Zen & Tonic: Wellness Unflitered cover art

Zen & Tonic: Wellness Unflitered

Zen & Tonic: Wellness Unflitered

Written by: Ally McMillan
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About this listen

Zen & Tonic is your cozy corner of the wellness world where ancient wisdom meets modern wellness. Hosted by Ayurvedic wellness coach Ally McMillan, this podcast is for women in their 20s and 30s who want to feel more connected to their bodies, balanced in their hormones, and grounded in their everyday routines. Here we discuss anything and everything from debunking health 'fads', aligning with natural cycles, eating with the seasons, hormonal and gut health, how to find the right lifestyle for your unique constitution, and so much more. So grab a cup of tea and join us for the most recent episode on the Zen and Tonic podcast! This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.Copyright 2026 Ally McMillan Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • Holistic Healing: The 3 Foundations That Activate the Body’s Natural Healing
    Feb 6 2026

    If you feel like everything is a little off—your hormones, digestion, energy, mood, or body—and you’re overwhelmed by conflicting advice, endless protocols, and a constant feeling that you’re missing something, this episode is for you.

    Many of us reach a point where we’ve tried all the things: supplements, diets, workouts, detoxes… only to feel more confused, more disconnected from our bodies, and even more discouraged. That’s not because you’re doing something wrong—it’s because healing isn’t about fixing one symptom at a time.

    In this episode, we’re talking about holistic healing as a foundational approach—one that doesn’t reject modern medicine, but zooms out to look at why the body is struggling in the first place. When chronic symptoms linger, it’s rarely just one system that’s out of balance. It’s often the nervous system, digestion, detox pathways, lifestyle, and emotional load all interacting at once.

    Instead of piling on more protocols, we break healing down into three foundational things your body needs before it can actually repair and rebalance. These are the basics that support everything else—your hormones, gut health, immune system, inflammation, and energy levels.

    You’ll learn:

    1. Why healing feels so overwhelming when the body is stuck in survival mode
    2. How chronic stress, under-eating, over-training, trauma, and hustle culture block the body’s natural healing response
    3. The role of the nervous system in digestion, hormones, detox, and inflammation
    4. Why oxytocin (not just cortisol) is a missing piece in modern healing
    5. The three foundational shifts that help the body feel safe enough to heal

    This episode is about coming back to the basics—not in a simplistic way, but in a supportive, grounding one. Because when the body feels safe, nourished, and supported, it already knows how to bring itself back into balance.

    If you’re feeling lost, discouraged, or unsure where to start on your healing journey, start here. Pick one thing that resonated, focus on that, and let your body guide the rest.

    **Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine. I am a certified Ayurvedic Wellness Coach, not a licensed medical doctor.

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    37 mins
  • Nutrient Deficiencies: The Hidden Cause of Fatigue, Anxiety & Hair Loss
    Jan 28 2026

    Have you ever dealt with symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, anxiety, poor sleep, brain fog, or hormonal imbalance — only to be told by doctors that everything looks normal?

    In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most overlooked root causes of chronic symptoms in modern women: nutrient deficiencies.

    You’re not lazy.

    You’re not broken.

    And you’re not “doing wellness wrong.”

    Your body may simply be missing the raw materials it needs to function.

    We dive into why nutrients are the foundation of hormones, neurotransmitters, detox pathways, and nervous system regulation, and why even women who eat “healthy” are often running on empty due to soil depletion, stress, gut issues, poor absorption, and genetic factors like methylation.

    You’ll learn:

    1. Why most chronic symptoms aren’t diseases — they’re deficiencies
    2. How your body borrows from muscle, bones, and organs when nutrients are missing
    3. Why anxiety, hair thinning, poor sleep, and fatigue are often signs of nutrient depletion
    4. The most common deficiencies driving modern burnout (magnesium, B vitamins, iron, vitamin D, zinc, omega-3s, protein, and electrolytes)
    5. Why some supplements don’t work — and how form, quality, and absorption matter
    6. How to supplement strategically, without overdoing it

    This episode is about replenishment, not perfection.

    Foundational healing — not extreme protocols.

    Before you blame your hormones, your age, or your willpower, ask this first:

    Does your body actually have what it needs to function?

    ✨ Perfect for women dealing with unexplained symptoms, chronic fatigue, anxiety, hormone imbalance, gut issues, or modern burnout who want a root-cause, holistic approach to healing.

    **Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine. I am a certified Ayurvedic Wellness Coach, not a licensed medical doctor.

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    40 mins
  • Wired But Tired: How to Use Your HPA Axis to Regulate Energy
    Jan 21 2026

    Wired But Tired: Why You’re Always Exhausted (Even When You Sleep)

    Do you feel exhausted but anxious, tired all day but wired at night? Struggling with fatigue, brain fog, hormonal imbalance, insomnia, sugar cravings, or gut issues — even though you eat healthy, work out, and take supplements?

    You’re not lazy.

    You’re not broken.

    And you’re not doing wellness wrong.

    In this episode, we’re breaking down the real root cause behind chronic burnout: HPA axis dysfunction and cortisol imbalance — a nervous system issue affecting millions of women.

    You’ll learn:

    ✔ What the HPA axis is and how it controls your stress response

    ✔ How chronic stress dysregulates cortisol and keeps your body in survival mode

    ✔ Why you feel tired but wired

    ✔ Signs of adrenal fatigue and nervous system burnout

    ✔ How stress impacts digestion, hormones, sleep, and energy levels

    ✔ Why intense workouts, fasting, and over-supplementing can worsen fatigue

    ✔ How to heal your nervous system naturally

    We cover common symptoms of HPA axis dysfunction in women, including:

    • Anxiety & racing thoughts

    • Midday energy crashes

    • Insomnia & restless sleep

    • Bloating, constipation & poor digestion

    • Blood sugar imbalance & cravings

    Plus, I’ll walk you through holistic, science-backed ways to regulate your nervous system, including:

    • Blood sugar balancing for hormone health

    • Nervous system regulation techniques

    • Gentle movement vs overtraining

    • Circadian rhythm support

    • Natural adrenal support

    **Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine. I am a certified Ayurvedic Wellness Coach, not a licensed medical doctor.


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    49 mins
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