About Dr. Doug Strobel, MD

Dr. Doug Strobel, MD, board-certified neurologist and founder of Dr. Doug's Balms, in a white coat embroidered Doug Strobel, M.D., in front of brain scans

Meet Dr. Doug Strobel, MD

Dr. Doug Strobel is a board-certified neurologist with more than 20 years in practice. He holds a master's degree in genetics, and his work centers on the brain, nerves and muscles, including genetics and autoimmune care. He is still a practicing neurologist today. He also founded Healthy Brain Doc, a neurology care and education practice, and co-hosts the Neurology Made Simple podcast with Dr. Cindi McGarvey.

He formulated every Dr. Doug's balm himself. He is not a name licensed onto a label. He is the doctor who decided what goes in the jar.

Marine, Navy pilot, then doctor

Doug started out in the Marines. He was then commissioned into the Navy as a pilot. After that, he went to medical school and became a neurologist.

An adventure athlete with wrecked feet

Doug is also an adventure athlete. He made his first balm for his own feet after obstacle course races, because nothing on the shelf worked the way he wanted. He made samples, gave them to other racers, and they kept asking for more. Read his story in his own words.

"I work on nerves and muscles for a living. When I started making these, I wasn't trying to build a skincare company. I was trying to solve a problem I had, with ingredients I was willing to explain." Dr. Doug Strobel, MD

Why a neurologist makes a magnesium balm

Because the questions his patients brought him were often about tired legs, sore muscles and restless nights. When Doug made Dr. Doug's Magnesium Balm, he put in as much magnesium as he could fit. He made it to absorb in completely, with no gritty feel, no sting and no pins-and-needles tingle. The magic happens when you massage it in completely.

It is the only magnesium balm formulated by a board-certified neurologist. It's hand-crafted, with eight clean ingredients and nothing synthetic.

We are honest about the limits too. Our balms are cosmetic products. They are not drugs, and we don't write copy that pretends otherwise.

Dr. Doug's articles

Doug writes and reviews every article on our blog. He reads the research, explains it in plain words, and tells you what we do and don't know yet. A few to start with:

The other half of the company

Dr. Doug Strobel and co-founder Natalie Gardner with a crate of Dr. Doug's balms

Natalie Gardner co-founded Dr. Doug's and runs the company as President. She is a health and wellness expert, and she is the person practitioners, retailers and wholesale partners work with. Doug creates the formulas. Natalie built the company around them. That makes Dr. Doug's a women-owned, independent brand.

What we will not do

  • No menthol, no MSM, no CBD. No cooling trick that only feels like it's working.
  • No drug claims. Cosmetic products, described as cosmetic products.
  • Nothing synthetic. Organic oils, butters and beeswax as the base, so a little goes a long way.
  • Made in the USA, hand-crafted in small batches, and dermatologist-tested.

In the news

Doug as the expert. National health writers come to Doug to explain the brain in plain words.

  • Parade, March 2026: "This Lifestyle Factor Predicts Brain Aging Better Than Genetics, According to Neurologists"
  • Woman's World, December 2025: "What Are Brain Zaps? Doctors Explain the Shocking Sensation"

Doug and his balms.

  • Forbes, June 2025: "11 Products To Help Traveling Dads Improve Their Next Trip"
  • Yahoo Shopping, December 2025: "26 Health-Inspired Gift Ideas"
  • Scary Mommy, June 2025: gifts for every kind of dad
  • WJTV, May 2025: "9 Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Moms on the Go"
  • MyHighPlains, August 2025: "Parenting and Family Brands to Keep in Mind"
  • Inside INdiana Business, 2021: "Carmel Balm Maker Growing Product Line," plus a TV interview
  • WISH-TV, November 2021: "Organic, locally made holiday gift idea"
  • WTWO, August 2021: Rose-Hulman engineering students help Dr. Doug's
  • TownePost: "Not Your Average Doctor: Dr. Doug Strobel Talks Successful Balm Business"
  • Current in Carmel, November 2020: "Carmel neurologist creates healing balms"
  • Indianapolis Business Journal, September 2020: "Q&A with Dr. Doug Strobel"

On podcasts. Think Holistic (Indy Holistic Hub) and The Jeff Crilley Show (December 2024, with Natalie).

If it doesn't work for you

Tell us within 60 days and we'll make it right. See our refund policy.

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