Episode 50: 5 Supplements That Support Trauma Healing with Dr. Aimie Apigian

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Support, Not Solution

You're doing the trauma work consistently and showing up for your healing. But your body feels depleted and you struggle with brain fog, fatigue, and difficulty regulating your nervous system. You wonder if something is missing from your approach.

What if your body needs specific nutritional support to do the healing work you're asking of it?

You can't out-supplement trauma with vitamins and minerals alone. But specific supplements can support your body while you do the actual healing work through nervous system regulation and trauma processing. There's a critical difference between those two approaches.

Today I break down five important supplements that support the Biology of Trauma® healing, how they help your body respond to stored trauma, and which symptoms tell you which supplement you need most.

Why Nutritional Support Matters

Trauma depletes your body's resources at the cellular level over time. Your cells need specific nutrients to exit the cell danger response and return to normal function. Supplements support the biology underneath trauma healing by providing what your system lacks.

The important distinction is that supplements alone won't heal trauma stored in your nervous system and tissues. But they can give your body what it needs to actually do the healing work effectively. They're support for the process, not the solution itself.

Understanding the Biology of Trauma® reveals why certain nutrients become depleted during chronic stress and trauma responses. Your body uses specific vitamins, minerals, and cofactors to manage stress hormones, support neurotransmitter production, and maintain immune function. When trauma keeps your system activated chronically, these nutrients get depleted faster than you can replace them through diet alone.

I explain each of the five supplements systematically including what it does biologically, which trauma symptoms it addresses specifically, and who needs this particular support based on their symptoms. Not everyone needs all five supplements, but many trauma survivors benefit from several of them.

The Five Key Supplements

The first supplement supports your body's stress response system and helps regulate cortisol levels that trauma dysregulates. Symptoms that signal you need this include difficulty waking in the morning, energy crashes in the afternoon, feeling wired and tired simultaneously, and trouble recovering from stress. This supplement helps your adrenal function and nervous system regulation.

The second supplement addresses neurotransmitter production that trauma often depletes. If you experience anxiety that won't calm, depression that persists despite healing work, difficulty sleeping even when exhausted, or emotional reactivity that feels out of proportion, this supplement supports the brain chemistry that trauma affects. It provides the building blocks your brain needs to make calming neurotransmitters.

The third supplement tackles inflammation that chronic trauma creates throughout your body. Autoimmune conditions, joint pain, brain fog, digestive issues, and slow healing from injuries all signal that inflammation is high. This supplement helps modulate the immune response that gets stuck in overdrive when trauma keeps your system in constant defense mode.

The fourth supplement supports mitochondrial function and cellular energy production that trauma disrupts. Chronic fatigue, difficulty recovering from exertion, brain fog, and feeling like your body won't heal all point to mitochondrial dysfunction. This supplement gives your cells what they need to produce energy properly instead of staying in the cell danger response.

The fifth supplement addresses the gut-brain connection that trauma significantly impacts. Digestive issues, mood instability, immune problems, and difficulty absorbing nutrients all indicate gut dysfunction. This supplement supports the gut lining and microbiome that trauma damages through chronic stress and inflammation.

Matching Supplements to Your Needs

Not everyone needs all five supplements at once or in the same doses. I give you guidance on which symptoms point to which supplements so you can prioritize what your body actually needs most. Some people need just one or two while others benefit from all five depending on how trauma has affected their particular biology.

The multifaceted approach to trauma healing requires multiple layers working together. Nervous system regulation through somatic practices creates the foundation. Parts work addresses the psychological aspects of trauma. Trauma processing helps release what's stored. And biological support through targeted supplementation gives your body the resources it needs for all of that healing work.

Effective trauma therapy doesn't ignore the biological needs of your healing body. When you combine nervous system work with appropriate nutritional support, you create optimal conditions for sustainable healing. Your body can actually respond to the healing interventions when it has the nutrients required to exit defense mode and repair itself.

These five supplements represent the most important nutritional supports I've found for trauma healing based on the Biology of Trauma® framework. They address the specific biological disruptions that trauma creates rather than randomly supplementing without understanding what your body needs. When matched to your symptoms appropriately, they can significantly support your healing process.

This Episode Is For:

✓ People doing trauma work who want to support their biology 

✓ Anyone wondering if supplements can help their healing process 

✓ Practitioners wanting specific supplement guidance for trauma clients 

✓ Those with chronic fatigue, brain fog, or other physical symptoms 

✓ Anyone whose trauma healing has plateaued despite consistent work 

✓ People ready to address the nutritional component of trauma healing

What You'll Learn

Listen to learn which five supplements support trauma healing most effectively and how to match them to your specific symptoms and conditions. Discover why nutritional support matters for the Biology of Trauma® healing. Understand the difference between trying to supplement away trauma versus supporting your body during actual trauma work.

Your body needs specific nutrients to do the healing work you're asking of it.

Listen to Episode 50 →

Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared reflects my clinical expertise and research, but every person's biology and healing journey is unique. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your treatment plan or starting new interventions. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.

Join the Conversation

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. What resonated with you? What questions came up?

Please keep comments respectful and supportive. This is a community of people committed to healing. We welcome diverse perspectives and honest questions, but we don't tolerate personal attacks, spam, or content that could harm others on their healing journey.