Breakspear Medical

19/03/2026

Chronological age & biological age are not the same thing ... and that matters

New research is confirming what we've long believed at Breakspear Medical: the right nutrients can measurably slow biological ageing at a cellular level.

At Breakspear Medical, our approach to healthy ageing looks at the whole picture, including diet, lifestyle, hormonal balance, nutrient status and environmental exposures.

Two of the key practitioners supporting our patients on this healthy ageing journey are:

Gabrielle Hyland, Nutritional Therapist: working with you to optimise the balance of nutrients your body needs, with personalised pathology testing and supplement programmes tailored to your unique biochemistry.

Jean Monro, Environmental Naturopath: helping you understand how environmental and lifestyle factors affect how you age, from circadian rhythms and light exposure to toxin load and gut health, as well as recommending testing and personalised nutritional supplement programmes.

Whether you're looking to maintain vitality, support cognitive function, or simply age as healthily as possible, we can help.

Find out more about our Healthy Ageing programme: https://www.breakspearmedical.com/conditions/healthy-ageing/

Call +44 (0)1442 261 333 to book a consultation (no referral needed).

17/03/2026

Exciting new healthy ageing research published

A large clinical trial found that taking a daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement for 2 years slowed biological ageing in older adults by the equivalent of around 4 months, compared to those taking a placebo.

Scientists measured 5 "epigenetic clocks" (molecular markers in DNA that reflect how fast our bodies are truly ageing) and found consistent slowing across the board. The benefits were greatest for those who were already ageing faster than their chronological age at the start of the trial.

As one epidemiologist researcher put it, the goal isn't just about living longer, it's about living better.

It's a reminder of just how much nutrition can influence our health at a cellular level.

🔗 Read the full article:

The supplement’s anti-ageing effect was greater in people who were already biologically older than their years.

13/03/2026

✨ Feel Good Friday ✨

A wonderful note to end the week on. Despite being unwell on the day, our own Jean Monro delivered a virtual lecture at the international Environmental Medicine Congress in Spain and received a standing ovation for it.

Congress founder and president Dr Pilar Muñoz-Calero described Jean as "one of the world's leading authorities on MCS" and said her presentation was highly applauded for being clear, concise and full of well-synthesised information.

Jean's lecture explored the links between food sensitivities, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and electrical hypersensitivity and how integrated approaches, such as low-dose immunotherapy (LDI), nutritional support and detoxification, can help patients.

We are so proud of Jean's dedication to her patients and to advancing environmental medicine on the world stage.

🔗 Learn more about environmental medicine at Breakspear Medical: https://www.breakspearmedical.com/conditions/allergy-environmental/

12/03/2026

Would you recognise Lyme disease?

Valerie Barr suffered severe headaches, chest pains, joint pain and sensitivity to light. Four specialists ran test after test and found nothing.

It was Lyme disease.

A family friend's Google search, a call to Lyme UK, and a referral to Breakspear Medical changed everything. Valerie finally got the diagnosis, the treatment, and her life back. She's now skiing and riding horses again.

Her story is a powerful reminder of how easily Lyme disease goes unrecognised, and how important it is to keep pushing for answers.

Read Valerie's full story here 👉 https://www.breakspearmedical.com/17808-3/

Valerie Barr tells her story of recovery from Lyme disease, which started when her friend contacted a Lyme disease support organisation and was told about Break

10/03/2026

🚨 TICK SEASON STARTS NOW 🚨

March marks the beginning of tick season in the UK. The season runs all the way through to October, which means that for the next 8 months, every walk in the park, woodland, moorland, or even your own garden carries a risk that most people don't think about.

Ticks are can be tiny, sometimes no bigger than a poppy seed, and their bites are painless, which means you may not even know you've been bitten. However, some ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, and that's where things can get serious.

Lyme disease is a debilitating condition that can affect your joints, nervous system, heart and many other areas. Symptoms can include initially having a spreading bullseye rash, fatigue, muscle pain, brain fog, and nerve damage. However, this rash is not always present. If left undiagnosed or untreated, it can become a chronic, life-altering illness.

The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent it:
✅ Wear a long-sleeved shirt and tuck your trousers into your socks outdoors.
✅ Stick to paths and avoid long grass.
✅ Wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
✅ Check yourself, your children, and your pets after being outside.
✅ Remove any tick quickly and carefully with a tick removal tool.

For full NHS guidance on Lyme disease, including symptoms, diagnosis, and what to do if you're bitten, visit: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/lyme-disease/

At Breakspear Medical, we have been testing and successfully treating patients for Lyme disease for decades. We know how complex, misunderstood, and life-changing this condition can be and we know how important early awareness and prevention truly is.

For more information on how we treat Lyme disease, visit our website: https://www.breakspearmedical.com/conditions/lyme-disease/

05/03/2026

Microplastics: can we do anything about them?

We've been getting a lot of questions since we shared the latest research on microplastics and nanoplastics in our food and water. One of the most common questions is: "Is there anything I can actually do about it?"

The answer is yes, and it starts with knowing what's there.

At Breakspear Medical, we can measure levels of certain plastic-related pollutants through blood testing, giving you a clearer picture of your body's current toxic load. From there, our Clinical Team can put together a personalised detoxification programme to help your body clear what it's carrying.

One of our most effective tools for this is the IRATHERM®1000, which is a whole-body hyperthermia infrared-A bed. We're proud to be the first clinic in the UK to offer it. Unlike a sauna, which only raises your surface temperature, the IRATHERM® raises your core body temperature by several degrees, significantly accelerating your metabolism, mobilising stored fats (where many pollutants accumulate), and enhancing your body's natural detoxification pathways, such as through the skin, lungs, kidneys and gut. Some of our patients have seen significant reductions in their body load of pollutants following a course of treatment.

The IRATHERM® can help with illnesses linked to pollutant exposure, metabolic issues, chronic inflammation, fatigue and more.

Learn more about our detoxification programmes: https://www.breakspearmedical.com/services/detoxification/

Find out more about the IRATHERM®: https://www.breakspearmedical.com/services/hyperthermia/

Our Clinical Team may recommend changes in diet, nutritional supplements and hyperthermia treatments on our IRATHERM bed as part of a successful detoxification programme.

03/03/2026

The latest research on microplastics in our food

A new review in Nature Health (January 2026) confirms what many of us have believed for decades, which is that microplastics and nanoplastics are found throughout our food chain, from seafood, to fruit and vegetables, to honey, dairy products, salt and water.

Research suggests these tiny particles may be able to pass through the gut wall and into body tissues, with possible links to metabolic problems, nerve health, and inflammation.

Read the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44360-025-00025-6

Breakspear Medical has been treating environmental illnesses for over 4 decades. Our principles remain the same:

Reduce your exposure:
- filter your drinking water
- avoid heating or storing food in plastic containers
- choose fresh, whole organic foods over heavily packaged products
- switch to glass, stainless steel, or ceramic food storage

In addition to reducing your exposure, our Clinical Team can help by providing a variety of treatments and services, such as:
- detoxification support: to help your body's natural clearance pathways
- blood test measurement of some plastics
- gut health assessment: a healthy gut lining is your first line of defence
- metabolic health testing: plastics have been linked to hormonal and metabolic disruption
- hyperthermia treatment: to diminish your body load of pollutants
- nutritional support: to help manage oxidative stress from environmental toxin exposure

We are all exposed to microplastics, however, some of us may be more affected than others, particularly those with gut inflammation, metabolic issues, genetic predisposition, or a higher toxic load. If you're experiencing unexplained fatigue, brain fog, digestive problems, metabolic issues, hormonal disruption, or persistent inflammation, it may be worth having a conversation with a member of our Clinical Team.

26/02/2026

With ME Research UK – we just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

24/02/2026

With ME Research UK – we just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers 🎉

24/02/2026

February is Raynaud's Awareness month

Raynaud's is a common condition that affects up to 10 million people in the UK. When exposed to cold temperatures or stress, the blood vessels in the fingers and toes, and sometimes other extremities , can overreact and narrow excessively. This causes these areas to turn white, blue, and then red, often accompanied by pain, numbness, and tingling.

There are 2 main types of Raynaud’s:

🔹Primary Raynaud's is when fingers and toes may change colour in cold conditions and pain, numbness and pins and needles may be experienced. Some people also find that their ears, nose, lips or ni***es are affected.

🔹Secondary Raynaud's is caused by another condition, usually an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and it can affect people with ME/CFS and Long Covid. Secondary Raynaud’s is associated with ulceration or sores.

Some lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms, such as wearing warm layers, avoiding stress, and quitting smoking. Treating any underlying condition is also key for secondary Raynaud's.

At Breakspear Medical we investigate the cause of conditions and treat the cause, which may significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms. Spread awareness this month and provide support for those dealing with this uncomfortable condition!

19/02/2026

Managing comorbidities in ME/CFS is useful in reducing overall symptom burden for affected individuals.

But what about vitamin D supplementation?
Vitamin D deficiency is common in general and even more common amongst individuals with ME/CFS it would seem. This is not a surprise as vitamin D is sometimes referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" as it is produced by the body when skin is exposed to direct sunlight outdoors (and individuals with ME/CFS often spend more time indoors than others).

A group of researchers from Japan conducted a randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy guidance in 91 participants with ME/CFS following SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination and co-existing vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. At first glance, the results may be unintentionally interpreted as suggesting Vitamin D supplementation is helpful in ME/CFS. On second glance, the findings (which need to be approached with caution) seem to actually suggest the opposite - Vitamin D supplementation alone does not have much of an effect on ME/CFS symptoms.

Read a breakdown of the study: https://tinyurl.com/2r7jsrbs

Important note:
It is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine whether supplementation is needed and, if so, the appropriate dosage to address any nutrient deficiency, including vitamin D.

Although a study may show minimal or mixed effects of vitamin D supplementation on ME/CFS symptoms, vitamin D remains an essential nutrient involved in key physiological processes such as bone health, immune function, and muscle function. The NHS provides detailed information on Vitamin D on its website. https://tinyurl.com/mwtnpx95

19/02/2026

Heat therapy: the wellness trend of 2026 with serious clinical credentials

With infrared therapy increasingly backed by new research and growing mainstream interest in longevity, mitochondrial health, and recovery, it feels like the perfect time to revisit one of our most powerful treatments: the IRATHERM®1000.

Unlike a standard sauna, our IRATHERM® whole-body hyperthermia bed raises your core body temperature, not just your skin surface temperature, for a deeper therapeutic effect. From sweating out environmental pollutants and tackling stubborn infections, to energising your mitochondria for better stamina and mental clarity, the benefits can be wide-ranging.

Watch Jean Monro, Environmental Naturopath, explain why this is one of the most powerful tools in our clinic and whether it might be right for you.

Turn up the heat on restoring your health with our revolutionary IRATHERM® that uses near infrared lamps to safely heat your body's core temperature. In this v