Dr. Rosanna de la Cruz is a Chinese medicine doctor, functional medicine practitioner, and owner of three women's health clinics in the New York area. She specializes in reproductive health and has spent her career helping women reclaim vitality, energy, and joy — particularly through perimenopause and beyond. She is also living proof that the second spring is real.

In this conversation, David and Rosanna go deep on what women are being told is normal — and what isn't.

What we cover:

• Why most doctors refuse to test hormones during perimenopause and what that's actually costing women.
• The symptoms nobody talks about — vagus nerve dysregulation that mimics fainting, and nighttime heart palpitations that look like anxiety but are driven entirely by cortisol.
• Why a ferritin level of 5 gets sent home with a clean bill of health — and what it's actually doing to your hair, energy, and quality of life.
• The troubling history of gynecology and how unconscious bias still shapes the care women of color receive today, from dismissed pain to disproportionate hysterectomy rates.
• Why the combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, functional medicine, and lifestyle change is not optional — it's the whole point.
• And what it actually means to determine your own normal and refuse to settle for anything less.

This episode is for practitioners who want a sharper clinical lens on women's health, and for any woman who has ever sat in a doctor's office and been told to just deal with it.

Dr. Jeff Rippey has been a martial artist, anthropologist, and is an acupuncturist with over 40 years in the arts, time studying in China, and a rural Missouri practice running 115–120 treatments a week on under $5,000 a month in overhead. He reached out after watching a previous Dragon Fireside episode — and he had some things to say.

In this conversation, David and Jeff pull no punches on the real state of the acupuncture profession.

What we cover:

• Why the push toward insurance billing is a losing battle — and why the profession should stop fighting it.

• The geographic concentration problem: 44% of US acupuncturists practice in just three states, and what that means for any national advocacy effort.
• The homeopathy warning — a detailed historical parallel for what happens when alternative medicine gets absorbed into the mainstream medical system without protection.
• Why the apprenticeship model and rural relocation may be the most underutilized tools in the profession.
• What it actually looks like to build a thriving cash practice in a town of 70,000 people with a two-week waitlist. And why the last two weeks of every month are pure profit.

This is one of the most strategically honest conversations to appear on Dragon Fire.Side. If you're in practice, considering school, or trying to figure out a path that actually works — this episode is required listening.

Podcast Description:

Dr. Lisa Poole is an 18-year licensed acupuncturist, single parent, MBA graduate, and one of the most honest voices in the profession. After nearly two decades in practice, she's transitioning out of full-time clinical work — not because she wanted to, but because the financial reality of this profession simply doesn't add up for most practitioners.

In this episode, David and Lisa have the conversation the acupuncture profession keeps avoiding.

What we cover:

The 2005–2006 removal of bankruptcy protections for student loans — and how it caused tuitions to immediately double and triple across the country. Why student loan attorneys consistently identify naturopaths and acupuncturists as the hardest-hit professions in the United States. What borrower's defense is and why Lisa believes every acupuncturist with federal student loans has a legitimate case. The debt-to-income data showing most acupuncture schools are charging 400–700% of what the career can actually support. Why schools bear direct responsibility for never building career pathways into hospitals and medical clinics. What real advocacy looks like — from getting acupuncture added as an essential benefit in Oregon to nearly two decades of federal student loan reform work.

And where the real hope lives — because patient demand has never been higher, and the medicine isn't going anywhere.

This one is honest, grounded, and worth your time whether you're in practice, considering school, or just trying to understand why such a powerful medicine is struggling to survive.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Acupuncture
• 15:00 Challenges in the Acupuncture Profession
• 23:11 Advocacy and Legislative Efforts
• 30:53 Community Engagement and Advocacy
• 40:36 Hope and Resilience

The Esoteric Medicine of Acupuncture — What TCM Schools Don't Teach | Parallel Perception Podcast

Is acupuncture losing its soul trying to earn a seat at Western medicine's table?

In this episode, David Bernard sits down with spiritual teacher and author Lujan Matus and veteran acupuncturist Dr. Christopher Butler (35+ years in practice) to explore what gets stripped away when Traditional Chinese Medicine shrinks itself to fit the allopathic model — and what it actually means to be a true healer.

They go deep on why the best practitioners are often those who've suffered most, what yin and yang really mean (they're relational, not fixed), how the Dan Tian and fascia connect to consciousness and healing, the emotional roots of illness before it becomes physical, and why holding space for a patient matters more than the needles.

One of the most powerful moments: Lujan reframing the needle entirely — you don't send your Qi into someone. The obstruction pulls you in. You empty yourself. The body does the rest.

If you've ever felt like the medicine you were taught was only half the picture, this one is for you.

🌐 parallelperception.com 🌐 drchristopherbutler.com

The conversation covers the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with cannabis and CBD, emphasizing the need for education, regulation, and safety in the industry. The guests, Dr. Chloe Weber and Dr. Lauren Manuni, discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field, highlighting the importance of informed decision-making and responsible use of cannabis products.

Takeaways

• TCM and cannabis integration
• Importance of education and regulation in the cannabis industry

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
• 19:23 Safety and Regulation in the Cannabis Industry
• 43:34 The Role of Budtenders and Education

visit https://radicalrootsherbs.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmjoy/ to connect with Chloe and Lauren

In this episode of Dragon Fire.Sides, David Bernard sits down with Ryan Encinas — former surgical first assist and hospital director turned cellular-health and nutrition strategist.

Ryan has been inside the belly of the beast:

• Cancer research & surgery

• Pediatric spine & brain cases

• Private hospital administration

• Front-row seats to how broken billing and “sick care” really are

Today, he works with a Fortune 100–level nutraceutical company using Raman spectroscopy to measure cellular nutrition and antioxidant status in real time — and then uses that data to help providers:

• Improve patient outcomes

• Add cash revenue streams to their practices

• And build businesses rooted in authenticity, not gimmicks

In this conversation, David and Ryan explore:

• Why 95% of people are nutritionally under-fueled at the cellular level

• How a simple hand-scan can act like a “credit score” for your cells

• The difference between quoting science… and actually running clinicals on your product

• How Ryan went from OR and hospital politics to nutrition, biochem & genetics

• Why “prevention is profitable” when you can measure what you’re talking about

• The role of discipline, self-honesty, and mindset in entrepreneurship

• Authentic content vs. formulaic “fake authenticity” on social media

• How he built a thriving business using organic content only (no paid ads)

• Why movement, fascia, and subtle energetics matter just as much as lab markers

This episode is for practitioners who:

• Feel trapped between broken insurance models and supplement guesswork

• Want objective tools to talk about lifestyle, nutrition, and risk with patients

• Are curious how to build cash-based, values-aligned revenue into their practice

• Know they need to show up online, but want to do it in a way that still feels human

Ryan and David also nerd out on how to become more like your own comic-book hero in real life.

Disclaimer:
This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding your personal health and any changes to your treatment plan.

In this eye-opening episode, David Bernard sits down with Dr. Gretchen Badami, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, herbalist, professor, former associate dean, and host of the Elevated Practice Podcast.

Together, they explore the real reasons why acupuncture schools are closing, why 80% of practitioners fail in the first five years, and what absolutely must change for the profession to survive.

Gretchen brings nearly two decades of experience from every angle of the field — clinician, educator, administrator, philosopher — and offers a brutally honest but deeply compassionate look at the structural, financial, and cultural challenges facing new practitioners.

In this conversation, they unpack:

• The true cost of becoming an acupuncturist (and why students are buried before they start)

• Why most graduates unknowingly sign up to be entrepreneurs, not employees

• How student loans, cost of living, and long program requirements create structural barriers

• Where acupuncture schools are failing — and where their hands are tied

• Why business training is completely insufficient in most programs

• What new grads actually need to survive their first 1–3 years

• Why society needs integrative medicine more than ever

• How to create a sustainable practice without burning out

• The vital importance of marketing, mentorship, and outsourcing

• The opportunity created by school closures and rising demand

• Why the next generation of practitioners must rethink what “practice” looks like

This is one of the most important Fireside conversations yet — a candid and nuanced discussion about the evolution, challenges, and urgent opportunities facing the acupuncture profession today.

🔥 If you're a student, new practitioner, educator, or clinic owner, this episode is essential listening.

David Bernard, founder of LeadBetter AI, hosts a podcast with Chris Butler, the owner of Wellpath Center in Wellspring, New Jersey, an experienced practitioner in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

- **TCM and Modern Healthcare:** Chris Butler discusses his journey and specialization in TCM, particularly in women's reproductive health and acupuncture. He emphasizes the synergy between TCM and modern healthcare practices, arguing for a more holistic approach to treatment.

- **Fertility and Gynecology:** Butler has dedicated a significant part of his career to helping women with fertility issues, leveraging his expertise in the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine.

- **Acupuncture’s Versatility:** The conversation touches upon the public's limited understanding of acupuncture. It's more than pain relief; it's a comprehensive system addressing a wide array of health issues.

- **Functional Medicine and Chinese Medicine:** Butler draws parallels between functional medicine and TCM, both focusing on individualized treatment and understanding the root causes of health issues rather than just treating symptoms.

- **Dermatology and Herbal Medicine:** A significant portion of the discussion revolves around treating dermatological conditions like psoriasis and eczema with herbal medicine, highlighting the effectiveness of TCM over conventional treatments in certain cases.

- **Educating Patients:** The role of a TCM practitioner, according to Butler, extends beyond treatment. It involves educating patients about their health, lifestyle, and the interconnections between various aspects of their lives and their wellbeing.

- **Integration of Allopathic and TCM:** Butler advocates for the integration of allopathic (Western) medicine and TCM, stressing that each has its strengths and, when combined, can offer more effective treatment solutions.

- **Chronic Illnesses and Lifestyle Changes:** The discussion underscores the importance of lifestyle changes in managing chronic illnesses, where TCM can play a vital role in guiding patients towards healthier living.

- **Empirical Basis of TCM:** The conversation also sheds light on the empirical, trial-and-error basis of TCM, which has evolved over thousands of years, and its relevance in modern healthcare.