Latest from our Blog
The Medicine Cabinet That Became a Medicine Crisis
With prescription rates climbing 50% over the past decade, the UK sadly now leads Europe in medication dependency, particularly for antidepressants, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Drugs now make up 25% of the NHS’s carbon footprint. And the economic burden is staggering: medication-related harm costs the NHS £2.5 billion annually, while unnecessary prescriptions waste another £300 million. Britain faces an unprecedented over-prescription epidemic that’s undermining patient safety and straining our NHS resources. Quite simply, this is unsustainable, dangerous and cannot continue.
Intermittent Fasting and Metabolic Syndrome in Menopause: A Personal Journey to Metabolic Health
It’s been 3 years since I realised that I was developing metabolic syndrome and its been tougher than I imagined to make changes. It’s been a five point plan which has worked for me of exercise, intermittent fasting, 5 day prolonged fasts, dropping carbohydrates to a lightweight keto diet and mindfulness to help me stay centred at times where making changes might feel like too much.
Celebrating the End of Season One Integrative Medicine Matters Podcast
Celebrating the End of Season One Integrative Medicine Matters Podcast As Season One of my podcast Integrative Medicine Matters draws to a close, I wanted to reflect on my journey as a new podcaster! From exploring the healing power of nature, to rethinking...
Stress, Rest and the Science of Resilience
Stress, Rest and the Science of Resilience We often treat stress and rest as complete opposites. We try to power through one and try to squeeze in the other when we can! But resilience science reveals that they're actually partners and need to be thought of...
Integrative Veterinary Medicine for Pets
Integrative Veterinary Medicine for Pets Integrative Veterinary Medicine: A Holistic Approach to Pet Health Vicky Simon is an integrative veterinary practitioner helping pet owners rethink how they support the long-term wellbeing of their animals. Drawing on...
Prescribing Nature: The Quiet Revolution Growing in Our Health System
Throughout human history, the connection between nature and health has been central to both our wellbeing and to human development. Nature-based practices within health and social care such as ecotherapy and forest bathing are flourishing which has led to the emergence of the term “Green Care” – an umbrella term used for the many ways in which nature can be integrated into healthcare. As a result, when designing our master’s programme in Integrative Healthcare, we decided to make ‘Green Care’ one of the 19 essential integrative approaches we teach.
Loneliness and the Power of Human Connection
Let’s talk about the ‘silent’ killers of loneliness and social disconnection. It’s so easy to think of loneliness as a purely emotional, but growing evidence suggests that feeling lonely isn’t just a psychological burden, it’s a serious health risk.
Integrating Experience: Supporting Older Employees in the Workplace
I’d love to celebrate one of our most recent community projects, one I am particularly proud of. With generous funding by St Monica’s Trust Charitable Foundation, Thrive 55 has been designed by us to help organisations break down the barriers faced by employees aged 55 and over in the workplace and support them through these challenges.
The Ethics of Knowledge
Dr Elizabeth Thompson summarises the key take-aways from the NCIM Autumn conference, Testing in Integrative Healthcare: The Ethics of Knowledge.
Life After Breast Cancer: How to Keep Your Heart Strong and Healthy
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a moment to put the spotlight not only on treatment and recovery, but also the long-term wellbeing of women after breast cancer. One area that deserves attention is heart health.
Ayurveda: When East Meets West in Healthcare
What happens when the 5000 year old wisdom of Ayurveda meets the science of modern western medicine? Could this redefine healthcare as we know it?
Beyond the ‘Loss’: Embracing Menopause
It’s World Menopause Day 2025 this week, and I’d love to use this time as an opportunity to look at the narrative around the menopause. I feel it’s so important that we shift our perspective and reframe how we speak about this life stage for women.