If you have ever treated the same problem over and over without lasting relief, this episode will help explain why. Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia explore what it actually means to chase symptoms, why it so often falls short, and what systemic healing looks like instead.

Using the image of a house's electrical system throughout the episode, Dr. Carling explains why symptoms are breakers tripping. Medications and targeted treatments flip the breaker back on, but if no one opens the wall to find the faulty wiring, the breaker keeps tripping. She explains that the body is organized into interconnected systems, and when one is under strain, the signal reroutes. That is why treating back pain can lead to neck pain returning, or calming the gut can leave a patient exhausted. True healing means stabilizing the system driving the symptoms, not just quieting the output.

In this episode:

• Why arthritis, kidney stones, gallstones, bone spurs, and cataracts can all share the same root cause, and what that reveals about symptom-focused care

• How to recognize when a symptom is part of a bigger systemic issue, including the role of chronicity and pattern overlap

• What systemic healing actually prioritizes: nervous system regulation, circulation, digestive efficiency, immune balance, and cellular energy

• How acupuncture stabilizes the whole system rather than targeting a single symptom, and why that produces broader, more lasting results

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Nutrition during chemotherapy is one of the most misunderstood parts of cancer care. People are told to boost immunity, eat superfoods, and load up on supplements, but the wrong support at the wrong time can actually make treatment harder. In this episode, Dr. Carling and Alicia break down what nutrition should actually look like during chemo and why the goal is not to push the body harder, but to protect, stabilize, and preserve it.

Dr. Carling explains that during chemotherapy, the body is under constant breakdown pressure. Gut lining, muscle tissue, nerve function, and brain health are all at risk. Nutrition's job is to protect those tissues, support digestion and absorption, stabilize blood sugar and energy, and reduce side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue. She also addresses chemo brain, the do's and don'ts of supplementation, why immune stimulation can be counterproductive, and how acupuncture works alongside nutrition to help the body actually absorb and use what it is being given.

In this episode:

• Why immune balance, not immune stimulation, is the goal during chemotherapy, and what that looks like in practice

• The four main jobs of nutrition during chemo: tissue protection, digestion support, blood sugar stability, and side effect reduction

• Practical do's and don'ts including which proteins and fats to prioritize, why aggressive detox protocols are not appropriate, and how to manage nausea, diarrhea, and taste changes

• How acupuncture reduces nausea, supports digestion, calms the nervous system, and helps the body use nutrition more effectively

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

A patient came in after an auto accident with neck and back injuries. She also happened to be an insulin dependent diabetic for 12 years. What unfolded over the next five months was far more than anyone expected. In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia walk through a patient testimonial that touches on diabetes, weight loss, sinus problems, and even wrinkles, and what it reveals about treating the body as a whole.

Dr. Holly explains that when you begin improving health in one area, other systems can start to respond as well. In this case, addressing the nervous system, inflammation, and circulation through acupuncture and nutritional support created conditions where the patient's blood sugar regulation improved, her weight came down, and her skin changed visibly. Her internal medicine doctor monitored her labs and made the decision to taper her insulin. Five months in, she was insulin free.

This episode is not about a single condition or a single treatment. It is about what becomes possible when the whole system is supported at once.

In this episode:

• How treating neck and back pain after an auto accident created a foundation for improved blood sugar regulation and insulin reduction

• Why the nervous system, inflammation, circulation, and metabolism are deeply connected, and how acupuncture supports all of them

• How reducing inflammation affects cortisol levels and why that matters for weight loss

• What local and systemic acupuncture can do for skin health, circulation, and tissue healing

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Most people are taught to think of back and neck pain as a structural problem, something worn out, broken down, or in need of fixing. But in this episode, Dr. Holly Carling offers a completely different framework: pain is not the enemy. It is a signal, and understanding what it is communicating changes everything about how you approach healing.

Dr. Holly explains that the spine functions less like a stack of bricks and more like a communication highway, carrying nerve signals, blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and stress responses throughout the body. Neck pain, low back pain, and sciatica are not three unrelated problems. They are different traffic jams on the same highway.

If you have been living with chronic pain, confused by a normal-looking scan, or wondering whether surgery is your only option, this episode gives you a grounded, practical way to understand what your body is doing and what actually helps it heal.

In this episode:

• Why pain is a communication signal, not a structural failure, and what it is actually telling the nervous system

• Why MRI and X-ray findings often do not match a person's pain level, and what chronic functional stress looks like

• How acupuncture helps regulate nerve firing, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and interrupt the nervous system's protective loop

• Nutrition, movement, and home care strategies that support healing rather than working against it

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

When something feels wrong in the body, the instinct is to treat whatever symptom shows up. But what if the symptom is not actually the problem? In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia explore why chasing symptoms can leave people stuck in a cycle of feeling better, then worse again, and what it actually looks like to address the root cause.

Using the image of a tree, Dr. Holly explains that symptoms are like leaves. They are visible, they signal that something is wrong, and they matter. But leaves respond to what is happening at the roots. When we only suppress symptoms without asking why they appeared, the body finds another way to communicate.

Whether you have ever wondered why your labs look normal but you still do not feel well, or why treating one issue seems to trigger another, this episode will help you make sense of that pattern.

In this episode:

• Why symptoms are signals, not the source, and what it means to look for root causes in a physiological, practical way

• How the body reroutes stress when core systems are under strain, causing symptoms to shift or multiply

• Why conditions like high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol are worth investigating rather than simply suppressing

• How acupuncture works at the level of the nervous system and core body systems to support true healing rather than symptom management

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

So many people who have had COVID are still struggling months or even years later with fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and a body that just will not bounce back. Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia sit down to talk about why recovery takes so long and what the body actually needs to heal.

In this episode, Dr. Holly explains that long COVID recovery is not about chasing a diagnosis. It is about restoring the body's natural intelligence on multiple levels: nutritional, cellular, nervous system, and emotional. The mitochondria often take the biggest hit after a prolonged illness, and rebuilding those energy systems requires the right fuel, stable routines, and therapies that support the body's natural rhythms.

Whether you are still struggling with post-viral symptoms or simply want to build better resilience for the future, this episode offers practical, grounded guidance rooted in whole-body healing.

In this episode:

• Why the mitochondria are central to fatigue and brain fog after illness, and which foods help recharge them

• How gut integrity, protein absorption, healthy fats, and blood sugar stability all play a role in post-viral recovery

• How acupuncture helps reset the nervous system, improve circulation, and balance a dysregulated immune response

• Why emotional recovery matters just as much as physical recovery, and how to rebuild resilience through routine, movement, and nervous system support

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

For years we have been told that our genes determine our health. If something "runs in the family," many people assume it is only a matter of time before they face the same diagnosis. But what if that belief is only part of the story?

In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia explore the science of epigenetics and explain how your daily choices influence how your genes express themselves. From nutrition and stress to sleep, mindset, and environment, the body is constantly receiving signals that either support health or contribute to disease.

Dr. Carling shares personal stories about changing her own health trajectory despite strong family patterns of obesity, thyroid disorders, and cardiovascular disease. She explains why a genetic predisposition does not mean a guaranteed outcome and how consistent lifestyle changes can shift your future in powerful ways.

This episode offers a hopeful reminder that you are not a victim of your genetics. With intentional choices, you can influence how your body functions and support long-term health and vitality.

In this episode:

• Why genes are not a fixed blueprint for your future

• The role of epigenetics in shaping health outcomes

• How nutrition, stress, sleep, and lifestyle influence gene expression

• Why family patterns often reflect shared habits rather than destiny

• How positive thinking and emotional health affect inflammation and healing

• The importance of real food, movement, rest, and stress management

• How acupuncture and holistic care support healthy gene expression

• Shifting from a mindset of inevitability to empowerment

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

In this powerful testimonial episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia share the story of a woman who had reached a breaking point. She was exhausted, emotionally numb, unable to sleep, and felt disconnected from joy and meaning in her life. After trying conventional medications without relief, she turned to holistic care and experienced profound changes in a short period of time.

Dr. Carling and Alicia explore what this story reveals about the true roots of what is often labeled as "depression." They discuss how emotional fatigue, nutrient depletion, lack of sleep, and chronic stress can drain the body's ability to produce healthy brain chemistry. Dr. Carling explains how nutrition, acupuncture, rest, and compassionate care help the body and mind heal together.

This episode is a reminder that healing is possible when we treat the whole person and address the underlying mechanisms, not just the symptoms.

In this episode:

• A moving testimonial of recovery from emotional numbness and exhaustion

• Why depression is often rooted in fatigue, sleep deprivation, and nutrient deficiencies

• How medications can flatten emotions instead of restoring joy

• The role of fats, protein, minerals, and whole foods in brain health

• Why acupuncture helps rewire the brain and support emotional balance

• How small lifestyle changes can restore energy and resilience

• The importance of being seen, heard, and cared for in the healing process

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.