Is Trauma Passed Down Through DNA? With Amie Apigian, M.D. – #737

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In this episode:

Can trauma live in the body long after the story has faded—and even be passed down through generations? In this powerful episode, Julie Ryan sits down with trauma expert Dr. Aimie Apigian to explore how trauma is stored not just in the mind, but deep within our biology. Drawing on cutting-edge science and lived experience, Dr. Aimie reveals how inherited trauma can shape stress responses, health patterns, and emotional regulation through epigenetics and cellular memory.

We also uncover the surprising links between food, movement, and trauma recovery—why certain foods feel comforting, why others leave us anxious or overstimulated, and how everyday choices like caffeine and inactivity quietly fuel adrenaline and stress. Dr. Aimie explains how gentle movement and intentional nutrition can help release stored stress and restore a sense of safety in the body.

Through real-world stories, including a veteran who pushed beyond his limits, this conversation highlights the delicate balance between stress and rest, resilience and recovery. With practical tools and compassionate insight, this episode empowers you to listen to your body, rebuild trust from the inside out, and step into a more grounded, regulated version of yourself.

Guest Biography:

Dr. Aimie Apigian is a double board-certified physician in Preventive and Addiction Medicine with master’s degrees in biochemistry and public health, known for revolutionizing trauma healing by revealing how trauma is stored in the body’s cells—not just the mind. Her bestselling book The Biology of Trauma (with a foreword by Gabor Maté) reframes how we understand the physiological impact of trauma and the body’s capacity for healing. Inspired by adopting a child during medical school, Dr. Aimie developed a science-based, integrative approach to trauma recovery, which she now shares through practitioner trainings, international speaking, her podcast, and YouTube channel—bridging functional medicine, attachment theory, and trauma therapy to demonstrate that true healing of mind, body, and biology is possible.

📣Dr. Amie Apigian’s Website:

➡️https://www.biologyoftrauma.com/

Episode Chapters:

(0:00:01) – Healing Trauma Through Science and Spirituality

Inherited trauma, oxidative stress, somatic memory, and ancestral beliefs are discussed in relation to healing and soul purpose.

(0:17:07) – Foods That Discharge Adrenaline

Nature’s way of managing stress through movement, food, and the complex relationship between diet and adrenaline.

(0:33:22) – Understanding Stress, Rest, and Growth

Stress and rest balance is crucial for growth and well-being, as excessive stress without rest can lead to harm and trauma responses.

(0:37:15) – Understanding Trauma’s Biological and Spiritual Impact

Subjectivity of trauma, limitations of traditional methods, inner experience, biological and psychological components, trust and connection, challenges in research, integrating healing modalities.

(0:51:55) – Healing Trauma Through Ancestral Reincarnation

Childhood and ancestral trauma’s impact on biology and health, healing ancestral wounds, reincarnation, and becoming our best selves.