Listen, support, connect: March 18th is International Social Prescribing Day 2021
There are just a few weeks until we mark International Social Prescribing Day on March 18th. A vital event in the College of Medicine’s annual calendar, the day aims to celebrate the social prescribing movement by highlighting stories of progress,…
The healing power of art during the global pandemic
In this collaboration between the College of Medicine and the Barakat Art Gallery, Dr Bogdan Chiva Giurca explores the power of the arts to help mental health and well-being during the Covid pandemic… If you are experiencing stress, you are…
College of Medicine Council Members call for ‘Territorial Army’ of health workers to help avert future crises
Three leading College of Medicine Council Members have urged the Government to consider creating a ‘Territorial Army’ of health professionals – trained in crisis management – in case another pandemic or similar healthcare disaster strikes the NHS in the future.…
“I’ve given daily Zoom exercise classes since March” Physio Sarah Bazin on keeping people fit during lockdown
Chartered Physiotherapist, Sarah Bazin, was given the task of creating a free exercise programme for College of Medicine members – and a wider audience – back in late March. Here, Sarah, who worked as a NHS physio for 40 years,…
Dr Michael Dixon: ‘Let’s look to social prescribing to tackle loneliness’
College of Medicine Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, this week spoke at the Westminster Insight conference on Tackling Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older People. Here is the abridged address he gave on how social prescribing can help to transform the…
Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green: Covid-19 has had a damaging effect on children – but there is an opportunity to ‘re-set’
Children may be more resistant to Covid-19 but the pandemic has still had a disproportionate effect on their lives, says Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, a member of the College of Medicine’s Scientific Advisory Council and former UK Children’s Commissioner. Writing…
Freddy Jacquin interview: “Most people are willing to give hypnosis a go… so why won’t the NHS prescribe it?”
Since lockdown began back in late March, hypnotist Freddy Jacquin has been offering Freddy’s Free Friday Therapy, offering College of Medicine followers and the general public the chance to log on to a live session (now on the last Friday…
‘We have achieved so much but there is so much yet to do…’ Dr Michael Dixon addresses Westminster Health Forum social prescribing Conference
The College of Medicine’s Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, made a keynote address at the Westminster Health Forum Conference on September 17th…here, we share his address in full… ‘I am most grateful to the Westminster Health Forum for organising this third…
Video: Sir Sam Everington on obesity in young people: ‘Schools are becoming incubators for long-term health problems…’
A leading voice in social prescribing has called obesity levels among young people ‘shocking’, saying more needs to be done to address future health and prevent the rise of long-term conditions including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The government announced…
VIDEO: The Food Teacher on food poverty during lock-down and how to engage children with healthy eating
Katherine Tate, aka The Food Teacher, has a head start when it comes to getting 30 youngsters to engage with healthy eating. Tate is a qualified primary school teacher, who retrained in 2014 as a nutritional therapist, ensuring she knows…
VIDEO: ‘We’re like a Duke of Edinburgh for the over 55s’: The Challenge Hub helps new retirees adjust to the post-work life change
Retirement remains one of the biggest life transitions we face, where one can go from a fast-paced career to a much quieter existence in a matter of days. And while many employers are very happy to throw a farewell party…
‘Social prescribing is as old as the hills…’ Dr Michael Dixon gives a potted history of integrated medicine
It may now be national policy and championed by both the NHS and the Government… but social prescribing still isn’t on the radar of many practitioners, both in the UK and globally. Here, College of Medicine Chair, Dr Michael Dixon,…
View from the front line: Hospital doctors share their experiences of working on COVID-19 wards
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust doctors – both just qualified and experienced – into extraordinary circumstances. In this article, we speak to two hospital doctors currently working in hospitals in the UK about what it’s been like to treat patients…
Listening in troubled times: Coping with the universal grief of COVID-19
Anne Pitman, director of the School of Embodied Yoga Therapy in Ottawa and a yogatherapist at the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Center explores the sense of grief that we’re all experiencing during the pandemic and how to deal with it… In…
Boosting immunity against coronavirus: ‘Now’s the time to turn to antioxidants and polyphenols’
The College of Medicine Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, has been speaking about how we can boost our immune system by eating well while in isolation in the coming weeks. Advising that food and nutrition can play a crucial role in…
Ruby Wax: “We’re allowed to exercise our bodies but what to do with our minds? As always, there’s no instruction manual”
Mental health campaigner Ruby Wax has been discussing the impact that continued isolation, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, will have on our minds. In a live video for new health streaming service HealthFlix, the entertainer and comedian joined Jamie…
Dr Michael Dixon: ‘We need coronavirus tests now…and why I’m not surprised by the outpouring of kindness from UK volunteers’
College of Medicine chair, Dr Michael Dixon, appeared on The Daily Show on the Daily Mail’s mailplus.co.uk site this week to discuss the coronavirus crisis with broadcaster Andrew Pierce. Dr Dixon called for faster testing of patients suspected of having…
Dr Michael Dixon: “Long-term disease rates are soaring and the NHS can’t cope. We now need an integrated approach…”
In an interview filmed ahead of the European Congress for Integrative Medicine 2020, which takes place in London in September, College of Medicine Chair Dr Michael Dixon discusses the importance of integrative medicine, social prescribing, the challenge of gathering whole…
‘Get the healthy eating basics right and the rest will follow’: The project helping youngsters eat well on a budget
A town-wide project that’s helping to teach young people how to cook healthy food on a budget – with minimum waste – is featured in a new YouTube film. And the stars of it are hoping to reach a million…
“Music often works when words don’t – and we should shout about how crucial it can be to wellbeing”
Dr Simon Procter is Director of Music Services for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins. Here, he explains the social value of music… For many people who face health problems or social exclusion, music can be a crucial means of self-expression,…
Low-cost, easy-to-learn and health enhancing: 5 reasons yoga is fantastic for self care
Public health doctor and yoga teacher Dr. Sakthidharan Paramasivam Karunanithi on why the ancient art of yoga is more relevant than ever in the modern world… Self care has become so important these days. Many modern illnesses can be prevented…
“We must find a more sustainable way to farm food”: HRH The Prince of Wales speaks at the ‘Food on Prescription’ conference
HRH The Prince of Wales has urged the UK’s ‘best brains’ to try and find a more sustainable approach to farming that doesn’t deplete vital soil nutrients. Speaking in a pre-recorded film at the College of Medicine’s third food and…
VIDEO: “Food can help prevent illness and be part of treating disease”
This month brings the College of Medicine’s third annual Food conference, this year entitled ‘Food on Prescription‘, to the Royal Society of Medicine on October 24th. The one-day conference has become a ‘must attend’ for healthcare professionals who want to…
First rule of complementary therapy? Recognise ‘red flags’ that indicate a serious medical problem
The College of Medicine’s Dr Toh Wong, a GP trainer, discusses how complementary therapists must feel confident in reporting potentially serious conditions to doctors when necessary… What do red flags have to do with complementary therapy? One of the biggest…
College of Medicine and Faculty of Homeopathy join HRH Prince of Wales in encouraging people to get the Covid vaccine
The College of Medicine and Faculty of Homeopathy have published a joint statement encouraging people to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The statement comes after the respective organisations’ Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, appeared in a video for the British…
How ‘green medicine’ could help Generation Lockdown rejuvenate post-Covid
The rise of ‘green medicine’ could help people recover from lockdown life, the College of Medicine’s Chair has told a national newspaper. Dr Michael Dixon told the Daily Express that ‘Generation Lockdown’ can use nature to help restore themselves following…
National Social Prescribing Network celebrates five years – and announces the next Social Prescribing Day
Five years ago this week the National Social Prescribing Network was founded. What started as a spark of an idea has become a hugely successful movement that has seen social prescribing move from the periphery into mainstream health. In a…
Gut bacteria affects how immune system responds to Covid, studies say
Bacteria in a person’s gut could determine how seriously they’re affected by symptoms of Covid, two new studies in Asia have found. Research carried out by scientists at the University of Hong Kong found that some people diagnosed with the…
Lockdown depression: ‘A GP who has time to engage properly with a patient can reduce the need for a referral’
The rise in the number of people being referred for depression – particularly during lockdown – could be directly linked to a reduced number of GPs, the College of Medicine’s Chair has said. Depression rates continue to rise in the…
The College of Medicine looks to the year ahead – as we prepare to publish our 10-year manifesto
In his festive message, College of Medicine Chair Dr Michael Dixon discusses the unfathomable year that has been 2020, including chinks of light centred around community, kindness and our many, free online classes, which have now reached thousands of people.…
New research finds turmeric could have theraputic use for practitioners – including easing pain
New research has examined the effects of the spice turmeric as a theraputic option for GPs and practitioners. The yellow-coloured spice – which contains the compound curcumin – has long been used as a herbal remedy for conditions associated with…
As we await a vaccine, could herbs and spices be an ally in fighting off Covid-19?
While positive news about potential vaccines have offered a chink of light in finding a way to outwit Covid-19, looking to Mother Nature – sunlight, herbs and plants – might help us to improve our resilience in the meantime, say doctors. Research…
Loneliness spikes as dark nights and lockdown take their toll on mental health
New statistics released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that levels of loneliness have heightened in recent weeks with the arrival of darker evenings and a second lockdown – with one in four people reporting increased feelings of…
Ten years of the College of Medicine: We celebrate a decade of huge achievement
The College of Medicine is celebrating its tenth birthday and, on November 12th, its Chair, executives and members threw an almighty Zoom party to mark a decade that has seen social prescribing, which remains at the very core of the…
Plant biologist’s research finds roadside weed kills breast cancer cells without damaging healthy ones
A plant biologist who has dedicated years of research to proving that a roadside weed could help successfully target breast cancer cells has produced her strongest evidence yet. In her latest research, Professor Alessandra Devoto, from Royal Holloway, University of…
Obituary: Hugh MacPherson
College of Medicine members may have heard of the very sad death of Hugh MacPherson, who was a member of the College’s Scientific Advisory Council, Chaired by Professor Sir Stephen Holgate. Hugh passed away in August, aged 72, from pancreatic cancer.…
Matt Hancock: ‘There is no downside to vitamin D’ – as evidence grows that it could help in Covid-19 fight
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he now supports people taking vitamin D, amid growing evidence that those who are deficient in the ‘sunshine vitamin’ fare worse when infected with Covid-19. The College of Medicine has long advocated taking Vitamin…
Brushing your teeth properly reduces risk of oral cancer, scientists say
Brushing your teeth thoroughly could help to prevent oral cancer, new research finds. Scientists at the University of California found that the bacteria that builds up around teeth when regular brushing is absent was responsible for pathogens that enhanced tumour…
Losing weight cuts the risk of a raft of obesity-related health problems, new study finds
A major new study has found that shedding weight significantly cuts the risk of developing a group of chronic health conditions – with a loss of 13 per cent body weight reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by 42…
Honey is ‘better than conventional medicine for sore throats and coughs’, new research says
A new study suggests that honey is better for easing sore throats and coughs than many over-the-counter medicines and antibiotics. The sweet nectar made by bees – meaning it’s cheap to mass produce – has strong antimicrobial properties and has…
Study on the power of yoga for mental health sparks new calls for NHS to ‘clinically prescribe’ it
Practising yoga regularly can be almost as effective in treating anxiety as seeing a talking therapist, new US research has found. The study, carried out by New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, asked 226 people who have generalised anxiety…
Exercise, cognitive therapy and acupuncture could be better than paracetamol for chronic pain sufferers, NICE report finds
GPs treating people suffering with chronic primary pain shouldn’t prescribe painkillers including paracetamol and ibuprofen, new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises. A draft report by a NICE committee suggests that exercise, cognitive therapy,…
Making healthy lifestyle changes could cut dementia cases by 40 per cent, says new research
Cutting back on alcohol, exercising more and not smoking are among 12 lifestyle changes that could help reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia, a major new study has found. A global team of 28 dementia experts conducted the comprehensive…
Study finds medieval eye salve made using garlic and onion could fight antibiotic-resistant infections
Researchers at the University of Warwick have found naturally occurring anti-microbials, which could be used to help tackle antibiotic-resistant infections, in a 1,000-year-old eye salve. Scientists examined natural remedies used in early medieval history in its research investigating alternatives to…
College of Medicine patron HRH The Prince of Wales praises ‘pioneering’ social prescribing project in Cornwall
The College of Medicine’s patron, HRH the Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall have praised a social prescribing team at a GP practice in Cornwall, after a flying visit there this week. His Royal Highness visited St Austell…
Make yourself ‘as fit as possible’ to beat COVID-19 second wave, says deputy Chief Medical Officer
The UK’s deputy Chief Medical Officer has urged people to lose weight and get fit to equip themselves against a potential second wave of COVID-19. Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Dr Jenny Harries said it was now proven that being…
Study finds dance health project reduces falls in the elderly by up to 58 per cent
A social prescribing programme designed to encourage older people to dance could help reduce falls by around 58 per cent, a new study has found. Community-led project Dance to Health combines evidence-based falls prevention principles with the creativity, expression and energy…
New UK study finds broccoli and tea can play ‘significant role’ in cancer prevention
A new UK study has found that broccoli and tea can be helpful in the prevention of cancer. Research by Bedfordshire Hospitals Consultant Professor Robert Thomas, who co-led a national scientific study, suggests that consuming broccoli and drinking tea can…
Have you joined one of our free classes yet? College of Medicine’s lockdown health sessions – including yoga, hypnosis and mindfulness – continue
Throughout lockdown the College of Medicine has been proud to offer free live online classes with some of our leading practitioners – covering everything from breathing and mindfulness to fitness and hypnosis. Now, well into the third lockdown, our brilliant…
“We’re empowering people to make a difference in their own lives – that’s priceless” London health professionals discuss social prescribing
Healthy London Partnership, an initiative that aims to make the English capital the world’s healthiest city, has created a new film that highlights how valuable social prescribing can be in building and supporting community resilience – by linking people to…
‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile
Social Prescribing featured on BBC One’s Countryfile this weekend, with presenter Anita Rani meeting Dr Marie Polley to discuss finding solutions to problems without medical intervention. Anita joined Dr Polley, who is co-Chair of the Social Prescribing Network, to discuss…
Hope for the Future: what do College members aspire for in healthcare in 2021?
A new year is upon us, and despite the extraordinary challenges that we’ve faced in 2020, we remain hugely optimistic for the year ahead. To mark the dawn of 2021, the College asked our friends and members – many of…
Two doctors changed the way we treat stomach ulcers – so, could adopting a similar approach to Type 2 Diabetes be just as effective?
In the latest installment of his regular column for the Daily Mail, Dr Michael Mosley offers a fascinating insight into how two doctors discovered a cheaper, more effective way of treating stomach ulcers – but found it took winning a…
Dr Michael Dixon pens a new book on life as a Devon GP – and how integrated medicine has influenced his practice and his patients…
College of Medicine Chairman Dr Michael Dixon, a longstanding GP in the village of Cullompton, Devon, has written a new book – perfectly placed for the present-buying season – about his extraordinary life working in General Practice in a rural…
Ten years of the College of Medicine: We celebrate a decade of huge achievement
The College of Medicine is celebrating its tenth birthday and, on November 12th, its Chair, executives and members threw an almighty Zoom party to mark a decade that has seen social prescribing, which remains at the very core of the…
Fighting for the arts in a pandemic: ENO Chair says directors doubled up as ‘covid marshalls’ to get La Bohème back on the stage
English National Opera Chairman Dr Harry Brunjes, vice-president of the College of Medicine, reflects on the ENO’s first socially-distanced production… In the theatre world it certainly has been ‘the season of darkness’ with a predicted ‘winter of despair’, but hopefully…
Head of College of Medicine’s Scientific Advisory Council, Professor Stephen Holgate, is honoured with a knighthood
Professor Stephen Holgate, the College of Medicine’s Head of Scientific Advisory Council, has revealed that he’s “absolutely thrilled” to have received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s list 2020. Currently Professor of Immunopharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine at…
COPING WITH COVID-19: Updates, advice and useful links from the College of Medicine
The continued spread of COVID-19 continues to challenge countries all over the world, halting daily life as we know it and placing huge pressure on communities, testing our physical and mental resilience. The College of Medicine, pioneers in social prescribing…
Gardening with no garden: Producing abundant pots with a £50 budget – using old beer cans and mole hills for compost
‘I’ve been eating fresh strawberries every day for a month now’, keen amateur gardener Piers Day, a Neuro Linguistic Programming trainer and College of Medicine member, tells us. On a sizeable patch of gravel outside his front door, Piers has…
It’s easier than you think: How to cook up an immune-supporting delicious healthy meal in just 15 minutes
Heather Richards, the College of Medicine’s lead on nutrition and Director Of Nutrition at Sano School of Culinary Medicine, tells us how to cook up an immune-supporting chicken stir fry (easily made veggie) in just 15 minutes… In a recent…
Video workshop on food as medicine: exploring taste in common herbs and spices
From ancient times humans have eaten natural herbs and spices. Traditional medicine knew how to use them to act as catalysts in enhancing or reducing the power of foods. Food really can be medicine. In June, Harmony in Health held…
Books that changed our lives: College of Medicine course attendees share their favourite inspirational reads
Unthinkable as it might seem now to congregate in large groups, the last few times the College of Medicine held its Foundation Courses on Integrated Medicine, we asked our attendees for some reading tips. And we gleaned almost a hundred…
Food as medicine: our guide to the best herbs for health
The College of Medicine has teamed up with Pukka Herbs to offer an everything-you-need-to-know guide to herbs that have established benefits for health and well-being. Below, we’ve listed links to Pukka’s hugely informative ‘Wild About Herb‘ resources on some of…
HEATHER RICHARDS: How can we be healthier during lock-down?
Heather Richards, Director Of Nutrition at Sano School of Culinary Medicine, shares her views on staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic… Food and The Immune System This is absolutely a key time when we want our immune systems to be…
DEAN ORNISH: ‘We should remember that simple lifestyle changes can be as effective as advances in medicine…’
Dean Ornish, a clinical professor in medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and president of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, has been speaking about the role that easy-to-implement lifestyle changes can play in preventing disease. Speaking…
NHS produces mental health advice and social prescribing guidance for GPS and link workers during COVID-19 crisis
NHS England has produced new information on mental health resources and social prescribing guidelines to help GPs and link workers during the COVID-19 crisis – including webinars, discussion forums and advice on staying resilient. We’ve included some of the most…
How to keep your mental health strong during the coronavirus crisis
For now, the coronavirus pandemic has upturned life as we know it, and it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the rolling news coverage; Covid-19 is dominating conversation on every level. However, the good news is that there are tried-and-tested…
As coronavirus continues to spread, here’s our advice on defending against it
The current coronavirus (officially called the COVID-19 virus) alarm has focused our attention on the best ways to deal with a new viral infection. The obvious priority is preventing spread, by isolation and increased hygiene. However, we can also look…
College of Medicine social prescribing champions: The Challenge Hub
In an occasional series, the College of Medicine looks at projects closely aligned with the social prescribing ethos, that inspire people to take better care of their health. This Month, we’re shining a spotlight on The Challenge Hub, a not-for-profit…
Move over Jamie Oliver! Promising cook, nine, scoops Young Chef award with healthy dish
A cookery competition designed to educate schoolchildren about the long-term effects of eating well on health has seen a nine-year-old Hertfordshire schoolboy beat off competition from more than 500 other budding young chefs. Lucas Brooks, from St Michael’s Woolmer Green…
Anxiety 2020 survey: The British Holistic Medical Association wants to hear from you
The British Holistic Medical Association has asked College of Medicine followers and members to take a short survey outlining how anxiety affects their lives. The Anxiety 2020 survey: Is anxiety the new normal? asks a series of questions about how…
College of Medicine social prescribing champions: parkrun
In an occasional series, the College of Medicine looks at projects closely aligned with the social prescribing ethos, which inspire people to take better care of their health. Our first pick is parkrun, a now-global running initiative that supports people…
Events
Free Weekday Online Zhineng Qigong Sessions at 8am- Free Weekly Online Mindfulness Practice every Tuesday at 06:00pm
- Free Weekday Online Exercise for All, Sessions at 9.30am
- Free Online Breath Practices – Various Dates at 08:00 am
- Free Online Laughter Yoga Sessions - COLLEGE MEMBERS ONLY
- Free Magnificent Magnesium for Stress & Anxiety - COLLEGE MEMBERS ONLY
Free Weekday Online Zhineng Qigong Sessions at 8am
Free Weekly Online Mindfulness Practice every Tuesday at 06:00pm
Free Weekday Online Exercise for All, Sessions at 9.30am
Free Online Breath Practices – Various Dates at 08:00 am
Free Online Laughter Yoga Sessions - COLLEGE MEMBERS ONLY
Free Magnificent Magnesium for Stress & Anxiety - COLLEGE MEMBERS ONLY
