Dr. Mark Hancock is the leading authority on mistletoe therapy in the US today. In this episode, he joins me for a powerful conversation exploring cutting-edge approaches in integrative cancer therapy you won’t hear about in conventional settings. We break down the science behind mistletoe treatment—its mechanisms, immune effects, and clinical use across subcutaneous, IV, intratumoral, and intraperitoneal delivery—along with real-world case insights.

We also dive into ferroptosis, an emerging iron-dependent cancer cell death pathway gaining attention in oncology, plus the strategic use of repurposed drugs, targeted supplements, and often-overlooked blood biomarkers that can reveal deeper insights into cancer progression and treatment response.

2:50–Dr. Hancock’s backstory: discovery of anthroposophic medicine and mistletoe

4:30–UK rotations and meeting the legendary Dr. Morris Orange and seeing mistletoe in inpatient oncology

6:12–Dr. Orange’s pioneering work: high‑dose fever‑inducing mistletoe and intratumoral injections

9:55–Mistletoe mechanism of action: lectins, dendritic cells, cytokines, NK/T/B cells, apoptosis, viscotoxins, and host‑tree complexity

14:12–Host trees and formulations: 13+ host species, varying lectin/viscotoxin profiles, and the “art” of selecting mistletoe

17:30–Clinical protocols: mixing high‑lectin and endotoxin‑rich products (e.g., Abnoba + Iscador) and weekly cycling strategies

17:50–Teaching mistletoe: Hancock’s apprenticeship program and in‑depth training for providers who want to use mistletoe

18:33–Routes of administration: SubQ as the foundation, IV as the main adjunct, with intratumoral and intraperitoneal use in select cases

23:32–Germany vs. US: advanced procedural mistletoe (e.g., pancreatic injections) and leading integrative German centers (Havelhöhe, Filderklinik, Witten/Herdecke)

30:10 Case study: stage IIIC triple‑negative breast cancer—large tumor, patient refusing chemo/radiation, opting for intratumoral mistletoe

35:05–“Cold” tumors and prostate cancer: immune deserts, checkpoint inhibitor limits, and clinical responses to mistletoe

41:47–NSAIDs, COX‑2 inhibitors: how they blunt fever/skin reactions and can negate mistletoe’s desired immune effect

47:10–Titrating mistletoe: using the “mosquito‑bite” SubQ reaction and fever pattern to adjust dose and frequency

50:08–Ferroptosis 101: iron‑driven cell death, artemisinin/artesunate, IV vitamin C, and sequencing with mistletoe for immunogenic benefit

56:45-How selective is ferroptosis towards cancer cells? Potential dark side of ferroptosis

1:01:00–Biomarkers for ferroptosis and terrain: ferritin, ESR vs. CRP, LDH, and deciding when a patient is ready for treatment

1:21:26-Dr. Hancock's top 4 favorite supplements for cancer and why

1:24:55–Theoretical metabolic risks with Metformin/Berberine. LDH as glycolysis vs. tissue‑breakdown marker, Warburg effect context. Potential for guiding use of DCA/Metformin/Berberine

1:36:12-Dr. Hancock's top 3 favorite repurposed drugs and why

1:42:11-Clinical pearls regarding ferroptosis and autophagy that NO ONE talks about

1:47:12-Dr. Hancock's 3 favorite blood biomarkers

1:54:20-Dr. Hancock’s mistletoe training via PAAM and his apprenticeship

https://anthroposophicmedicine.org/mistletoe-course

https://humanizingmedicine.com/

https://mistletoetherapy.com/team/mark-hancock-md-mph/

Health and fitness influencer Ben Greenfield provided animal-based diet proponent Dr. Paul Saladino a platform to discuss his dietary ideology via a guest-hosting solo episode on his popular podcast a few years back. A primary feature was Paul breaking down the perils, as he framed it, of phytochemicals. In this episode, I focus primarily on correcting the misinformation Paul presented on the phytochemical sulforaphane.

You can listen to Dr. Paul Saladino’s episode on Ben Greenfield’s podcast here.

Studies cited by Paul:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

Studies I cite on the benefits and benign nature of sulforaphane:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

There's so much talk about taking GLP-1 these days. But how does our bodies' own GLP-1 work? And how do you know if your GLP-1 levels are suboptimal? I dig into this very subject as well as how to restore your body's own GLP-1 function.

I also uncover the health implications - particularly blood sugar dysregulation - of low GLP-1 and how GLP-1 function is often the very first domino to fall on the path to diabetes.

I first discussed GLP-1 back in early 2020, before semaglutide was widely available on the market as a weight-loss drug, in an episode titled Blood Sugar Physiology 101. Listen to it here for a detailed explanation of the body's Phase 1 insulin response and its relationship to GLP-1.

In this episode, I give my take on GLP-1 analogs (Ozempic, Mounjaro, etc.). I talk about the benefits, the potential risks that are rarely spoken about and the likely long-term limitations. I get into how these compounds differ from the GLP-1 we make on our own as well as ways to leverage that natural secretion for health benefits. I also dispel the notion that the "natural" GLP-1 stimulators are even remotely on par with the drugs on the market.

BioHarvest Sciences CEO Ilan Sobel and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Cornblatt join the show to talk about how BioHarvest Sciences has hacked all of the sustainability and logistical issues that traditionally come with manufacturing plant-based compounds. They discuss the groundbreaking process by which - through its patented technology – BioHarvest Sciences is able to essentially supercharge the compound within the plant that has the most scientifically-backed therapeutic efficacy, all without chemically altering the molecule.

BioHarvest Sciences has figured out how to properly get those healing compounds into the blood stream, into our cells, and into our tissues in an ingenious way - again, without chemically altering the molecule AT ALL. Most importantly, they put enormous amounts of resources into research and development so that their claims are not just theoretical but actually backed by clinical data. Plus, they join the show on an exciting day as BioHarvest Sciences began trading on the NASDAQ.

2:57 – Ilan Sobel’s story and the ethos of BioHarvest Sciences

10:18 – BioHarvest’s patented technology, and how it leverages the most therapeutically efficacious part of the plant and maximizes solubility in a way no other company is able to

21:25 – VINIA’s capacity to potentiate the ability of other supplements to enter the cells through increased blood flow

25:25 – VINIA’s achievement of 82% solubility (proven through clinical data) vs. the 1% solubility of ALL other brands

26:35 – Twelve hours of sustained levels with two peaks (proven by blood testing) vs. twenty minutes for ALL other brands

28:50 – Breaking down the math of how much of piceid resveratrol actually reaches the blood stream as compared to cis and trans (generic) resveratrol

34:20 – The exquisite pharmacokinetics (how a compound gets absorbed and broken down) of VINIA, and the science behind how BioHarvest was able to achieve what no other company has

38:31 – Future plans for BioHarvest to create more products and compounds using their patented technology

41:00 – BioHarvest’s leveraging of the powerful verbascoside molecule for therapeutic purposes within the olive that no one has been able to achieve yet

43:00 – CEO Ilan Sobel reveals BioHarvest’s future plans to partner with nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies

47:46 – There are 140 drugs that use botanically-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). This comes with challenges similar to those of nutraceuticals. BioHarvest’s plans to solve this problem with their patented technology

54:32 – Timeline to produce a product from start to finish (including the research and development). Cost for a company to have BioHarvest create a product, which includes owning the patent

57:43 – Cellular detox and VINIA’s role

59:50 - Dr. Cornblatt breaks down how unique and groundbreaking the soon-to-be-released olive-based product will be

1:03 - CEO Ilan Sobel makes his first public announcement about

BioHarvest Sciences’ debut on the NASDAQ (ticker: BHST)

bioharvest.com

Vinia.com

Today I'll be picking up where I left off in the previous episode on acid reflux. I'll be delving into the negative downstream effects of taking acid-blocking drugs long term as well as discussing the interplay between H. pylori and acid reflux. I'll also break down what H. pylori is, how to properly test for it, the incremental, long term consequences of not treating it, and how acid-blocking drugs compound those effects in a profoundly negative way.

Today I'll be taking a deep dive into acid reflux. There is so much confusion and misunderstanding and so many misconceptions surrounding this very common ailment. Many "experts" will claim it's caused by low stomach acid, while others (if not most) claim it's from high stomach acid. So who's right? Are they both wrong?

The answer...YES! I'll get into all of that, including the very overlooked H-pylori connection. I'll go over what H-pylori is, how to best test for it, how the testing works, and, ultimately, what to do about it. I also break down what acid reflux actually is, what is really driving it and what can be done to "fix" it.