Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang, a board-certified integrative pulmonologist, shares her journey of being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at age 31 during pulmonary critical care fellowship.

She combined clinical trials with acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, yoga, and Reiki to survive and thrive through five months of chemotherapy and three surgeries.

We explore how mindfulness (6,000+ published studies) changes stress response at the genetic level, her work supporting burned-out healthcare professionals through the Mindful Healthcare Collective, and evidence-based treatments for long COVID including graded exercise for POTS and post-exertional malaise.

Key Takeaways:
– Integrative (evidence-based) ≠ alternative (unproven/dangerous)
– Mindfulness = present moment awareness without judgment
– 6,000+ studies prove mindfulness works at genetic level
– Long COVID is multi-systemic and underdiagnosed
– Anti-inflammatory diet: 5-9 servings vegetables/fruits daily
– Graded exercise for long COVID: 5 min recumbent, increase 1-2 min weekly
– Avoid upright exercise with POTS/post-exertional malaise
– Group movement in nature = community + exercise + healing
– Chair yoga accessible for bedbound patients
– Mindfulness practice: anytime, anywhere, doing anything

Chapters & Timestamps
02:00 Integrative Modalities During Chemotherapy
04:00 Evidence-Based vs. Alternative Therapies
10:00 What Is Mindfulness? Science & Practice
14:00 Mindfulness Changes Stress at Genetic Level
18:00 Mindful Healthcare Collective & Burnout
21:00 Long COVID: Multi-System Effects
24:00 Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Movement
26:00 Dragon Boat Racing: Community Healing
30:00 Resources & Where to Find Dr. Liang

Guest Details
Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang, MD
– Board-Certified Integrative Pulmonologist, Cancer Survivor & Mindfulness Teacher

Credentials:
– Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
– Fellowship, University of Arizona Integrative Medicine
– Former Executive Director, UCSD Center for Mindfulness
– Co-Host, Healing Medicine Podcast
– Founder, Mindful Healthcare Collective
– 14+ year breast cancer survivor
– Co-Captain, Team Survivor San Diego dragon boat team

Specializations: Long COVID, mindfulness-based stress reduction, asthma, COPD, cancer survivorship, healthcare burnout, graded exercise for POTS
Connect with Dr. Liang

Website: awakenbreath.org (free meditations)
Podcast: Healing Medicine Podcast
Practice: Coastal Pulmonary Associates (coastalpulmonaryassociates.com)
Serving: California telemedicine available
Free Resources:
UCSD Center for Mindfulness audio library
Mindful.org magazine
Silver Age Yoga (silverageyoga.org) – chair yoga

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Autoimmune Website: www.myautoimmunemd.com

My clinic is located in Newport Beach, California. I see patients virtually throughout USA and worldwide.

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