David’s lower back pain began during what he now refers to as “the year everything fell apart.” His father was diagnosed with dementia, requiring increasingly intensive care that fell largely to David as the only child living nearby. His marriage was struggling under the strain of sleepless nights and mounting responsibilities. Work pressures had intensified […]
Maria’s migraines followed a predictable pattern that had nothing to do with her head. They arrived like clockwork during busy periods at work, particularly when she’d been skipping meals and surviving on coffee and stress. The pain would start as a dull ache behind her right eye, gradually building to a throbbing intensity that made
James had been living with shoulder pain for three years. It started gradually – a slight ache after long days at his desk job – but had progressed to a constant, grinding discomfort that made sleeping difficult and lifting his coffee cup a conscious effort. He’d tried everything: physiotherapy, anti-inflammatories, massage, even a cortisone injection
Pain Isn’t Just Pain: The Chinese Medicine Map of What Hurts Where Read More »
Why some people melt in mild weather while others thrive in the heat, and what you can do about it It was barely 22 degrees outside when Linda arrived at her GP surgery looking like she’d just completed a marathon in the Sahara. She was flushed, sweating, and clearly distressed despite the relatively mild temperature
Heat Stroke, Hot Flashes, and Internal Fire: Staying Cool Naturally Read More »
Why your summer salad might be making you hotter, and what actually cools you down from the inside Margaret arrived at her GP surgery in the midst of a sweltering July, looking absolutely miserable despite following every piece of summer nutrition advice she’d found on Instagram. She’d been dutifully consuming raw salads, green smoothies, and
How genuine pleasure became medicine, and why forcing happiness makes everything worse Tom sat in his GP’s surgery looking thoroughly confused. He’d come seeking help for insomnia and anxiety, expecting to discuss sleeping tablets or perhaps another referral to the counselling service. Instead, his doctor had just asked him something that seemed to catch him
The Joy Factor: Why Chinese Medicine Prescribes Fun Read More »
When everyone expects you to be thriving in the sunshine, but you’re actually falling apart Claire had been looking forward to summer for months. After a particularly brutal winter of work stress and general gloom, she’d planned a season full of outdoor adventures, social gatherings, and the kind of vibrant living that Instagram promised would
Why Summer Burnout is Real (And How to Prevent It) Read More »
Why your £40 mushroom latte might not be the stress-busting superfood miracle you’ve been promised Emma’s kitchen cupboard tells the story of modern wellness desperation: seventeen different supplements promising to boost energy, reduce stress, and optimise performance. There’s ashwagandha for anxiety, rhodiola for energy, holy basil for balance, and three different mushroom blends that cost
Adaptogenic Herbs: The Real Story (Not the Instagram Version) Read More »
