Voiceover: BulletproofMedia.Astateofhighperformance.

DaveAsprey: Here'swhyyouwanttolistenthroughtotheendoftoday'sshow.We'regoingtostartouttalkingaboutthingslikebiodiversityinyourgut,whatyoucandowithplantsandhowplantsaffectthings,whatparasitesactuallydoforyouandagainstyou.Thenwe'reactuallygoingtocutovertosomespiritualpracticestuff.You'regoingtolearnanewbreathingexerciseforthevagusnerve,howgivingflowerstosomeoneisactuallyaformofplantmedicine.You'realsogoingtohearsomethingsaboutayahuascaandsomeoftheotherusesinindigenousculturesofthesetypesofmedicinesincludingsomeofmyownexperiences.It'saverybroadranginginterview.Wechangedirectionsseveraltimesandallofthemarefascinatingandinterestingforyou.Stickaroundtotheend.You'regoingtolovetheentireepisode.

You'relisteningtoBulletproofRadiowithDaveAsprey.Today'scoolfactforthedayisthatresearchersjustpublishedastudyshowingaparticulargutmicrobecanstopseverefluinfections,atleastifyou'reamouse.Theybelievethough...Thisiskindofcool...Thatit'sbecausethebacteriaisbreakingdownflavonoids,whicharethenaturallyoccurringcompoundsinfoodslikeblacktea,redwine,blueberriesor,dareIsay,coffee.ThisisoneofthereasonsinHeadStrong,Iwriteabouthowit'simportantyouhaveadietthat'srichinflavonoids,whichareatypeofpolyphenol,butthatyoualsohavetohavetherightbacteriainyourgutinordertousethoseflavonoids,whichisinteresting.

Ifyou'reeatingantibiotic,tainted,industrialmeat,thenyouwouldbekillingthosethingsthatliveinyourgutthateattheflavonoids.Whowouldhavethoughtthatpolyphenolsandflavonoidsareactuallyprebioticsthatfeedyourbacteria?Turnsouttheyaresignalingmolecules,notjustantioxidantsandtheysignaltothebacteria,whichthensignaltoyourbacteria,whicharecalledyourmitochondria.That'sright,aquadrillionbacteriaarerunningtheshowinsideyourbody.Isn'tthatscary?Thoselittlebastardsarenotlookingoutforyourbestinterests.

Anyway,Idigress.Aswegetintotoday'sshow,sincewe'retalkingaboutpolyphenolsandcoolstufflikethat,there'ssomethingyouprobablydon'tknowabout.ItisBulletproofCacaoButter.Ifyou'rewatchingtheYouTubechannel,I'mholdinginfrontofmyfaceblatantlypluggingit.Ifyouwantto,yougotoBulletproof.com/YouTubeandwatchthisshowbecauseallofthevideochannelstuffisthere.That'sBulletproof.com/YouTube.BulletproofCacaoButterissomethingthatI'vehadonthesiteforalongtime.Cacaobutterisdifferentthanchocolate.

Whatitis,it'sjustthefatfromchocolate.Theproblemisthatthewaywemakeallchocolateiswefermentthechocolate.80%ofSouthAmericanchocolatethatwasrecentlysampledhadcontaminationwithmold.That'sbecauseit'sa

jungleproduct.It'sfermentedinanareawheretheyaren'tcontrollingthemicrobesspecifically.64%ofthemicrobesthatfermentchocolatecreatethesemicrotoxinsthataredirectlytoxictoyourneuronsandspecificallytoyourmitochondria.It'sthesamespeciesoftoxin-formingstuffthatgrowsincoffeeandwineandbeerandthingslikethat.

That'swhyBulletproofCoffeeislabtested,whywechangetheprocessforcoffee.Theso-calledsafelevelsapprovedinsomecountries...IntheUS,thereoftentimesaren'tevenstandardsatallforthesethings,theycanmakeyoufeeltiredandsickandlethargiclongbeforetheybecomelifethreatening.That'swhenyougettheBulletproofCacaoButter,yougetanoptimizedprocessthatletsuscreatethechocolatewithoutthetoxins.We'reactuallytestingthestufftomakesureit'sclean.IfIeatalotofchocolate,Idon'tfeelgood.Ieatotherchocolate,Ifeelgreat.Idon'tlikethehitandmissandthecacaobutterdoesn'tlooklikechocolate,butitaddsamildchocolateflavor.

WhatIdowithitisIuseitinrecipes.Iuseitspecifically...I'llputjustmaybeateaspoonofitinmyBulletproofCoffeeandthenyoudrinkthecoffee.Yougetallthecoffeeflavorandthenabouttwosecondslater,yougetthisstrongchocolatenoteattheendwithouttastinglikeyoujusthadamochaorsomethinglikethat.It'sjustahintofchocolate.Ittastesfantastic.It'saninterestingfattyacidprofile.It'scalledUpgradedCacaoButter.YoucanfinditatBulletproof.com.It'stotallygood.Ifyouenjoyedthisalready,justcheckthisout.Wehaven'tevenstartedtheshowyet,butifyouenjoyedit,youcouldgoontothechannelonYouTubeoriTunesandjustleaveareview,whichissupercool.I'malwaysgratefulifyou'rewillingtodothat.

Inthemeantimethough,let'sgetintotoday'sshow.Today'sguestisDr.MayaShetreat-Klein,averyinterestingwoman.She'stheauthorofTheDirtCure:HealthyFood,HealthyGut,HappyChild.She'sinterestingbecausenotonlyissheaneurologist,she'sanherbalist,anurbanfarmerwitheightchickens,eachofwhomhasnames...Bytheway,onlyurbanfarmersnametheirchickensbecauserealfarmerslikeme,weknowthatsomeone'sgoingtoeatachickeneveryotherdaysowhywouldyounamethechicken,butthat'sjustme.

She'sdonealotofworkwithindigenouscommunitiesandhealerslikeinEcuadorandinSouthAmericaandlookedatplant-basedmedicine,theconnectiontonature,whatitdoestokids'brains,whatitdoestoadults'brainsandreallyhowdowebringnaturebackintomedicalpractice?Shetiesthisintegrative,spiritualapproachtomovement,tonatureandtobeingahardcoreneurologist,whichiskindofawesomeandsomethingthatyou'llhearaboutprettymuchnowhereelse.Dr.Maya,welcometotheshow.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Thankyou.

DaveAsprey: Howwasthatforanintro?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Itwasaprettygreatintro,thanks.

DaveAsprey: Iforgottomentionthatyou'vealsobeenonDr.Oz,SkyNews,NPR,theTelegraph.You'reafamous...Thewho'swhobecauseofTheDirtCure.Howcouldyounotbe?OneofthethingsIlikeaboutyouisthatyoutalkrealopenlyaboutkids'stuffaswellasadultstuff.Thethingsyou'reworkingwithlikedirtandmicrobesandplantcompounds,theyreallyrunthegamut,butwhatletsyourunthelinebetweenkids'stuffandadults'stuffwhensomanyfeelthey'rejustoneortheother?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ithinkit'sbecauseinpediatricneurology,youactuallyaretrainedinbothpediatricsandadultneurology.Thenyouspecializeinpediatricneurology.Ididbasicallytheequivalentoftworesidencies.Thatgotmestarted,butforme,youcanprobablytellIdon'tliketobepigeonholed.Iliketokeepthingsinteresting.Kindofmakesmethink,though,thatwhenyouaskthisquestionofmyfirstdayofmyadultneurologyresidencyafterdoingmyyearsofpediatrics,somepersonhadabloodpressureof240over110.Iwaslike,"Ifthiswereakid,they'dbedead."Ihadnoideawhattodobecauseitisinterestingtowalkintwoworlds,butalotofthethingsthatapplytoadultsalsoapplytokidsandviceversa.

DaveAsprey: It'stotallytrue.Youjusthavethesedifferentstagesofdevelopmentandanyonewho'saparentseeswhat'sgoingonwith,"Oh,thingsaredifferentnowthatthey'rethisageversusthatage."Inindigenouscultures,itseemsliketheyreallyrecognizethatstuff.Also,themicrobialexposureasakidcanshapewhoyouareasanadult,butyoucanalsodothingsasanadult.Let'sactuallytalkaboutdirtbecauseyourbookwasaboutdirtanddidverywell.You'reanurbanfarmerthough,what'sthedealwithdirtandkidsespeciallycompareandcontrastcitiesandcountrykidslikemine?

Dr.MayaS-K.: ThefirstthingI'llsayiswhenIusetheworddirtinthetitleofthebook,Ireallymeantthreethings.Imeantbeingexposedtogermsandmicrobes,eatingfreshfoodfromhealthysoilandthathasalottodowithobviouslythephytonutrientsandthingslikethatandthenfinallybeingexposedtonature.ThosethreethingsthatIputunderthecategoryofdirtisreallythefoundationofhealth.That'strueforkidsandforadults,butasyousaid,kidshavethis...They'reinthiswindowperiodessentiallywhereit'sveryformativefortheirentirelivesandtheirentirehealth.

Thefirstthingisjustgettingexposedtobacteriaactuallyistransformativeforthewholebody,everythingfromthedevelopmentoftheguttothedevelopmentoftheimmunesystemtodownstreamfromthat,healthybrainfunctionandmood.OneofthethingsIthinkthatpeoplehaveforgottenisthat...Wethinkbeinghygienicorwethoughtbeinghygienicwasreallythehealthywaytobe.Ifyou'redirty,thatwasabadthing,butnowwe'vesanitizedourlivesinthiswaywherewe'vesanitizedourbodiesusingalotofantibiotics,whetherit'swhatourdoctorsgiveusorfoodthatwe'reeatingfromfactory-farmedanimalsorevenwhat'sgrowninfieldsistreatedinthatway.

DaveAsprey: Iwaswondering,what'syourfavoriteflavorofglyphosate?Isitthebananaflavororthemintflavorwhenwesprayitonthesoil?Forpeoplelistening,ifyoudon'tknowwhatglyphosateis,you'vebeenunderarock.That'sthatnastychemicalthatMonsantomakesthat'ssterilizingoursoilandkillingthemicrobesinthesoil.Yet,Monsantostillclaimsthatithasnoeffectonhumanhealthdespitethefactthatourhealthisintegrallytiedtosoilmicrobes.Idon'tknowhowyoudothatunlessyou'rejustevil,butthat'sjustme.That'sright.Weshouldn'tbeeatingthatstuff.ThereasonI'maskingaquestionlikethat,Dr.Maya,ishowtheheckdoestheaveragepersonwholivesinacitygetanyaccesstomicrobesthathaveanysemblancetowhattheindigenouspeopleyou'vestudiedgetaccessto?YougooutinCentralPark,there'snomicrobesinCentralParkthatyouwant.They'reallrecycleddogpoopmicrobes.They'regross.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Actually,Idon'ttotallyagreewithyou.Ithinkwecertainlycan'tcomparewhatourexplosionofmicrobesaretoindigenouscommunities.We'veactuallydonestudies...Notpersonallyme,butwehavepublishedstudiesonthediversityofmicrobesinthestoolofpeopleinindigenouscommunitieslet'ssayinEcuador.They'remorediverseexponentiallythananythingthatwehaveintheWesternworldatthispoint.It'struethatwearenotgoingtoapproximatethatinourlifeandforsureinourWesternworldparadigmandforsurebeingonafarm,asyou'resaying,howdoesthataffectchildren?Weknowthatlivingonafarm,themicrobesarefarmorebiodiverse.That'sbasicallytheholygrail.Youwantthemicrobialbiodiversity.

Whenyou'reinanurbanenvironment,though,therearewaysevenifthey'renotperfect.Togoout,tobeinparksisabigone.Compostingisanotherone.Youwanttojustbeinanenvironment,inadirtymicrobialenvironment.Evenbeingwithotherpeopleisactually...We'veseensomereallygreatstudieslookingatyoungpeoplewhoareoutandmoresocialandconnectingwithotherpeoplehavemorebiodiversegutandskinmicrobesthanpeoplewhotendtobemoreathomeorbeingahermit.Therearealotofways,Ithink,incitiesthatwecanincreaseourmicrobialbiodiversity,butit'scertainlynotsimple.

DaveAsprey: Howdoweknowwe'regettingtherightmicrobebiodiversity?Thishasbeenanareaofinterestformeforyears?Igotdiversity,butnowI'vegotE.coli,thebadE.coli,notthegoodE.coli.NowI'vegotClostridia.That'sthebadClostridia,notthegoodClostridiabecausethere'sgoodandbad.Youcangetallsortsofbacteriathatyoudon'twant.Youdon'thavemuchcontrol.There'saservicecalledViome,V-I-O-M-E.Ijoinedtheiradvisoryboard.Thatletsyougetatesteithertwoorfourtimesayeartoseewhat'sgoingoninyourgut,butweknow,youchangewhatyoueatandgoshakehandswithsomedifferentpersonandtwodayslater,youmighthaveanewpassengerthat'sgoodorbad.Howtheheckissomeonegoingtomanagethat?Givemesomehintshere.WhatdoIdo?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ithinkthefirstreframeistothinkofmostbacteriaasgoodorbad.Ithinkforthemostpart,it'snotnecessarilygoodorbad.Ithastodowiththehealthofyourownbody,yourowngutthatdetermineswhetherthepassengersaregoodorbad,butnotsomuch...Therearedefinitelyafewbad,bad,badplayers,but

reallythekeyiswhenyouhavealot,alot,alotofdifferentcommunitiesoforganisms,thenitpreventsanyoneorganismfromgrowingoutofcontrol.It'snotlikewewanttobe...We'reneverreallyfreeof"badorganisms."Wehavethemallthetimeandwearefilledwithviruses.Evenmanyofushaveparasites.

Actually,whatwe'refindingisthesecanbenefitus.Wehaveverysynergisticrelationshipswiththem,butithastodowithhavingthatbiodiversitythatprotectsus.Basically,ifyouhaveonlyafeworganisms,itmakesitaloteasier.There'snochecksandbalancesandoneofthemcangrowoutofcontrollikeClostridiaorE.coliandcausehorribleproblems.Whenyouhavenumerouscommunities,thatbiodiversityiswhat'sactuallyprotective.

DaveAsprey: Itookrattapewormlarvaeeverycoupleofweeksforayear.Wasthatagoodidea?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Itdependsonwhyyouweredoingit.

DaveAsprey: Itjustseemedlikeasexythingtodoatthetime.Iwasdoingitsothat...It'spartofHelmingtherapy.Iwasdoingittoallowtherattapewormlarvae...Bytheway,theycan'tactuallyturnintotapewormsinsideofyou.That'swhyyouusethatspecies.IwasdoingitsothattheycouldsignaltomyimmunesystemtochilltheheckoutsoIcouldhavefewerallergiesandthingslikethat.I'mworkingonreversingsomefoodallergiesIgotfrombeinginketosisfortoolongwithoutenoughcarbstomakealiningformygut.

That'sanexampleofsomethinglikethat,but...You'reaneurologistandyouhaveaccesstoallthisstuff.Ihaveaccesstothestuffthatnormalpeopleeitherwouldn'tdoorjustdon'thaveaccessto.WhatI'mlookingforis,allright,maybeifyouhaveakidwithautismorasevereproblem,youmightdosomethinglikethat.Areyoujustbasicallysayingourkidsshouldgototheparkandnotwashtheirhandswhentheycomehome?HowdoItranslatethisintosomethingthatIcanactuallydo?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Toansweryourquestionaboutthedeactivatedparasites,obviously,you'reawarethatthere'stremendous...Let'ssaygrowingandgrowing,andsoontobeveryrobust,literaturethatsupportstheideathatactuallynotonlydotheseorganismschillouttheimmunesystemliketakingparasites,butactuallytheyjustbyvirtueoftakingsomethinglikedeactivatedparasiteeggsorinsomecasesgivinglivehookworms,whichishappeninginacademiccenters-

DaveAsprey: Itookthosetooabout10yearsago.Thesewerepigwhipwormeggs.Theyweredelicious.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Whenwetakethose,actuallywhat'sbeenmeasuredisthatthebiodiversityofourgutfloraskyrockets.Withoutaddinginanybacteria,it'sthisbeautifulmodelofbiodiversitybegetsbiodiversity.It'sactuallyveryinteresting.Whatwe'veseenisthat,again,wehavethisideawhatparasitismis.Onepersonisgiving

everythingandtheotherone'stakingeverything.Whatwe'relearningaboutparasitismisthatactuallyit'sprobablyamutualism,thatwe'reeachgettingsomethingoutofit,whichisprettyamazingandturnsthewholeideaofparasitismonitsheadfromamedicalstandpoint.

DaveAsprey: Therewasalsoarecentbook.IthinkitwascalledYourBrainonParasitesorsomething.Itmadeareallyconvincingcasebylookingatanimalbiology,forinstance,thefishthatswimuptothesurfaceandshowtheirbelliesforthebirdstoeatthem,90%ofthosefisharebasicallyinfectedwithaparasitethatcausesthatbehaviorbecausetheirparasitehastogetthefisheatensoitcanreproduceandfish[inaudible00:16:51]onland.TheycitedozensofexamplesthroughouttheanimalkingdomofwhereparasitesaredrivingbehavioroflargemammalswiththeobvioustheorybeingthatyouandIareprobablybeingdrivenbyparasitesrightnowandwedon'tknowit.Doyoubelievethat?

Dr.MayaS-K.: IactuallywillsaywhenIobservekidsinmyoffice.Iseeitinparticularwithkidswithautism,butnotlimitedtothatgroup,wherethey'restickingtheirhandsintheirpantsalot.Thatisvery,verycommonlygoingtobeakidwhohasparasiteissues.

DaveAsprey: IsthatcalledAlBundyparasite?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Itshouldbe.Iwishdoctorsactuallyhadmorecreativenamesforthings.Ithinkweshouldputyouinchargeofthat,Dave.

DaveAsprey: Youthinkthatthat'sabehaviorthat'sactuallytheretospreadtheparasite?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Drivenbyparasitesbecausethewaywetransmitparasitestooneanotherisfecaloral.Youputyourhandinyourpants,thenyoutouchadoorknob.Someoneelsetouchesthatdoorknob,putstheirhandintheirmouthforwhateverreasonandthat'sthewayparasitesarespread.ThatbehaviorisdefinitelyIthinkdrivenbyparasites,butcertainlyIcansaythatfromananecdotalstandpoint.Idon'tknowifit'sbeenstudiedwell.

DaveAsprey: Nowwe'reproposingthatwegooutandwedothingsthatgiveusabroad,butilldefined,groupofbacteriawiththeideaofsayingmoreisbetter,butnotnecessarilylookingatratiosorpercentagesorspecificgenetics.Howwe'vegotbacteriaandyou'regoingtogetsomeparasitesinthesepracticesaswell,butthey'reprobablygoodexcept,waitaminute,lastyear,inonelovelysaladatanicehotel,IpickedupGiardiaplusabrain-eatingamoebathattookupresidenceinmygut.Yes,I'mgoingtotalkaboutthisonBulletproofRadioinfrontofhundredsofthousandsofpeople.Ididn'thaveasolidpoopforaboutsixmonths.Itwasprettyhellish.Thiswasreallyunpleasant.Apparentlytheamoebacandrillthroughyourgutlining,moveintoyourbrainandkillyou.

Fortunately,Iguess,Itakealotofcollagenorwhateverelsesomygutlininghelditsintegrity.Eventually,afterfourexpertslater,wefiguredoutwhatitwas.

IfIdon'twashmyhands,IgotoCentralParkorwherevertheheckelseIgo,farmsandthingslikethat,walkbarefootaroundchickensandGodknowswhatelse...Man,thatwasnotapositiveexperienceforme.Howarewetoknowthatwhatwe'redoingisatthatbeneficialversusinthiscaseeatingasaladfromsomebodythatdidn'twashtheirhands?WhatdoIdo?

Dr.MayaS-K.: IthinkthatthefirstthingisIactuallywouldn'targuethatweshouldn'twashourhands.That'sjuststink,numberone.Idon'tthinkIsaidthat.WhatIthink[crosstalk].

DaveAsprey: No,youdidn't,butI'mlike,"HowdoIgetthis?WhatdoIdo?"

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idothinkjusttogetbacktoyoursayingill-definedbacteria,weashumanswanttocontroleverythingthatwecan.Weactuallydobestwithwhatnature...Naturejustdoesbetterthanwedo,let'sputitthatway.Actually,ofinterestisthiswholeideaoffecaltransplants.It'snottosaythatstoolisalwaysbad.It'sjustinthatcase,it'sbetterdoneinacontrolledwaythanjustpoppingitinyourmouthinafancysalad.

DaveAsprey: Yuck.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idothinkwashinghandsisimportant.Ijustthinkweshouldbewashinghandswithsoapandnotusingthingslikehandsanitizer,cuttingbackonthingslikebleach.Actuallysponges,theymakeabigthingabouthowthey'refilledwithbacteria,butweknownowthatpeoplewhohavedishwasherstendtohavemoreallergiesthanpeoplewhowashdisheswithspongesprobablybecausethespongestendtobemorebacteriallydiverse.Actually,we'rehavingsomeexposureinthatway.Usingbleachactuallyseemstocausemoreinfections,morerespiratoryinfectionsincertainstudiesthannotusingbleach.

Reallyithastodowithkeepingthingsclean,butinaprettymoderatewayanddoingthebasicsofhygienewithouttakingitasfaraswe'vetakenit.Wealwayswanttoswingthependuluminthiscrazydirection,butIdon'tthinkbeingtoofarineitherdirectionistheanswer.Ontheotherhand,thinkaboutit,asakid,Iwasrollingdownhills.Iwasrunningaroundoutsideforhours.Ididn'thaveacellphone.Myparentsdidn'tknowwhereIwas.Iwasmakingmudpies.Iwasstanding.Therewasacreeknearmyhouse.Iusedtoplaythereforhoursbymyselfinwhateverdirtywaterwasthere.Itusedtohaverainbowsontop,soitprobablyhadgasolinetoo.

Notnecessarilyrecommendingthat,butweweredirtyaskids.Ididn'twashmyhandsinbetweeneveryactivity.Someonebroughtasnack,Iprobablypoppedthatinmymouth.Ithinkthatthere'sdefinitelyabalance.Wedowanttogetdirty.Thereisareason,forinstance,thatbabieshavesomuchhandtomouthbehaviorwhilethey'recrawlingonthefloor.Theideaisthatthey'regettingtheirhandsdirtyandthey'reactuallyseedingtheirmicrobeagainandagainand

againduringthisreallycriticalperiod.They'regettingthesebiodiverseorganisms.

Kidswereputoutsideandthefloorsusedtobedirtfloors.Theideaisyoudon'twanttohavetohavealotoffecalmatteraround.That'sactuallyreallyproblematic.Ifit'sinyourwater,ifit'sinyoursoil,that'saproblem.That'stobeavoided.Beyondthat,havingsomeexposure...Attheendoftheday,great,washyourselfoff.Usesoap.Don'tuseallthosechemicals.Iuseabarofsoap.Peoplethinkthat'ssooldfashionedapparently,butallthosewashesandbodywashesandthingsactuallykilloffalotofthebeneficialorganismsthatareonourskinandinourbodies.

DaveAsprey: Youdon'twanttosterilizeeverything,butyouwanttowashoffsomeofit.Isthatanaccuratewaytoputit?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Yeah,Ithinkthat'swhatitcomesdownto.Wewanttohaveorganismslivingonourskin.Right?

DaveAsprey: Absolutely.There'sthatcompany,MotherDirt,thatactuallymakesbacteriathatyousprayonyourskin,whichiskindofacoolthing.I'mnotsurethatifI'mamomlisteningrightnow,I'mlike,"Okay,I'mgoingtotheairporttomorrowandIhavean18monthold.DoIletthemcrawlaroundattheairportandthentouchtheirface?"Formykids,Iwaslike,"No,airportsarebadplacestopickupmicrobialdiversityprobably.Ifyou'reinaparkthatdoesn'tseemlikeit'sgottoomanyTootsieRollsleftbydogs,thatmightbeagoodplacetocrawlaround.Ifyou'reinanurbanenvironment,wheredoyougo?What'sthebestplaceforthis?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idothinkgoingtoparks.You'llhavetoknowwhereyou'regoing.Youhavetoknowwhereyouarethere,butIdothinkgoingtoparksisprobablyagreatplace.Ifyou'reinanurbanenvironment,gettingoutofthaturbanenvironmentperiodicallyisalsoincredibly,incrediblyimportant.

DaveAsprey: Gocampingandgetdirty.Ilikethatidea.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Yeah.

DaveAsprey: There'sareasontojointheBoyScoutsortheGirlScoutsmaybe,justtogetyourkidsfreeprobioticsotherthanthe$1,000costofthecampingtrip,butyouknowhowthatis.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Therearestudiesdoneonsoilprobioticsthatareprettyincredible.Mycobacteriumvaccae,forinstance,boostsserotoninlevelsinthebrainsimilartothelevelsthatarefoundifyou'retakingSSRIantidepressants.Youcanactuallyhaveamassiveserotoninboostthatmakesyoufeelgoodandimprovesyourmoodandimprovesevenyourcognitionforthepriceofgoinganddigginginyourgardenormakingamudpiewithyourkid.Otherstudieshaveshown

actuallyitreducesanxietyanditboostscognitionlikeinanimalstudies.It'sprettyimpressive.Theselittlemicewerecompletingdifferentmazestwiceasquicklyandwithhalftheanxietyoftheothermicewhentheywerefedthisbacteria.

DaveAsprey: That'sprettycool.IfIwastoeatthatbacteria,isitgoingtostick?Whatdoyouhavetodo?Oneoftheproblemsisthat,atleastforpeoplewhoarerelativelyhealthy,takingprobioticsoftentimesisshowntonotdoverymuch.Theydon'ttakeupresidence.IfIwantedmoreofthisstuff,whatdoIhavetodo?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Whattheycalleditwasasuperheroeffect.Theysaidthesuperheroeffectlastedaboutthreeweeks.Thentheyneededanotherexposure,butthisisrememberanexposuretosoil.Whattheyrecommendisgardening,yougetalittlebitinyour...Beingoutdoors,youbreathealittleinthroughyournose.Yougetalittlebitonyourhandsandlittlecutsonyourhands.Youmighteatsomeofitbyaccident.Thosearethelittleways.Youdon'tactuallyneedalottohavethebenefits.Everythreeweeksiswhattheyfoundinthatparticularstudythattheydid.Whatitcomesdowntoisweneedtohaveongoing,repeatedexposuretonature,exposuretosoiltomaintainthebenefitsthatwederivefromit.

DaveAsprey: You'regoingtogetmadatme,butI'mconsideringthataverysubstantialpercentageoftheworldpopulationdoesn'thaveaccesstocleansoil.Iliveonanorganicfarm.Mykidspickupsheeppoop.Iamnotinthat,butIknowthatthemajorityofpeoplelisteningtothisaregoing,"Whattheheck?"Canyoujustgetanasalspraywiththiscoolstuffandjustgiveyourselfapumpeverythreemonthsandjustbedonewithit?Somemuddywaterinthenasalspray?Seriously.Howarewegoingtodothisforbillionsofpeoplewhoaren'tgoingtogetaccesstothis?Areyouworkingonthat?Arepeopleworkingonthis?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Thatdoesn'tmakememade.Icouldneverbemadatyou,Dave.

DaveAsprey: I'mtrying.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Iwouldsaythis.IthinkthattherearegoingtoprobablybealotofpharmaceuticalwaysandI'vebeencontactedbydifferentcompaniesthatareinterestedindevelopingthesekindsofproducts,butIthinkourrealgoalisgoingtobetoincreasepeople'sexposuretocleansoil.Iknowthatsoundsmaybepieinthesky,butthat'swhatwereallyhavetodemandbecausethekindofbenefits,whichhavebeenobjectivelymeasuredthatwegetfrombeingincontactwithsoilandbeingincontactwithnaturearesotremendousandsomuchbeyondthatlittlesquirtofbacteria.Forallweknow,weneedthatbacteriatobemaintainedwithotherbacteriaandtreebark.Idon'tknow,butthepointisweneedtobeoutthereandreallygettingdirtyinarealwaynotjustforthatonebacteria,butformanyotherreasons.

DaveAsprey: We'regoingtoswitchgearsinaminuteheretotalkaboutsomeotherindigenousculturestuff,butfirst,ElonMuskwantstosendacolonytoMars.Whenyou'reonaspaceship,howdoyouknowwhichmicrobestobringwithyou?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Iwouldsayyougotoyourorganicfarm,takeabucketoranumberofbucketsofsoilandhopefullynotrightnearwherethesheeparepoopingandjustsprinklealittlebitofthatinyourfoodeverydayandyou'reprobablygoingtobegettingaprettygoodbiodiverseprobioticstraightfromnature.

DaveAsprey: SomehowIdon'tthinkthat'swhatthey'redoing.Iactuallyamahugefanofcolonizingotherplanets,andIthinkitwillhappeninmylifetime.Ialsothinkthatmylifetimeisgoingtobelongerthantheaveragelifetime.180plusismygoalandI'mactuallyworkingonthat.Thatsaid,Ithinkthatwearesocluelessaboutreplicatingevensomewhatofanaturalenvironmentthatmakesusthrivethatit'sgoingtobehardtogotootherplacesunlesswefigureoutthemicrobialdiversityandavoiding,saytoxicfungusgrowingonyourspaceship,becausethat'llsortofkillyouaswellasgettingourlightingandevenourEMFenvironmenttoreplicatewhatwenaturallyhadonPlanetEarth.Apparently,wearepluggedintoourenvironmentandwedon'toperateverywellwhenwe'renotpluggedintoit.

Thatverymuchreplicatessomeofthethinkingyou'redoing.I'mjustguessingthatwedon'thavetheabilityonanyofthespaceshipswehavetodaytoreplicatethediverseenvironmentsoftheplanetlike,"Here'sourjunglesection.Here'sourdessertsection."We'renotgoingtobringthewholepharmacopeiaoftheplanetwithuswhenwegosomewhere.Whataretheminimumessentialelements?Idon'tthinkanybodyknowsyet,butIcertainlyappreciatethatyou'relookingintothisandsay,"Whatdoesthisdo?Whatdoesthisdo?"Theinteractionsbetweenthetwo,that'sgoingtotakesomemorelearning,Ithink.Doyouagree?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ithinkit'sgoingtodefinitelytakealotoflearning.I'mgoingtobereallycuriouswhatwe'llbeabletoreplicatebecausethere'sdefinitelyIthink...Thisprobablydoesleadintoourconversationaboutindigenouscommunities,butthereisthisinnateintelligenceIbelievewithinnaturethatisverysynergisticwithusbecausewe'vebeeninvolvedwithalloftheseelements,water,air,soil,trees,plants,allthesedifferentthingsoveramillennia.Ourbodies,plantbodies,soilbodies,howeveryouwouldtalkaboutitinindigenouscommunitiesallrecognizeeachother.Ithinkit'sgoingtobearealundertakingtotrytoreplicatethat,butIhavenodoubtthatattemptswillbemadeandinterestingiftheywillbesuccessful.I'mdefinitelycurious.

DaveAsprey: Thatsoundedtomelikeyouweresayingthey'renotgoingtobesuccessful.DidIhearyouwrong?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Mm-hmm(notsure).

DaveAsprey: Isuspectthatwecandoit.Myunderstandofthingsisthattheenvironmentisaverycomplexsystemandthatwe'redefinitelypluggedintoit.Ourbodieslistentoeverythingintheenvironmentaroundus.AlotofwhatkeepsusgoingisthatweareaPetridishforthethingsthatmakeourenergy.IfyourPetridishiscleanandhastherightnutrientbroth,itcangenerallysucceedunlesstheenvironmentthePetridishisindoesn'twork.YouleavethePetridishinthesun,it'sprobablynotgoingtoworkthesameasifyou'dputitinthefridge.Weneedtoaccountforthingslikethat,butI'mguessingit'shackableenoughthatwecangosomewhereandmakeinterestingstuffhappen.Ifnot,I'mprettysuresomepeoplewilldietrying.Infact,Iguaranteeit.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Iagreewithyouonthatone.

DaveAsprey: Thatiswhathappenswhenyouareanexplorerandit'shappenedthroughoutallofhumanhistorylongbeforewehadthingsotherthanfeettogowalkingtoseewhatwasontheothersideofthehill.Turnsoutthereweretigersthere.Toobad.

Speakingoftheothersideofthehill,theotherthingyoudoisyoudoalotofworkwithindigenouscultures,plant-basedmedicines.Ijustfinishedmyplant-basedmedicine,thatwouldbecoffee,mothernature'soriginalsmartdrugalongwithsaytobacco,anotherwell-studiedsmartdrug.Yourworktakesyoujustnotformicrobesandmicrobialdiversityandnutritionfromthesenativecultures,butalsointosomeofthemorespiritualstuff.Talkaboutwhatyourworkthereasaneurologisthasdone.Howhasthespiritualsideofindigenouspracticeaffectedyourneurologypracticeandviceversa?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Iliketojustbeclearthat,asyou'resayingwiththeideaofplantmedicine,thatit'sareallydiversecategorywithmany,manydifferentwaystopartake.OnekindofplantmedicinethatItalkaboutthatIthinkisreallyaccessibletopeopleistheideaofgivingflowerstopeople.Alotofpeoplesay,"Oh,Idon'tknowanythingaboutplantmedicine.Idon'tknowanythingaboutherbs.Idon'tknowanythingaboutallofthat."Ialwaysliketothinkabout,"Haveyouevergivenanybodyflowers?"Prettymuchmostpeoplewillsay,"Yes,"you'veeithergivenorreceivedflowers.

Wegiveflowerstopeoplewhenwe'rehappy,whenwelovethem,whenwewanttocongratulatethem,whenwe'resadorwe'veexperiencedloss.Thereasonwhywedothatisbecauseittransformsthewaywefeel.Itmakesusfeeldifferent.That'sactuallyaform...Inthesecommunitieswewouldtalkaboutitinawaylikeit'saffectingyouinyourphysicalbody,inyouremotionalbodyandinyourspiritualbodyallatthesametime.Thattransformativeeffectisactuallywhatwewouldthinkofasaformofplantmedicine.Obviously,wecantakeitintodifferentkindsofherbsthatweingestincludingthingslikecoffeeandbeyond.

DaveAsprey: Let'stalkaboutflowers.Yousetsomeflowersinfrontofsomeone,sothere'sanopticaleffect.Thedifferentcolorsthatcomefromtheflowers,someofthelight

thatisreflectedisgoingtobepolarized.Someisnotgoingtobepolarized.Yougetthedifferentfrequencies,thedifferentspectrums.Thenyougettheactualpollenandyougettheterpenes,whichareshowntoaffectyourgutmicrobesaswellandthingslikethat.Yougetthepsychologicaleffecthappens,"Look,beautifulflowers.Iseebeauty.Iseenature,"otherstufflikethat.There'sachemicalthing.There'sanopticalthing.TheremaybeanEMFthingthatcomesfromflowers.Ihavenoidea.There'smaybebacteriaorfungusthatcomesinonthose.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Whataboutscent?That'sgoingtogorightintoyourlimbic,primitivebrainandtriggerallkindsofmemoriesandfeelingsandpleasurecenters.Speakingofthedifferentkindsofchemicaleffects,thatpsychologicaleffectoflookingatnaturereallycan'tbeunderestimatedbecausetherehavebeenseveralstudiesnowwherepeoplejustlookingatnature,let'ssaythey'reinahospitalpostsurgically,they'relookingattreesoutthewindowversusabrickwall,theyhealmorequickly,theyneedlesspainmedication.Theyhavefewercomplications.They'redischargedearlier,fewernegativenotesandnursescharts.It'sareal,realthing,butyeah,you'vegotallthosethings.

DaveAsprey: It'sjustinterestingasabiohack.Theenvironmentaroundyouchangesyourbiology.Itchangesonalotoflevels."Ohlook,flowers,"butthat'sjusttheveryhighestlevelpatternofflowersthatyou'reseeing.There'sallsortsofeffectsunderneaththat.Ifsomeonehandsyouplasticflowers,evenifthey'rereallygoodreplicas,itdoesn'tworkthesame.Maybeinthebackgroundorsomething,youwouldseethat,butifyouturnyourawarenessupalltheway,you'relike,"Ohwait,it'snotthesame."Youknowitataviscerallevel,whichisfascinatingandsomethingthatIdon'tthinkisthatwellstudied,butit'sarealeffect.

Oneoftheotherthingsthatindigenouscultures,prettymuchallofthemdois...HowdoIputthisdelicately?Theytripballs.Wasthatdelicateenough?Inotherwords,theyusehallucinogensorhallucinogenicpractices,extendedfasting,isolationinacave,eatingstrangeformsofcactus,mushrooms,ayahuasca.InprettymucheverycontinentIthinkexceptfortheNorthPolehasDMTcontainingplantcompoundsandinalmosteverysinglepractice...Mongoliansdrinkfermentedmare'smilkthatmakesyoutrip.Weseemtobedriven,atleastinindigenouscultureseverywhere,tohavethesealteredstateexperiences.Howimportantarethosebothinhumandevelopmentand...?Arethoseanimportantorameaningfulpartofneurologyorthespiritualsideofthethingsthatyoustudiedwiththesepeople?Justwalkmethroughyourthoughtsonthat.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ithinktheyhaveactuallyincrediblepotential.Iwouldstartbysayingthatthewaythatthesesubstancesareusedisthatthey'reconsideredsacred.Thisis,Ithink,reallyimportantbecausealotofthewayweinteractwithplantshasbeenfraughtespeciallyinWesternculture.Forinstance,thewaythatNorthAmericansarereferredtoinSouthAmericanthatIheardseveraltimeswerejunkies.Theymeanthatinmanyways,notjustinthewaythatwemightthinkofithere.Theideaisthatwewanttousethesethingsandtake,take,take.In

thosecultures,theideaisthatit'sarelationshipandit'sanallianceandthatit'ssacred.Youmightthinkaboutthewayweusesomethinglikethepoppyplantorthecocaplantisagreatexample.WhenIwasinEcuador,it'sverycommonforpeoplewhenthey'regoingtohighaltitudeorinthemorningforgoodenergy,theychewcocaleavesormakeacocatea.It'sactuallyincrediblyeffectivefor[crosstalk].

DaveAsprey: Iusedit.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Yeah,metoo.

DaveAsprey: Certainly,matadecoca,IwasactuallysadIcouldn'tbringsomeback.Actually,Imighthaveaccidentallybroughtsomebackandfounditamonthlaterinmypocket.Sorryaboutthat.IuseditaftersoIdon'thaveitanymore.Itreallydidhelpwithaltitudesickness.Yougettheseoldpeopleouttherethathavegoneoutandhandharvestedthisstuff.Theytypicallyareolder.They'resellingitinamarketforrelativelysmallamountsofmoney,butit'snotanindustrialprocess,whereashere,"Letmejustsnortsomewhitepowderthatcamefromthesamething."

Dr.MayaS-K.: That'sthepointisthatwegoinsteadofhavingrespectfortheplantandusingitinthewaythat...Honoringwhatithas,whatwecallmasterplantsinplantmedicine.Thesecertainplantsareverypowerful.Coffeeisamasterplant.Tobaccoisamasterplant.Cocaisamasterplantandsoon.Whenwetrytopurifyitandtakethepowerfromthatplantinawaythat'snotrespectful,thatplantcandestroyyou.Ithinkfromaspiritualstandpoint,becausewedon'thaveagoodspiritualvocabulary,whenwe'retalkingaboutthesekindsofthingsinNorthAmericaandinWesterncultureoverall,wedon'treallyunderstandthat.Theseplantsarepowerfulandtheyactuallycancontrolyou.

IliketotalkaboutgrassandImeanthekindthatgrowsinourlawns.Howmanyhoursdomostpeoplespendiftheyhaveahousemaintainingtheirlawn?Basically,grassownsus.We[inaudible00:40:33]it,wemowit.Wedoeverythingsothisonemonoculturespeciescanbehappy.We'lldoanythingtomakethathappen,thewholething.Itliterallycontrolsusinacertainway.Whenwetalkaboutthesekindsofplants,evenmoreso.Ithinkthefirstpointtomakeisjustthatthesepeoplearewalkingintothisrelationshipfromliterallychildhoodknowingthattheseplantsaresacredplantsandthatthey'repowerful.Idothinktheyhaveincredible,incrediblebenefit.We'reseeingthatactuallyinmanyscientificstudieslookingatsubstanceabuse,believeitornot,aswellasanxietyandOCDanddepressionthat'snotresponsibletotreatment.WehavereallybeautifulstudiesonmanyofthesethingsforeverythingfrommicrodosingofLSDtoayahuascatopsilocybin,whichisinthemagicmushrooms.There'sreallyalot,Ithink,ofpotentialifwegointotherelationshipintherightway.

DaveAsprey: PeoplemightthinkI'malittlebitcrazyhere,butI'lltellyou.I'vespentmytimeinTibetinshamanictrainingwithAlbertoVilloldoandvariousotherstrange

things.WhenI'mathome,wegrowprettymuchallofourownfood.Everynowandthenwegetstufffromneighbors'farmsandthingslikethat.Inmid-winter,Imightbuycucumbersfromsomewhereelse,whatever.Iwouldsay90%ofourfoodcomesfromourowngarden.WhenI'mpickingtheherbsthatIeateveryday,IactuallysaythankyoutotheplantbeforeIstripitsbabiesoffitandeatthem.I'massumingtheplantdoesn'treallylikethat,butit'sgoingtohavetocope.

Theideaisexpressinggratitudetowardsthethingthatmadeyourfood,itcertainlydoesn'tcostmeanything.Iknowquantitativelythevalueofagratitudeprocess.Youcanbelike,"Ididn'tthinkorIwasn'tmindfulwhenIharvestedmyherbormyfennelorwhateverI'meatingrightnow,"orIcanjustsaythankyoueverynowandthenbeforeIpluckthethingoffandeatit.Iactuallythinkthatwhetherornottheplantknowsisentirelydebatable,butwhetherIknowthatitwasgoodformetodothat,Ithinkitis.Thatis,Iwouldsay,moreofanindigenous,traditionalperspective,butthere'snothingthatsayseveryonelistening,whenyou'relookingatsomeamazingfoodonyourplate,itcamefromplants,whetherornotit'sapieceoflamborapieceoffish,itcamefromaplantbecausethat'showitis.Bytheway,theplantscamefromanimalsbecauseplantseatdeadanimalsandthat'sjusthowitworks.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Includingdeadhumans.That'spartofthecycleoflife.I'dliketopointthatout.

DaveAsprey: Iapologizeofalloftheveganswhodidn'twantkillingtohappen.Someanimaldiedforyourplanttolive.Thatissimplyhowtheworldworks.Yikes,you'regoingtohavetobeagraveltarian,whichI'venotmadeworkformyself,butI'mopentotheidea.Nothingdiestomakegravel.Whatshouldthoseoflistening,whoareinterestedinaspiritualpractice...Whataresomeoptionsthatyoumightrecommend?Shouldmorepeoplebemicrodosing?ShouldpeoplebetravelingtoPeruandEcuadorandonceinalifetime,likeIdid20yearsago,doingayahuascainatraditionalceremony?Shouldtheybejoiningadrummingcircleinordertobemoreconnectedinnature?Whatareouroptionshere?Iwasveryfortunatetobeabletodothisasayoungman,butforalotofpeopletravelingtoanothercountrytogoouttothejungleanddoweirdstuff,it'saprettybigcommitmentanditmayjustnothappenbecauseyouhaveajobandkidsandit'sjustnotfinanciallyrealistic?WhataremyoptionsintheUS?

Dr.MayaS-K.: I'llsaythis.Ithinkthatassomeonewho'straveledtothejungleandexperiencedsomeofthethingsthatarepracticedthere,Ithinkthatthepeoplethat...There'sacertainsensethatyouknowifit'stherightthingforyou.MostofthepeoplethatI'veencounteredmighthavemovedheavenandearthtogettherebecausetheyneededitandtheyknewtheyneededthat.Ithinkdefinitelystartwithwhatyouhaverighthere.Youdon'thavetogotravelingforit.Ithinkthatthat'salmostalwaystruethatthethingsyouneedarenearby.

DaveAsprey: Whatdoesthatmeanstartwithwhatyouhaverighthere?Areyousayingstartaspiritualpracticeorareyousayingcalltheneighborhooddrugdealer?Whatdoesthatmean?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idon't...Imean[crosstalk].

DaveAsprey: Iknowyou'readoctor.Youhavealicensebut...

Dr.MayaS-K.: Imeanintermsofaspiritualpracticethatsimply...TherearebasicthingsandIthinkhavingaconnectionwithplantsisabasic,criticalfoundationforanyotherkindofpracticethatyou'regoingtohaverelatingtoplants.Igointothewoodseveryday.IliveinNewYorkCity.Actually,Iliverightnearaparkthathasforest.IfeelveryblessedtohavethatandIexpressalotofgratitudeIfeelmanytimesadayforthat.Bytheway,Dave,Idon'tknowifyou'vereadTheHiddenLifeofTrees,buttherearesomereallybeautifulbooksaboutplantintelligence.It'smindblowing.

DaveAsprey: Yeah,infact,let'sjustendorsethat.Ifyou'relisteningtothisandyouwantyourmindblown,TheHiddenLifeofTrees...Ifyouthinkit'sokaytoeatplantsandthattheydon'tknowit,ohmyGod,youhavenoideawhattheseplantsaredoingforeachotherandtoeachotherandhowtheypassknowledgefromonegenerationtoanother.It'llblowyourmind.Also,thereasonIreadthatbookisthatmywife,whodoesmoreofmanagingtheorganicfarmthanIdo,giventhatI'mmanagingBulletproof,whichisitsownbigfoodoperationintermsofdoingsomethingthat'sworthdoingthere,shereadthebookandwaslike,"Youhavetoreadthis."Iwaslike,"Okay,thiscompletelyblowsmymind."Thenliterally,twoweekslatertheNewYorkTimesBestsellingMonthlyListforsciencebooks,notforadvicebooks,cameout.ThisbookwasonthelistandsowasHeadStrong,whichwasthehugestthingever.

Ijustsatdownandwaslike,"Wow."Lanalookedatthelist,she'slike,"OhmyGod,HeadStronghitthelistwithsixofmyfavoritebooksoftheyear,includingTheHiddenLifeofTrees."It'sfunnythatyoumentionthatbecauseIsharedthelistwiththebookforonemonth.Ihavetotellpeoplereadthatbook.Ifyoureallywanttoknowwhat'sgoingononyourplate,itwillchangeyourperspective.Itwillalsomeanthatwhenyouseeaclearcutforest,itactuallywillmakeyoumad.There'snoexcuseforusdoingthat.

It'sokaytotakesometrees,butleavesomeotheronesbecausethey'lltalktothenewonesandwe'rereforestingpartsofourpropertythatshouldhaveneverbeencleared.Ittakes30yearsonlyifyoumaketherightmicroclimatestodothat.We'vemadetherightmicroclimatesand30yearsfromnow,we'llhaveanactualforestversusjustamonocropoftrees,whichiswhat'shappeninginmostoftheworld.Whenyourealizethevastintelligenceoftheplanetthatway,it'slike,"Wow."I'llgetoffmysoapboxthere,butyougottoreadthatbook.Whereareyougoingwiththat?

Dr.MayaS-K.: That'sfantastic.Iwasgoingwiththeideathatwhenyouspendtimeinaforestorinaplacewhereyou'resurroundedbyplants,itactuallyisthebeginningofaspiritualpractice.Infact,you'veprobablyheardofthis,theJapanesepracticeofshinrin-yoku,whichistranslatedtoforestbathing,whereyougoandimmerseyourselfinthebeautyoftheforest.It'sactuallylikeaculturalpracticeanda

spiritualpracticeaswell.Thereareallthesesciencestudiesbasicallythatshowallthesehealthbenefitsbecauseit'spracticedsowidely.Itlowerscortisollevels.Itboostsanti-cancerproteinsandnaturalkillercells.Itimprovesfocusandconcentrationandexecutivefunction.

There'salltheseincrediblebenefitsthatwemeasure,butatthesametime,you'rereallyconnectinginaspiritualwaywiththenaturalworld.Ithinkthesearethemostbasicthingswecanbedoingtostartthatspiritualpractice.Sometimesthat'sallyouneed.Youdon'tneedtodoanythingdifferentandexotic,butthenbeyondthat,thenextkindofpieceIthinkis,forme,Igrowcertainplantsandspendtimewithplantsinthatway,havingthatexperience.Thenyoucantakeit[crosstalk].

DaveAsprey: Whatdoesthatmean?Doyouhavealittlepotfarminthere?Isthatwhatyou'resaying?

Dr.MayaS-K.: No,no.

DaveAsprey: I'mjustkidding."Certainplants,"Iwasjustwondering.Anherbgarden,youmean?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Yes,[inaudible].Thepointisthatyouhavethiscontactwithdifferentkindsofplantsbeforeyouevermakethestepofconsideringingestingthemorwhateveritmaybe.Idothinkthatwearelearningthatthesemasterplants,whetheritbecoffee,whetheritbecannabis,whetheritbesomethinglikeayahuascaorSanPedroorthosekindsofthings,allhaveincrediblehealingpotential.It'sgoingtobethiskindofbalanceofhowdoweincorporatethosethingsintoourhealingpracticeswithouttryingtoindustrializethemortakeawayfromthesacredpractices?That'sreally,Ithink,whatmakesthemsohealing.

DaveAsprey: IwasrecentlyinareallyremotepartofthePacificNorthwestandhadanopportunitytoingestaplantmedicine.Itwasreallyinterestingbecauseit'snotjustevenabouthealing.Italsoisaboutenhancingthecapabilitiesthatyouhaveinsense.I'venoticedthismultipletimes.Withtherightplantmedicine,youcanseestuffthatisn'treadilyapparent.Idon'tmean,"Oh,there'saunicornandabunnyinfrontofmyfloating."Ididn'tmeanthatatall.Forinstance,Icouldlookatahillsideonasubstanceandyourvisualacuitygoeswayup.Youcanseeleavesacrossthevalley.Youcanseedetailsthatweren'tapparent.Onethingthatpoppedup,I'mlike,"Ohlook."OnthesideofthatmountainthatlookedjustlikeaforestbeforeIwasonthissubstance,Icouldspotexactlywherethestreamswere.Youcouldseetheveinsonthesideofthemountainandgoing,"Oh,ifIwantedtofindwater,"it'sjustrighttherewhenyouknowhowtolookforit.

Withouttheenhancedsensesthatcomefromsomeofthesethings,youaren'tthere.Iimagineifyoulivedinthatenvironmentallthetime,itwouldbeapparenttoyouwithoutaplantmedicinehelping.Therearetimeswhenyou

aremoreperceptive,butperhapsalmostmorevulnerableinotherways.Isthereadownsidetotheseplantmedicines?Dosomepeoplehaveayahuascaexperiencesthatarenotpsychologicallybeneficialaswell,thingslikethat?

Dr.MayaS-K.: It'sdefinitelycontraindicatedinanumberofpeopletovariouskindsofhealthproblems.Inmanycases,eveniftheyhaveapsychiatrichistoryandcertainlyifthey'reonparticularpharmaceuticalmedications.There'sthatwholecategorywhereit'sreallycontraindicated.Thenthewaypeopledescribeayahuascais10yearsoftherapyinfivehours.IwouldsaythatisprobablyanaccurateevaluationandIthinkforsomepeople,they'renotreadyforthatortheydon'twanttoengageinthat.Ifthathappens,itcouldbetraumatic.Forsomepeople,they'renotgoingtofeelpositiveaboutthatexperience.Eventhoughtheindigenousculturesthatpracticethiskindofsacredmedicinebelieve,andIbelieve,thattheplantisgivingyouthemedicinethatyouneed,ifyou'renotreceptivetothatit'snotgoingtobeagoodexperience.It'sdefinitelynotusefulorworthwhileforsomeonewho'snotgoingtotakeitandwanttointegrateit.

DaveAsprey: Youmaygodoayahuascawithsomeonewho'suntrustworthyanduntrainedinitanditmayresultinneedinganother10yearsoftherapybecauseyoucanhaveareallybadexperience.WhenIwentdowntodoayahuasca,thiswas20yearsagoinPeru.Thisisn'tsomethingthatyoudidbackthen.IwenttotheguesthousewhereIwasstayingandsaid,"Iwanttodothis."They'relike,"What?"Isaid,"Ayahuasca,"tryingtospellitdifferently.Theylookedatme,they'relike,"Butyou'rewhite."I'mlike,"Yes,I'mawareofthefactthatI'mwhite."Andtheysaid,"Andyou'llthrowup.Onlythemedicinepeopledothat.Whywouldanyonewanttodothat,muchlessyou?"Like,"No,really,Ido."

IttookthemliketwodaystofindtherightmedicinemanwhowaswillingandabletoworkwithmeandtosetuptheceremonythewayIwantedtodoit.Ifeltcalledtoit.I'dbeenwantingtodoitforalongtimebecauseI'ddonemyresearch.Iwasfortunate.Justlikeyou'resaying,Iwasreadyforit.IamgreatlyconcernedthatwhenyoulandinCuzcorightnow,there'salineofpeoplesaying,"Doyouwanttodoanayahuascaceremony?It's25bucks.We'lltakeyouupthereandputthestuffinyourmouth."Ithinkthat'srisky.It'shighlyrisky.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Itis.Ithinkit'sreallyimportanttosaythat,thatthere'sactuallyaveryindepthpreparationprocessthatinvolvesthingslikechangingyourdietsignificantlyformostpeople,everythingfromnomeat,tonofermentedfoods,tonoavocados,tominimalsalttonosexualrelations.Thewholegamut.Thiswholenumberofthings.Obviouslybeingoffofpharmaceuticals,reallynotinteractingwithalcoholorotherkindsofmind-alteringsubstances.It'ssomethingyouhavetoreallyprepareforandtakecareofyourselfafterwardsaswell.Asyousay,reallyknowandtrustanypersonthatyou'regoingtobewithbecauseit'saveryvulnerableexperience.Itcanbedangerousifit'snotdoneproperly.Whatwe'retalkingaboutisthepitfallsevenifit'salldoneproperlyandyou'resupportedwellandallthosethings.

Obviously,thebiggestconcernandthebiggestpitfallisthatpeoplewanttomakemoneyoffofoutsidersorayahuascatouristsorwhateveryouwanttocallit,whoarenotreallyabletodifferentiatebetweenagoodauthenticexperienceandsomeonewhomightwanttotakeadvantageandwho'sgoingtodosloppywork.

DaveAsprey: Iwouldsaythatthesummaryofthatisifyoudecidetodosomethinglikethis,it'snotsomethingtobeundertakenlightly.It'snotrecreational,andyoushouldknowwhoyou'redoingitwithandyoushouldvetthemcarefully.Idoknowpeoplewho'vehadsomeprettybadexperiencesfromit,hadtopickthemselvesup.InNorthAmerica,mostofthestuffisjustillegal,butI'veinterviewedasubstantialnumberofpeoplewhobelievethatthey'regoingtodoalloftheirhealingwork,alltheirpersonaldevelopmentworkorevenprogresstoenlightenmentorbeinaflowstateusingentheogensorhallucinogensorwhateverelsethisisastheprimarytool.

Yetthere'sawholebunchofotherindigenouspractices,includingonesthatshamansdoandChinesemedicinepeople,breathing,meditation,yoga,exercises,Taichiandthewholesideofitthatisn'tnecessarilyplantbased,butisawarenessbasedandisacorepartofaspiritualpractice.You'reaneurologist.Youlookatchildren'sdevelopment.Youlookatadultdevelopmentandhaveaveryinterestingperspectiveonallthis.Howdoyouknowwhethergoingtoyogaclassanddoingsomepranayamaeverydayistherightbeginningstoaspiritualpathversuslike,"I'mgoinggodosomethingbig"?I'msuretherearepeoplelisteninggoing,"ShouldI?"

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ithinkthatthekeyis,likeIsaid,thatyouhavetostartwithafoundation.Inindigenouscommunities,andIthinkinmostpeopleI'veseenwhoaresuccessfullymaintainingtheirphysical,emotionalmentalandspiritualhealthinwaysthattomeIwouldassesstobeoptimalorideal,youhavetostartwiththefoundations,eatingwell,beingconnectedwithyourenvironment.WhatIlearnedintheindigenouscommunitiesthatIhaveworkedwith...Itwasreallypowerfultomeisphysicalsicknessisactuallysomethingverydownstream.Allofyourhealthofallyourbodiesbeginswithbeingingoodrelationswithyourself,withthepeoplearoundyouandwithyourplace.

Tome,havingthosebasicpracticesoftakingcareofyourselfandyourcommunityandtheplacewhereyouareareactuallytheveryfoundationalpartsofevenaspiritualpracticeandthenyoucanthinkaboutbiggerthingsifyoufeelyouneeditandyoufeelcalledtothat.Idothinkthatwhenwelookatthingslikepranayamabreathing,forinstance,Iteachthattomypatientsincludinglittlekidsbecausetherearecertainonesthatareverystimulatingtothevagusnerve,whichlowersinflammationinthebody.Itlowerstheirriskofhavingseizuresormigrainesorotherthingslikethat.

DaveAsprey: Holdon.Wegottopauserightthere.Avagalnervestimulatingbreathingpractice?Youdon'thavetojustteachthistochildren,allthat.Whydon'tyoujustteacheveryonelisteningrightnow?YougotoBulletproof.com/YouTube,

thatwillprovidethequicklinktothisepisodeonYouTubesoyoupeoplecanwatchthevideo.Walkmethroughit.Doitverballysopeopledrivingunderstandwhatitis.Giveusthebasics.Iwanttoupgrademyvagusnerve.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Iactuallylearnedthisfromoneofmyteachers,AndyWeil.

DaveAsprey: Helivesoneislandoverfromme.That'scool.

Dr.MayaS-K.: It'saformofpranayama.Ithappenstobeverycalmingandverystimulatingtothevagusnerve.It'sbasicallyyouputbothfeetonthegroundwithoutcrossinganything,nocrossingyourarms,nocrossingyourlegs.Yourestthetipofyourtonguegentlyonthejunctionbetweenyourpaleteandyourupperteeth.Justgently.Youleaveitthereforthewholepractice.Breatheinthroughyournoseforfourcounts.

DaveAsprey: Eyesopenorclosed?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Either.

DaveAsprey: Breatheinthroughfourcounts.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Breatheinforfourcounts.Holdthebreatheforsevencountsandletitwhooshoutofyourmouthforeightcounts.Yourepeatitfourtimes.

DaveAsprey: Soinforfour.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Inforfour,holdforseven,andoutforeightthroughyourmouthwithyourtonguestillintheposition.

DaveAsprey: Youdothatfourtimes?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Youdothatfourtimes.Ifyoudothatasaregularpractice...Let'ssayatleasttwotimesaday.Youcandoitmoretimesifyouwant...Youwillactuallyfeelyourbodycompletelyrelax.Whenyou'vestimulatedyourvagusnerve,you'reloweringyourheartrate.You'reimprovingyourdigestionbecauseyou'restimulatingtheparasympatheticnervoussystem,whichistherest,digest.You'reloweringyourcortisolreleasesofewerstresshormonesgoingthroughyourbody.Becausethevagusnerveandtheparasympatheticnervoussystemmodulateinflammation,you'reactuallyloweringyourinflammatorylevelsinyourbodywheneveryou'restimulatingyourvagusnerve.Pranayama'ssuchabeautifulandnon-invasivewaytodothat.Evenchildrencanpickthatup.Certainly,Ipracticeiteveryday.

DaveAsprey: Propertimeofdaytodothis?Whenyoufirstwakeup?Whenyougotobed?Whenyou'reatastoplight?What'sbest?

Dr.MayaS-K.: I'msomeonebecause...Iwork,I'mamom.There'stoomanythingsgoingonformetohavetheperfecttimeofdaysoIthinkgettingitinisthemostimportantthingandjustmakingitaregularpractice.Wheneverisagoodtimeforyouistherighttime.IdoitactuallywhenIwakeupveryoften.IalsoliketohaveitavailabletomewhenIfeelstressedoutandmybody...I'mlikePavlov'sdog.Istartdoingthatbreathingandthefirstfourseconds,alreadyIfeelmywholebodyrelax.Ifeelmywholebodydifferently.Mybrainandmybodyaresoattunetothatpracticebecauseit'sbeenaregularpractice.Idon'tthinktimeofdaynecessarilymatters.

DaveAsprey: Gotit.Thereyougo.Youjusteducatedhundredsofthousandsofpeopleonthisnewkindofbreath.Whenyou'rebreathinginthroughyournose,isitsupposedtobeanUjjayibreathoraregularbreath?Doesitmatter?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idobasicallyjust...

DaveAsprey: Aregularone?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Yeah.Itdoeshavetoberelativelyfullbecauseyou'rebreathinginfourcounts,butyouhavetobreatheoutfordoublethat.Youneedtotakeinenoughairtobeabletopushitoutforthefulleight.Itmakessensebecausewhenwe'reanxious,we'rebreathinginaveryshallowandrapidway.Thisbasicallyforcesustobreatheslowlyanddeeply.

DaveAsprey: ThethingIjustmentioned,anUjjayibreathforpeoplelistening,ifyouhaven'theardofthat.YoucanGooglehowtodoit.Actually,Imight...OneoftheHeadStrongbonusthings,Imighthave...Ididateachingonthisalongtimeago,butIcouldn'ttellyouhowtofinditrightnow.Maybewe'llgetthatintheshownotes.It'sanotherkindofbreathing,whereyouputyourtongueinthesameplace,butyousortofmakeitsoundlikeaseashellonthebackofyournose.AnygoodyogateacherisgoingtobeabletoteachyouanUjjayibreath.It'ssomethingthatcanjustknockyouout.Ifyoucan'tgotosleep,youdothejaybreath10times,you'llprobablyfallasleepevenifyouhaveracingthoughts.They'llgoaway.

Alotofthetechniques,liketheoneyoujusttaughtus,theycallforthatkindofabreath.Iwasn'tsureifyouwerecuttingthatoutbecauseitwastoocomplextoexplainorwhetheritjustisn'tnecessary.Awesome.That'sprettycool.Maybethat'saplaceforpeopletostartwhohavenoparticularpractice.Youcouldjustdoabreathingexerciselikethis.Like,"Allright,nowI'mdoingsomethingthatdidn'ttakealotoftime,somethingthatIcandoduringbriefpausesduringmyday."

I'vedoneprobablytensofthousandsofbreathingexercisesatstoplights.Nowthatmycommuteisprettymuchthroughmygardenfrommyhousetomystudio,thatmeansthatIdon'treallygetthesamemindfultimewhenI'mdriving.Iwouldencourageyouifyou'resittingthere,yougotnothingelsetodo,

thepreviewsarecomingonatthemovietheater.There'sallkindsoftimeswhenyoucanchoosetodosomethinglikethisifyoujustmakeitintoahabit.It'savaluablething.Itdoesn'trequirehallucinogens.Itdoesn'trequireatriptoEcuadororPeruoranywhereelsefunny,butitactuallydoesstarttoshifttheneedle,whichisacoolthing.Ifyoudothatandyourubyourselfinmudfirsttogetthemicrobes,isitbetter?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ialwaysthinkalittlerubbinginmudisgoingtobefantasticsoyou'renotgoingtogetmetosaynotothatorgohugatree.IactuallywilloccasionallydoFacebookLiveswithmyTreehuggingTuesday.

DaveAsprey: Nice.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Goingoutthereandjustactually...Ifeellikeifpeopleseeaneurologistwillingtodothat,maybethey'lltrytoo.That'sanotherthingIthinkinanurbanenvironment...Youjusthavetobecarefulofthedogpeeatthebottomofthetree,butthengothrowyourarmsaroundatree.Ithinkit'sagoodphysicalpractice.YoushareyourmicrobewiththattreebackandforthandIthinkalsoitisverygroundingandabeautifulspiritualpractice.

DaveAsprey: It'sfunny.Thetypeoftreeyouhugmatters.WhereIlive,therearecertaincedartrees.Youhugthattree.You'regoingtoneednewclothes.Inthedesert,whereIgrewup,youhugaMesquitetree,you'regoingtoneedsomeBand-Aidsbecausethey'recoveredinthorns.OneoftheshamansthatIdidsomeworkwithawhileagohadMesquitetreesgrowinginherareaaroundherplaceandwaslike,"Idon'tlikeitthatthey'recoveredinthorns."ShewentouteverydayandmeditatedforafewminuteswithherMesquitetrees.Inayear,theyalldroppedtheirthorns.ShehasthornlessMesquitetreesinareaswhereshewantedthem.I'mlike,"Whoa,that'sprettycool."Isawthetrees.Idon'tknowanywhereelsethatthere'sthornlessMesquitelikethat,buttheonesthatweren'tmeditatedaroundcertainlyhadthornslikeanydesertMesquitewould.Iwasprettyimpressed.Whoknows?Thetreesmightbelistening.

Dr.MayaS-K.: I'veseenmany,manyinterestingthingslikethat,butIwillalsosaythatinEcuador,theshamansthatI'vestudiedwithbelievethatusingthingslikestingingnettles,whichforthoseofyouwhodon'tknowisawildplantthatactuallybringsoutweltsonyourbody,painfulanditchywelts,istheappropriatewayto...Theymakeabrushofstingingnettlesandbrushyourbodywithit.Theyuseitonchildrenbecausetheyfeelit'sthewaytoactuallyphysicallyandspirituallyprotectthemandhelpthembecomestronger.Iactuallydidwatchoneofthechildrenbecleanedwiththestingingnettlesanddevelopweltsalloverherface,whichthenwentawaysoonafter.Itwasveryfascinating.Insomecases,theshamansactuallywanttoutilizethatpainfulaspectoftheplant.

DaveAsprey: Iwouldtellthekids,"Look,ifyoudon'tbehaveyourselves,we'reputtingstingingnettlesinyourbed."No,moretruthfully,mywifegrewupintheoldCzechoslovakia.IsayCzechoslovakiabecausethat'swhatitwascalledwhenshe

grewupthere,nottheCzechRepublic,whichiswhatit'scallednow.Hergrandfatherandgrandmothereveryspringwouldgooutandgetstingingnettlesandrubthemupanddowntheirarmsbecausethey'relike,"Itstopsallergies."Weactuallydothatincludingwithmykids.I'vedonea...Idon'tknowifitwasaFacebookLive,butcertainlyI'vepostedvideoswhereeveryspringmyforearmsarecoveredinweltsbecauseIgooutthereandbrushthem.Thekidsdothesamething.Wedon'tbrushthem.Wejusttellthekids,"Youcandoit,anditmakesyoustronger."They'relike,"Okay."It'sneattowatchafiveyearoldorasixyearoldgo,"Allright,I'mgoingtodothis."

Ifyou'veneverexperiencedstingingnettles,like,"OhmyGod,whatisthis?"They'relittletinymicrohairs.Theyhavesomethingcalledoxalicacidthatifyouingestitisprettybadforyou,butintheskinitjustcausesahistamineresponseandrelease.Yougetthesebrieflittleredwelts.Theystingforacoupleofhours.Notinahorribleway,butkindofanitchymosquitobiteway,andthenthey'rejustgone.Yourealize,"Okay,Ididn'tdie.Iwasn'teventhatuncomfortable,"butitactuallydoesbuildcharactertoughnessandprobablyhassomebiologicaleffectsthatwe'restillfiguringout.Ipracticethisregularly.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ihaveagoodoneforyou,Dave.Ibetyou'regoingtobedoingthiswithmenextspring.Idon'tknowifyou'veeverdonethis,buttakingthesproutsofpoisonivy...

DaveAsprey: Thatsoundsevil.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Thesproutsandmakingateafromthemwhenthey'rereally...Yeah.Yes.Drinkingthatteaactuallyisprotectiveagainstgettingpoisonivy.Alotofplantpeopleactuallywilldothat.

DaveAsprey: OntheWestCoasthere,wedon'thavepoisonivyorpoisonoak.Thatstuffisjustmean.Ifyouburnitandbreathethesmoke,youmightneedtogotothehospitalbecauseit'ssotoxic.Doesthatworkwithpoisonoaktoo?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idon'tknow.

DaveAsprey: Don'ttry.

Dr.MayaS-K.: ButI'llgetback-

DaveAsprey: Don'ttrythat.Justforanyonelistening.There'sadifferencebetweenpoisonoakandpoisonivy.Iwouldnotreckonpoisonoakunlesssomeonehasvettedthisbeforeyouoryouhaveepinephrineandbereadytogotothehospital.Poisonivymaybe.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idon'trecommenddoingthepoisonivythingeitherexceptforcrazypeoplelikeus.

DaveAsprey: Orwithanherbalist.Ifyou'regoingwithsomeonewhoknowswhatthey'redoing...Ifyougettoomuchorpickthewrongstuff,thevastmajorityofplantsouttherewillkillyou.Irememberwhenwehada...

Dr.MayaS-K.: IfeellikeIwouldtakeissuewiththat.

DaveAsprey: Wouldyou?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Idon'tthinkthevastmajorityofplants,butIwouldsay...

DaveAsprey: Ifyoueatthem?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Yes.Iwouldsaythereareplantsouttherethatcouldkillyouandifyoudon'tknowwhatyou'redoing,thenyoucouldscrewupandgetreallysickordie,butitdoesn'tmeanthatthevastmajorityofthemcouldkillyou.

DaveAsprey: Isupposeit'saquestionofdoseandallthosethings.Iremembermydaughterwhenshewasthree.Wetaughther,"Gotothegardenandthesearetheplantsyoucanpulloffanyoftheherbsandeatthemandthey'regood."She'dwalkaroundoregano.Oneday,she'slike,"Yum."Shepulledsomeleavesoffthesquashplantandatethemandhadtheworld'sworstbloatingandgasforawhile.It'sbecauseplantshavedefensesystems.Thereareplantsthataregoodtoeatandplantsthataren'tgoodtoeatandplantsthatasheepcaneatthatwecan'teatandthingslikethat.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Absolutely.

DaveAsprey: Plantsdocoverthemselvesinchemicalstopreventthemselvesfromoverpredated.Poisonivy'sagoodexampleofthat.Ifyouoverdothat,youmightnotlikewhathappens,butpoisonivyprobablywon'tkillyouunlessyoujustcan'tbreathe.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Iwillsaythatwhenwe'retalkingaboutphytonutrients,likewe'retalkingaboutalltheterpenesandtheoxalatesandallthedifferentkindsofantioxidants,reallywhatwe'reusuallytalkingaboutinfruitsandvegetables,thoseareactuallytheplant'simmunesystemandtheplant'sdefensesystem.Havingthosekindsofpredatorsactuallyiswhattriggersthoseplantstoproducemoreandmoreofthose,whichiswhywildplantsaresoincrediblynutrientdense.Thosestressorsareactuallyboostingtheplant'simmunesystem.Thosearethethingsthatactuallythencomeintoourbody,actassmallpoisonsinacertainwaybecausetheyareinaverysmallwaytoxictousandmakeusupourgame.It'sallreallythisverycoolcycle.

DaveAsprey: It'sincrediblewhenyouthinkaboutit.Ifyouwonderwhat'sthedifferencebetweenorganicblueberriesandwildblueberries,ifyoumeasurethemfortheirpolyphenolcountandthingslikethat,there'sahugedifference.It'sthatpredationthing.Introducingenoughstressintoyourlifetocauseyoutoget

strongerandintroducingenoughstressintoyourplants'lifetomakeyourplantsstrongersowhenyoueatit,you'llbestrongerisalsoimportant.Thisisoneoftheconcernswithmodernagriculture."Oh,it'sorganic.""Yeah,butitwasorganicgrowninaplacewithnonaturalstuffaroundit.Eventhoughit'sorganic,it'snotgoingtomakethestuffthatyou'resupposedtogetfromthoseplants."It'sofconcernwhenwelookatgrowingeverythingintheseverticalgardensandthingslikethat.Where'sthestresscomingfrom?It'sgottobetherightstress.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Right,butit'scertainly...Whenwe'reapplyingthingslikethemosttoxickindsofpesticidesandwe'regettingridofallthemicrobesinthesoilandgettingridofallthepests,itactually...ConventionalfarmingIthinkisthelowestinthosephytonutrients.Organicfarming-

DaveAsprey: Isbetter.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Certainlyhasbetterandbiodynamicisprobablyevenbetter.

DaveAsprey: That'swhatwedo.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Wildisthebest.

DaveAsprey: Youmentionedbiodynamic,whichisreallycool.Dr.Mercolawasjustoverhereactuallythedaybeforewerecordedthis,overhereatmyhouse.He'sdoingbiodynamic.Ourgardenismostlybiodynamic.Thisisthenextstandardbeyondorganic,whereyou'replantingwiththecyclesofthemoonandyou'reenrichingthesoilinawaythatisn'trequiredinorganicfarminginordertoincreaseyields.It'sfascinatingwhatcanbedone,butthenyoulookalsoatwhat'sprobablyonyourplateunlessyou'rebuyingatthefarmer'smarketoryouknowwhatyou'redoingormaybepaying20%moreforyourvegetablesbecauseyouknowthenameofthepersonwhogrewthemandbecauseyouknewthattheycaredenoughtotakethesethings.

I'mcertainlyconcernedforthehealthoftheplantsthatweeatbecauseit'snotenoughtosay,"Iateplants."Iatetherightplantsthathadtherightenvironmentsothattheywouldsendmybodytheenvironmentalsignalthat'sbestforme.It'satoughthingandyou'llneverknowforsureyoudiditright,butyou'llknow,"Wow,IfeltreallygoodwhenIatethose.Ididn'tfeelsogoodwhenIatethoseotherones."It'samazing.Pickthefoodthatmakesyoufeelgood.Shocking.

Thishasbeenafascinatingandfunconversation.It'snotsooftenthatanyonegetstohearfromaneurologistwho'straveledtoindigenousculturesandlearnedaboutthoseaswellandfocusedsomuchonmicrobesinsteadofjustnerves.Thankyouforhavingjustadiversesetofinterestsandtyingthembackintoyourwell-groundedWesternmedicalknowledge,whichissomethingthat'softentimeslacking.You'vegottofitinbothworlds,whichisadmirableand

cool.Ifsomeonecametoyoutomorrowandsaid,"Look,basedonallthisstuffyouknow,allthethingsyou'veexperienced,IwanttoperformbetterateverythingIdoasahumanbeing,whatarethethreemostimportantthingsIneedtoknow,"whatwouldyoutellthem?

Dr.MayaS-K.: Iwouldsay,numberone,isgoingtobethefoodyoueat,nutrient-densefoodthatisasunprocessedaspossiblecomingfromtherightenvironment,asyousay.

DaveAsprey: SoeatPopTarts.

Dr.MayaS-K.: OrganicPopTarts.Thesecondwouldbegettingoutsideintonature.Ithinkthat'sabsolutelycritical.Thatcanbeinanynumberofways.ThethirdwouldbeactuallyIthinkhavingaspiritualpractice.Ithinkthatthat'scriticallyimportant.Myspiritualpracticeisinmostcasesveryconnectedtothenaturalworld,butIthinkwhateverspiritualpracticespeakstoyou.Justdoingsomethingandhavingadisciplinearoundit,Ithinkthosearethethreeoptimalwaystoliveandfunction.

DaveAsprey: ThankyouDr.Maya.Infact,justforpeoplewhowanttohearyourfullname,Dr.MayaShetreat-Klein.PeoplecanfindyouiftheyGoogleforTheDirtCure,whichisprobablytheeasiestwaytocomeacrossyou.That'sthenameofyourbookthat'sdonevery,verywell,whereyoutalkaboutmicrobesandall.IreallyappreciateyoubeingonBulletproofRadio.Isthereanywhereelsepeoplecangotofindmoreinfoaboutwhatyou'reuptolearnmore.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Theycancometomywebsite,drmaya.com.AlltheinformationabouteverythingI'mdoingandcoursesI'mteachingandtrainingsI'mdoingareallthere.

DaveAsprey: Beautiful.ThanksforspendingtimeonBulletproofRadiotoday.Haveabeautifulday,andgohugatree.

Dr.MayaS-K.: Ifyoulikedtoday'sepisode,youknowwhattodo.HeadonoutthereandpickupacopyofDr.Maya'sbookorreadTheHiddenLifeofTrees,whichisawesome.Ifyouhaven'treadityet,youcouldreadHeadStrong.There'ssomegoodstuffinthereaswell.Ifyoureadanybookthat'sworthyourtime,thenumberonethingyoucandotoexpressgratitudeandjusttomakeyourownlifebetter,gotoAmazonandleaveareviewfortheauthor.Authors,likeDr.Mayaandme,wespendthousandsandthousandsofhourscompressingwhatweknowintoaboutfourhoursofreadtimeforyou.

Ifitwasworthyourtimetodothat,ifyousaythanksintheformofafive-starrevieworfourstars,howevermanystarsyou'resupposedtoget...Idon'tknow.Lotsofthem...Andthenleavetwosentencesthatsayswhetherthebookwasworthyourtime,ithelpsotherpeopleknowit'sworththeirtime.Bookreviews

matterenormouslytoauthors.I'dbegratefulifyou'dgooutthereandleaveareviewforanybookyou'vereadthatwasawesome.