For most of modern history, “toxins” were treated like a niche concern—something to avoid if possible, but rarely viewed as a primary driver of chronic symptoms. In this episode of Delivering Health, Dr. Paul Savage makes the case that we’re now living in a different reality: we’re surrounded by a massive and growing chemical burden, and the body’s usual detox pathways often can’t keep up.
Dr. Savage joins host Dr. John Neustadt to unpack why environmental exposures are increasingly linked to inflammation, hormone disruption, and disease—and why therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), when used appropriately, may offer a more direct way to reduce what’s circulating in the bloodstream and support renewed vitality.
The core problem: a toxin burden that outpaced biology
The episode opens with a stark framing: there are hundreds of thousands of toxic chemicals in the environment, and research associates many of them with endocrine disruption, carcinogenic risk, and inflammatory effects.
Even when individual exposures are “low,” the cumulative load can matter—especially when it’s layered with stress, poor sleep, nutrient depletion, and ongoing exposure sources at home or work.
Why many detox approaches fall short
Dr. Savage explains why many people feel like they’ve “tried everything” (saunas, supplements, binders, cleansing protocols) yet still don’t move the needle. The issue is often not effort—it’s that many approaches are incremental while the modern exposure reality is constant.
This is one reason MDLifespan focuses on a more complete strategy that includes:
- Identifying exposure sources
- Testing to understand individual toxic burden
- Supporting the body’s detox capacity
- Using medical interventions when appropriate
(How those pieces fit together is a major theme throughout the conversation.)
What Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) changes
Dr. Savage describes plasma exchange as a more direct method: instead of relying only on the body to process and eliminate circulating compounds over time, TPE physically removes a portion of plasma and replaces it—potentially reducing what’s actively circulating in the bloodstream.
At MDLifespan, this is implemented through the PlasmaXchange Protocol, designed to be clinically supervised and paired with the right preparation and follow-through—because what you do before and after matters.
Who tends to consider PlasmaXchange
In the episode, Dr. Savage discusses the types of patient profiles where this approach is often considered—especially people with long-standing symptoms who suspect environmental load is a major contributor, and those looking for a proactive path to restore resilience and vitality.
He also emphasizes that detox is not a single event. Long-term outcomes are tied to:
- Ongoing exposure reduction (“avoidance” strategies)
- Replenishing what the body needs to recover
- Tracking improvements with the right labs and biomarkers
Key moments in the episode
If you want to jump to specific sections, here are highlights from the show:
- (02:28) Dr. Savage’s journey to plasma exchange
- (12:25) The toxins–disease connection
- (23:00) Patient profiles and post-treatment healing
- (28:42) Physiological changes and detox pathways
- (33:05) Long-term results and avoidance strategy
- (45:00) Post-procedure changes and patient experience
