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…
Doctors and complementary therapists need to work together for better patient outcomes
GP Trainer Dr Toh Wong shares how his London conference has proved an important building block in helping complementary therapists and doctors work in a more cohesive way to improve patient care… The last three years has seen a torrent…
Dr Zoe Harcombe: ‘Why the Eat-Lancet plant-based diet is nutritionally deficient’
The EAT-Lancet Commission released details of the controversial Eat-Lancet diet in January. Here, ahead of the College of Medicine’s Food On Prescription Conference in October 2019, author and researcher Dr Zoe Harcombe, who specialises in examining public health dietary guidelines,…
Patrick Holden: ‘We’re paying for cheap food with our health and our planet’
In this interview originally published by Borough Market, Ellie Costigan asks Patrick Holden why our food system needs to change to prevent irreversible climate change and a biodiversity catastrophe… Patrick Holden is the founder of the Sustainable Food Trust, a charitable…
“We need evidence to prove social prescribing works”, says former children’s tsar
Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green was the first Children’s Commissioner for England and is a former president of the British Medical Association. An influential figure on children’s health and development for more than 40 years, here, Aynsley-Green debates the role social…
Taxing cigarettes has worked: is it now time to do the same with bad food?
Simon Tuckey has spent much of his career in the food industry in the UK and overseas. Here, he debates the idea that obesity has become so costly to the NHS it’s time to use financial mechanisms to reduce food…
How to make GPs stay? Work to reduce lifestyle-related illnesses putting such strain on the NHS
Heather Richards, Director of Nutrition at the Sano School of Culinary Medicine, writes on how GPs need to be better equipped on nutrition if the burden on the healthcare system is to be reduced… Nutrition knowledge for healthcare professionals and involvement…
‘People come to a yoga class feeling anxious – when they leave they’re able to cope better with life’s pressures’
Davy Jones has been teaching yoga for 12 years and practising for 20. He is chair of the Brighton Yoga Foundation and, here, explains how the organisation is helping to reach out to diverse areas of the community: Yoga is…
Healthcare professionals should be lobbying against climate change: the population’s health depends on it
Dr James Szymankiewicz is a GP working in North Devon. He is currently Vice Chair of the GP Collaborative Board representing the 22 North Devon practices. He’s also the current Chair of Devon Local Nature Partnership which focuses on enhancing Devon’s natural environment. Here,…
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…
New study finds regular yoga sessions have positive impact on mental health disorders
Practicing yoga on a regular basis can help alleviate the symptoms of mental health disorders, according to new research. The World Health Organisation says around 264 million people suffer from depression globally. The study’s lead author Jacinta Brinsley, from the…
New UK study suggests that vitamin D could help in the fight against COVID-19
New research from scientists at three UK universities has concluded that vitamin D could be useful in the fight against COVID-19. The study, ‘The role of vitamin D in the prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection and mortality’, is currently…
College of Medicine joins campaign to help aspiring doctors during lock-down
The College of Medicine is proud to be a partner in the Pre-Medicus Campaign, a new online resource that aims to help doctors of the future access vital information during lock-down. Alongside the NHS Social Prescribing Champion Scheme and the Unofficial…
Lock-down hangover? How a cocktail of fruit, leaves and herbs could help…
A concoction of natural remedies could be the key to staving off a hangover, new research has found. Published online in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, the study focused on how antioxidant compounds, vitamins, minerals and specific plant extracts could ease…
College of Medicine offers free online health and well-being sessions during lock-down
The College of Medicine has teamed up with leading healthcare practitioners amongst our members to offer free daily online sessions to support health and well-being during the coronavirus pandemic. A full list of sessions are listed here – with dates…
Free health video streaming service launches to help people stay well during the coronavirus lock-down
A new free online video service streaming health-focused content, including classes and interviews with key figures in the world of social prescribing, has launched. HealthFlix, aiming to be the equivalent of Netflix for people interested in health-related content, has already…
VIDEO: Our guide to improving the immune system against coronavirus
As new cases of coronavirus continue to be diagnosed in Europe, there are steps you can take to help boost your immunity against the virus, says the College of Medicine’s Chair, GP Dr Michael Dixon. When antibiotics are futile, ensuring…
Social Prescribing Day 2020: How we marked it…
It’s hard to believe just how far we’ve come; after decades of work to show how social prescribing can change lives, the College of Medicine is celebrating its second #socialprescribingday knowing that it’s now national policy in England, something we…
Eating dairy products could reduce stroke risk, finds major study
Consuming dairy products such as yoghurt and milk could lower the risk of stroke in later life, a new study suggests. Oxford University scientists led a major 400,000-person study examining foods that impact the risk of a stroke. While eating…
Prebiotic foods – including garlic and bananas – could slow cancer growth, suggests a study on mice
Prebiotic foods such as asparagus, onion, garlic, leeks and bananas could stop cancers from growing quickly, new research on mice suggests. The study, carried out on rodents by researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in California, looked at…
Many people taking statins and blood pressure tablets view them as a ‘free pass’ to be unhealthy
Statins and blood pressure tablets are being treated as a ‘free pass’ by many people who take them, new research warns. People taking such medication are 82 per cent more likely to be an unhealthy weight, according to a study…
Ban junk food ads before 9pm to help stop rise in childhood obesity, say campaigners
Television commercials that promote food laden with sugar, fat and salt should be banned until after 9pm to curb rising obesity rates in young people, say experts at the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). Childhood obesity rates have continued to…
Lonely forced to seek solace at their GP surgery because community life has broken down, says new NHS social prescribing lead
Where isolated souls might once have sought comfort chatting with locals in the village pub, or speaking with their vicar on a Sunday morning, they’re now much more likely to offload worries on their GP instead. Speaking to the Telegraph,…
Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, could ‘halt tumour development’, major study says
New scientific research has found that a common compound found in the spice turmeric could stop cancerous tumours from growing further. A study, carried out by academics at Temple University in Philadelphia, and published in the Nutrients journal, found the…
Brisk daily walk lowers odds of getting seven types of cancer, new research finds
Walking briskly for just 20 minutes a day or enjoying a leisurely cycle ride could help stave off seven types of cancer, according to a new US study. Research carried out by the American Cancer Society found that exercising moderately…
Charity that’s planted one million trees says turning urban areas into ‘edible playgrounds’ can help avert climate crisis
A charity dedicated to planting trees in inner city areas says encouraging children to connect with nature from an early age is key to helping to halt climate change. Trees for Cities, which was founded in 1993, creates allotments for…
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…
Seasonal mental health: How to turn the winter blues into blue-sky days
When a team of psychologists sat down over a decade ago to examine days when Britons might feel more susceptible to negative feelings, they came up with a formula to pin-point the most depressing day of the year. Suggesting how…
Podcast: UK Health Radio presenter Robin Daly interviews Dr Michael Dixon
The Yes to Life Show on UK Health Radio, which focuses on cancer, sees host and charity founder, Robin Daly, interviewing scientists, oncologists, practitioners and survivors who have exceeded treatment expectations by thinking outside of the box. In January, College…
Our 2019 highlights: The NHS Long Term Plan, Social Prescribing Day and Dean Ornish in a field of cows…
As 2020 chimes in, we take a look back at the College of Medicine’s highlights of 2019. Though there are far too many to list here, we’ve picked a small selection of the most inspiring events the College has been…
Video blog: Dr Michael Dixon reflects on an ‘active’ year – and highlights new causes for 2020
The College of Medicine’s Chair Dr Michael Dixon has delivered a seasonal message reflecting on a ‘really active’ year for the organisation, and congratulating members on the great strides made on increasing awareness of social prescription and the role food…
What is Integrative Health? A simple graphic perfectly explains it…
How best to explain the concept of Integrative Health to those who’ve never heard of it? The College of Medicine’s Dr Toh Wong, a GP trainer, uses a simple graphic to convey how many elements of healthcare can work together…
Gallery: Foundation Course on Integrated Medicine at Dumfries House, Scotland
The final week in November saw the College of Medicine hosting its Foundation Course on Integrated Medicine at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Here, we’ve shared a few pictorial highlights of the beautiful – and very festive – surrounds…
The arts can have a significant positive impact on health, WHO report says
Reading a book, dancing a waltz or spending the night at the theatre might be activities associated with leisure time… but according to a new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO), such pursuits could also improve mental and physical…
How can we promote better mental health in the older generation?
Depression in the older generation is on the rise, with illness and reduced quality of life factors impacting the over 65s. Here, Merisha Williams chats to Dr Simon Chowdhury, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the London Clinic, about the key issues…
New ITN programme with the College of Medicine separates food fads from the facts
Food has never been more accessible but poor diet is, in part, responsible for the increase in preventable diseases. This short programme produced with the College of Medicine and ITN Productions Industry News discusses key issues in the arena of…
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