“Every clinical claim in our curricula is graded against the R.O.O.T.S. Evidence Check™ — systematic reviews first, RCTs second, mechanistic studies last, marketing never. When the evidence is preliminary, our materials say so, in those words.”
Dr. Maria Krista Piñol-Solis, MD, RN · Medical Director
Clinical briefs
Faculty-reviewed · updated each term
Brief 2026-01 · Gut-Brain Axis
The microbiome-mood connection: what the evidence supports, and what it doesn't yet
A graded reading of the vagal-signaling and psychobiotic literature — where coaching-scope practice can act today, and which claims remain preliminary.
Reviewed by the Faculty Board · 14 pp · Read brief →
Brief 2026-02 · Hormonal Health
Perimenopause in the 15-minute appointment: the evidence gap our graduates fill
Why sub-clinical hormonal patterns are systematically under-addressed in primary care, and the lifestyle-first protocols with the strongest evidence base.
Reviewed by the Faculty Board · 11 pp · Read brief →
Brief 2026-03 · Scope & Safety
The coaching-scope line: a framework for non-licensed practice that referring physicians trust
The University's position on scope boundaries — what our graduates do, what they never do, and how the referral relationship with licensed care works.
Reviewed by the Faculty Board · 9 pp · Read brief →
Brief 2026-04 · Nervous System
Allostatic load and the HPA axis: separating stress science from stress marketing
Cortisol testing, 'adrenal fatigue,' and what the endocrinology consensus actually says — with the somatic interventions that survive scrutiny.
Reviewed by the Faculty Board · 12 pp · Read brief →
Brief 2026-05 · Botanical Medicine
Herb-drug interactions: the safety literature every non-prescriber must know
The interaction classes behind most adverse events, and the referral triggers our herbalism curricula treat as non-negotiable.
Reviewed by the Faculty Board · 16 pp · Read brief →
Brief 2026-06 · Longevity & Senescence
Mitochondrial bioenergetics and healthy aging: actionable clinical touchpoints
A systematic audit of cellular repair mechanisms, circadian fasting protocols, and NAD+ precursors translated for non-prescriptive coaching.
Reviewed by the Faculty Board · 15 pp · Read brief →