Exploring the Future of Whole-Person Health

FHT Vice-President, Maria Mason, spent three days at the Integrative & Personalised Medicine Congress in June which is dedicated to promoting whole-person, patient centred health. Below, she reflects on each day, capturing the essence of this transformative event…

WORDS Maria Mason

I was thrilled to attend the Integrative & Personalised Medicine Congress in my role as vice-president of the FHT and a member of the board for the Integrated Medical Alliance (IMA). The congress took place over three days from 29 June – 1 July at the QEII Centre in London and was an incredible platform for healthcare professionals, researchers and industry leaders to come together, exploring the latest advancements in integrative and personalised medicine.

At the FHT, it is our top priority to keep our members abreast of the latest news and information in the world of complementary and holistic wellness. Where each of the three days focused on a different element of the whole person, including whole-person health, integrative mental health and food on prescription, it was imperative that we attended so we could soak up the latest information.

Each day we were welcomed by Dr Michael Dixon, Chair of the College of Medicine and former co-chair of the National Social Prescribing Network, where he delivered captivating opening remarks that set the tone for each day’s events.

Day One:

Focusing on whole-person health, day one held many insightful talks about the foundational principles of integrative and personalised medicine. In the main lecture hall, notable talks revolved around herbal medicine, women’s health and supporting healthcare professionals. Over 1000 people attended each day, including doctors, holistic practitioners, nutritionists, herbalists, chiropractors, osteopaths and journalists.

The theme running through the event sent a message that the whole-person approach is the future of medicine, with evidence that many patients are now seeking out various alternative therapies and are becoming more well-read on the health benefits they offer.

In a motivating talk, actress Jenny Seagrove spoke openly about her personal journey to wellness. After suffering health problems in her early career, she emphasised how important it is to stay on top of health with a more whole-person approach to diet, exercise, meditation and avoiding over-the-counter medication where possible.

Day Two:

Day two was all about the importance of mental health, and there were so many incredible speakers throughout the day. Personally, I found Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas’ talk empowering as he took to the stage and spoke about the mind-gut connection, illustrating that ‘getting over yourself’ is the key to happiness. He had such a great presence on the stage; speaking with passion about his own history of mental health problems and how he overcame them with hard work and a positive mindset. He had the audience captivated with his energy, happiness and life story, leaving us all uplifted for the day.

“The theme running through the event sent a message that the whole-person approach is the future of medicine”

This was followed with a talk by Dr Leo Pruimboom, a Dutch doctor speaking about the damage that can be caused through long-term taking of painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. Dr Pruimboom discussed the risks and side effects that can arise from prolonged reliance on these medications, providing valuable insights into alternative approaches to managing pain and promoting overall wellbeing.

In the breakout rooms, there were workshops on managing chronic pain through lifestyle changes. These sessions provided practical guidance on adopting healthy habits, such as exercise, stress management techniques and dietary adjustments, to alleviate chronic pain and enhance overall wellbeing.

Additionally, there were workshops focused on nutritional medicine recommendations aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes, where participants gained insights into the role of nutrition in maintaining blood sugar levels.

Throughout the day, there were moments for meditation and breathwork emphasising the strong theme that your mind is the most powerful tool on the journey to reach optimum wellness. By harnessing the power of positive thinking and nurturing a resilient mindset, individuals were empowered to actively engage in their wellness journey, tapping into their innate potential for personal transformation and holistic health.

Day Three:

Day three focused on food as medicine prescribing fruits and vegetables on the NHS. Professor Tim Spector delivered an enlightening talk on personalised nutritional programmes, and how understanding your own personal needs is important on the path to full health.

In the breakout rooms, attendees had the opportunity to engage in Tibetan yoga sessions, immersing themselves in the ancient practice. Alongside this, workshops delved into the critical role of nutrition and probiotics in gut health, providing insights into the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiome and overall wellbeing.

An intriguing theme that stood out to me was the integration of nature at the heart of healthcare for all, discussing the potential of nature-based therapies, eco-friendly interventions and sustainable healthcare practices.

All in all, I have come away from this congress inspired for my own personal health journey. The passion I experienced from fellow clinical practitioners and health professionals gave me hope that this is just the start of a real understanding of how so many elements make up whole-person health.

Where our NHS service is under so much pressure, with doctors suffering from conditions like burnout, it was great to see so many junior doctors embracing the future of an integrative approach to medicine. I think this will take us on the right path to not only better health for patients but better support and lifestyle choices for doctors.

The FHT remains at the forefront of promoting an integrative approach to whole-person health. With over 10,000 qualified therapist members spanning the UK, they are on hand to help lower the growing strain on the NHS. You can find a therapist near you today at fht.org.uk/findatherapist.