Laurie McCarthy Powers was trained by the broken medical system; now she's a rogue anti-pharma practitioner who heals her patients with food. Literally.
WOW I am so humbled to see all the responses already! Wednesdays are my day off and are my “Lolly Day” - meaning I have one of my 2 grandsons. We have been at the park all day and I (he) is having quiet time now... so I thought I would give you some more info due to lots of questions:
Several people have already reached out to me for Telehealth services in their state. I am licensed only in the state of NC, however that is not the biggest issue with seeing out of state telehealth patients…
The first problem is insurance. Most insurances are state by state. The only way I could confirm if this is true for your insurance is for you to upload your insurance card in my portal and let my billers check it out for you. I do offer a self-pay rate as well.
The second problem is that each state's Board of Medical Examiners has their own rules about Telehealth. Many do not allow out of state Telehealth b/c it may affect their own in-state licensed providers’ businesses. You could call your state's Medical Board and ask them. If they allow it, please provide documentation for my records in writing because I fear litigation if I do not follow their rules.
There are providers in each state that offer similar services to mine, although likely not in one office:
1. If you would like to pursue culinary medicine, I recommend getting on culinarymedicine.org, scrolling to the bottom, and choosing the CCMS Directory to find a provider in your state. We are licensed medical professionals (not nutritionists) that understand your medical history and medications and are trained to teach patients how to be eat to prevent and reverse disease, in many instances.
2. If you are interested in sleep therapy (CBT-I), please get on psychologytoday.com, choose your location and then Filter for sleep/insomnia. Make sure they offer CBT-I though as that is the effective type of sleep therapy (80% effective in 4 appts) - not just “talk therapy” or something more generalized.
Hope this helps! Glad to see so many people passionate about their health. You are my tribe! 😊
Laurie - my family has been looking for a PCP for ages. We are just north of you in South Wake Co. I look forward to learning more about your practice and setting up an appointment. Thank you for sharing your story!!
Yeah!!! One thing to know about me, though, I refuse to prescribe. Unless it is a supplement like vitamin D or iron. So you may need more support than my office can offer, but it depends on your situation. Can’t wait to meet you!
Not a problem at all! We don’t have anyone with prescriptions in our house. Until last winter there hadn’t been antibiotics for any of us in over 13 years. We are definitely not on the pharma or vaccine train.
I might sell my house to move to N. Carolina just to become Laurie’s patient. (I too am the elder sister and share your sister’s personality. My younger sister is like you, and we also couldn’t become BFFs until college. Favorite memory: Susan stood outside my bedroom door and tried hitting me with a plastic belt every time I tried opening the door. We really didn’t like each other. Ah, good times.) Thanks, Jenna for introducing us to Laurie. And Happy Birthday, too!
When Laurie used to "babysit" me, I would BEG her to let me sleep in her room (big scaredy cat here), and she would allow it... but I had to sleep UNDER HER BED (not exaggerating) and every ten seconds she would yell, "I CAN HEAR YOU BREATHING!" Good times indeed hahahahahaha!
That's so funny! As mad as Susan and I could be at each other, nothing matched how awful we were to our baby sister Patty. We did this hundreds of times: we'd empty the toy box, convince her to get inside it, and then we'd put the lid down and sit on it. She fell for it every single time. Still makes me laugh.
LOL!!! Our brother is ten years younger than me (Mom called him "the accident," we were like "THE HAPPY SURPRISE!"). He's awesome... but we really wanted a sister. So of course we'd dress him up in girl clothes and put his (long) hair in pigtails. He didn't mind at the time and we have epic blackmail pix to this day... ;)
Our family were lucky enough to get a used Electrolux vacuum cleaner one time (what my brother and I had always dreamed of--handheld vacuum power!). First day, we sent youngest brother in to see Mom, with a perfect-circle hickey on each cheek: Instant Clown-boy.
We lived in a house in Texas which had a converted garage bedroom, "the boys' room," (which doubled as a laboratory and Mom's utility room). Mom was in-and-out several times a day. One day I figured out that the youngest brother was short enough to fit--perfectly, it was like a sign--folded up in the Hide-a-bed(TM) that was part of the sleeping accommodation. Although not actually able to effect an escape, he was still capable of shouting for help, in a muffled sort of way. I thought Mom would be pleasantly surprised to find him and release him on one of her visits, and I was half-right. An older younger brother (see what I did there) insisted on going on the fun ride, despite my professional opinion that he was too-long--by a toe-length. THAT time, it turns out I was exactly right. However, although disappointed, he hobbled away with no broken toes, convinced that we should have tried it several months earlier.
I once traded Jenna a "barbie bed" (that was actually just a velvet-lined necklace box) for the much-coveted Hits of the 70's on 8-track. I still hear about that to this day...
I got fond memories of driving waaayyy too fast listening to Highway to Hell on my (very, VERY cheap) 8-track player in my AMC Pacer. (If that car didn't make me strong, nothing would.) Some days, I'm vividly aware I was lucky to survive myself.
Not as bad as when we (my friends and I) cut ALL of Jenna's hair off when we were maybe 4 and 6 years old? My punishment: Jenna got pierced ears before me (but only b/c she looked like a boy!) Sorry Jen, it was that Chrissy Doll that we had that motived us (or was it the life-sized style-it Barbie head that we had?)
I cannot think of a single time either one of us “picked on him.” By the time he was born our parents were pretty much checked out so we sort of raised him… At least until we left the house.😭 He was like our little real life baby doll. He’s such a great man too! We got really really lucky.😊
He loved to go on "dates" with us - to get a donut and coffee! And when I was in college, he would come in my room and sleep with me - always asking how many more "sleeps" until I would leave again!
Mary Ann, Nice to meet a kindred soul! Jenna and I were so different as children that we did not connect until we were adults, but now I cannot imagine not having her in my life. No one else can quite understand that we share the same memory... not memories, but literally our childhood memory/experience! It is uncanny.
Oh Jenna - and Laurie 🥰. What a blessing to have each other. I’m sure you both are so very grateful to be like-minded on the most important issues of our lifetime. I am also blessed to have a sister (twin) to navigate this very challenging journey.
God bless you Laurie for taking a leap of faith to leave the matrix and truly heal people. We need so very many more like you. 😘❤️🙏🙏🙏
I literally cannot tell you how much it means to me that my brother, sister and I are like-minded in so many ways. They have become my rocks and we talk constantly. I cannot imagine life any other way.
Hi Diana! I am actually a PA but do have my own practice. It took me more than three DECADES to get here, but perhaps many more will follow now that we have MAHA!
Thank you for introducing us to your sister! I lost my beautiful sister to breast cancer when she was just 49. My mother died from pancreatic cancer & my dad with colon cancer. Like Laurie I decided I was not going down that road & started reading all I could on dietary options. I could go on for pages but won’t because I want to share just 1 discovery I’ve made regarding hair growth. Needless to say I take a lot of supplements because even though I buy organic, we eat out too much so I know much of my food is not. I’m working on being better at that! Anyway, when I added NAC to my plethora of pills, I noticed a dramatic thickening of my hair. Used to be I would wrap my ponytail bands 4 times around. Now I struggle to do 3. My hairdresser noticed it as well & asked what I was doing.
I am sharing this with my beautiful daughter who is an ER doc trapped by her training. She’s in California. She suffers from lack of sleep & is battling her weight. 🙏she finds this transformative!
Hi Karen! It is too late for my hair (started losing in my 20's and am nearing 60 now - discovered what was wrong in my early 50's but hair follicles die off after starving for 7 years or more). Thanks for sharing for others though! Praying for your daughter, so hard I know!
Friends, I’m sorry for the confusion, but the person impersonating me is back leaving comments in Substacks I read that I would never post, in order to ruin my reputation with you. Please report their account if you see it.
My real account name is @JustJuju.
Please check the profile BEFORE assuming it is me.
Their latest name is @juju8383747. But they no doubt will create others. They use my exact same avatar and a “version” of my bio. Check the profile and report it as an impersonation of it’s NOT @justjuju, and please note that it’s not me.
Oh Mary, you’re the troll and impersonator. This is yet another one of your accounts that we have tracked to you. Everyone should block you. You’re a horrid, unhappy person if this is how you spend your time. Ugly to your core.
Hello Jenna's sister! Laurie, you sound awesome. Yes, the huge pay cut to do true health care is why I went back to software development so I could afford to help people for free. One of these days I'd like to figure out how to do health care AND make an okay income (my plan is to "retire" - let's hope that Social Security doesn't vaporize - then SS can support me while I take care of others)
John - that sounds wonderful! I consider this job my semi-retirement even though I work 4 days per week. I do not actually believe in retiring. No one in the bible retired and studies show that working is associated with longevity. So as long as I am kicking, I will continue to do what I love :) I pay the bills and bring home a modest paycheck, but have room to grow - as my business is not quite 3 years old yet and I have only been taking insurance half that time.
Through my career, I never intended to retire. Why save for retirement when you enjoy what you do? About a dozen years ago I redefined "retirement" for myself. Of course I'll keep doing things, but I will be "retired" in the sense of not depending on any employer for income.
Making an income from Functional Medicine was a struggle for me since it seemed almost criminal to charge people to advise them to eat right, etc. The majority of clients had very tight finances and couldn't afford extra costs.
Photography is another interesting (third career?). For every dollar I make, I spend more than $100 dollars! Yes, photography is a real money pit! But thoroughly enjoyable!
Now if only I could get paid for dancing, that would be fun to return to doing dance performances but that was another extremely expensive activity.
I live in a military town and it is quite blue-collar. One of my specialties is teaching people to actually spend less money and eat better. It is possible! :-) I wish I could dance for a living too, but I don’t have the ability anyway, just the passion!
Ah, so you don't have a lot of wealthy clients? It seems like we both want to teach "common sense" but I find it hard to charge people for common sense. "Here, pay me $100 and I'll advise you to buy carrots instead of Cheetos."
Well passion is the heart of dancing! The only way to make money at dancing is to teach dancing. Only a few very elite are able to perform to a level at which people will pay to watch them dance.
I think there is something to be said for having some skin in the game. You can literally learn to play the guitar, fix your vacuum cleaner yourself, and find any type of workout that exists on YouTube. Still people hire music teachers and repair people and fitness instructors… With what Laurie does, people are going to have to answer to her and be accountable for their actions. Plus, I don’t know about you but I am constantly shocked at how ignorant most people are about basic nutrition 🙈🤦♀️
Yes, I'm constantly shocked by how ignorant most people are about nutrition. The second "shock" is how much the "experts" disagree with each other. Thus I advise people to find an "expert" that makes sense to them and give it a whirl ({grin} had to toss in a dancing reference there too).
Another factor I have noticed over the years is that the more people pay for advice, the more the people trust and follow the advice. Giving out free health advice has generally been an exercise in frustration as people say "yes", nod their heads, go away and promptly ignore / forget everything you just "taught" them.
An example I'd pick, perhaps not a great example, but which method do you respect more for learning a foreign language? Rosetta Stone which costs a fortune? Or some freebie online app?
I have Functional Medicine doctor friends that charge $600 an hour to help people lose weight. To me, even though they are providing good care, it seems like they are exploiting the desperation of their clients.
I see a lot of similarities between Jenna and Laurie. They use different tools but both have their own super powers. Jenna writes about and helps other writers get exposure about important topics that are often taboo. Laurie does the same in the medial and nutrition field.
About 15 years ago when I had just turned 50, I hit a wall in running my businesses. I work for myself and the collapse in the economy forced me to make a final push before a trade show and ended up passing out at the airport. I went to the hospital and a cardiologist ran every test he knew to come back with 'you are normal' and everything is good. I went to a traditional doctor and they ran $5,000 worth of tests to be told 'boy I don't know'. This wasn't a temporary condition. I was suddenly unable to function with the most basic tasks. Extreme thirst. Dizziness and 'wired but tired'. It went on the same for a month until my wife said she wanted me to see a Bastyr University doctor (natural medicine and nutrition). They trained interns at the local senior center and I paid my $8 for a visit. For that low price (donation to the senior center), I got two doctors and an intern for an hour an a half. They diagnosed me with adrenal fatigue and gave me some herbal medicine (Holy Basil and some other herbs). Within 4 days (for the first time in months) my wired but tired went away and when I started taking the electrolytes they prescribed my extreme thirst went away. It took two years before I could say I was back to normal. Where our standard medicine failed, they saved my life.
Thank you Laurie for following what you know is right. The world today is too often just mindless robots doing what they were told in school and not questioning anything. As a business owner, I know how difficult it is sometimes to do what you know in your head is the right thing to do.
Thanks Mike... what an amazing story! When I was in school in the 80's we were taught to think outside the box (at least at Duke University Medical Center), but then Big Pharma literally came by storm and took over. The younger generations are taught how to diagnose, and then match that diagnosis to either a medication or procedure. The insurance companies blew up and decided to make many of the medical decisions. The hospitals then bought out most of the private medical providers, dictating the care. It is not the provider's fault that they are not being given tools to prevent or reverse disease. Most of them are too young to even realize that this has happened. It is also nearly impossible to pay your bills in many areas unless you take insurance. On top of that, most providers are not businessman (including me) and find it challenging to start their own practice in order to spend time with their patients and make better medical decisions. The system is SO broken! I do not believe in socialized medicine, but I think we need to incentive providers for having WELL patients, and until we do that, the sick-care model will persist.
Nice piece. If you studied alt medicine, you know about DMSO. Reading your substack and others led me to discover it. Tried it on a scalp condition of 20yrs and low and behold that condition, acted like eczema, went away. My gray/silver head of hair became thicker and regained some of my original color. Surprise, surprise. I do follow the Midwestern Doctor.
I diluted it 50% in distilled water. It will heat up when you do this. Then used a clean plastic squeeze bottle to apply to scalp and rubbed in by hand. It tingles at first. Just trying on my nearly bald eyebrows by dabbing a little on a finger. I am 79 and didn't expect the hair growth but also had no bald spots. I think it would sting your eyes if it gets in. It absorbs in a couple of minutes. Bought 100% med-grade from Walmart and added an equal amount of distilled water.
Also, I read a book a few months ago called ‘Healing with DMSO’ and it has a whole section of recipes for different ailments, both external and internal application. . One of the things the book discusses is how using 100% pure generally doesn’t work, it has to be mixed with something to absorb. (I’m probably butchering the details). This surprised me because I bought the 100% pure version too. Switched it out for some 70% that’s blended with aloe gel to use for joint pain and it did work more effectively. Anyway, just thought I’d pass it along because it had so much good info. I think someone in the comments section in one of A Midwestern Doc’s DMSO articles mentioned the book.
That’s very interesting. I have been using the 99% pure and have not experienced the relief others speak of. I get the “fishy “ taste ,and, it kinda stings my skin,but,no huge pain relief…I will try the 70% with aloe. Thank you.
I’m aware. I’ve read a lot on DMSO, but generally you’re supposed to leave it on for like 20 min and then wipe it off. I was wondering about the process specific to hair, that’s all.
Interesting! I use it almost daily and NEVER wipe it off!?!?! I came here to add it's really important to use it on very clean skin (or hair/scalp) as it will increase absorption of anything else on the skin (and you probably don't want leave-in conditioner or styling cream in your blood)...
I especially loved today’s Substack because I HEALED MYSELF WITH FOOD! Literally. I did. After 25 years of pharmaceuticals thrown at me, and a decade of horrific allopathic treatments, I was but a shell of who I am today. I had to diagnose myself and seek out the best clinic in the world for my condition. Two months after a life saving surgery that they performed that fully cured me, I switched to a new way of eating. For me I chose low carb (Keto/carnivore) and it has been nothing short of miraculous. I wasn’t seeing the improvement to my many hyperparathyroidism symptoms in the same time frame the majority of post-surgery patients do, but omg, when I changed my diet? It was like rocket fuel. In two months I was able to stop half my medications. In six months I was off of all 14 of them. Three years later I’ve never had to take prescriptions again, and I only twice entertained IVM, HCQ, and sometimes Azithromyacin when I got a virus or flu. Other than that I take nothing regularly.
I completely turned around the “pre-diabetes” state I was in, corrected my cholesterol, and lost all the chronic aches and pains. Brain fog disappeared. I have the best mental health I have ever had in my entire life. I have the energy I had in my 20s even if I don’t have the body that can support my ambitions. 🤣 I lost 55 lbs without burning calories. My last 20 WILL require some calorie burning tho, LOL - still, I’m healthier than I’ve been since my 30s. (I’m 60 next month). I sleep like a baby once again. I also haven’t felt drowsy midday once in three years.
My diet means everything to me. I watched as this same diet has eased the disability symptoms my two sons have always struggled with, including the mental health ones. And my husband lost every ounce of fat on his body and he now runs circles around men 20-30 years younger than him at work (electrician and commercial construction sites.) They literally gawk at him and are amazed at his transformation.
In under one year food did for me what prescription meds only promised for over 25 years. And being that I’m starting my fourth year, the false impression being passed around that the diet is unsustainable or causes long term problems is absolute hogwash with no scientific proof at all, and desperation on the part of Big Harma and their “professional” medical institution lackeys.
Your sister would be my hero. I’ve been unable to find a doctor like her in our area. There’s a vast untapped market in the Chicagoland area for such doctors like her that don’t make excessive wealth more important than their oaths. God bless her ❤️
Strong supporter of your dietary choices, with equally excellent metabolic results. BTW, there is a CardioIQ offered by Quest labs that helps sort out the truth in the lipid results. It’s not available in all States, but you can order yourself at walkinlab.com
Thanks Juju! That means so much... It is amazing what taking away all processed foods can do!!! I am so happy you are feeling so great:) Food IS medicine!
Happy Birthday Jenna! It's amazing to see so much beauty, talent, and general awesomeness in one family. It's even more amazing to see that the two of you are on the same page when it comes to the plandemic. What a blessing!
Three cheers for the McCarthy sisters, your daughter's college graduation, and your birthday!
Vee, I loved this! How kind of you! Not to brag, but we have quite an amazing family... a Cuban missionary (built 200 churches in Cuba and is in the history books there), an inventor, multiple writers/authors/editors (Jenna of course is the top-dog there), multiple musicians, a few teachers, two models (to include Jenna's beautiful daughter and our great uncle who modeled for a Norman Rockwell painting!), an artist, a few salesmen, and multiple generations of builders. We are all entrepreneurs - my parents, brother, sister, Brother-in-law, my husband and myself.
That is remarkable! It would be awesome to see all of this documented with pictures in one place! Maybe a future family project that would allow the two of you to collaborate 😉
Here’s a start: our amazing aunt and uncle took our great grandfather‘s poetry THAT HE WROTE ON HORSEBACK and published two volumes on Amazon. No one buys them lol it was just so they could have them printed on demand and sent to family… But this is the great grandfather who was an archdeacon and Cuban missionary and poet… 😊
Thanks Roberta. I hope that many more will follow. I personally believe that many providers could but most are so caught up in their expensive life-styles, they can/will not take less money. It is a sacrifice but SO worth it!
First off, love KC & The Sunshine Band, so your name is my fav. Secondly, let me tell you about my hotdog...
About 17 years ago, my BFF, who was a homeschooling mom, showed me a science project that she done with her kiddos. She had a Happy Meal at that time that was already over 5 years old and had not changed a bit. Cheese, bread, meat, pickles, ketchup as well as fries literally unchanged with time. We decided to get a Weiner Works hotdog as an experiment, and mine is also now unchanged 17 years later. I kept it in the garage for months, then the attic for YEARS, and still no mold or rot. Just looks a little dried out. I keep it in my office with the receipt to show patients that fast food is NOT food. It is very powerful.
WOW I am so humbled to see all the responses already! Wednesdays are my day off and are my “Lolly Day” - meaning I have one of my 2 grandsons. We have been at the park all day and I (he) is having quiet time now... so I thought I would give you some more info due to lots of questions:
Several people have already reached out to me for Telehealth services in their state. I am licensed only in the state of NC, however that is not the biggest issue with seeing out of state telehealth patients…
The first problem is insurance. Most insurances are state by state. The only way I could confirm if this is true for your insurance is for you to upload your insurance card in my portal and let my billers check it out for you. I do offer a self-pay rate as well.
The second problem is that each state's Board of Medical Examiners has their own rules about Telehealth. Many do not allow out of state Telehealth b/c it may affect their own in-state licensed providers’ businesses. You could call your state's Medical Board and ask them. If they allow it, please provide documentation for my records in writing because I fear litigation if I do not follow their rules.
There are providers in each state that offer similar services to mine, although likely not in one office:
1. If you would like to pursue culinary medicine, I recommend getting on culinarymedicine.org, scrolling to the bottom, and choosing the CCMS Directory to find a provider in your state. We are licensed medical professionals (not nutritionists) that understand your medical history and medications and are trained to teach patients how to be eat to prevent and reverse disease, in many instances.
2. If you are interested in sleep therapy (CBT-I), please get on psychologytoday.com, choose your location and then Filter for sleep/insomnia. Make sure they offer CBT-I though as that is the effective type of sleep therapy (80% effective in 4 appts) - not just “talk therapy” or something more generalized.
Hope this helps! Glad to see so many people passionate about their health. You are my tribe! 😊
Laurie P.
Laurie - my family has been looking for a PCP for ages. We are just north of you in South Wake Co. I look forward to learning more about your practice and setting up an appointment. Thank you for sharing your story!!
Yeah!!! One thing to know about me, though, I refuse to prescribe. Unless it is a supplement like vitamin D or iron. So you may need more support than my office can offer, but it depends on your situation. Can’t wait to meet you!
Not a problem at all! We don’t have anyone with prescriptions in our house. Until last winter there hadn’t been antibiotics for any of us in over 13 years. We are definitely not on the pharma or vaccine train.
I might sell my house to move to N. Carolina just to become Laurie’s patient. (I too am the elder sister and share your sister’s personality. My younger sister is like you, and we also couldn’t become BFFs until college. Favorite memory: Susan stood outside my bedroom door and tried hitting me with a plastic belt every time I tried opening the door. We really didn’t like each other. Ah, good times.) Thanks, Jenna for introducing us to Laurie. And Happy Birthday, too!
When Laurie used to "babysit" me, I would BEG her to let me sleep in her room (big scaredy cat here), and she would allow it... but I had to sleep UNDER HER BED (not exaggerating) and every ten seconds she would yell, "I CAN HEAR YOU BREATHING!" Good times indeed hahahahahaha!
That's so funny! As mad as Susan and I could be at each other, nothing matched how awful we were to our baby sister Patty. We did this hundreds of times: we'd empty the toy box, convince her to get inside it, and then we'd put the lid down and sit on it. She fell for it every single time. Still makes me laugh.
LOL!!! Our brother is ten years younger than me (Mom called him "the accident," we were like "THE HAPPY SURPRISE!"). He's awesome... but we really wanted a sister. So of course we'd dress him up in girl clothes and put his (long) hair in pigtails. He didn't mind at the time and we have epic blackmail pix to this day... ;)
Our family were lucky enough to get a used Electrolux vacuum cleaner one time (what my brother and I had always dreamed of--handheld vacuum power!). First day, we sent youngest brother in to see Mom, with a perfect-circle hickey on each cheek: Instant Clown-boy.
We lived in a house in Texas which had a converted garage bedroom, "the boys' room," (which doubled as a laboratory and Mom's utility room). Mom was in-and-out several times a day. One day I figured out that the youngest brother was short enough to fit--perfectly, it was like a sign--folded up in the Hide-a-bed(TM) that was part of the sleeping accommodation. Although not actually able to effect an escape, he was still capable of shouting for help, in a muffled sort of way. I thought Mom would be pleasantly surprised to find him and release him on one of her visits, and I was half-right. An older younger brother (see what I did there) insisted on going on the fun ride, despite my professional opinion that he was too-long--by a toe-length. THAT time, it turns out I was exactly right. However, although disappointed, he hobbled away with no broken toes, convinced that we should have tried it several months earlier.
I once traded Jenna a "barbie bed" (that was actually just a velvet-lined necklace box) for the much-coveted Hits of the 70's on 8-track. I still hear about that to this day...
Evil 🤣🤣🤣
You definitely schooled her on that trade!
I got fond memories of driving waaayyy too fast listening to Highway to Hell on my (very, VERY cheap) 8-track player in my AMC Pacer. (If that car didn't make me strong, nothing would.) Some days, I'm vividly aware I was lucky to survive myself.
And you probably always will!
So wicked of you!
🤣🤣🤣 i’m so glad my brother was younger!
You guys were way ahead of us in finding ways to torture siblings. LingOL! (hat tip to Jenna)
Not as bad as when we (my friends and I) cut ALL of Jenna's hair off when we were maybe 4 and 6 years old? My punishment: Jenna got pierced ears before me (but only b/c she looked like a boy!) Sorry Jen, it was that Chrissy Doll that we had that motived us (or was it the life-sized style-it Barbie head that we had?)
You are so lucky you got to pick on a younger brother! That was always one of my dreams!
I cannot think of a single time either one of us “picked on him.” By the time he was born our parents were pretty much checked out so we sort of raised him… At least until we left the house.😭 He was like our little real life baby doll. He’s such a great man too! We got really really lucky.😊
He loved to go on "dates" with us - to get a donut and coffee! And when I was in college, he would come in my room and sleep with me - always asking how many more "sleeps" until I would leave again!
I hope you feature him here sometime.
He was/is 12 and 10 years younger than us and we DOTED on him!!! And we still do:)
💐Happy Birthday Jenna!!! 💐❤️
😊😊😊
Sorry Jen! But do we need to talk about the toothbrush cleaning ... in the toilet?
I’ve already spilled that story here, but I kindly left out the part where you admitted you did the same thing, thanks for outing yourself!🤣🤣🤣
Yup, that river ran both directions! HAHAHA
Mary Ann, Nice to meet a kindred soul! Jenna and I were so different as children that we did not connect until we were adults, but now I cannot imagine not having her in my life. No one else can quite understand that we share the same memory... not memories, but literally our childhood memory/experience! It is uncanny.
Susan and I text every day. And in the winter, we FaceTime while we watercolor. We just “get” each other. It’s been nice to meet Jenna’s sister!
:)
Oh Jenna - and Laurie 🥰. What a blessing to have each other. I’m sure you both are so very grateful to be like-minded on the most important issues of our lifetime. I am also blessed to have a sister (twin) to navigate this very challenging journey.
God bless you Laurie for taking a leap of faith to leave the matrix and truly heal people. We need so very many more like you. 😘❤️🙏🙏🙏
I literally cannot tell you how much it means to me that my brother, sister and I are like-minded in so many ways. They have become my rocks and we talk constantly. I cannot imagine life any other way.
There should be more doctors like your sister in this world. You two are lucky to have each other.
Thank you for sharing and Happy Birthday 🥳 🎂🥂
Hi Diana! I am actually a PA but do have my own practice. It took me more than three DECADES to get here, but perhaps many more will follow now that we have MAHA!
Thank you for introducing us to your sister! I lost my beautiful sister to breast cancer when she was just 49. My mother died from pancreatic cancer & my dad with colon cancer. Like Laurie I decided I was not going down that road & started reading all I could on dietary options. I could go on for pages but won’t because I want to share just 1 discovery I’ve made regarding hair growth. Needless to say I take a lot of supplements because even though I buy organic, we eat out too much so I know much of my food is not. I’m working on being better at that! Anyway, when I added NAC to my plethora of pills, I noticed a dramatic thickening of my hair. Used to be I would wrap my ponytail bands 4 times around. Now I struggle to do 3. My hairdresser noticed it as well & asked what I was doing.
I am sharing this with my beautiful daughter who is an ER doc trapped by her training. She’s in California. She suffers from lack of sleep & is battling her weight. 🙏she finds this transformative!
Which brand of NAC pls?
Dose too?
Hi Karen! It is too late for my hair (started losing in my 20's and am nearing 60 now - discovered what was wrong in my early 50's but hair follicles die off after starving for 7 years or more). Thanks for sharing for others though! Praying for your daughter, so hard I know!
Friends, I’m sorry for the confusion, but the person impersonating me is back leaving comments in Substacks I read that I would never post, in order to ruin my reputation with you. Please report their account if you see it.
My real account name is @JustJuju.
Please check the profile BEFORE assuming it is me.
Their latest name is @juju8383747. But they no doubt will create others. They use my exact same avatar and a “version” of my bio. Check the profile and report it as an impersonation of it’s NOT @justjuju, and please note that it’s not me.
Thanks for your help.
So sorry!
What a sad, meaningless life you must have "Mary." We know who you are. I hope you get help, truly.
Oh Mary, you’re the troll and impersonator. This is yet another one of your accounts that we have tracked to you. Everyone should block you. You’re a horrid, unhappy person if this is how you spend your time. Ugly to your core.
"joyful movement" = dancing - Wonderfully healthy!
Hello Jenna's sister! Laurie, you sound awesome. Yes, the huge pay cut to do true health care is why I went back to software development so I could afford to help people for free. One of these days I'd like to figure out how to do health care AND make an okay income (my plan is to "retire" - let's hope that Social Security doesn't vaporize - then SS can support me while I take care of others)
John - that sounds wonderful! I consider this job my semi-retirement even though I work 4 days per week. I do not actually believe in retiring. No one in the bible retired and studies show that working is associated with longevity. So as long as I am kicking, I will continue to do what I love :) I pay the bills and bring home a modest paycheck, but have room to grow - as my business is not quite 3 years old yet and I have only been taking insurance half that time.
Enjoy "retirement"! {smile}
Through my career, I never intended to retire. Why save for retirement when you enjoy what you do? About a dozen years ago I redefined "retirement" for myself. Of course I'll keep doing things, but I will be "retired" in the sense of not depending on any employer for income.
Making an income from Functional Medicine was a struggle for me since it seemed almost criminal to charge people to advise them to eat right, etc. The majority of clients had very tight finances and couldn't afford extra costs.
Photography is another interesting (third career?). For every dollar I make, I spend more than $100 dollars! Yes, photography is a real money pit! But thoroughly enjoyable!
Now if only I could get paid for dancing, that would be fun to return to doing dance performances but that was another extremely expensive activity.
I live in a military town and it is quite blue-collar. One of my specialties is teaching people to actually spend less money and eat better. It is possible! :-) I wish I could dance for a living too, but I don’t have the ability anyway, just the passion!
Ah, so you don't have a lot of wealthy clients? It seems like we both want to teach "common sense" but I find it hard to charge people for common sense. "Here, pay me $100 and I'll advise you to buy carrots instead of Cheetos."
Well passion is the heart of dancing! The only way to make money at dancing is to teach dancing. Only a few very elite are able to perform to a level at which people will pay to watch them dance.
I think there is something to be said for having some skin in the game. You can literally learn to play the guitar, fix your vacuum cleaner yourself, and find any type of workout that exists on YouTube. Still people hire music teachers and repair people and fitness instructors… With what Laurie does, people are going to have to answer to her and be accountable for their actions. Plus, I don’t know about you but I am constantly shocked at how ignorant most people are about basic nutrition 🙈🤦♀️
Yes, I'm constantly shocked by how ignorant most people are about nutrition. The second "shock" is how much the "experts" disagree with each other. Thus I advise people to find an "expert" that makes sense to them and give it a whirl ({grin} had to toss in a dancing reference there too).
Another factor I have noticed over the years is that the more people pay for advice, the more the people trust and follow the advice. Giving out free health advice has generally been an exercise in frustration as people say "yes", nod their heads, go away and promptly ignore / forget everything you just "taught" them.
An example I'd pick, perhaps not a great example, but which method do you respect more for learning a foreign language? Rosetta Stone which costs a fortune? Or some freebie online app?
I have Functional Medicine doctor friends that charge $600 an hour to help people lose weight. To me, even though they are providing good care, it seems like they are exploiting the desperation of their clients.
I see a lot of similarities between Jenna and Laurie. They use different tools but both have their own super powers. Jenna writes about and helps other writers get exposure about important topics that are often taboo. Laurie does the same in the medial and nutrition field.
About 15 years ago when I had just turned 50, I hit a wall in running my businesses. I work for myself and the collapse in the economy forced me to make a final push before a trade show and ended up passing out at the airport. I went to the hospital and a cardiologist ran every test he knew to come back with 'you are normal' and everything is good. I went to a traditional doctor and they ran $5,000 worth of tests to be told 'boy I don't know'. This wasn't a temporary condition. I was suddenly unable to function with the most basic tasks. Extreme thirst. Dizziness and 'wired but tired'. It went on the same for a month until my wife said she wanted me to see a Bastyr University doctor (natural medicine and nutrition). They trained interns at the local senior center and I paid my $8 for a visit. For that low price (donation to the senior center), I got two doctors and an intern for an hour an a half. They diagnosed me with adrenal fatigue and gave me some herbal medicine (Holy Basil and some other herbs). Within 4 days (for the first time in months) my wired but tired went away and when I started taking the electrolytes they prescribed my extreme thirst went away. It took two years before I could say I was back to normal. Where our standard medicine failed, they saved my life.
Thank you Laurie for following what you know is right. The world today is too often just mindless robots doing what they were told in school and not questioning anything. As a business owner, I know how difficult it is sometimes to do what you know in your head is the right thing to do.
Mike, this is AMAZING! Thank you for sharing and I'm so glad you found relief. :)
Thanks. Is today your birthday or tomorrow? Today is our 42nd wedding anniversary. Your "good luck with that" comment must have worked. ;-)
LOL! My birthday is tomorrow, 515… Happy anniversary! 42!🎉🥳💪🍾💕👏
Thanks Mike... what an amazing story! When I was in school in the 80's we were taught to think outside the box (at least at Duke University Medical Center), but then Big Pharma literally came by storm and took over. The younger generations are taught how to diagnose, and then match that diagnosis to either a medication or procedure. The insurance companies blew up and decided to make many of the medical decisions. The hospitals then bought out most of the private medical providers, dictating the care. It is not the provider's fault that they are not being given tools to prevent or reverse disease. Most of them are too young to even realize that this has happened. It is also nearly impossible to pay your bills in many areas unless you take insurance. On top of that, most providers are not businessman (including me) and find it challenging to start their own practice in order to spend time with their patients and make better medical decisions. The system is SO broken! I do not believe in socialized medicine, but I think we need to incentive providers for having WELL patients, and until we do that, the sick-care model will persist.
Wow! That’s amazing!
Beautiful writing; your sister is fabulous; you too (of course).
Thank you, David! Jenna is literally one of a kind! Gorgeous inside and out. Brilliant. Kind. Hard working. Best gift giver ever. AND SO FUNNY!!!
😭💕
So wonderful to meet your amazing sister! Keep up the good work and the good fight, ladies ❤️
Thanks for your support, Donna!
Nice piece. If you studied alt medicine, you know about DMSO. Reading your substack and others led me to discover it. Tried it on a scalp condition of 20yrs and low and behold that condition, acted like eczema, went away. My gray/silver head of hair became thicker and regained some of my original color. Surprise, surprise. I do follow the Midwestern Doctor.
How did you apply the DMSO to your hair? How much and what strength? I am losing my hair and it is scary!!!!
I diluted it 50% in distilled water. It will heat up when you do this. Then used a clean plastic squeeze bottle to apply to scalp and rubbed in by hand. It tingles at first. Just trying on my nearly bald eyebrows by dabbing a little on a finger. I am 79 and didn't expect the hair growth but also had no bald spots. I think it would sting your eyes if it gets in. It absorbs in a couple of minutes. Bought 100% med-grade from Walmart and added an equal amount of distilled water.
Do you wash it out afterwards?
No. It is meant to be absorbed into the skin. It only works that way.
Also, I read a book a few months ago called ‘Healing with DMSO’ and it has a whole section of recipes for different ailments, both external and internal application. . One of the things the book discusses is how using 100% pure generally doesn’t work, it has to be mixed with something to absorb. (I’m probably butchering the details). This surprised me because I bought the 100% pure version too. Switched it out for some 70% that’s blended with aloe gel to use for joint pain and it did work more effectively. Anyway, just thought I’d pass it along because it had so much good info. I think someone in the comments section in one of A Midwestern Doc’s DMSO articles mentioned the book.
That’s very interesting. I have been using the 99% pure and have not experienced the relief others speak of. I get the “fishy “ taste ,and, it kinda stings my skin,but,no huge pain relief…I will try the 70% with aloe. Thank you.
Thank you.
I’m aware. I’ve read a lot on DMSO, but generally you’re supposed to leave it on for like 20 min and then wipe it off. I was wondering about the process specific to hair, that’s all.
Interesting! I use it almost daily and NEVER wipe it off!?!?! I came here to add it's really important to use it on very clean skin (or hair/scalp) as it will increase absorption of anything else on the skin (and you probably don't want leave-in conditioner or styling cream in your blood)...
That's amazing!!! :)
I especially loved today’s Substack because I HEALED MYSELF WITH FOOD! Literally. I did. After 25 years of pharmaceuticals thrown at me, and a decade of horrific allopathic treatments, I was but a shell of who I am today. I had to diagnose myself and seek out the best clinic in the world for my condition. Two months after a life saving surgery that they performed that fully cured me, I switched to a new way of eating. For me I chose low carb (Keto/carnivore) and it has been nothing short of miraculous. I wasn’t seeing the improvement to my many hyperparathyroidism symptoms in the same time frame the majority of post-surgery patients do, but omg, when I changed my diet? It was like rocket fuel. In two months I was able to stop half my medications. In six months I was off of all 14 of them. Three years later I’ve never had to take prescriptions again, and I only twice entertained IVM, HCQ, and sometimes Azithromyacin when I got a virus or flu. Other than that I take nothing regularly.
I completely turned around the “pre-diabetes” state I was in, corrected my cholesterol, and lost all the chronic aches and pains. Brain fog disappeared. I have the best mental health I have ever had in my entire life. I have the energy I had in my 20s even if I don’t have the body that can support my ambitions. 🤣 I lost 55 lbs without burning calories. My last 20 WILL require some calorie burning tho, LOL - still, I’m healthier than I’ve been since my 30s. (I’m 60 next month). I sleep like a baby once again. I also haven’t felt drowsy midday once in three years.
My diet means everything to me. I watched as this same diet has eased the disability symptoms my two sons have always struggled with, including the mental health ones. And my husband lost every ounce of fat on his body and he now runs circles around men 20-30 years younger than him at work (electrician and commercial construction sites.) They literally gawk at him and are amazed at his transformation.
In under one year food did for me what prescription meds only promised for over 25 years. And being that I’m starting my fourth year, the false impression being passed around that the diet is unsustainable or causes long term problems is absolute hogwash with no scientific proof at all, and desperation on the part of Big Harma and their “professional” medical institution lackeys.
Your sister would be my hero. I’ve been unable to find a doctor like her in our area. There’s a vast untapped market in the Chicagoland area for such doctors like her that don’t make excessive wealth more important than their oaths. God bless her ❤️
This gave me chills! I'm so happy for you, Juju! And kudos to you for sticking with it!!! XOXO
Strong supporter of your dietary choices, with equally excellent metabolic results. BTW, there is a CardioIQ offered by Quest labs that helps sort out the truth in the lipid results. It’s not available in all States, but you can order yourself at walkinlab.com
Thanks Juju! That means so much... It is amazing what taking away all processed foods can do!!! I am so happy you are feeling so great:) Food IS medicine!
Yes! Removing ALL processed foods and ALL sugars did wonders for us.
Happy Birthday Jenna! It's amazing to see so much beauty, talent, and general awesomeness in one family. It's even more amazing to see that the two of you are on the same page when it comes to the plandemic. What a blessing!
Three cheers for the McCarthy sisters, your daughter's college graduation, and your birthday!
Thanks Veeeeeeeeee! We both (all!) appreciate you. XOXO
And we all appreciate you for everything that you do! I just referred a good friend to your sister for his sleeping issues. Hopefully he reaches out!
Thanks so much!
Vee, I loved this! How kind of you! Not to brag, but we have quite an amazing family... a Cuban missionary (built 200 churches in Cuba and is in the history books there), an inventor, multiple writers/authors/editors (Jenna of course is the top-dog there), multiple musicians, a few teachers, two models (to include Jenna's beautiful daughter and our great uncle who modeled for a Norman Rockwell painting!), an artist, a few salesmen, and multiple generations of builders. We are all entrepreneurs - my parents, brother, sister, Brother-in-law, my husband and myself.
That is remarkable! It would be awesome to see all of this documented with pictures in one place! Maybe a future family project that would allow the two of you to collaborate 😉
😊💕
Here’s a start: our amazing aunt and uncle took our great grandfather‘s poetry THAT HE WROTE ON HORSEBACK and published two volumes on Amazon. No one buys them lol it was just so they could have them printed on demand and sent to family… But this is the great grandfather who was an archdeacon and Cuban missionary and poet… 😊
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1436364701/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_R3VZSC2H64WMQS16QQPJ?
What a bad ass. Thank you for confirming that bad assness runs in your geness. Hopefully you're planning on writing your next book on horseback! 💪
💪🏇📝🤣💕
I did not even know that that was actually published and placed on Amazon ha ha!
My cool great uncle clarence modeling for Norman Rockwell:
https://prints.nrm.org/detail/260832/rockwell-gary-cooper-the-texan-1930
So cool! Thanks for sharing Laurie!
What a beautiful relationship! You both
are certainly blessed. And Laurie, you are an amazing person to walk away and start your own practice. The world needs more
people like you!
Happy Birthday Jenna!
Thanks Roberta. I hope that many more will follow. I personally believe that many providers could but most are so caught up in their expensive life-styles, they can/will not take less money. It is a sacrifice but SO worth it!
I’m wondering about this weiner. Do tell us the pristine hot dog story, pls!
First off, love KC & The Sunshine Band, so your name is my fav. Secondly, let me tell you about my hotdog...
About 17 years ago, my BFF, who was a homeschooling mom, showed me a science project that she done with her kiddos. She had a Happy Meal at that time that was already over 5 years old and had not changed a bit. Cheese, bread, meat, pickles, ketchup as well as fries literally unchanged with time. We decided to get a Weiner Works hotdog as an experiment, and mine is also now unchanged 17 years later. I kept it in the garage for months, then the attic for YEARS, and still no mold or rot. Just looks a little dried out. I keep it in my office with the receipt to show patients that fast food is NOT food. It is very powerful.
Wow! I’ve heard of the McDonald’s Happy Meal thing— back in the day when I homeschooled. I never realized you could do the same with a hot dog.
I’ve read that food that doesn't change, can’t do you any good. Even sugary coffee cake that will
eventually mold is better for you than food that doesn’t mold.
The saying was, “If it can’t grow mold, it can’t grow YOU!”
Your body does not know what to do with non-food!💔
Thank you both for advice and wisdom.. thank u Jenna for introducing us to your sister! 🫶🏻… ps Happy Birthday 🎉
You are right, Brandon, you are not our brother. But we appreciate you so! :)