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In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, I am sharing a never-released interview I did back in 2017 with the late Dr. Mark Mandel, a compounding pharmacist and leader in innovative approaches to healing. I interviewed Dr. Mandel for my documentary series, The Thyroid Secret. With a PharmD and a passion for integrative medicine, Dr. Mandel dedicated his career to helping patients find alternative solutions to chronic health issues. He operated two pharmacies in Illinois and had extensive experience with using low dose naltrexone (LDN) strategically to support those with autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s through personalized therapies.
He was a passionate patient advocate, always encouraging patients to rethink what’s possible beyond conventional treatments.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Unlocking the Power of Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN): Discover how LDN, a low dose immune modulator, is transforming care for over 200 conditions — including Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease — by boosting your body’s natural endorphins and promoting deep healing from within.
- The Compounding Edge: Learn how compounding pharmacies customize medications — from bioidentical hormones to allergy-friendly formulas — offering truly personalized treatment options that standard prescriptions just can’t match.
- Real-Life Results, Real Relief: Hear powerful stories of patients reclaiming their lives with LDN — experiencing less pain, better mobility, and a return to everyday activities they thought were lost for good.
- Healing That Doesn’t Break the Bank: LDN is not only effective — it’s affordable. A generic, compounded medication it offers a gentle yet powerful alternative to costly treatments with harsh side effects.
- LDN can Teach the Body to Heal Itself: Unlike traditional immunosuppressants that simply block symptoms, LDN helps retrain the immune system — guiding it back into balance. Learn how this unique approach can restore immune function gently and intelligently, leading to lasting, whole-body wellness.
This podcast was originally recorded as an interview that was featured in my popular documentary series, The Thyroid Secret. You can watch the entire Thyroid Secret documentary series for free until the end of today (May 25) at 11:59 pm PT. Please click here to sign up for the free, limited-time screening!
Guest Resources
- LDN Research Trust – A valuable resource for information about low dose naltrexone, including educational tools and videos.
- LDN Research Trust – YouTube
- Website (LDN Research Trust)
- Book by Linda Elsegood – The LDN: Low Dose Naltrexone; The Latest Research on; Viral Infections, Long COVID, Mold Toxicity, Longevity, Cancer, Depression and More (Ldn, 3)
Products, Medications, and Therapies Discussed
- Article on Low Dose Naltrexone – Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is used for a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
- Steroids / Prednisone – In contrast to LDN in terms of immunosuppressive effects and side effects.
- Methimazole – A medication often prescribed for hyperthyroidism/Graves’ disease, with discussion on how LDN may reduce the need for it.
Selection of Conditions Helped by LDN
- Hashimoto’s
- Graves’ disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Fertility
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Lupus
- Asthma
- Shingles/herpes
- Restless leg syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Postpartum thyroiditis
- Mental illness
- Alcoholism
- Cancer (an emerging indication)
Supplements We Discussed
- Vitamin D – Read my article on The Benefits of Vitamin D for Your Thyroid
- Probiotics & Prebiotics – Read my article on The Best Probiotics for Hashimoto’s
- Iodine – Read my article on Iodine: Good or Bad for Thyroid Health?
- Full-spectrum light therapy – May be used for immune modulation
Other Tools and Resources
- Insights on the connection between inflammation and autoimmune conditions.
- The importance of dietary changes in managing health conditions.
- Book by Julia Schopick and Don Schwartz – The Power of Honest Medicine: LDN, an Inexpensive Alternative to the Costly, Toxic Medications Doctors Prescribe for Autoimmune and Other Diseases author of Honest Medicine.
Books and Articles About Thyroid Health
- Do Hashimoto’s and Graves’ Disease Share the Same Root Causes?
- Which Supplements Actually Help Hashimoto’s?
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
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About Our Host
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.
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About Our Guest
Dr. Mark Mandel (1958–2021) was a pharmacist specialized in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), weight loss and management, pain management, and the treatment of chronic health conditions with an integration of conventional care, adjunctive therapies, and natural pharmaceutical alternatives. He was the owner and president of Mark Drugs Roselle, a compounding pharmacy located in West suburban Roselle IL, the first PCAB accredited compounding pharmacy in Illinois, and was the co-owner of Mark Drugs Northshore in Deerfield, IL.
Mark was a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy and Midwestern University College of Pharmacy in Downers Grove, IL. He was the host of the weekly radio health show, “The Doctor and the Pharmacist.”
Mark spoke regularly to physician, pharmacist, nursing, and community groups, providing insights on how natural pharmaceutical alternatives and prescription compounding can enhance patient care and quality of life. Mark believed in approaching patient care from a “ground up” point of view; that traditional medicine tends to treat chronic illness with a reactive approach versus a proactive one that addresses the real culprit, the source of the problem.
Mark believed that many chronic health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, intestinal and gastric problems can be treated and potentially eliminated with combinations of natural pharmaceutical alternatives that are easy to use, safe, and effective.
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