• Get support for your lifestyle changes from our Health and Wellbeing Coaches
• The British Society of Lifestyle Medicine looks to transform healthcare based on evidence
• Check if your complementary therapy practitioner is registered
• General Osteopathic Council for bone and joint problems
• General Chiropratic Council for muscle, bone and joint problems
• Choosing Wisely helps you to have a conversation with your GP or medical professional about treatment and medicines

Lifestyle medicine looks to improve health and mental wellbeing as a compliment to traditional medicine, therapies and surgery.

Lifestyle medicine isn't a solution for health conditions, but focuses on changing your lifestyle and behaviour to improve your health and wellbeing through:

• physical activity and exercise
• diet and nutrition
• sleep
• lowering stress and improving mental health
• reduction of harmful substance like tobacco, drugs and alcohol
• healthy relationships

Lifestyle medicine also looks at the underlining issues such as deprivation, health inequality, social isolation and a lack of hope, that contribute to chronic health conditions and poor mental wellbeing.

Complementary and alternative medicines are treatments that fall outside of mainstream healthcare.

Examples include:

• homeopathy
• acupuncture
• osteopathy
• chiropractic
• herbal medicines

Osteopathy and chiropractic are regulated therapies. There's no statutory professional regulation of any other complementary and alternative medicines practitioners. You should research to understand whether a treatment is safe and effective before starting treatment.

If you think you may have a health condition, first see your GP. Do not visit a complementary or alternative medicine practitioner instead of seeing your GP.

It's particularly important to talk to your GP if you have a pre-existing health condition or are pregnant.

Some complementary or alternative medicines may interact with medicines that you're taking or should not be taken if you're pregnant.