Autoimmune Alchemy

About Autoimmune Alchemy

Join Dr. Micah Yu, a board-certified integrative rheumatologist, and Dr. Melissa Mondala, an integrative medicine and mental health expert, as they bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and soulful healing. In Autoimmune Alchemy, this husband-and-wife MD team share personal stories, expert insights, and powerful patient journeys to explore how autoimmune illness and chronic disease can be transformed through integrative medicine. From evidence-based science and integrative medicine to ancient healing wisdom and mindset practices, this podcast is your guide to whole-person health, from science to soul.

Publisher

Dr. Micah Yu and Dr. Melissa Mondala

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Aug 2025

Latest episode

2 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 58 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   2 Nov 2026

   Functional Medicine Testing: What to Ask For When Labs Come Back Normal

   “Everything is normal, but I don’t feel normal.” Both can be true. In this episode of Autoimmune Alchemy, I talk with Dr. Megha Mohey, a board-certified internal medicine and integrative medicine physician, about what to do when your labs look fine but your body says otherwise. We cover advanced testing, hidden nutrient gaps, cortisol and the HPA axis, SIBO, thyroid markers, and how to advocate for yourself Chapters 01:00 Normal Labs, But You Don’t Feel Normal 02:00 The Integrative Approach: Listening for Patterns 03:00 Advanced Testing Beyond Conventional Labs 05:00 Hidden Nutrient Gaps: B Vitamins & Ferritin 07:00 Toxins, Detox & Food Sensitivities 09:00 Early Autoimmune & Thyroid Risk Markers 11:00 The HPA Axis & Cortisol Explained 15:00 Adaptogens & Glandular Support for Fatigue 20:00 Bloating, Gut Health & SIBO 25:00 Thyroid Testing: Free T3, Free T4 & Antibodies 29:00 Fatigue, Brain Fog & Eating Real Food 31:00 Where to Find Dr. Mohey Key Takeaways 🧪 “Normal” Labs Can Still Hide Early Dysfunction 🎯 Lab Ranges Detect Disease, Not Early Imbalance 🔍 Expanded Testing Looks Beyond Iron: B Vitamins & Ferritin ⏰ Cortisol Should Be High in the Morning and Lowest at Night 🌿 Adaptogens Like Ashwagandha & Holy Basil Support the HPA Axis 🎈 Persistent Bloating Can Point to SIBO, Even With Normal Labs 🌱 Think of SIBO Like a Garden: Remove, Seed, and Feed 💬 Don’t Accept “It’s All in Your Head,” Advocate for Yourself Guest Details & Links Dr. Megha Mohey, MD is a board-certified internal medicine and integrative medicine physician and founder of Way Health in Michigan. She completed the University of Arizona’s Andrew Weil Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, with additional training in functional medicine, acupuncture, and yoga. She sees patients in person and virtually. Website: https://www.moheymd.com/ ( https://www.moheymd.com/) Instagram & Substack: she mentions both in the episode but gives no handles, so add them before publishing About Your Hosts Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out. Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen. About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches. Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy Website:MyAutoimmuneMD.com (http://myautoimmunemd.com/) Dr. Lifestyle Clinic:www.drlifestyle.org (http://www.drlifestyle.org/) Instagram: @myautoimmunemd Facebook: @MYAutoimmuneMD YouTube: @myautoimmunemd Email: contact@myautoimmunemd.com (mailto:contact@myautoimmunemd.com) Subscribe & Review: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. If this episode helped you understand environmental toxins and autoimmune disease, please leave a 5-star review!

2. 

   26 Oct 2026

   PCOS, PMS & Hormone Imbalance: A Naturopathic Doctor's Root-Cause Approach

   Today's guest is Dr. Sierra Goncharoff — a naturopathic doctor in Oregon specializing in gut health and women's hormones. Sierra breaks down how gut dysbiosis fuels autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, MS, and lupus, and introduces the estrobolome — the gut bacteria that regulate estrogen and drive conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. We cover fiber targets, red-flag period symptoms, perimenopause hormone testing, and why she believes "there is no cure for a crappy lifestyle." If you've ever felt dismissed about your hormones or gut symptoms, this episode gives you a real root-cause framework. Chapter and Time Stamps 00:30 Meet the Gut Expert 01:06 Autoimmunity Starts in the Gut 02:55 Dysbiosis Explained Simply 04:00 What Naturopathic Care Means 05:23 Postbiotics and Leaky Gut 08:26 Signs Your Gut Is Off 10:50 Fixing the Microbiome Basics 12:40 Estrobolome and Estrogen Balance 15:26 Fiber Foods and How to Add Them 17:57 Endocrine Disruptors at Home 21:09 Stress Reset and Cycle Tracking 24:06 Cycle Phases Explained 24:47 PMS and Estrogen Excess 25:45 Breakfast Blood Sugar Balance 26:32 Habit Stacking Not Overhauling 28:09 Nervous System Reset Tools 30:15 When Healthy Habits Stall 32:29 Adaptogens and Cortisol Rhythm 35:57 Thyroid Clues and Food Support 37:38 Autoimmunity and Inflammation 39:15 Period Red Flags to Watch 41:33 Perimenopause Bleeding and Testing 44:15 Hormone Labs and Ratios 46:37 Where to Find Dr Sierra Key Takeaways 🦠 The Gut Microbiome May Be an Autoimmune Root Cause 🧪 "Normal" Labs Don't Always Mean You're Fine 🔬 The Estrobolome Controls How Your Body Clears Estrogen 🥦 Fiber Is the #1 Lever for Hormone Balance 🕯️ Scented Candles & Incense Are Hidden Endocrine Disruptors 🩸 Heavy or Irregular Periods Are Never "Just Normal" 🧘 Box Breathing Can Calm Your Nervous System in Seconds ✨ There's No Supplement That Fixes a Crappy Lifestyle Guest Details & Links Dr. Sierra Goncharoff is a naturopathic doctor practicing primary care in Portland, Oregon, with a special focus on gut health and women's hormones. She helps patients uncover root causes behind autoimmune and hormonal imbalances — from gut dysbiosis to estrogen excess — using a personalized, food-first approach. A strong advocate for hormone education, she helps women understand their cycles, spot red-flag symptoms, and build sustainable habits instead of chasing quick fixes. Practices at: Florin Health (SW Portland) & Sprouting Health and Wellness (Gresham, OR) — in-person and virtual for Oregon residents About Your Hosts Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out. Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen. About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches. Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy Website:MyAutoimmuneMD.com (http://myautoimmunemd.com/) Dr. Lifestyle Clinic:www.drlifestyle.org (http://www.drlifestyle.org/) Instagram: @myautoimmunemd Facebook: @MYAutoimmuneMD YouTube: @myautoimmunemd Email: contact@myautoimmunemd.com (mailto:contact@myautoimmunemd.com) Subscribe & Review: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. If this episode helped you understand environmental toxins and autoimmune disease, please leave a 5-star review!

3. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Scleroderma Explained: Early Signs, Diagnosis & New Treatments from a UCLA Expert

   Today's guest is Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann — Associate Professor of Rheumatology at UCLA and Director of the UCLA Scleroderma Program. Elizabeth blends leading-edge research with holistic care — treating the whole person, not just the antibodies. In this episode, we cover the early, often-missed signs of scleroderma, the newest treatment frontier (CAR T therapy and stem cell transplant), and her groundbreaking research linking childhood trauma and gut microbiome health to disease risk. If you or someone you love lives with scleroderma, this conversation offers real hope grounded in real science. Chapter and Time Stamps 00:34 Meet Dr. Volkmann 01:47 Early Signs and Diagnosis 03:54 Key Antibodies and Labs 06:30 Understanding Skin Thickening 08:00 Treating Fibrosis Today 09:53 Stem Cells and CAR T 13:10 CAR T Results and Trials 14:14 Interstitial Lung Disease Focus 15:31 Trauma and Autoimmunity 19:45 Gut Microbiome Discoveries 21:45 Probiotics and Bacteria Patterns 24:29 Reversal Through Lifestyle 27:48 Integrative Medicine Balance 29:00 Where to Find Dr Volkmann 29:45 Closing Thanks and Goodbye Key Takeaways 🧬 Scleroderma Can Take Years to Diagnose — Here's Why 🩸 Antibodies Don't Tell the Whole Story 🌱 She Built Her Research From What Patients Told Her 🧠 Trauma Isn't Just Emotional — It May Predict Disease 💔 Patients Often Blame Themselves for Getting Sick 🔗 Antibiotics Revealed a Hidden Gut-Scleroderma Connection 🧩 Reversal Is Possible — But Rarely From Medication Alone ✨ One Truth Underlies It All: Healing Needs the Whole Person Guest Details & Links Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann is an Associate Professor of Rheumatology at UCLA and Director of the UCLA Scleroderma Program. She also founded the UCLA Connective Tissue Disease-Related Interstitial Lung Disease (CTD-ILD) Program, where her research explores novel biomarkers and the gut microbiome's role in disease. A practitioner of holistic medicine, she treats the whole person — psychological, spiritual, and biological — and her research is directly inspired by patterns she's observed in her patients, including a striking link between childhood trauma and scleroderma risk. Instagram: @theholisticrheumatologist About Your Hosts Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out. Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen. About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches. Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy Website:MyAutoimmuneMD.com (http://myautoimmunemd.com/) Dr. Lifestyle Clinic:www.drlifestyle.org (http://www.drlifestyle.org/) Instagram: @myautoimmunemd Facebook: @MYAutoimmuneMD YouTube: @myautoimmunemd Email: contact@myautoimmunemd.com (mailto:contact@myautoimmunemd.com) Subscribe & Review: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. If this episode helped you understand environmental toxins and autoimmune disease, please leave a 5-star review!

Inside a recent episode

The Truth About Bone Density Tests & Fracture Risk | Dr. John Neustadt Explains

Published 2 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] It's associated with a 20 % reduction in osteoporosis risk and a 21 % reduction in hip fracture risk. Now there are no prospective clinical trials looking at a dietary intervention that alone for improving osteoporosis bone density on bone density tests or fractures, but what we do know from epidemiological research is there's a strong link between overall dietary pattern and reduced risk of osteoporosis and fractures. And what is that mediterranean dietary pattern? It's primarily a plant forward diet. Lots of some vegetables and very low in processed foods about 70 % of calories in the US diet now are ultra processed foods which are very dangerous. […]

Who has been a guest on Autoimmune Alchemy

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Belinda Adams
• Saadia Mian
• Russell Kennedy
• Tamiko Katsumoto
• Dr Stephanie Cowie

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

14 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Contact Autoimmune Alchemy

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Autoimmune Alchemy