Black Friday Code: DIGEST35

Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC

DC, Clinician, Lead Researcher

Dr. Michael Ruscio is a DC, Naturopathic Practitioner, researcher, and clinician. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport and has published numerous papers in scientific journals.

Dr. Ruscio received his BS in exercise science from the University of Massachusetts, his DC from Life West, and is a board-certified Doctor of Natural Medicine through the ANMCB.

Dr. Ruscio founded the Ruscio Institute of Functional Health, a consulting practice and research clinic that helps patients heal a wide range of GI conditions. Dr. Ruscio serves as the Head of Research, rigorously researching complex gastrointestinal disorders as well as their relationship to thyroid health.

From his clinical research and experience, Dr. Ruscio authored a book Healthy Gut, Healthy You, created a Thyroid Self-Management Course, and developed the first ever over-the-counter fully elemental diet formula on the market.

Dr. Ruscio is a member of the Gastro AnP (Naturopathic Board of Gastroenterology) and ILADS (the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society). He also lectures for the IFM (Institute for Functional Medicine) and is an instructor for the A4M (American Academy of Antiaging Medicine).

In 2016, Dr. Ruscio started the Dr. Ruscio Radio podcast, which frequently ranks in the top charts for Alternative Health podcasts.

Clinical Experience

Dr. Ruscio’s clinical experience is extensive and centers around digestive health while also exploring its connection to hypothyroidism, histamine intolerance, MCAS and chronic infections.

This includes:

Gastrointestinal

  • Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
  • Intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO)
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating & abdominal pain
  • Leaky gut & food sensitivities
  • Candida overgrowth
  • Reflux, heartburn, and stomach acid
  • Crohn’s disease & ulcerative colitis

Hormonal

  • Hypothyroid & Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • Natural supports for female hormones

Cognitive, Inflammatory & infectious

  • Fatigue, Brain fog
  • Lyme disease & co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia)
  • Histamine intolerance & MCAS

Research Experience

Dr. Ruscio feels scientific research is critical for understanding how to better help those struggling with health challenges. While staying current on the most recent clinical publications, he also performs and publishes research within his clinic.

This research has focused on:

  • Herbal treatment for SIBO and SIBO biofilm
  • The Gut-Thyroid and the Gut-Thyroid-Nutrient Axes
  • Ancestral principles for gut health
  • The scientific application of probiotics

Ongoing data collection and research involves:

  • Novel uses for the elemental diet
  • The utility of urinary mold testing
  • Herbal treatments for Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia
  • Probiotics Triple Therapy

Publications

  • Ruscio, M., Guard, G., Piedrahita, G., & D’Adamo, C. R. (2022). The relationship between gastrointestinal health, micronutrient concentrations, and autoimmunity: A focus on the thyroid. Nutrients 14(17), 3572. doi:10.3390/nu14173572
  • Ruscio, M., Guard, G., & Mather, J. (2022). Symptoms originally attributed to thyroid dysfunction were instead caused by suboptimal gastrointestinal health: A case series and literature review. Integrative Medicine (Encinitas), 21(3), 22–29.
  • Ruscio, M. (2019). Is SIBO a real condition? Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 25 (5), 30–38.
  • Ruscio, M. (2018). Healthy Gut, Healthy You: The personalized plan to transform your health from the inside out. Las Vegas, NV: The Ruscio Institute.
  • Ruscio, M. (2017). Do you really want a hunter-gatherer microbiota? Journal of Evolution and Health, 2(1).

Professional Training

  • International Lyme & Associated Diseases ILADs certification
  • Gastro ANP (Naturopathic Gastroenterology Board)
  • Institute of Functional Medicine
  • Hedberg Institute, Infections Connection training
  • Integrative Healthcare Symposium IHS
  • American Naturopathic Medical Association
  • Frontiers in Neurology and Brain Health – George Washington University School of Medicine
  • SIBO Pro Course
  • SIBO Symposium
  • World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine
  • National Association of Nutrition Professionals
  • Ancestral Health Symposium
  • The Forgotten Role of Micronutrients in Gastrointestinal Health
  • Integrative SIBO Conference
  • International Congress on Natural Medicine
  • Gut, Microbiota, and Thyroid for Practitioners
  • Integrative Therapy Approaches to Treating Tick-Borne Disease

Personal Health Challenges

In his early twenties, Dr. Ruscio personally dealt with an intestinal parasite, amoeba histolytica.  In his early thirties, he had mold in two consecutive homes. In his late thirties he dealt with the Lyme-family organisms of Bartonella and Babesia. While painful, he used these challenges as an opportunity to learn, research, and develop into a vastly better clinician.

Michael Ruscio

Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC's Articles

Vitamin D Treats Thyroid Autoimmunity – A Landmark Study

Vitamin D Treats Thyroid Autoimmunity – A Landmark Study

As we have discussed previously, many of the health benefits of vitamin D supplementation may have been over exaggerated.  However, there is one area where this may not be the case – autoimmunity.  There is not much research on vitamin D as a treatment for autoimmune conditions, however a recent study has shown promise for

Updates on SIBO and IBS

Updates on SIBO and IBS

IBS, which typically manifests as gas, bloating, constipation/diarrhea and abdominal pain,  oftentimes can be caused by SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). A recent review paper was published that provides some interesting updates on both IBS and SIBO.  Let’s review the highlights in this paper. If you need help with IBS, click here Subscribe to Dr. Ruscio’s YouTube account

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #25

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #25

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In case you missed it On Monday, we looked at the causes and treatments of Hashimoto’s thyroid autoimmunity, which is the primary cause of hypothyroidism in most Westernized countries. Wednesday’s podcast featured a lecture I gave at the 2014 Ancestral Health Society. I outlined how

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #24

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #24

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In case you missed it On Monday, Dr. Ruscio examined how administering bacteria-killing agents can achieve increased microbiota diversity. On Wednesday’s podcast release, the Doc welcomed Dr. Jolene Brighten, where she discussed the thyroid’s role during pregnancy and how pregnancy often accompanies autoimmunity. Latest Research Heart rate

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #23

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #23

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In case you missed it On Monday, Dr. Ruscio examined a recently published study that demonstrated an important way hypothyroid may cause SIBO. On Wednesday’s podcast release, the Doc sat down once again with Moss Nutrition founder Jeffrey Moss, this time to discuss a

The Thyroid-SIBO Connection

The Thyroid-SIBO Connection

A study was recently published which illustrates an important way in which hypothyroid may cause SIBO. Let’s discuss this study and how you can use this information to improve your gut and thyroid health.       If you need help assessing your gut or your thyroid, click here Subscribe to Dr. Ruscio’s YouTube account   The Thyroid-SIBO Connection

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #22

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #22

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In case you missed it On Monday, Dr. Ruscio discussed which SIBO treatments make the most sense. In particular, he highlighted the FODMAP diet, prebiotics and probiotics.  In Wednesday’s podcast, the Doc welcomed Dr. Christopher Gardner, author of the the A to Z Weight Loss

Candida Biofilm Treatment for Weight Loss

Candida Biofilm Treatment for Weight Loss

This is a patient conversation from a few years ago but I thought it was worth sharing. It illustrates the importance of treating biofilms in stubborn cases of candida.  It also illustrates how fairly remarkable weight loss can be achieved by improving your gut health. Subscribe to Dr. Ruscio’s Weekly Videos Case Study: Candida and

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