Having spent more than two decades on my personal health journey, and having read hundreds of authors in the process, Variana Volk very clearly stands out from the crowd. Substack keeps me too busy to read many books anymore, but I'll definitely be reading hers once it is published.
This interview needs to be pinned at the top of your list. It will be a long time before something better comes along to replace it.
You have a compelling story to tell. Thank you for what you shared in the interview, as it really speaks to your motivation.
What you write resonates with me, because a lot of it covers what I have been experiencing directly in some of my current health efforts. Your insights are helping me to make sense of what in particular is responsible for some of the effects that I am seeing.
I suspect your writing will resonate with many other people as well. I just hope that you find a way for it to reach the largest possible audience.
If the book is done half as well as your articles, it will definitely be worth the wait.
It’s been a pleasure to discover your work. It’s so in line with what the majority of authors were offering in Substack’s early days: Safe, cheap and effective tools that empowered people to improve their own health.
Now, the majority of health authors are MDs pushing either a mainstream narrative, some half-hearted compromise or the latest health ritual-du-jour. The authors who have always stood out are the ones whose education has come in large part from either their personal health journey, or a health journey shared with a loved one. Tennant, Berg, Mercola, Bergman are a few who come to mind. I suspect A Midwestern Doctor’s expertise may have been the result of a personal health journey, or at the very least some exceptional empathy and intelligence.
I’m glad that Unbekoming has shared you with a larger audience, and hopefully it will help you to rise to the top and not be lost in the growing crowd of less worthy authors.
"The whole approach starts from a wrong picture of how the body holds itself up. The body is a tensegrity system. The bones do not stack on each other like blocks. They float inside a continuous network of fascia, muscle, and connective tissue, and the network only holds shape when tension is balanced across the whole web at once. You cannot fix one part by pulling on it. The web responds as a unit. Pull on one piece and the rest of the system compensates somewhere else."
Outstanding!! Even though I have been a devoted functional medicine follower for a decade, with as many books that I have read, YouTube podcasts by all the well-known gurus, and daily lessons from Dr. Joseph Mercola, they have not been enough. Variana's writing describe a much needed holistic view of each of us. I found so many of the symptoms she describes in her articles that really hit home to me -- conditions like low thyroid and low body temperature. I have lately become aware of Mercola's "A Midwestern Doctor", "Unbekoming", and now Variana Volk. What treasures of information and new knowledge! These articles are gold!
Tom, thank you! Being mentioned alongside those writers means a lot. They all have one thing in common that matters to me, honest investigation without breaking the body up into specialties. And on the low thyroid and low temperature pattern, I am glad it hit home. That cluster of symptoms is so common and so fixable, but almost nobody is told that the path back is the boring, foundational stuff done consistently. I am really glad the work is reaching you.
My excitement grew as I read through this amazing interview. Thank you so much for this introduction to VarianaVolk and her thought-provoking discoveries in ways to regain health. I recognized myself so many times throughout this interview. I have been trying to address some of my conditions like low thyroid/low body temperature and non-absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. These suggestions and protocols make perfect sense to me to start as I build the foundation my body requires to function properly. I would definitely buy her book once it is published. Thanks again!
Thank you for reading and for such a generous message, Kathryn! Low thyroid, low body temperature, and poor absorption of vitamins and minerals are all connected and usually belong to the same larger picture. I hope my work can help you make sense of your symptoms, experiment with some of the protocols, and find what works for your body 🙏
I was so excited to see this interview as I recently found VarianaVolk on Substack and I've learned much from the few articles of hers that I've read. I'm 63, in good health, but always looking to improve. I've been on a health/knowledge journey for years. There is SO MUCH to learn, but I really loved how Variana has shown how connected things in the body are ... In ways I'd never heard or imagined. I'll be reading and digesting this again... As well as the included article links. I'm so appreciative of those who do the research, who don't just accept the pharma bandage, and then share their knowledge with others. With much gratitude to both of you 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you, Daniel. Ray Peat has been a major influence on my thinking, alongside others. He helped me make sense of what I was already finding in the research and in my own body.
Thank you for interviewing VV! She and yourself are two of my favorites to read, and I was blown away today to see that you came together for this interview! You both are amazing and inspiring!
This is another great one. I keep running across more and more whole system thinking. On a limited income, so far, it's easy to do the whole food eating. And I so so love the bringing in the Alexander Technique which highlights the sub conscious. And I feel like this is where we really find our creative power...like I'm wondering...can I just meditate on having my bile flow optimally?
I love these comprehensive interviews. What is very exciting is just the crossing of disciplines that you provide. I somehow started reading you, and will keep doing so. I was curious whether you work with individuals? Maybe I missed it, as I often read while cooking and juggling tasks.
I just looked up the latest news on this, and it looks like Humira is being phased out as a preferred treatment by major US insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. "It hasn’t been discontinued, but access to brand-name Humira may require higher copays or special exceptions depending on the insurance plan." Thanks for this comment!
The skin condition was treated with topical steroid cream which eventually led to topical steroid withdrawal. Another horrific, dismissed and ignored side effect which I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy!
Having spent more than two decades on my personal health journey, and having read hundreds of authors in the process, Variana Volk very clearly stands out from the crowd. Substack keeps me too busy to read many books anymore, but I'll definitely be reading hers once it is published.
This interview needs to be pinned at the top of your list. It will be a long time before something better comes along to replace it.
Thank you, Klimer! this is genuinely encouraging to read. The book is in active development. I want it to be worth your time when it is ready!
You have a compelling story to tell. Thank you for what you shared in the interview, as it really speaks to your motivation.
What you write resonates with me, because a lot of it covers what I have been experiencing directly in some of my current health efforts. Your insights are helping me to make sense of what in particular is responsible for some of the effects that I am seeing.
I suspect your writing will resonate with many other people as well. I just hope that you find a way for it to reach the largest possible audience.
If the book is done half as well as your articles, it will definitely be worth the wait.
It’s been a pleasure to discover your work. It’s so in line with what the majority of authors were offering in Substack’s early days: Safe, cheap and effective tools that empowered people to improve their own health.
Now, the majority of health authors are MDs pushing either a mainstream narrative, some half-hearted compromise or the latest health ritual-du-jour. The authors who have always stood out are the ones whose education has come in large part from either their personal health journey, or a health journey shared with a loved one. Tennant, Berg, Mercola, Bergman are a few who come to mind. I suspect A Midwestern Doctor’s expertise may have been the result of a personal health journey, or at the very least some exceptional empathy and intelligence.
I’m glad that Unbekoming has shared you with a larger audience, and hopefully it will help you to rise to the top and not be lost in the growing crowd of less worthy authors.
Best of luck to you!
I'm also looking forward to the book. Definitely forwarding this article.
Amazing interview!!!
"The whole approach starts from a wrong picture of how the body holds itself up. The body is a tensegrity system. The bones do not stack on each other like blocks. They float inside a continuous network of fascia, muscle, and connective tissue, and the network only holds shape when tension is balanced across the whole web at once. You cannot fix one part by pulling on it. The web responds as a unit. Pull on one piece and the rest of the system compensates somewhere else."
Could not agree more - a far bigger deal than most have any idea! https://unfiltered.doctorschierling.com/p/what-if-there-were-a-universal-cause
Dr. Schierling, thank you. This means a lot coming from someone who works in this space. Reading your article now.
Whoops, I accidentally liked my own post while meaning to respond to you Metta - probably not the first time.
Very glad to find your work, Dr. Schierling. Thanks for sharing this link.
Outstanding!! Even though I have been a devoted functional medicine follower for a decade, with as many books that I have read, YouTube podcasts by all the well-known gurus, and daily lessons from Dr. Joseph Mercola, they have not been enough. Variana's writing describe a much needed holistic view of each of us. I found so many of the symptoms she describes in her articles that really hit home to me -- conditions like low thyroid and low body temperature. I have lately become aware of Mercola's "A Midwestern Doctor", "Unbekoming", and now Variana Volk. What treasures of information and new knowledge! These articles are gold!
Tom, thank you! Being mentioned alongside those writers means a lot. They all have one thing in common that matters to me, honest investigation without breaking the body up into specialties. And on the low thyroid and low temperature pattern, I am glad it hit home. That cluster of symptoms is so common and so fixable, but almost nobody is told that the path back is the boring, foundational stuff done consistently. I am really glad the work is reaching you.
My excitement grew as I read through this amazing interview. Thank you so much for this introduction to VarianaVolk and her thought-provoking discoveries in ways to regain health. I recognized myself so many times throughout this interview. I have been trying to address some of my conditions like low thyroid/low body temperature and non-absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. These suggestions and protocols make perfect sense to me to start as I build the foundation my body requires to function properly. I would definitely buy her book once it is published. Thanks again!
Thank you for reading and for such a generous message, Kathryn! Low thyroid, low body temperature, and poor absorption of vitamins and minerals are all connected and usually belong to the same larger picture. I hope my work can help you make sense of your symptoms, experiment with some of the protocols, and find what works for your body 🙏
I was so excited to see this interview as I recently found VarianaVolk on Substack and I've learned much from the few articles of hers that I've read. I'm 63, in good health, but always looking to improve. I've been on a health/knowledge journey for years. There is SO MUCH to learn, but I really loved how Variana has shown how connected things in the body are ... In ways I'd never heard or imagined. I'll be reading and digesting this again... As well as the included article links. I'm so appreciative of those who do the research, who don't just accept the pharma bandage, and then share their knowledge with others. With much gratitude to both of you 🙏🏼❤️
Just wanted to say I feel so similar to you...63...been on a constant health improvement for years...subscribe to Unbekoming. ; )
A MUST READ! Indispensable information, well synthesized and easy to read - a perfect combination. 🙏❤️
Thank you, Delina! 🙏❤️
Very informative and it sounds like she ran across the work of Dr. Ray Peat, a pioneer in bioenergetics.
Thank you, Daniel. Ray Peat has been a major influence on my thinking, alongside others. He helped me make sense of what I was already finding in the research and in my own body.
The area I hadn’t given much thought is your information on bile. Look forward to reading more of your information in this area.
💟💟💟💥💥💥
Glad to read this. Thank you. Reminds me a lot of the wonderful Ray Peat.
When it comes to pill pushing Docs I have seen in the past I ,and I would suggest others, follow Nancy Reagan's advice and "Just Say No!"
Thank you for interviewing VV! She and yourself are two of my favorites to read, and I was blown away today to see that you came together for this interview! You both are amazing and inspiring!
This is another great one. I keep running across more and more whole system thinking. On a limited income, so far, it's easy to do the whole food eating. And I so so love the bringing in the Alexander Technique which highlights the sub conscious. And I feel like this is where we really find our creative power...like I'm wondering...can I just meditate on having my bile flow optimally?
I love these comprehensive interviews. What is very exciting is just the crossing of disciplines that you provide. I somehow started reading you, and will keep doing so. I was curious whether you work with individuals? Maybe I missed it, as I often read while cooking and juggling tasks.
This is awesome! Thanks!
January 30, 2023, NPR news:
"AbbVie's blockbuster drug Humira finally loses its 20 year $200 billion monopoly"
Aw shucks. Let's find some new drugs quick! 😀
I just looked up the latest news on this, and it looks like Humira is being phased out as a preferred treatment by major US insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. "It hasn’t been discontinued, but access to brand-name Humira may require higher copays or special exceptions depending on the insurance plan." Thanks for this comment!
I was prescribed Humira for rheumatoid arthritis and suffered a severe skin reaction.
Despite being mentioned in the (extremely long) insert as a known side effect, my rheumatologist dismissed it as unrelated.
I am sorry you went through this, Marie. This dismissal pattern is one of the things that made me refuse Humira myself.
Thanks Variana. I am very wary of medications now.
The skin condition was treated with topical steroid cream which eventually led to topical steroid withdrawal. Another horrific, dismissed and ignored side effect which I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy!
Loved reading this! Recently started taking glycine myself and it’s a game changer! 👏🏼