Dr Frances Pitsilis is passionate about advocating for women and helping them find their way back to optimal physical health and well-being. As an integrative medicine specialist, her advice goes further than what you’ve heard in a regular doctor’s office. She is respected for her holistic approach to healthcare, which extends beyond the traditional medical model while remaining evidence-based. Pitsilis has distilled this knowledge in her new book. Well Woman reveals the short and long-term changes women can make to maximise their well-being. It is based on extensive, up-to-the-minute research and best clinical practice, and offers a comprehensive toolbox of information about diet and lifestyle, stress management, hormones, and ageing well.
Why is this book just targeted at women? What makes their health needs different?
Women are built differently – their hormones make the difference. Also women function psychologically differently. Thus they are more disposed to anxiety and chronic illnesses as well as sleep problems.
What do you think is the biggest mistake women make when it comes to looking after their health?
Women tend to put everyone else first – they saw their mothers do it and they tend to do it. Many have children who they put first, and of course, their partners. It’s a role model for some, and a genetic part of their personality for others.
What is integrative medicine? And how does it help patients?
It uses our traditional medical training as the foundation, but also considers scientific evidence in relation to lifestyle, diet, and correction of biochemistry as well as hormones.
It’s not always about which drug shall I choose? but rather an individually designed programme for each individual in terms of diet, lifestyle activities, helping the person to sleep well, what supplements are needed to correct biochemical imbalances, and what to do with hormone balancing. Last, there are often drugs that are necessary to help control medical conditions and even prevent serious ones.
Can you name three lifestyle changes somebody could make today which would have a real impact on their health?
Obtain adequate sleep at the right time, eat a highly plant based diet with adequate protein, take a multivitamin, Vitamin C and fish oil. These are important foundational activities for anyone. After that, I finesse each individual’s programme depending on their needs.
It can feel hard to get medical advice when GP appointments tend to be very short. What is your advice to someone facing a complex health condition? What can they do to help ensure they get the care they need?
Make a list with the most important problem at the top
Consider paying for a longer appointment
We have excellent doctors who are working in an outdated system.
There seems to be two very opposing camps on the benefits of supplements. You advocate for supplementation, why do you think it’s important?
There is a lot of extensive research that supports the use of correction of nutritional biochemistry like certain B vitamins, Zinc and Magnesium. These are among the many vitamins and minerals that participate in important biological systems like energy production, digestion and opposing inflammation which underpins disease
I see the results daily of correction of imbalances of vitamins and minerals that I have identified.
You say the body, mind, and spirit are all connected and work together in a complex way. Do you think there is enough acknowledgement of this in our healthcare system?
I think healthcare providers know this but often don’t have time to deal with it or they have been given a narrow scope in which to provide their services.
I believe a review of the healthcare system would show the need for patients to be able to spend more time with their doctor and any other relevant healthcare provider so that more satisfying interaction can be made and improved outcomes can occur.
Upstart Press
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