The Autoimmune RESET

Send a text

In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m joined by health and lifestyle coach Jenn Trepeck to explore the foundations of true wellness in a world that is increasingly saturated with confusing health advice.

Jenn shares her personal journey with weight, nutrition, and metabolic health, and how those experiences shaped the work she now does with clients. Together we unpack why so many people feel overwhelmed by wellness messaging and why returning to the biological basics—blood sugar balance, nutrient density, and sustainable habits—can make a prof...

Send a text

In this Friday 5 episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m talking about something that many people with autoimmune conditions experience, but that isn’t always discussed in enough depth — hand health.

For many individuals, the hands are one of the first places symptoms show up. Cold fingers, colour changes, stiffness, pain, weakness, or reduced dexterity can all reflect deeper processes happening in the body, including circulation instability, nervous system dysregulation, connective tissue vulnerability, or immune-driven inflammation. Conditions such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, inflammatory arthritis, hypermobility syndromes, and autoimmune connective tissue disorders often ma...

Send a text

In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m sharing some of the key ideas from a full-day practitioner training I recently delivered on arthritis — and why the way we think about joint pain needs to change.

For decades, arthritis — particularly osteoarthritis — has been framed as a simple story of wear and tear. Something mechanical. Something inevitable. Something that happens as we age.

But that explanation is incomplete.

Joint health is not just about cartilage. It is about the immune system, the gut, the nervous system...

Send a text

In this episode of The Autoimmune Reset Podcast, VJ Hamilton explores anxiety from a physiological perspective — not just an emotional one.

Anxiety rarely exists in isolation. It often sits alongside autoimmune disease, gut dysfunction, blood sugar instability, and nutrient depletion. In this episode, VJ breaks down how simple dietary shifts and targeted nutrient support can significantly reduce anxiety by stabilising the nervous system at its root.

The conversation is divided into two key parts:

Part 1: Foundational dietary changes that help regulate blood sugar, calm the gut, an...

Send a text

Hair loss is rarely random — and it is almost never just about iron or shampoo.

In this episode of The Autoimmune Reset, VJ Hamilton explores the deeper physiology behind alopecia and autoimmune-related hair loss, and explains why standard blood tests often leave people stuck with answers but no real direction. Because while tests like ferritin and thyroid markers can tell you what is low, they rarely explain why the body is struggling in the first place.

Drawing from both her own recovery journey and years in clinical practice, VJ...

Send a text

In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Bertone — a former FBI Chief of Staff turned Emotional Eating Profiler and coach — whose own journey through breast cancer, autoimmune disease, and high-pressure corporate life led her to completely rethink what health and success truly mean.

Together, we explore why midlife can feel like a turning point for so many women, particularly when it comes to food, weight, and energy. Hormonal shifts, stress physiology, and years of pushing through fatigue often converge at this stage of life, leaving women feeling disconnected from their...

Send a text

Headaches are often dismissed as stress, dehydration, or “just one of those things.” But in clinic, I rarely see headaches as random.

In this Friday 5 episode, I’m sharing five functional, root-cause ways to stop headaches naturally — not by masking symptoms, but by understanding what your body is actually asking for.

We explore why headaches so often stem from blood sugar crashes, mineral imbalances, nervous system overload, histamine build-up, and restricted circulation, and how simple, targeted interventions can bring real relief.

I also share personal...

Send a text

What do you do when you know what to do for your health — but the habits just don’t stick?

In this Friday 5 episode, VJ explores why healthy routines so often fall away, especially when you’re living with autoimmunity, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, or chronic symptoms. Rather than blaming willpower or motivation, this episode reframes habit failure as a sign of mismatch between the body, the nervous system, and unrealistic expectations.

You’ll learn why habits need to be built for who you are now — not who you used to be — and h...

Send a text

As we move into 2026, the wellness landscape — particularly in autoimmune health — is undergoing a quiet but important shift.

In this episode, I explore the wellness trends that are genuinely supporting autoimmune healing, and the popular approaches that no longer serve people living with chronic inflammation, fatigue, hormone imbalance, and immune dysregulation.

We move beyond optimisation and “doing more,” and instead look at what actually helps the body feel safe enough to regulate: nervous system support, vagal tone, metabolic nourishment, personalised gut health, restorative sleep, and sustainable movement. I also share what I’m...

Send a text

The start of a new year is often framed as a time for reinvention, big goals, and dramatic change — but for many people, especially those living with alopecia or autoimmune disease, that pressure can feel overwhelming and counterproductive.

In this Friday 5 episode, recorded on VJ’s birthday eve, she shares five areas she’s consciously focusing on in 2026 to support a better, more sustainable life — rooted in regrowth rather than optimisation.

You’ll hear why building supportive communities is essential for long-term health, how prioritising strength training can support resilience and recove...

Send a text

The holiday season is often framed as a time of rest, but for many people it becomes physically and emotionally demanding — disrupting routines, increasing stress, and triggering symptom flares.

In this Friday 5 episode, VJ shares five practical ways to move through the holidays in a way that supports your nervous system, digestion, immune health, and energy levels — without striving for perfection or adding more to your to-do list.

You’ll learn why being truly present with friends and family has a direct physiological impact, how to support vagal tone through simple...

Send a text

In this episode of the Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Jill Carnahan, MD — functional medicine physician, author of Unexpected, and someone whose clinical work is deeply shaped by her own lived experience of chronic illness.

Jill shares her extraordinary personal journey, from growing up on a farm with heavy chemical exposure, to being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at just 25, followed by Crohn’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and later mould-related illness. Rather than accepting these diagnoses as isolated events, Jill’s curiosity led her to ask the...

Send a text

In this episode, we dive into one of the most underestimated foundations of autoimmune healing and hair recovery: sleep.

So many people insist they “function fine” on six hours, a midnight bedtime, or restless nights — but the body tells a very different story. When you finally experience restorative sleep, the kind that calms inflammation, regulates the immune system, stabilises cortisol, and gives hair follicles the safety signals they need to grow, everything begins to shift. Less shedding. Clearer skin. A calmer gut. A more resilient mood and nervous system. More stable...

Send a text

Low ferritin is one of the most misunderstood markers in the hair-loss world — and today, we’re breaking it down properly.

In this episode, I unpack the real relationship between ferritin, iron metabolism, and hair shedding, and why so many people feel lost when their blood tests come back “normal” but their symptoms don’t match.

We dive into:
 • What ferritin actually means — and what it doesn’t
 • Why inflammation and autoimmunity can disguise iron deficiency
 • The role of hepcidin in blocking iron absorption
• How c...

Send a text

In this week’s episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m joined by Nagina Abdullah, founder of MasalaBody.com, molecular biologist, and creator of the “Spice Yourself Skinny” method.

Nagina shares her deeply relatable journey — from lifelong struggles with weight, sugar cravings, and yo-yo dieting to discovering the science of metabolism, inflammation, and adding the right foods rather than restricting them. After losing 18kg and keeping it off for 14 years, her story takes an honest midlife twist: perimenopause, bloating, metabolic slowing, and how she rebuilt her health by shifting to an anti...

Send a text

In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, VJ shares her top five health apps that genuinely make a difference — for clients and for her own daily routine. From gut–brain retraining to nervous system regulation and sleep optimisation, these tools are practical, science-backed, and designed to help you build consistency without burnout.

You’ll learn how apps like Nerva, Yuka, Sweat, Insight Timer, and Rise can support every pillar of autoimmune health — helping you calm the nervous system, lower your toxic load, build metabolic resilience, and work with you...

Send a text

In this week’s Friday 5, I’m taking you through five simple, science-backed swaps to help you detoxify your daily life — one product, one habit, and one room at a time.

True detoxification isn’t just about green juices or supplements — it’s about reducing the everyday exposures that quietly burden your liver, hormones, and immune system. From the make-up we wear to the air we breathe, each small decision can either add to our toxic load or ease it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
 ✨ Why endocrine-disrupt...

Send a text

In this week’s Friday 5, VJ Hamilton — Registered Nutritionist and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner — shares five of her all-time favourite books that have shaped how she understands and supports autoimmune healing.

These titles explore the key systems she sees most often in practice — from the gut and microbiome to genetics, detoxification, and neuro-immune communication. Whether you’re a health practitioner, student, or simply navigating your own autoimmune journey, this episode will give you a bookshelf of resources to deepen your knowledge and inspire your healing.

You’ll learn about:
 💡 10% Human by Alanna...

Send a text

This week’s Friday 5 is all about reawakening your roots — naturally. 🌿

A new study on a plant-based serum showed visible improvements in hair thickness and density in just 56 days, reminding us that natural compounds can reawaken dormant follicles.

In this episode, VJ shares five evidence-informed, accessible ways to ignite hair growth without drugs or devices — using tools and nutrients you already have at home.

You’ll learn how to:
 1️⃣ Stimulate scalp circulation with simple daily rituals
 2️⃣ Feed your follicles with lysine, sulphur, and omega-3-rich food...

Send a text

If your thyroid results look “normal” but you still feel exhausted, foggy, or stuck — this episode will help you understand why.

In this in-depth solo episode, Registered Nutritionist and Autoimmune Specialist VJ Hamilton explores why thyroid issues often start outside the thyroid. Drawing on both her personal experience and years in clinical practice, she explains how five key body systems — the gut, liver, adrenals, sex hormones, and mitochondria — can all disrupt thyroid function, slow conversion, and mimic hypothyroidism even when test results appear fine.

VJ sh...

Send a text

In this Friday 5 episode, VJ Hamilton shares five simple, science-backed habits that can transform autoimmune healing — from reducing inflammation to restoring calm, energy, and resilience.

Drawing on both her professional experience as a Registered Nutritionist and her own personal recovery journey, VJ explores how small, consistent changes create profound physiological shifts. You’ll hear why she ditched her microwave for good, how morning sunlight even in the dead of winter can reset your immune rhythm, and why sleep, creativity, and connection are underestimated pillars of autoimmune recovery.

Whether you’re naviga...

Send a text

When it comes to hair loss recovery, most people focus on food, supplements, and treatments — but one of the most overlooked (and most powerful) tools is mindset. In this week’s Friday 5, I’m sharing how the way you think about your hair healing journey can shift your stress response, reduce fear-based triggers, and help you feel calmer and more in control.

You’ll learn:

Send a text

Your hair isn’t just about looks — it’s a messenger for your internal health. In this week’s Friday 5, I’m sharing five important clues your hair might be sending you. From nutrients running low, to stress overload, hormone shifts, immune misfires, and even detox congestion, these signs often appear in your hair before you notice them anywhere else.

We’ll talk about why your hair might not grow past a certain length, how to tell the difference between shedding and breakage, and why spotting changes early is key to preventing deeper imbal...

Send a text

Anxiety and autoimmunity often go hand-in-hand — but not just because living with chronic illness is stressful. In this episode, VJ Hamilton, Registered Nutritionist and founder of The Autoimmune Nutrition Clinic, unpacks the anxiety–autoimmunity loop — how inflammation in the body alters brain chemistry, fuels anxiety, and keeps your nervous system stuck in overdrive.

You’ll learn:

Send a text

In this week’s Friday 5, I’m sharing my five favourite gadgets for healthier, stronger hair growth — from simple daily tools like a natural bristle brush and scalp massager, to more advanced options including the Nurosym device and red light therapy.

I’ll explain how each one works, the research behind them, and where they fit into a root-cause approach to hair loss. You’ll also hear some of my own experiences — including what helped me during my alopecia journey, and why I think gadgets are about more than just hair.

Whether yo...

Send a text

Skin health isn’t just about creams and serums — it’s deeply connected to your gut, your immune system, and the nutrients that help your body repair, hydrate, and calm inflammation from within.

In this week’s Friday 5 episode, I’m sharing my five favourite BodyBio products that I use and recommend for skin health:

Send a text

Welcome to this week’s Friday 5. Today we’re diving into the wellness trend of “fibermaxxing”—the push to load up on as much fiber as possible through powders, supplements, and diet hacks. While fiber is vital for microbiome diversity, blood sugar balance, and immune regulation, for those of us living with autoimmune conditions or fragile gut health, more isn’t always better.

In this episode, I’ll share five key insights on how to approach fiber safely: why timing matters, how to avoid overwhelming your gut with powders, the role of hydration and...

Send a text

In this episode, I’m walking you through the five body systems I assess in every autoimmune case — because supporting the immune system alone rarely leads to lasting results.

We’ll explore how dysfunction in the gut barrier, lymphatic system, detoxification pathways, microbiome, and nervous system can each contribute to flare-ups, immune confusion, and long-term inflammation — and more importantly, what you can do to start restoring balance.

I also share some of my own experience with nervous system dysregulation — and why trauma, high-achieving burnout, and being constantly “switched on” can play such a pi...

Send a text

In this solo episode, VJ Hamilton shares her current top five nutrients for autoimmune health—based on what she's seeing in clinic right now, especially in clients with conditions like alopecia areata, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis, and post-viral fatigue.

From inflammation and fatigue to gut repair and immune balance, these five nutrients are at the top of VJ’s list for building long-term resilience.

Inside the episode:

Send a text

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Debi Silber — founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation (PBT®) Institute, holistic psychologist, and leading authority on how to heal from betrayal and rebuild trust.

Dr. Debi shares her personal story of betrayal, the groundbreaking research that came from it, and the unique stages people go through when healing from deep emotional wounds. We explore how unresolved betrayal impacts physical health — including its links to autoimmune conditions — and how addressing it can be the missing piece in long-term recovery.

Whether you’ve experienced...

Send a text

If summer heat leaves you feeling exhausted, foggy, or flaring, you’re not alone. Many people with autoimmune conditions struggle to regulate body temperature — and it’s not just about “not liking hot weather.” In this episode, I share five practical, science-backed strategies to help you stay cool, protect your energy, and reduce symptom flare-ups when temperatures rise.

We’ll cover everything from hydration and electrolytes to cooling foods, smart activity timing, and nervous system support. You’ll also learn why some people can’t sweat effectively (and what to do about it), plus the tr...

Send a text

Travel can be a major trigger when you're living with an autoimmune condition. From flare-ups and fatigue to gut issues and anxiety, the change in routine can leave your body feeling anything but relaxed. In this solo episode, I’m sharing my top 5 personal strategies for staying calm, regulated, and well while travelling — without triggering symptoms or stress.

I’ll walk you through how I prep my nervous system before a trip, the calming supplements I always pack (including Calm by BodyBio - ise code VJ15 for 15% discount), how I support digestion and ci...

Send a text

Autoimmune symptoms don’t just come out of nowhere — and in this episode, we’re unpacking what’s really driving them beneath the surface.

I’m joined by Dr. Christine Schaffner, a renowned naturopathic doctor who blends bioregulatory and environmental medicine to help people with complex chronic illness get to the root. We talk about the hidden layers often overlooked in autoimmune care — from mould and stealth infections to lymphatic stagnation, nervous system dysregulation, and the body’s terrain.

We also explore how detox pathways get blocked, why drainage must come before de...

Send a text

Could your home be silently driving your symptoms?

In this week’s Friday Five on The Autoimmune RESET, I’m sharing five powerful, practical ways to reduce mould exposure in your home—and why that matters so much for immune regulation, histamine balance, and flare prevention.

If you’re dealing with autoimmune disease, MCAS, fatigue, brain fog, or chronic congestion, mould could be one of those hidden triggers that’s keeping your body in a state of reactivity—even when everything else seems “clean.”

We’ll cover:

Send a text

Feeling puffy, sluggish, or like your immune system is always in overdrive?

In this Friday 5 episode, I’m sharing five simple but powerful ways to support your lymphatic system — one of the most overlooked but essential systems in autoimmune health.

From rebounding and dry brushing to mineral-rich hydration and breathwork, these are the practical tools I use in clinic and in my own recovery. I’ll also walk you through how castor oil packs can be helpful (and when they’re not).

If you'r...

Send a text

In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Casey Kelley, Founder and Medical Director of Case Integrative Health, to unpack the deeper drivers behind chronic illness—including Lyme disease, mold toxicity, and autoimmune conditions—and how a functional medicine approach can guide real, lasting recovery.

We discuss Dr. Kelley’s own journey from conventional to integrative medicine, the patterns she sees in complex cases, and her clinical strategies for addressing infection, immune dysfunction, detox capacity, and nervous system regulation.

If you’ve been...

Send a text

In this Friday 5 episode, I’m sharing my all-time favourite herbal teas for autoimmune support—and exactly why I keep coming back to them in clinic and in my own routine. From gut-soothing ginger to mineral-rich nettle and calming chamomile, I walk you through the key benefits of each blend and how they can help calm inflammation, support detox, ease digestion, and regulate your immune system.

I also wrap up with simple ways to enjoy these teas in the warmer months (because no one wants a boiling cup of tea in July!). If y...

Send a text

Fasting can be a powerful tool for immune health, inflammation, and cellular repair — but only when it’s done in a way that supports your body, not depletes it. In this episode, I explore how to use fasting strategically to work with your immune system and hormones, not against them.

We cover:

Send a text

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Eric Osansky, a functional medicine practitioner and leading voice in holistic thyroid care, to explore what really drives autoimmune thyroid conditions like Graves’ disease.

We go beyond the standard treatment model and unpack the root causes—from gut imbalances and nutrient depletions to stress, infections, and environmental triggers. Dr. Osansky shares his own personal journey with Graves’, and how that experience shaped his approach to supporting others with hyperthyroidism.

We also discuss:

Send a text

In this episode of The Autoimmune Reset, I’m diving into one of the most overlooked — yet foundational — drivers of autoimmune disease: your biological barriers.

From your gut lining to your skin, lungs, gums, and even your blood-brain barrier, these protective systems are your body's frontline defence. When they break down, your immune system starts reacting to everything — sometimes even your own tissues.

I also explore the role of the cell membrane — your final internal barrier — and how damage at th...