Over the years I have seen personal, professional and scientific evidence of the benefits of stepping outside of the confines of my Western medical training. I have always been fascinated by health and healing and I actively seek ways to enhance the wellbeing of my patients and family with advice on diet, exercise, judicious selection of nutritional supplements, physical therapies, herbal medicines and pharmaceutical preparations in the most appropriate combinations. Little did I think I would one day have to walk that journey myself.
Then in 2003 I had the big personal lesson. A massive pulmonary embolism, a reaction to a pharmaceutical drug I had been taking for only a few weeks, put me in intensive care. It was touch and go for a while. My doctors told me I was lucky to survive, thanks to the fact that I had kept myself fit and had never smoked. My future depended on regular exercise and a healthy approach to life in all ways. My doctors, blood thinning medicines, technology and a rain-hail-or-shine attitude to daily exercise got me back on my feet and back to work. But 90% was not good enough. I felt I could get back to 100%. And so my own search for answers began.
With the help of some changes in diet, supplements recommended by a naturopath, body work from a kinesiologist/ chiropractor and a lot of determination, I got there. Just as we hear of medical/ technological miracles, in my practice I have seen patients achieve amazing results through questioning, exploring options and demanding alternatives. The need for this sort of approach has been thrown into the spotlight in recent years with the emerging evidence on the risks of hormone replacement in menopausal women and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in arthritis.
Lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise are being increasingly recognized as the solution to many of the epidemics of Western society.obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer to name a few. Prevention is the key word. It means stopping disease from developing through lifelong healthy habits. But even if you have developed a disease, it will not be too late for prevention. That is when you can take stock, get the right advice and make changes that will help you recover, heal or improve how well you are able to feel. This concept works best if the practitioners involved in a person's health care communicate closely.
In putting together the uclinic team, I sought practitioners with substantial clinical experience and a range of skills, and with a commitment to continuing education. I searched for practitioners with a mutual respect for each other's approach to evidence-based health care who were excited about the prospect of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
So uclinic brings together expertise in the areas of general medical practice, public health and clinical preventive medicine, mind-body medicine, sports medicine, nutrition, dietetics, naturopathy, herbal medicine, and exercise science.
Our ueathealthy "health food store for foodies" is for people who want to eat healthy food without sacrificing quality or variety, no matter what your special dietary needs. Our qualified nutritionists and naturopaths are on hand to provide professional advice on diet, supplements and herbal treatments.
I look forward to welcoming you to uclinic to create a healthier U
PROF. KERRYN PHELPS
MBBS (Syd), FRACGP
MANAGING DIRECTOR, UCLINIC