In this powerful opening episode of Season 5, Rosy Daniel and Karen Mellers welcome Dr Rob Verkerk PhD, founder and Executive and Scientific Director of the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH). An environmental scientist, ecologist, researcher and longstanding natural-health campaigner, Rob has spent more than two decades challenging the systems and regulations that shape what we can know, choose and use in healthcare.

Rob shares the extraordinary journey that took him from ecology and environmental science into natural health, nutrition, food quality, toxicology and integrative healthcare – and explains why he believes the health of people and the health of our environment cannot be separated.

In this episode we explore:

• Why environmental health and human health are inseparable
• How our food, water, air, stress, movement and environment influence health
• The growing importance of an ecological approach to medicine
• Why Rob believes current regulatory systems protect ‘big pharma’ and ‘big food’ rather than the people that they aim to serve and restrict access to natural health approaches
• The challenge of balancing risk and benefit when regulating herbs, nutrients and other natural products
• The Alliance for Natural Health’s work using science, research, education and law to influence health policy
• Why Rob describes his approach as “re-education rather than fighting”
• The importance of health coaching and behaviour change in creating better health outcomes
• The concept of the “health ecology” of the individual and the many levers we can influence 
• How building resilience, energy, strength, connection and purpose may help us age more healthily
• Why focusing on health creation rather than disease management could transform healthcare

There is also a fascinating discussion about the influence of academia, regulation, pharmaceutical medicine, food systems and vested interests, and why Rob works tirelessly to restore greater balance to both science and healthcare.

Above all, this is a conversation about choice, empowerment, connection and hope – and about moving from passive healthcare to proactive health creation.

About Dr Rob Verkerk PhD

Dr Rob Verkerk is an environmental scientist, ecologist and natural-health campaigner and the founder of the Alliance for Natural Health International. His work spans environmental science, agriculture, food, nutrition, health, science and regulation. He has spent more than 20 years working to protect access to natural health approaches through research, education, advocacy and strategic legal action.

The Alliance for Natural Health needs our support to fund this brave and important work.

Find out more and become a member! 

• ANH International – anh-international.org
•  ANH USA – anh-usa.org

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and overview of the episode
• 04:17 Rob Verkerk's background and connection to nature
• 09:04 The influence of environment on human health
• 12:04 Traditional cultures and wisdom of elders
• 15:50 The medicinal knowledge of rainforest plants
• 17:43 Legal actions to protect natural health products
• 19:28 The need for a risk-benefit approach in regulation
• 20:56 The impact of scientific bias and vested interests
• 23:32 Cost-effectiveness of health coaching in cancer care
• 26:17 The systemic failure of current healthcare models
• 29:14 Probabilistic approach to health determinants
• 31:37 The common soil of chronic and degenerative diseases
• 34:12 The disconnect between health expenditure and outcomes
• 36:17 Inspirations and personal stories of resilience
• 39:15 The influence of corporate interests on science and regulation
• 43:39 The decline of scientific integrity and trust
• 45:51 The movement for natural health and ecological medicine
• 48:31 How to support and get involved with ANH
• 52:02 The importance of connection and community in health
• 53:19 Closing remarks and call to action

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