GW Center for Integrative Medicine

03/25/2026

By Yael Flusberg, GWCIM Yoga Therapist for Women’s History Month
“I debated long and hard about what to theme this month’s issue. Restore? Restorative Yoga? Restoration? Women and yoga? I knew that I wanted the issue to honor women and Women’s History Month. ….”
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-medicine

I debated long and hard about what to theme this month’s issue. Restore? Restorative Yoga? Restoration? Women and yoga? I knew that I wanted the issue to honor women and Women’s History Month.

03/24/2026

This Thursday! Note: Central Time.
Thriving Through the Years: Simple, Science‑Backed Steps to Healthy Aging featuring Mikhail Kogan, MD
March 26, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Central | Online via Zoom

"By donation" online lecture by Dr. Misha Kogan on Healthy Aging hosted by the University of Minnesota. This lecture is meant for the general public.
Registration link in the first comment.

"In this accessible, engaging webinar, Dr. Kogan explores evidence-based strategies to support healthy aging at any stage of life. Drawing on integrative and geriatric medicine principles, he demystifies how lifestyle factors—like nutrition, movement, stress management, and social engagement—can nurture longevity, vitality, and wellbeing. Participants will learn practical, science-informed tools they can adopt right away to boost resilience, brain health, physical function, and emotional balance, while understanding what truly matters as we age."

03/18/2026

Dr. Misha Kogan's YouTube channel; New Interview, 45 min.
Why is US healthcare failing patients? Dr. Peter Kowey, author of 'Failure to Treat,' joins Dr. Kogan to discuss the systemic issues plaguing American medicine – from insurance denials to physician burnout. Hear real patient stories and explore potential solutions for a better healthcare system.
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2OBO57aibG4?si=_2r1byMjyZxOYBzg

03/17/2026

In this virtual Open House, our ReCODE program team dives into the most recent controlled clinical trial on ReCODE, Dr. Dale Bredesen's groundbreaking program for Alzheimer’s disease and dememtia.
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/HO7Yxxs2ATY?si=LyD3ZZlw3Efmo2Gr
Trial details are available here: https://www.apollohealthco.com/rct-2025/
We also discussed a recent randomized controlled trial on microdosing cannabis, which showed significant memory improvement in patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease. You can find the study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41160/
Finally, we had several excellent questions and updates from all GWCIM memory program team members.
Here is the link to our program description on the GWCIM website: https://gwcim.com/services/recode-program-alzheimer-treatment/

03/17/2026

Probiotic labels are not as simple as they appear.

This clear infographic from the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics () walks through how to evaluate what actually matters on a microbial health label — beyond front-of-package marketing.

If you focus on nothing else, focus on these four pillars:

🧬 Strain specificity
Genus, species, and strain must all be listed. Health effects are strain-specific. Without a strain designation, you cannot connect the product to human clinical evidence.

🔢 Quantified dose aligned with the science
For probiotics, CFU should reflect the amount shown to be beneficial in human studies and be guaranteed through the expiration date.

For postbiotics or inactivated preparations, the relevant quantity may not be CFU at all, but a defined amount of microbial biomass, components, or metabolites that demonstrated benefit.

The principle is not viability.
It is quantified exposure aligned with clinical evidence.

📅 Stability and formulation integrity
If the product contains live organisms, viability through the use-by date matters. Heat, moisture, and time influence potency. For inactivated preparations, stability may be less dependent on survival but still dependent on proper formulation and storage.

🧪 Benefit does not require viability
The science has evolved. Microorganisms do not necessarily need to be alive to confer benefit.

Postbiotics are now defined as preparations of inanimate microbes and/or their components that provide a health benefit to the host. These may include:
🧫 Cell wall components
🧬 Surface proteins
🧪 Bacterial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids
🔥 Heat-inactivated whole microbes

These elements can engage pattern recognition receptors, influence epithelial barrier integrity, modulate immune signaling pathways, and shape host metabolic responses — even in the absence of live replication.

So the better question is not “Is it alive?”
It is: What was studied? At what dose? For what outcome?

That broader understanding is also why some formulations intentionally combine prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics — supporting the microbiome through complementary mechanisms rather than relying on viability alone.

In a crowded marketplace, label literacy is essential.

🔗 ISAPP infographic: https://zurl.co/zw8Z6

🔗 Postbiotic definition overview: https://zurl.co/FKYbD

03/15/2026

Today is International Long COVID Awareness Day
-- by Ashley Drapeau, PA-C, LAc, GWCIM Medical Director

Five years into the pandemic, millions of people around the world continue to live with persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infection including fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, dysautonomia, pain, and post-exertional symptom exacerbation.

Yet many patients still face significant barriers to recognition, diagnosis, and care.

As a clinician working with patients living with Long COVID, I see every day how complex and heterogeneous this condition is. It challenges traditional models of medicine and requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes neurology, cardiology, rehabilitation, integrative medicine, and patient-centered care.

We have made progress in understanding Long COVID but there is still much work ahead.

Moving forward, our priorities must include:
• Continued biomedical research into mechanisms and treatments
• Expanded clinical education so providers can better recognize and manage Long COVID
• Accessible care pathways for patients living with complex chronic illness
• Listening to and partnering with patients who have led the advocacy movement from the beginning

Long COVID is not rare.
It is not psychosomatic.
And it deserves the same scientific rigor and clinical attention as any other complex chronic disease.

Today is a reminder that awareness must lead to action.

03/15/2026

Stellar Succes Podcast: Functional medicine with Dr. Misha Kogan
Dr. Misha Kogan joins Dr. Tudor Francu to talk about Functional medicine. Instead of just giving pills, Dr. Kogan helps people find the real reason why they feel sick. In this talk, he shares stories of people getting better with functional medice care. He also explains how food, movement, and old wisdom can help people live better lives. Dr. Kogan even talks about how his own health problems led him to this kind of care.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/j4X7__J-F0M?si=2WZ9XUjPK7EddiH8

03/15/2026

We've been seeing more and more patients with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) recently. POTS causes dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue when standing up. At GWCIM, we treat POTS and other dysautonomias by looking at the whole picture and providing comprehensive care. We are uniquely positioned to take an integrative approach to addressing associated conditions, including connective tissue disorders, mast cell activation, toxicity, and post-viral syndromes. Our services include autonomic assessments, individualized medication management, nutrition counseling, acupuncture, and supplement guidance. We also work with partners to provide physical medicine strategies. These conditions affect each person differently, and we collaborate closely with our patients to develop practical, sustainable treatment plans that improve daily function, energy, and quality of life. Our POTS specialists: Ashley Drapeau, PAC-C, Med. Director, Mikhail Kogan, MD, Deirdre Orceyre, ND, Marianna Ledenac, ND, Paymon Sadrolsadot, ND.

More on our website: https://gwcim.com/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-pots-treatment-washingtondc/

03/14/2026

2026 Wellbeing Series

Thriving Through the Years: Simple, Science‑Backed Steps to Healthy Aging featuring Mikhail Kogan, MD
March 26, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Central | Online via Zoom

In this accessible, engaging webinar, Dr. Kogan explores evidence-based strategies to support healthy aging at any stage of life. Drawing on integrative and geriatric medicine principles, he demystifies how lifestyle factors—like nutrition, movement, stress management, and social engagement—can nurture longevity, vitality, and wellbeing. Participants will learn practical, science-informed tools they can adopt right away to boost resilience, brain health, physical function, and emotional balance, while understanding what truly matters as we age.

Regoistration link:
https://umf.formstack.com/forms/csh_wellbeing_series

03/13/2026

Latest episode of our "Dogs' Talks about Integrative Medicine" show

03/13/2026

03/02/2026

The GW Center for Integrative Medicine provides comprehensive, personalized care for individuals living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and other dysautonomias. We are uniquely positioned to take an integrative, holistic approach to addressing associated conditions including connective tissue disorders, mast cell activation, toxicity, and post viral syndromes. Our services include autonomic assessments, individualized medication management, nutrition, acupuncture, and supplement guidance. GW CIM works with community partners to provide physical medicine strategies. These conditions affect each person differently and we collaborate with our patients closely to develop practical, sustainable treatment plans that improve daily function, energy, and quality of life. Reach out today, learn more and schedule an appointment.
https://gwcim.com/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-pots-treatment-washingtondc/