I have been doctor and NHS GP for over 20 years. For a long time I have been interested in helping patients by using alternatives to medication. In 2004 I trained in medical acupuncture and used this successfully in patients whose pain was poorly controlled with medication or who simply could not tolerate strong pain killers due to side effects.

Over 10 years ago I became ill myself with a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms including: fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain, abdominal discomfort, odd tingling and buzzing sensations and an intractable itch on one foot which kept me awake every night. Despite multiple investigations on the NHS no significant abnormality was found and I was labelled as being "stressed". What was stressing me was not knowing what was wrong and the worry that I might not be able to continue working. 

One day at my GP practice a leaflet arrived in the post advertising the services of an environmental medicine clinic. I looked on the website a number of times before I finally made the decision to see an Environmental Medicine practitioner to help me to find the "root cause" of my illness. This was the best decision I ever made. He listened carefully to my story before recommending some investigations including blood tests, a stool analysis and intradermal testing to foods and inhalants. It was found that I had multiple food sensitivities, candida overgrowth and a parasite as well as some nutritional deficiencies. 

Treatment involved targeted treatments for all these issues one by one and over time I started to feel better. I cannot remember the moment that I noticed a dramatic improvement, it happened slowly over time and was a combination of interventions rather than one "magic bullet".

After my own experience I developed a renewed enthusiasm for medicine and searched for appropriate training. I wanted to share the knowledge and help my patients with difficult to manage conditions to improve their health. 

I still work as an NHS GP and incorporate some elements of both Functional and Environmental Medicine into my work although what I can do is limited by time constraints and lack of access to functional testing. I still feel that even the simple advice on lifestyle and nutrition that I am able to give is having a positive effect on patient's health. My hope for the future is that this will become more routine within the NHS.

I am guessing that you have come across my website because you too have symptoms for which you have not found a solution or you simply want to optimise your health. I'm sure you are asking "what is the difference between Functional and Environmental Medicine?"

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Environmental vs Functional Medicine - why I do both

 

Originally in my own health journey I visited an Environmental Medicine Practitioner and I wasn’t even aware of Functional Medicine. So that was the route I took in my training. I started to attend the bi-annual conferences of the British Society of Ecological Medicine (BSEM). These meetings were very science/research based and didn’t really tell me how to do it in a clinic setting and their training course had not yet started. In the meantime I had joined the team at Airedale Allergy Centre alongside the Clinical Director, Dr Apelles Econs. 

I continued my search for more training and came across the Institute of Functional Medicine Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP) course. It sounded just the ticket so I booked it, and lo and behold the BSEM then announced their training course. So having done both courses I feel very well educated and along the way have met some fantastic like-minded clinicians.

Both Environmental Medicine (EM) and Functional Medicine (FM) are looking for the root cause of disease and treating that rather than just symptoms. 

I worked at the Airedale Allergy Centre until October 2018 when unfortunately the clinic had to close.

I have been working with Dr Indra and Shakela Shan, nutritional therapist at Dr Indra SFMP since May 2018. We now have 3 doctors with the addition of Dr Meeta Tanna and 2 health coaches, Ros and Fiona. We are the first multidisciplinary Functional Medicine Clinic in the North of England. We aim to provide you with a truly personalised approach to your healing.

I would love to work with you on your personal journey to improved health and wellbeing.