Dr. Eboni Cornish on Neuroinflammation, Gut Health & Why You're Still Not Getting Better
Dr. Eboni Cornish on Neuroinflammation, Gut Health & Why You're Still Not Getting Better  
Podcast: The Big Silence
Published On: Thu Apr 23 2026
Description: Dr. Eboni Cornish is the Associate Medical Director at Amen Clinics and president-elect of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), with 16+ years specializing in neuroinflammation, Lyme disease, mold illness, PANS/PANDAS, and long COVID. In this episode, she joins Karena to break down the overlooked root causes driving brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, and chronic illness — making the case that most people suffering from mood and cognitive symptoms have an underlying physical cause that's going completely undetected. What if the anxiety, brain fog, and exhaustion you've been managing as mental health symptoms are actually your body flagging something physical — something that's never been investigated? When mental health is treated as brain health, the entire conversation changes. Dr. Eboni Cornish shows us what's possible when we stop medicating symptoms and start asking why. (02:15) Brain Health Is the Missing Piece of Longevity You can sauna, plunge, and lift — but if you're not sleeping, your brain can't heal Non-restorative sleep is the number one red flag your brain is under stress Hormones, cortisol, and fight-or-flight mode all disrupt sleep Supplements Dr. Cornish recommends: L-theanine, GABA, and magnesium (18:31) Mold, Environmental Toxins & Your Mood Mold toxins cause inflammation that mimics depression, anxiety, and even dementia Some patients' mood symptoms resolved entirely after leaving a water-damaged building HLA gene testing can reveal whether your body can clear mold toxins or retains them Brain fog is a symptom, not a diagnosis (33:49) Lyme Disease, Tick Bites & PANS/PANDAS in Kids and Adults Less than 50% of people with Lyme ever notice a tick bite or bullseye rash Lyme is a global disease, a "great imitator" that can present as depression, fatigue, or psychosis In kids, sudden personality changes after illness can signal PANS/PANDAS, an autoimmune neuropsychiatric response Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources Visit Dr. Eboni Cornish's website (https://www.drebonicornish.com/) Follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dr.ebonicornish/) Learn about Amen Clinics (https://www.amenclinics.com) Find an ILADS-trained physician (https://www.ilads.org) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/new-year-new-tiyou-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en) Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn