethical and financial benefits of rescuing shelter dogs and training them as service animals for survivors on a budget.

Whether you are a veteran, a survivor of sexual assault, or someone struggling with the physical manifestations of trauma, this episode offers a roadmap for moving from victim to self-healer.

Simone's Bio

Simone is a Army Veteran, author, public speaker and PTSD expert. She has a newly published step by step guide to PTSD recovery and accompanying workbook that can be purchased on amazon and also the link is on her website. She has founded Service Dog Strong, one of the first nonprofits to give sexual assault survivors diagnosed with PTSD service dogs. She believes in raising awareness that PTSD affects greater populations than is mainly discussed in the media. PTSD can affect survivors of street gun violence, sexual assault, domestic violence and trafficking and her massage she wants to share with the world is that PTSD is treatable after any trauma.

Connect with Simone

https://youtube.com/@ptsdandwhathelpedme

https://www.instagram.com/servicedoginnewyork

https://www.instagram.com/ptsdandwhathelpedme

https://www.tiktok.com/@ptsdandwhathelpedme

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-swartz-7b003a35b/

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com

#ptsdhealing #mst #assault #healingispossible #healingjourney #servicedog #servicedoglife

Are your hormones running the show? In this episode of Mind Body Medicine for Self-Healers, I welcome hormone health coach and yoga instructor Maddie Pollack. After surviving cancer at 25, Maddie discovered she was living with undiagnosed PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). She shares how she moved from irregular cycles and adrenal fatigue to a life of balance using the pillars of nutrition, movement and nervous system regulation.

Key Highlights & Timestamps

01:47 The Birth Control "Band-Aid": Maddie discusses being placed on birth control at age 15 without education or a diagnosis, masking her PCOS symptoms for years.

05:05 The "Hustle" Trap: A look at how waking up at 5:00 AM for intense fasted workouts can backfire for women with PCOS by spiking cortisol and depleting the adrenals.

07:53 Coffee and Cortisol: Maddie explains why drinking coffee on an empty stomach was a major trigger for her anxiety and why eating protein before caffeine is a non-negotiable for hormone health.

09:02 The Magic of Seed Cycling: A breakdown of how to use pumpkin, flax, sesame, and sunflower seeds to support hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle.

10:21 Shifting Exercise for Longevity: Why Maddie traded HIT classes for yoga and strength training, especially as estrogen begins to decline in the 30s.

15:51 HPA Axis Dysfunction: An explanation of "Adrenal Fatigue" and how a dysregulated nervous system leads to the "tired yet wired" feeling.

21:13 The Miracle of Magnesium: Sarah and Maddie discuss why magnesium is the first mineral to be depleted by stress and Sarah shares her DIY recipe for magnesium oil.

22:45 #1 Tip for PCOS Healing: Nervous system regulation

Maddy's Bio

Maddy Pollack is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Hormone Health Coach and Yoga Instructor. After surviving cancer at 25 years old, she dove into the world of wellness and received her Hormone Health Coach certification, which changed her life forever in the best way.

Maddy works one-on-one and in group settings with clients to help them balance their hormones naturally, reverse PCOS symptoms, lose weight, live in tune with their cycles and become more confident in their bodies. Through the pillars of nutrition, movement, and nervous system regulation, she emphasizes a whole body approach with her clients and is passionate about helping women tune in to their mind-body connection.

Connect with Maddy

www.maddypollackhealth.com

https://www.instagram.com/maddypollack_health/

https://www.tiktok.com/@maddy.pollack.health

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com

#pcosrelief #pcosawareness #pcoslifestyle #healingispossible #nervoussystemregulation #seedcycling #healyourself