Burning Mouth Syndrome: The Menopause Symptom Too Many Women Don’t Know About

Burning Mouth Syndrome: The Menopause Symptom Too Many Women Don’t Know About

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Susan Sklar to explore Burning Mouth Syndrome, a painful condition that affects many women during perimenopause and menopause but often goes undiagnosed. We discuss how declining hormones, nerve health, nutrition, inflammation, thyroid function, and chronic stress may all contribute to symptoms, and why a personalized, functional medicine approach can offer hope when conventional treatments provide few answers. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Dr. Sklar is a Harvard-trained gynecologist and founder of the Sklar Center for Women’s Wellness in Long Beach, California. After overcoming her own health challenges—including gluten intolerance, hormonal imbalances, and osteoarthritis—she developed the Sklar Method Protocols to help people restore vitality and thrive in midlife and beyond. With over 20 years of experience in obstetrics and gynecology, she has advanced training in anti-aging, regenerative medicine, and sexual health. She is certified in the Bredesen Protocol for addressing early cognitive decline. Her work focuses on identifying and correcting underlying hormonal and biochemical imbalances to support long-term health, energy, and quality of life. For the past decade, she has focused on burning mouth syndrome, a puzzling neuropathic pain condition that mainly affects perimenopausal and menopausal women. Hormone changes appear to be an important driver of this condition. A functional medicine approach to treatment has been helpful for this syndrome, which has few solutions in the conventional medicine arena. Dr. Sklar is passionate about empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge to live longer, healthier, and more vibrant lives. Website: https://susansklarmd.com/ [https://susansklarmd.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567301086943 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567301086943]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drsklar [https://www.youtube.com/@drsklar]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsklar/ [https://www.instagram.com/drsklar/]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Ayurveda and Menopause: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Women's Health

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Shivani Gupta about how Ayurveda approaches menopause as a natural transition rather than a decline in health. We explore the role of chronic inflammation, gut health, circadian rhythms, sleep, and daily rituals in supporting women's healthspan. Dr. Gupta shares practical strategies for reducing inflammation, improving resilience, and creating greater vitality throughout the second half of life. - - - - - Dr. Shivani Gupta is an Ayurvedic practitioner, researcher, entrepreneur, and educator specializing in inflammation, gut health, thyroid health, and longevity. Her PhD research focused on turmeric and its role in reducing inflammation, leading her to develop evidence-based formulations designed to support whole-body wellness. Through her work, Dr. Gupta helps bridge ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific research to empower people to live healthier, more vibrant lives. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://shivanigupta.com/ [https://shivanigupta.com/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheShivaniGupta/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheShivaniGupta/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shivanigupta [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shivanigupta]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Is It Menopause or Your Thyroid? What Women Need to Know

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Daryl Turner to explore why thyroid disorders are so often overlooked in women, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, when symptoms can overlap significantly. We discuss common signs of thyroid dysfunction, the relationship between thyroid health and other hormones, and how sleep, stress, exercise, and nutrition may influence overall hormonal balance. - - - - -  Dr. Daryl Turner is a hormone specialist, focusing on thyroid, iodine, and adrenal, and DNA/RNA. He invented, patented, developed, and clinically trialed hormone testing devices plus the supporting advanced innovative medications for the treatment of hormone imbalances. He also discovered an effective treatment and, more importantly, the cure for Hashimoto’s Disease, the treatment of Graves and RT3, and has developed effective protocols for balancing the core hormones. In addition, he has further pushed the boundaries for the treatment of Hashitoxicosis by identifying mutant DNA and using an RNA intervention. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://www.nitekmedical.com/ [https://www.nitekmedical.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NitekMedical/ [https://www.facebook.com/NitekMedical/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NiTekMedicalInc [https://www.youtube.com/user/NiTekMedicalInc]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

The Truth About Women's Brain Health After 50

In this episode, I sit down with neurologist Dr. Kenneth Sharlin to explore why women face a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease after menopause. We discuss the protective role of estrogen, the importance of hormone replacement therapy, genetic risk factors like ApoE4, and the everyday lifestyle habits—including sleep, movement, nutrition, stress management, and social connection—that may help protect long-term brain health and cognitive function. - - - - -  Kenneth Sharlin, MD, MPH, IFMCP, is a board-certified neurologist, consultant, functional medicine practitioner, Assistant Clinical Professor, researcher, author, and speaker. His medical degrees are from Emory University, the University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University. His functional medicine certification is through The Institute for Functional Medicine. He is the author of the #1 best-seller, The Healthy Brain Toolbox: Neurologist-Proven Strategies to Improve Memory Loss and Protect Your Aging Brain, and co-author of Neurishment: The Brain Tune Up Food Guide. Dr. Sharlin is also a major contributor to Reversal of Cognitive Decline: 100 Patients, which can be found in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alzheimer’s & Parkinsonism, and he has been the primary investigator in several pharma-sponsored clinical trials that have helped bring new therapeutics to market. Dr. Sharlin practices general neurology and directs his functional medicine program, Brain Tune Up!, and the Sharlin Neuro Regenerative Protocol in Ozark, MO. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://functionalmedicine.doctor/ [https://functionalmedicine.doctor/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharlinHealthandNeurology/ [https://www.facebook.com/SharlinHealthandNeurology/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kensharlin.md/ [https://www.instagram.com/kensharlin.md/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.kensharlin1548 [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.kensharlin1548]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Pain, Dryness, and UTIs: The Truth About Menopause and Vaginal Health

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christina Enzmann to discuss Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), a condition that affects far more than vaginal dryness alone. We explore how menopause impacts vaginal and urinary health, the role of vaginal estrogen, common misconceptions about hormone therapy, changes in the vaginal microbiome, pelvic floor dysfunction, and why many women are dismissed or misdiagnosed when seeking care. Together, we highlight practical strategies to help women maintain comfort, confidence, and quality of life throughout menopause. - - - - - Dr. Christina Enzmann, MD, PhD, is a board-certified gynecologist, menopause specialist, and functional medicine practitioner based in Maryland. She holds an MD/PhD from the University of Hamburg and runs a hybrid practice serving women in midlife through both in-person and telemedicine care. Her clinical expertise covers the full spectrum of midlife women’s health — from osteoporosis and sexual health to dyspareunia and vulvovaginal disease. She has particular depth in the cortisol-stress axis and its role in menopausal transition, insulin resistance, and the gut-hormone connection. She is a co-owner of Nobodytoldme, a Germany-based nutrition-focused menopause platform. She serves as Clinical Advisor for Vaginal Microbiome Sciences, where she is also a principal investigator in an active vaginal microbiome study. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://drchristinaenzmann.com/ [https://drchristinaenzmann.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCEnzmann [https://www.facebook.com/DrCEnzmann]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorchristinaenzmann [https://www.instagram.com/doctorchristinaenzmann]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]