Grounded | The Vestibular Podcast

If you have a vestibular disorder, there’s a good chance your thyroid is part of the story. 

You know I love bringing in other qualified professionals to dig deeper on these more nuanced topics, so for this conversation we have Registered Dietitian and fellow Hashimoto’s patient, Alisha Knicely!

She breaks down all things thyroid—what Hashimoto’s is, how it’s different from hypothyroidism, what optimal labs look like, how gut health and leaky gut are connected to autoimmune conditions, and what you can do about all of this.

We also touch on gluten, dairy, mold, and water quality. You’re going to want to bookmark this one because it’s jam packed!

In this episode, we’ll dig into:

How Alisha became a Hashimoto’s patient turned registered dietitian

Hyperthyroidism vs. hypothyroidism

What’s included in a full thyroid panel

How to understand optimal vs. conventional lab ranges

When to consider medication

How thyroid hormones impact every single cell in the body

Chronic vs. acute inflammation

Practical, sustainable steps to lower inflammation naturally

The elimination diet and reintroduction approach

The best way to address leaky gut

Why you should consider the GI Map stool test

Why water quality matters especially for thyroid patients

Alisha’s personal mold story and how she cleared her mycotoxin levels

Air quality, infrared sauna, and other mold detox resources

Whether it’s your thyroid, your gut, your water, or the air you’re breathing, the root causes are addressable and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Related Episodes:

Ep 91 Mold & Dizziness: https://thevertigodoctor.com/podcast/91-mold-dizziness-what-you-need-to-know/

Meet: Alisha Knicely, RD

Alisha Knicely is a Registered Dietitian, certified in Integrative and Functional Medicine, and a fellow Hashimoto’s patient of nearly a decade. Her own experience navigating an autoimmune thyroid diagnosis (and not getting the answers she needed) led her to specialize in thyroid and hormonal health. She helps clients get to the root of their Hashimoto’s through nutrition, gut health, lifestyle and functional testing so they can finally start feeling like themselves again.

Connect w/ Alisha Knicely:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisha_thyroid_rd

Links Mentioned:

Vestibular Group Fit (code GROUNDED at checkout for 15% off!): https://thevertigodoctor.com/vestibular-group-fit (which is where you’ll find the Histamine Webinar with Isabel Smith where we talked water filters)

Alisha’s Instagram post on optimal labwork mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbqf3TqjoAD/

Dr. Jill Crista’s mold detox resource: https://drcrista.com/

Free Resources:

⁠The 4 Steps to Managing Vestibular Migraine: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/cb5js0y78n

⁠The PPPD Management Masterclass⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/new-pppd

⁠What your Partner Should Know About Living with Dizziness⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/partnership

⁠The FREE Mini VGFit Workout⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/minifit

⁠The FREE POTS – safe Workouts⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/pots

Connect with Dr. Madison (@TheVertigoDoctor): https://instagram.com/thevertigodoctor

Work with Dr. Madison:

For 1:1 Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, email madison@thevertigodoctor.com

Otherwise, I’ll see ya in Vestibular Group Fit!

Connect with Dr. Jenna (@dizzy.rehab.therapist): https://www.instagram.com/dizzy.rehab.therapist/

Learn about the Oak Method: http://thevertigodoctor.com/why-vestibular-group-fit

Love what you heard?
Consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more vestibular warriors like you!

This podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.

hashimoto’s and gut health, integrative functional medicine, autoimmune thyroid condition, thyroid dietitian, graves disease, vestibular migraine, chronic dizziness, hormone health, gut issues, lifestyle changes, optimal lab values, migraine management

Histamine is quite possibly the most popular buzzword in healthcare right now and for good reason.

For those living with a vestibular condition and dealing with a histamine intolerance, it can feel like a lot to understand and manage.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what histamine is, what histamine intolerance can look like, how it’s impacting vestibular disorders and migraine, and what you can do about it.

In this episode, we’ll dig into:

What histamine is and its role in your immune system, digestion, sleep, mood, memory, and more

The 4 types of histamine receptors and what they have to do with your symptoms

Histamine intolerance vs. MCAS

What happens when you don’t have enough of the DAO enzyme

What contributes to histamine intolerance and what it can look like

How to properly diagnose histamine intolerance

What you can do to support your liver if you have histamine intolerance

How to do a low-histamine diet the right way

How food freshness affects histamine levels

The histamine-migraine connection

What research is showing about histamine’s role in the vestibular system and inner ear

How addressing histamine can make previous treatments that didn’t work suddenly start working

When there’s too much histamine in the body than what the body can actively remove, you’ll have more histamine reactions and a harder time processing histamine in general. I want you to remember though that all hope is not lost!

For additional support, we have the webinar with Isabel Smith that touches on histamine intolerance, as well as liver and gut support inside Vestibular Group Fit. 

We will also have Natalie Sampson, a Board Certified Genetic Counselor, joining me on a future podcast episode!

Links Mentioned:

Vestibular Group Fit (code GROUNDED at checkout for 15% off!): https://thevertigodoctor.com/vestibular-group-fit

Free Resources:

⁠The 4 Steps to Managing Vestibular Migraine: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/cb5js0y78n

⁠The PPPD Management Masterclass⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/new-pppd

⁠What your Partner Should Know About Living with Dizziness⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/partnership

⁠The FREE Mini VGFit Workout⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/minifit

⁠The FREE POTS – safe Workouts⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/pots

Connect with Dr. Madison (@TheVertigoDoctor): https://instagram.com/thevertigodoctor

Work with Dr. Madison:

For 1:1 Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, email madison@thevertigodoctor.com

Otherwise, I’ll see ya in Vestibular Group Fit!

Connect with Dr. Jenna (@dizzy.rehab.therapist): https://www.instagram.com/dizzy.rehab.therapist/

Learn about the Oak Method: http://thevertigodoctor.com/why-vestibular-group-fit

Love what you heard?
Consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more vestibular warriors like you!

This podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.

Citations

Cleveland Clinic. “Histamine.” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 28 Mar. 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24854-histamine. Accessed 10 July 2026.

Jochum C. (2024). Histamine Intolerance: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Beyond. Nutrients, 16(8), 1219. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081219 

Sánchez-Pérez S, Comas-Basté O, Duelo A, Veciana-Nogués MT, Berlanga M, Vidal-Carou MC and Latorre-Moratalla ML (2022) The dietary treatment of histamine intolerance reduces the abundance of some histamine-secreting bacteria of the gut microbiota in histamine intolerant women. A pilot study. Front. Nutr. 9:1018463. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1018463

Jackson, K., Busse, W., Gálvez-Martín, P., Terradillos, A., & Martínez-Puig, D. (2025). Evidence for Dietary Management of Histamine Intolerance. International journal of molecular sciences, 26(18), 9198. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26189198

Kong, L., Domarecka, E., & Szczepek, A. J. (2023). Histamine and Its Receptors in the Mammalian Inner Ear: A Scoping Review. Brain sciences, 13(7), 1101. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13071101 

Tighilet, B., Trico, J., Marouane, E., Zwergal, A., & Chabbert, C. (2024). Histaminergic System and Vestibular Function in Normal and Pathological Conditions. Current neuropharmacology, 22(11), 1826–1845. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X22666240319123151 

Chen, Z. P., Zhang, X. Y., Peng, S. Y., Yang, Z. Q., Wang, Y. B., Zhang, Y. X., Chen, X., Wang, J. J., & Zhu, J. N. (2019). Histamine H1 Receptor Contributes to Vestibular Compensation. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 39(3), 420–433. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1350-18.2018 

Ferretti, A., Gatto, M., Velardi, M., Di Nardo, G., Foiadelli, T., Terrin, G., Cecili, M., Raucci, U., Valeriani, M., & Parisi, P. (2023). Migraine, Allergy, and Histamine: Is There a Link?. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(10), 3566. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12103566 

histamine and vestibular conditions, vestibular migraine, chronic dizziness, migraine attacks, vestibular disorders, vestibular group fit, food sensitivities, MCAS, gut issues, holistic approach, bucket theory, lifestyle changes, allergies and vestibular disorders

If you have recurring sinus infections, got the allergy shots, maybe even had sinus surgery, and still don’t feel better, this episode might shock you.

For starters: 75-90% of people with self-diagnosed sinus headaches actually meet migraine criteria.

I’m so excited to welcome back Dr. Jessica Lee, double board-certified ENT and lifestyle medicine physician to hopefully provide some answers you’ve been looking for. We’re going deep on sinus headache vs migraine, Eustachian tube dysfunction, as well as migraine and sinus management. 

So many people are cycling through antibiotics, steroids, and booking surgeries without anyone ever connecting the dots to what’s going on in the body as a whole. Dr. Lee is here to change that and to give you the questions to ask, the scans to request, and the framework to finally get some answers.

In this episode, we’ll dig into:

How to start differentiating sinus issues from a migraine attack

What’s actually happening with the pressure, fluid, and full feeling in your ear

Why researchers believe TMJ may not be as common as we think

How to best use CT scans as a diagnostic tool for sinus migraine

What a deviated septum or mucosal cyst may not be the full diagnosis

Why antibiotics are so overprescribed for sinus headaches

Why you may feel like you never fully recover from sinus infections

How GLP-1s and mouth breathing affects Eustachian tube function

Why Dr. Lee’s surgical volume has gone down over the years

The PACT framework for doctor’s appointments

Whether it’s sinus headaches, ear pressure, or chronic infections that never fully resolve, the answer might not be another antibiotic. And with what you heard in the episode, you’ll be able to ask the right questions to get the help you need.

Related Episodes:

Sinus Headache, Nasal Breathing, and Dizziness with Dr. Jessica Lee: https://thevertigodoctor.com/podcast/69-sinus-headache-nasal-breathing-and-dizziness-with-dr-jessica-lee-ent/

Meet Dr. Jessica Lee:

Dr. Jessica Lee, MD, DipABLM is a double board-certified Otolaryngologist (ENT) and Lifestyle Medicine physician with over 100 hours of additional training in integrative and functional medicine. After more than a decade in traditional medicine, Dr. Lee noticed a major gap in how chronic inflammatory conditions (like sinusitis, allergies & sinus headaches) were being treated, and set out to change that. She’s the founder of Integrative ENT Health, a Castle Connolly Top Doctor (2023–2026), and co-founder of the Keto Hope Foundation. She brings a whole-person approach to ENT care, blending conventional expertise with nutrition, lifestyle & root-cause thinking to help patients get real, lasting answers.

Connect w/ Dr. Jessica Lee:

The Sinus Reset Program: https://www.integrativeenthealth.com/sinus-reset-program

Integrative ENT Health (virtual practice): https://www.integrativeenthealth.com/

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

Links Mentioned:

Vestibular Group Fit (code GROUNDED at checkout for 15% off!): https://thevertigodoctor.com/vestibular-group-fit

Sinus Reset Program (Open September 13th; stay tuned for free bonuses and discounts!): https://www.integrativeenthealth.com/sinus-reset-program

Free Resources:

⁠The 4 Steps to Managing Vestibular Migraine: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/cb5js0y78n

⁠The PPPD Management Masterclass⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/new-pppd

⁠What your Partner Should Know About Living with Dizziness⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/partnership

⁠The FREE Mini VGFit Workout⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/minifit

⁠The FREE POTS – safe Workouts⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/pots

Connect with Dr. Madison (@TheVertigoDoctor): https://instagram.com/thevertigodoctor

Work with Dr. Madison:

For 1:1 Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, email madison@thevertigodoctor.com

Otherwise, I’ll see ya in Vestibular Group Fit!

Connect with Dr. Jenna (@dizzy.rehab.therapist): https://www.instagram.com/dizzy.rehab.therapist/

Learn about the Oak Method: http://thevertigodoctor.com/why-vestibular-group-fit

Love what you heard?
Consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more vestibular warriors like you!

This podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.

sinus headache, integrative ent, eustachian tube dysfunction, chronic dizziness, vestibular migraine, vestibular disorder symptoms, vestibular group fit, symptom tracking, phases of vestibular migraine, holistic approach, lifestyle changes, nervous system regulation, allergies

Men’s health in the vestibular space? Yes, we’re finally talking about it!

I get so many questions about this especially from men with vestibular migraine, Ménière’s disease, and other vestibular disorders who feel like all the health content out there is geared toward women. So I brought in Dr. Mark Heisig, naturopathic physician and creator of the Healthy on Purpose framework, to help us navigate the topic of men’s health.

In this episode, we’re covering how men age hormonally, what’s behind the global decline in testosterone, the labs you should be requesting, and why mindset is such a foundational principle of health.

Whether you’re a man with a vestibular disorder, or you just love one—this one’s for you.

In this episode, we’ll dig into:

What is driving the global drop in testosterone in men under 40

How to determine what is “normal” aging and what may require medical evaluation

How testosterone impacts the vestibular system

Why men should reconsider holding off on going to the doctor

Healthy living basics refresher

Labwork Dr. Mark recommends for all men and options for where to get yours done

What the “dad belly” is a warning sign of

The insurance vs. cash-pay reality

Nutritional deficits Dr. Mark sees most often in men

How mindset contributes to our overall health

The BAMs (Bare Ass Minimums) framework

The importance of physical and emotional health for men

Whether you’re healthy on purpose or unhealthy by accident, the good news is that the levers to pull are the same ones we talk about every week on the podcast and in group. The better news? It’s never too late to start making changes.

Related Episodes:

#153 Hormones, Histamine, and Your Vestibular Disorder w/ Dr. Saru Bala: https://thevertigodoctor.com/podcast/153-hormones-histamine-and-your-vestibular-disorder/

Meet: Dr. Mark Heisig

Dr. Mark Heisig, ND is a naturopathic doctor licensed in Arizona and Washington, with 8 years in personal training, nutrition coaching, and exercise physiology before that. Through his practice, Healthy on Purpose, he helps men and women in their 30s and 40s who are doing “everything right” but still hitting a wall. He’s also a husband, dad, and still lacing up for BJJ and hockey.

Connect w/ Dr. Mark Heisig

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

Substack: https://drmarkheisig.substack.com/p/welcome-to-healthy-on-purpose 

Website: https://www.drmarkonpurpose.com/ 

Links Mentioned:

Vestibular Group Fit (code GROUNDED at checkout for 15% off!): https://thevertigodoctor.com/vestibular-group-fit

Membership is 30% off from September 4th-8th!

Included in your membership is a Full Script link (VGFit members only). Good for 30% off all supplements (for US customers) and 10% off (for Canadian customers).

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky: https://amzn.to/45YuFoQ

Rupa Health: https://www.rupahealth.com/

Free Resources:

⁠The 4 Steps to Managing Vestibular Migraine: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/cb5js0y78n

⁠The PPPD Management Masterclass⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/new-pppd

⁠What your Partner Should Know About Living with Dizziness⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/partnership

⁠The FREE Mini VGFit Workout⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/minifit

⁠The FREE POTS – safe Workouts⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/pots

Connect with Dr. Madison (@TheVertigoDoctor): https://instagram.com/thevertigodoctor

Work with Dr. Madison:

For 1:1 Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, email madison@thevertigodoctor.com

Otherwise, I’ll see ya in Vestibular Group Fit!

Connect with Dr. Jenna (@dizzy.rehab.therapist): https://www.instagram.com/dizzy.rehab.therapist/

Learn about the Oak Method: http://thevertigodoctor.com/why-vestibular-group-fit

Love what you heard?
Consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more vestibular warriors like you!

This podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.

naturopathic doctor, vestibular migraine, chronic dizziness, men’s health, nervous system regulation, PPPD, living with vestibular migraine, vestibular disorders, optimal lab values, hormone health, gut issues, lifestyle changes, mindset and chronic illness, holistic approach

If you’ve been to a million and one doctors and still don’t have a clear diagnosis—you are not alone, and you are not crazy. 

Dizziness is notoriously undertreated, and a lot of providers just don’t like dealing with it. 

So in this episode, I’m giving you a comprehensive resource guide: which providers to see, what to ask when you call, and what tests are available so you’re better prepared for what you’re walking into.

This is the episode I wish existed when people first started experiencing dizziness. Share it and save it so you can refer back to it. 

And remember, finding the right provider can make all the difference! A willing-to-learn provider beats a dismissive expert every single time.

In this episode, we’ll dig into:

Why dizziness is so often undertreated

The difference between an ENT, neurotologist, and otologist

Medical providers you may want to reach out to for support

Why you’ll want to make sure to call the office first

What a board-certified headache specialist is

Questions to ask any provider before booking

A full overview of vestibular testing

What to expect after most tests are run

The Bárány Society as a resource

Additional resources available inside Vestibular Group Fit

Getting the right diagnosis starts with knowing who to see, what to ask, and what to expect. And now, you have a roadmap to help you get started.

Links Mentioned:

Vestibular Group Fit (code GROUNDED at checkout for 15% off!): https://thevertigodoctor.com/vestibular-group-fit

Trusted Providers Worksheet (available inside Vestibular Group Fit under the community tab)

The Bárány Society: https://www.thebaranysociety.org/

How to find a provider

Searching local health systems for types of providers/departments based on the area you’re looking to schedule

American Neurotology Society (ENT with special focus on neurological disorders of inner ear and other related structures)

American Migraine Foundation Find a Doctor

National Headache Foundation Find a Provider

UK National Migraine Centre

Migraine Canada Find a Headache Specialist

Neurahealth national headache medicine clinic

Binocular vision dysfunction provider directory

Free Resources:

⁠The 4 Steps to Managing Vestibular Migraine: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/cb5js0y78n

⁠The PPPD Management Masterclass⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/new-pppd

⁠What your Partner Should Know About Living with Dizziness⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/partnership

⁠The FREE Mini VGFit Workout⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/minifit

⁠The FREE POTS – safe Workouts⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/pots

Connect with Dr. Madison (@TheVertigoDoctor): https://instagram.com/thevertigodoctor

Work with Dr. Madison:

For 1:1 Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, email madison@thevertigodoctor.com

Otherwise, I’ll see ya in Vestibular Group Fit!

Connect with Dr. Jenna (@dizzy.rehab.therapist): https://www.instagram.com/dizzy.rehab.therapist/

Learn about the Oak Method: http://thevertigodoctor.com/why-vestibular-group-fit

Love what you heard?
Consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more vestibular warriors like you!

This podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.

dizziness diagnosis, vestibular migraine, living with vestibular disorder, ENT, neurotologist, otologist, chronic dizziness, medical provider, vestibular disorder diagnosis, vestibular disorder treatment, vestibular rehabilitation therapy, vestibular group fit, occupational therapist, neuro-optometrist, vertigo