MEET THE GUESTS

Dr. David Amron and Dr. Karen Herbst are leading experts in lipedema and related fat disorders. Dr. Amron, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon and founder of The Roxbury Institute, developed the Advanced Lipedema Treatment (ALT) Program after performing over 10,000 surgeries. Dr. Herbst, a board-certified endocrinologist and Head of Research at The Roxbury Institute, co-authored the U.S. standard of care for lipedema and has pioneered research on lipedema, Dercum’s disease, and connective tissue disorders.

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

- Diagnosing and preventing Lipedema as the next frontier in care, shifting focus from symptom management to true root-cause healing.

- Hormones through life stages, puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, and how these transitions influence the onset and progression of Lipedema.

- Estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol in driving inflammation, vascular changes, and fat distribution unique to this condition.- Bioidentical HRT and GLP-1s: how they work, when they help, who should avoid them, and their evolving role before and after surgery.

- Surgery timing around pregnancy or menopause and how early intervention can protect long-term outcomes and tissue health.

- Managing swelling through compression, lymphatic drainage, pool therapy, rebounders, and anti-inflammatory nutrition.

- Why diuretics backfire for most Lipedema patients and what safer, evidence-based options exist for fluid balance and inflammation control.

- Fertility, IVF, and hormone shifts in Lipedema, plus insights into metabolic and inflammatory responses during treatment.

- Ultrasound as a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool that strengthens medical validation and insurance accessibility.

- Advocacy, patient education, and the Lipedema Society’s growing mission to advance research, coverage, and global awareness.

EPISODE RESOURCES

Diet Doc

GLPs to manage Lipedema inflammation. Use code TRAILTOHEALTH for 10% off. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/DietDoc

Therasage

Infrared therapy devices that support detox, lymphatic health, and inflammation reduction. Use code TRAILTOHEALTH for 10% OFF.

shop.thetrailtohealth.com/therasage

Prolon

Five-day fasting-mimicking program that supports metabolism, inflammation, and cellular renewal. Use code THETRAILTOHEALTH for 20% OFF. shop.thetrailtohealth.com/prolon

Organifi

Superfood blends that reduce stress, balance hormones, and nourish the body. Use code TRAILTOHEALTH for 20% OFF. shop.thetrailtohealth.com/Organifi

BiOptimizers

Digestive and metabolic supplements for gut health and inflammation balance. Use code THETRAILTOHEALTH for 10% OFF.

shop.thetrailtohealth.com/biooptimizer

Somavedic

Frequency devices that harmonize your environment and support lymphatic flow and sleep. Use code TRAILTOHEALTH for 10% OFF.

shop.thetrailtohealth.com/somavedic

---Find me on social media!www.thetrailtohealth.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetrailtohealth/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thishealthylifepodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetrailtohealth/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thetrailtohealth/TikTok: @thetrailtohealthTwitter: https://twitter.com/trailtohealth

MEET THE GUEST

Dr. Ambika Vaid is an integrative veterinarian at Chewy’s first-ever pet clinic in Denver and an advisor to Badlands Ranch, the premium dog nutrition brand founded by actress Katherine Heigl. Inspired by the loss of her own dog to chronic illness, Dr. Vaid turned to holistic veterinary care and now blends conventional medicine with acupuncture, herbal therapies, and nutritional strategies. She’s currently completing advanced training in Western herbal medicine and veterinary acupuncture, with a mission to help pets live longer, healthier lives.

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

How the loss of Dr. Vaid’s beloved labradoodle to chronic illness became the catalyst for her transition into integrative veterinary care.

The rise of chronic health conditions in pets, including allergies, gut issues, anxiety, joint problems, and cancer, and why conventional treatments often don’t address root causes.

How Dr. Vaid combines conventional diagnostics with Eastern approaches like acupuncture, Western herbal medicine, detox protocols, and nutritional therapy for comprehensive pet care.

The connection between poor gut health, leaky gut, and immune dysregulation, and how these imbalances affect mood, behavior, and physical health in animals.

The impact of common environmental stressors, such as EMFs, pesticides, household toxins, and over-vaccination, on inflammation, detox capacity, and long-term pet health.

Why she joined Badlands Ranch as an advisor and how she helps ensure clean, science-backed, nutrient-dense dog food formulations that support foundational health.

Her approach to functional lab testing, food sensitivity detection, and individualized treatment plans, including the use of Chinese herbs, supplements, and therapeutic diets.

How the autonomic nervous system plays a role in chronic illness and behavior issues in pets, and how she supports it through non-pharmaceutical tools.

Practical tips for pet parents: safe flea and tick prevention, liver support, reducing allergen load, and improving emotional regulation in anxious pets.

The future of veterinary care and why Dr. Vaid believes the next evolution lies in personalized, holistic, and preventative animal medicine.

EPISODE RESOURCES

Chewy Online pet marketplace offering a wide selection of food, supplements, and wellness products.⁠

https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/Chewy⁠

Higher Dose Red light therapy and PEMF mats for humans and animals, designed to support relaxation, circulation, and inflammation recovery.⁠

https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/HigherDose⁠

Earthing Grounding tools that help reduce exposure to EMFs and support nervous system balance.⁠

https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/earthing

⁠Tick MiTT

Reusable mitt designed to remove ticks from pets without chemicals or sprays.⁠

https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/tickmitt⁠

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website:⁠http://badlandsranch.com

⁠Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/drambikavaid⁠

KEYWORDS

Pet health, integrative veterinary care, holistic pet wellness, acupuncture, herbal medicine, pet nutrition, chronic disease, preventative care, dental health, surgery, environmental toxins, vaccine protocols, pet food quality, Badlands Ranch, Chewy clinics, functional medicine for animals.