The Synthesis Clinic Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel speaks to Dr Emma Weymouth who offers  a wonderful combination of clinical psychology and nutritional therapy. We discuss the importance of considering the whole person picture in supporting mental wellbeing and how nutrition and lifestyle can offer synergistic benefits when combined with psychological approaches.

About Emma:
Dr Emma Weymouth is an accredited Clinical Psychologist specialising in Clinical
Health and Neuropsychology with over ten years' experience in the NHS and
private sector supporting people in managing health conditions. Emma is also a
registered Nutritional Therapist whose approach aims to incorporate nutritional
science and psychological approaches to promote health and vitality of body and mind.

Website
Instagram

Resources:
The Inflamed Mind book
Dr Bonnie Kaplan website
Dr Deepak Ravindran website
Dr Julia Rucklidge website

About Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel:

Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is an Oxbridge-trained medical doctor and scientist with over a decade’s experience in integrative health and in-depth additional training in nutrition, health coaching, integrative and herbal medicine, yoga, mindfulness and other modalities. Dr Nina is a Fellow of BANT and the College of Medicine and the Director of Synthesis Clinic, specialising in complex multisystem women's health cases and integrative cancer care. Alongside her clinical and research work, Dr Fuller-Shavel provides training and mentorship programmes for nutrition and medical professionals.

To find out more about Synthesis Clinic, our philosophy and our multidisciplinary team, please click here. You can also keep up with any news via our clinic newsletter here.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the Synthesis Clinic podcast on your platform of choice. 

In this episode Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel talks with Dr Jenna Macciochi, a leading immunologist with a special interest in the interaction between lifestyle and our immune systems. We cover a broad range of topics, from building whole-person resilience and making small sustainable lifestyle changes to autoimmune disease. We discuss the important role of nutrition and gut health in maintaining a balanced immune response and how this may play into autoimmunity. 

About Dr Jenna Macciocchi:

Dr Jenna Macciochi is on a mission to unravel the science around the immune system. An immunology lecturer and researcher at the University of Sussex, she is Chair of several degree programmes, editor of a scientific journal and a member of the University Senate. 

Jenna provides accessible, science-backed information on how we can take care of our immune system through her online health and wellbeing platform and social media. She is a regular contributor to TV, print and online media.  She published her first book about the immune system in 2020 and her second in February 2022.

Website 

Immunity The Science of Staying Well

Your Blueprint for Strong Immunity

About Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel:

Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is an Oxbridge-trained medical doctor and scientist with over a decade’s experience in integrative health and in-depth additional training in nutrition, health coaching, integrative and herbal medicine, yoga, mindfulness and other modalities. Dr Nina is a Fellow of the College of Medicine and the British Society for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Co-Chair of BSIO (British Society for Integrative Oncology). Dr Fuller-Shavel is the Director of Synthesis Clinic, specialising in complex multisystem women's health cases (including hormones, gut health, autoimmunity and mental health) and integrative cancer care. Alongside her clinical and research work, Dr Fuller-Shavel provides training and mentorship programmes for nutrition and medical professionals.

Please listen, rate and share the podcast on your platform of choice.
If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).

In this episode, Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel speaks with  Dr Charlotte Marriott, a consultant NHS psychiatrist and certified lifestyle medicine physician.  Dr. Charlotte's mission is to inform and inspire people to optimise their own health and wellbeing with evidence-based lifestyle medicine and lifestyle psychiatry information.

She also aims to educate healthcare professionals on how to incorporate a lifestyle medicine approach into standard medical care and to influence public health policy and national health guidance, something we are huge advocates for at Synthesis Clinic.

About Dr Charlotte Marriott:

Dr Charlotte is a Consultant NHS Psychiatrist and a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician.  She likes to inspire and empower her patients (and everyone else!) to make small changes to their lifestyles to improve their physical and mental health and well-being.

Instagram

Website

About Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel:

Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is an Oxbridge-trained medical doctor and scientist with over a decade’s experience in integrative health and in-depth additional training in nutrition, health coaching, integrative and herbal medicine, yoga, mindfulness and other modalities. Dr Nina is a Fellow of the College of Medicine and the British Society for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Co-Chair of BSIO (British Society for Integrative Oncology). Dr Fuller-Shavel is the Director of Synthesis Clinic, specialising in complex multisystem women's health cases (including hormones, gut health, autoimmunity and mental health) and integrative cancer care. Alongside her clinical and research work, Dr Fuller-Shavel provides training and mentorship programmes for nutrition and medical professionals. 

Resources:

Losing Eden, Lucy Jones

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/305/305463/losing-eden/9780141992617.html

If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).
To find out more about Synthesis Clinic, our philosophy and our multidisciplinary cancer support team, please click here.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the Synthesis Clinic podcast on your platform of choice. If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!). 

In this episode of the Synthesis Clinic Podcast, Octavia Hamilton talks to Laura Coleman, the founder of Be.Modern Meditation about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation and how to incorporate these approaches into our lives.

About Laura Coleman:

Laura Coleman is an established and highly regarded expert in the field of meditation and the founder of Be. Modern Meditation. She is particularly passionate about helping women to manage stress and overwhelm to reduce anxiety and improve performance and happiness. Laura helps her clients to harness the power of meditation, mindfulness and positive psychology to achieve their fullest life potential. 

She also delivers talks and workshops for organisations, corporate clients and business communities; with audiences as diverse as Ernst and Young, The Cancer Research Council and the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as in Construction, Finance and Marketing .

Links: 
www.bemodernmeditation.com
www.facebook.com/bemodernmeditation
www.instagram.com/bemodernmeditation

You can download Laura's free guide “4 Ways to find Calm in Your Day that DON’T involve Sitting on a Cushion” (which includes a free 5 minute audio practice):

https://www.bemodernmeditation.com/4-steps-to-calm

You can also find Laura's meditations on one of our favourite meditation apps, Insight Timer.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).

To find out more about Synthesis Clinic, our philosophy and our multidisciplinary cancer support team, please click here.

In this episode Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel and Dr Penny Kechagioglou discuss integrative oncology, which seeks to rationally combine the best of conventional, nutritional, lifestyle and evidence-informed complementary medicine to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.  Integrative oncology aims to support better quality of life, improve resilience, minimise the side effects of treatment and improve clinical outcomes.

About Dr Penny Kechagioglou:

Dr Penny Kechagioglou is a senior Consultant Clinical Oncologist in the NHS and private sector, specialising in breast cancer, and she integrates the latest evidence-based medicine with lifestyle and complementary approaches to cancer care. Dr Kechagioglou holds senior leadership roles in the NHS. She is the Co-Chair of the British Society for Integrative Oncology and a Board Trustee member at Penny Brohn UK and CoppaFeel UK. Dr Penny Kechagioglou is also chairing the upcoming Integrative Oncology UK 2022 conference in May.

About Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel:
Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is an Oxbridge-trained medical doctor and scientist with over a decade’s experience in integrative health and in-depth additional training in nutrition, integrative and herbal medicine, yoga, mindfulness and other modalities. Dr Nina is a Fellow of the College of Medicine and the Co-Chair of BSIO, specialising in complex multisystem women's health cases and integrative cancer care with a particular interest in precision integrative oncology. Dr Nina is the Director of Synthesis Clinic, combining her clinical work with education for healthcare professionals and participating in national and international expert panels in cancer care.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).

Further information and resources:

• Integrative oncology care impact - recent studies:
  • Breast cancer - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34961816/ 
  • Gynaecological cancer - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33404816/ 
• Integrative Oncology UK 2022 conference for healthcare professionals:
  • https://integrativeoncologyuk.com/ 
• Blogs by Dr Nina and Dr Penny for BSIO:
  • https://www.bsio.org.uk/blog/integrative-oncology-matters
  • https://www.bsio.org.uk/blog/integrative-oncology-principles-and-directions 
• Professional organisations
  • BSIO (British Society for Integrative Oncology) - https://www.bsio.org.uk/
  • SIO - https://integrativeonc.org/ 
• Selection of IO guidelines:
  • https://integrativeonc.org/practice-guidelines/guidelines 
• Your Life and Cancer event
  • https://www.yourlifeandcancer.com/ 
• Charities:
  • Yes To Life - https://yestolife.org.uk/ 
  • Penny Brohn UK - https://www.pennybrohn.org.uk 

In this episode, Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel interviews Dr Cheryl Cross, an experienced integrative clinical psychologist specialising in trauma recovery. We discuss the broad psychological and physiological impact of trauma and some important theories that can help us understand our nervous system and how we relate to others, including polyvagal theory and attachment theory. While there are many approaches to working with trauma, this episode focuses on finding appropriate psychological support, including therapies such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and AF-EMDR. We conclude with some exciting new developments in trauma therapy and a message of hope for trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth. The human capacity to overcome adversity and the power of neuroplasticity is truly amazing, and a change for the better is possible with the right support.

Resources – websites and directories

·      https://emdrassociation.org.uk

·      https://drlaurelparnell.com

·      https://www.bps.org.uk

·      https://www.drcherylcross.com/

Resources – useful books

·      The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

·      Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deborah Dana

·      It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn

About Dr Cheryl Cross
Dr Cross is a dedicated and passionate Chartered Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in working with adults who have experienced trauma and have symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), dissociative disorders, anxiety and depression. 

Dr Cheryl’s absolute passion and area of expertise is using working with people who have experienced trauma and/or are presenting with dissociative symptoms, including people who have experienced a traumatic bereavement and are presenting with both PTSD symptoms and complex grief. Dr Cross uses a range of psychological therapies to suit the needs of each individual, including EDMR and AF-EMDR, CFT, CBT, DBT, ACT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness and Schema Mode Therapy.  

About Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel:
Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is an Oxbridge-trained medical doctor and scientist with over a decade’s experience in integrative health and in-depth additional training in nutrition, integrative and herbal medicine, yoga, mindfulness and other modalities. Dr Nina is a Fellow of the College of Medicine and the Co-Chair of BSIO (British Society for Integrative Oncology), specialising in complex multisystem women's health cases and integrative cancer care. Dr Nina is the Director of Synthesis Clinic, combining her clinical work with education for healthcare professionals.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).
Please rate, review and subscribe to the Synthesis Clinic podcast on your platform of choice. 

We are delighted to share our first Synthesis Clinic podcast episode.

Over the next few episodes, we will be introducing you to our multidisciplinary team at Synthesis, starting with our director, Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel. We will discuss what Synthesis is about, what precision health and integrative medicine is and hear some of the amazing patient stories and fascinating conversations with a wide range of healthcare professionals.

In this first episode, Dr Nina and Octavia have an initial conversation about integrative medicine and precision health, how Synthesis Clinic started and our passion for supporting women’s health.

About Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel:

Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is an Oxbridge-trained medical doctor and scientist with over a decade’s experience in integrative health and in-depth additional training in nutrition, integrative and herbal medicine, yoga, mindfulness and other modalities. Dr Nina is a Fellow of the College of Medicine and the Co-Chair of BSIO (British Society for Integrative Oncology), specialising in complex multisystem women's health cases and integrative cancer care.

About Octavia Hamilton:
Octavia Hamilton is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with a keen interest in women’s health and cancer rehabilitation. Utilising a blend of ScarWork, acupuncture, Pilates and breathwork, as well as drawing on a decade’s experience in complex trauma rehabilitation, Octavia works to restore resilience and confidence in her clients.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).
To find out more about Synthesis Clinic and our multidisciplinary team, click here.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the Synthesis Clinic podcast on your platform of choice. 

In this episode Dr Nina  Fuller-Shavel speaks with Dr Dani Gordon  about cannabinoids and their uses in a broad spectrum of conditions - from mental wellbeing and sleep support to pain management and women's health.  We discuss some of the myths and misconceptions around cannabis use as a plant medicine, as well as responsible and personalised use of this tool within the overall integrative medicine toolkit. We hope you find this discussion interesting and valuable in supporting your health and wellbeing.

About Dr Dani Gordon

Dr Dani Gordon MD is a double board certified integrative medicine physician and leading expert in integrative and cannabinoid medicine, and resilience. She has treated thousands of patients with medical cannabis, is vice chair of the UK Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society and is the author of ‘The CBD Bible.’ She is the founder and Medical Director of Resilience.clinic, her UK medical practice and wellbeing platform with a focus on mental health, chronic fatigue and complex chronic disease. She is regularly interviewed for TV and the media and has been
featured in the Sunday Times, The Guardian, BBC, Vogue and Marie Claire.

Connect with Dr Dani Gordon:
Resilience Medicine Clinics’ website
 LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube

To find out more about Synthesis Clinic, our philosophy and our multidisciplinary team, please click here. You can also keep up with any news via our clinic newsletter here.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the Synthesis Clinic podcast on your platform of choice. If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).

In this episode Octavia Hamilton speaks with Emma Holly, a leading scar massage therapist, educator and researcher who takes us through the full holistic approach to scar care that is becoming common practice and encouraged as part of your recovery process.

About Octavia Hamilton:
Octavia Hamilton is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with a keen interest in women’s health and cancer rehabilitation. Utilising a blend of ScarWork, acupuncture, Pilates and breathwork, as well as drawing on a decade’s experience in complex trauma rehabilitation, Octavia works to restore resilience and confidence in her clients.

Octavia offers a ScarWork package with The Synthesis Clinic which includes a 60 min physiotherapy assessment and a 45 min ScarWork session.

Book a ScarWork package with Octavia

About Emma:

Emma is a specialised clinical scar massage therapist, a leader in her field, with a reputation for excellence. Well known for championing non-invasive scar treatment approaches. With almost 30 years of experience as a therapist, Emma is UK's leading teacher for scar therapy and regularly teaches to NHS and private hospital staff, as well as therapists working in private practice. Emma has pledged to provide opportunities for people to access free scar therapy via her training school, with over 1,650 free treatments already provided - so anyone looking for help with scarring is invited to get in touch.

Special offer to allow our listeners a £50 discount on Understanding Scars: Advanced Online Theory course.  Add 'Synthesis50' to receive your discount.

Website
Instagram

Resources:
https://www.physiopod.co.uk/

To find out more about Synthesis Clinic, our philosophy and our multidisciplinary team, please click here. You can also keep up with any news via our clinic newsletter here.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the Synthesis Clinic podcast on your platform of choice. If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!). 

In this episode, Octavia Hamilton talks to Dr Tasha Gandamihardja,  a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon. They discuss different options of surgery and reconstruction (if desired) during and after breast cancer treatment and how other breast cancer therapies can impact surgery choices.

About Dr Tasha

Dr Tasha Gandamihardja is a Breast Cancer and Reconstructive Surgeon based at the Holly Private Hospital located in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.  She is highly-qualified with over a decade of experience. Dr Tasha brings a kind, compassionate and highly-professional approach to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

As a recognised expert in her field, Tasha is also a medical educator, training some of the future’s brightest doctors and surgeons.

Website
Instagram
YouTube

Resources
https://metupuk.org.uk

To find out more about Synthesis Clinic, our philosophy and our multidisciplinary team, please click here. You can also keep up with any news via our clinic newsletter here.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the Synthesis Clinic podcast on your platform of choice. If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us by buying us a coffee (or a green tea!).