News & Blog

NCIM is moving in January 2023! We’re very excited about our relocation to the beautiful and peaceful surroundings at Ham Green House in Pill (about 6 miles outside of Bristol City Centre). The move means that we can bring our clinics and our office together under one roof.

Christmas Message from Dr Elizabeth ThompsonThe 'busy' irony I don't know about you, but time seems to speed up for me as we approach the end of the year! Sometimes, just thinking about getting everything done before Christmas can feel...

Mistletoe is among the most prescribed herbal medicine for cancer in Europe, where it is often integrated into conventional oncology treatment programmes.In low doses, mistletoe stimulates and activates the immune system, it modulates the immune response and has direct anti-cancer effects. It helps the innate immune system work more efficiently and increases white blood cells and natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells directly recognise and break down stressed, unhealthy cancer cells and release anti-tumour cytokines. NK cell numbers may be lowered by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Winter is coming! For some, the thought of being outside on crisp mornings or enjoying the snow, is energising. For many of us though, the thought of winter might give us the shivers or hasten a low mood in anticipation of cold nights, dark days, and cold viruses. Winter has a bad reputation, but it’s time to think differently. We need winter more than we know. When we live, eat and exercise according to the season and pay attention to what our bodies need, we not only prepare for winter but may actually enjoy it!

Exploring the Integrative Medicine model, its principles of health and wellness and core concepts of resilience, balance and vitality. How Integrative Medicine can offer something to patients, individual healthcare practitioners AND the healthcare system in these challenging times. Moving on from a healthcare system focused on illness, heroic intervention and one driven by technology and pharmaceuticals to one that prioritises well-ness, whole-person health, diversity, choice and empowerment. How stress and trauma are often at the root of disease and why we need a trauma informed model of care.

Supporting Our ImmunityWe can't actually 'boost' immunity! After the clocks turn back and the nights draw in, the cold, flu (and now covid) season begins to ramp up. You may come across numerous articles suggesting ways to boost your...

Today is World Menopause Day and it has been wonderful to see so much more information and choice of support being offered as well as many more conversations happening at home, in the workplace and with healthcare professionals over the last couple of years. There is already so much great information available about what to expect with the Menopause as well as how to mitigate and manage the physical, mental and emotional changes. An Ayurvedic perspective on Menopause is something that you might also find interesting because it frames this phase of life in wisdom and connection to self.

As numbers of COVID 19 infections pick up again and winter viruses, including the flu’ are expected to circulate quite widely the next few months may continue to be challenging for many people.As well as the opportunities the vaccines offer us to manage the pandemic or flu’, many of you are wondering how you can improve self-care and optimise immune function.What we see now is that most people contracting COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms. However, for some the illness is more virulent and the guidelines around handwashing, self-isolating and shielding when needed should remain in place.By drawing on an Integrative Medicine Model, which uses conventional, as well as lifestyle and holistic approaches, you can also take proactive steps to build your personal resilience to support your health and immunity.

Understanding functional medicine within the Integrative Medicine model…All modalities within Integrative Medicine look at what and how of ill-health. Functional medicine also looks at the WHY…
Functional practitioners use the analogy of a tree when it comes to health. For the tree to flourish and be healthy the roots and the soil need to be supported. And when the tree isn’t healthy, you look for answers in the roots and soil. Diet and lifestyle can be compared to the roots and the systems of the body are the branches. The functional medicine tree acknowledges the interconnectedness of all inner body functions. The functional practitioner is looking for clues and explores the clinical imbalances that give rise to symptoms. They then look into the root causes, i.e. environmental factors, lifestyle and genetic trends that are affecting wellbeing.

Water – the elixir of life! We all know how relaxing or invigorating water feels on our bodies – a nice warm bath or a dip in the sea to cool off. Even being physically near to water and hearing it swirl or gently ripple soothes our brains. The real challenge we humans have is drinking enough of it. Life can just get in the way and you easily forget to drink if you’re juggling a million and one jobs at work or at home. Drinking enough water is vital for your health and wellbeing. By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already somewhat dehydrated and this can affect all sorts of functions in the body and the brain.