Black Friday Code: DIGEST35

Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC

DC, Clinician, Lead Researcher

Dr. Michael Ruscio is a DC, natural health provider, 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 an allied member of the Gastro AnP (Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians) 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

The Microbiota Miracle

The Microbiota Miracle

The gut microbiota is the world of bacteria that live in your gut. We have learned a lot about the gut microbiota over the past few years as research here has exploded. This invites the question, “Will we discover a miracle cure bacterium?” It appears that context may be a very important factor in determining

Can Adrenal Support Help Your Gut?

Can Adrenal Support Help Your Gut?

In my experience healing the gut is the most important step in recovering from adrenal fatigue, second only to diet and lifestyle. But, can supporting the adrenal glands actually have a positive impact on gut healing? Let’s discuss if adrenal support can help with healing your gut. If you need help with your adrenals and

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #41

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #41

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In Case You Missed It On Monday, we looked into a recent study that has shown a two week course of SIBO antibiotics may not be the ideal approach for most patients and that one’s SIBO lab values can help determine the ideal use. On

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #39

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #39

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In Case You Missed It On Monday, we discussed some recent research that shows how improving gut health can help clear up brain fog. On Wednesday’s podcast release, we dove deep into high homocysteine and genetic methylation mutations with Dr. Deborah Gordon, MD. Dr. Ruscio’s Weekly Tip In

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #38

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #38

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In Case You Missed It On Monday, we  discussed how studies have shown that treating SIBO not only improves digestive function, but may also improve metabolism. On Wednesday’s podcast release, we spoke with Dr. Jeff Johnson, DC, to answer all of your questions about the root cause

SIBO and Metabolism

SIBO and Metabolism

If you’re struggling with IBS symptoms, such as gas, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea, then it may be caused by an underlying condition known as SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Studies have shown that treating SIBO not only improves digestive function, but may also improve metabolism. If you think you have SIBO and need help healing

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #37

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up- #37

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In Case You Missed It On Monday, we answered the question: Will I Become Hypothyroid? Since the two main markers that usually lead to hypothyroidism are elevated thyroid antibodies and TSH we discussed simple, effective strategies to help lower your thyroid antibodies and help prevent

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #34

Dr. Ruscio’s, DC Weekly Wrap Up – #34

If you need help using this information to become healthier, click here In case you missed it On Monday, we discussed which issue to address first if you suspect you have both an adrenal and a thyroid problem. On Wednesday’s podcast release, we interviewed Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis, ND who specializes in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Latest Research

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