Who Really Gets Referred to Social Prescribing? A Wake-Up Call from the UK
Social prescribing is often celebrated as a tool for tackling health inequalities. By connecting people with community-based supports—like exercise groups, financial advice, arts activities or befriending—it aims to address the root causes of poor health. But a new study from the UK has me asking: Is social prescribing always living up to that promise? In…
Can Mindfulness Improve Brain Health? What the Latest Research Tells Us
Many of us have heard about mindfulness—paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment. But could this simple practice also help protect our brains from aging, cognitive decline, and even dementia? A new review by Mace et al. (2024) pulls together an emerging body of evidence to show that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may do exactly…
Why Community-Led Social Prescribing Could Be the Future of Healthcare
As a general practitioner and researcher, I see firsthand how our healthcare system struggles to meet the needs of patients whose health is shaped not just by biology, but by the social and cultural worlds they live in. That’s why I was so heartened to read the recent paper by Munro and colleagues (2024), which…
How Urban Greenspace Supports Cancer Survivors’ Cardiovascular Health
As cancer survivorship becomes a longer journey for many, the focus is shifting from merely surviving to truly living well after treatment. A recent study published in Health & Place sheds light on an unexpected ally in this journey: urban greenspace. Key finding: Breast cancer survivors who lived near urban greenspace experienced a longer time…
Social Prescribing in Canada’s Changing Healthcare Landscape
What if your doctor could prescribe not just medications—but meaningful connections? A local walking group, an art class, a lunch with neighbours? This is the heart of social prescribing, and it’s transforming healthcare in Canada. A newly released report by the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) explores how provinces across the country are embedding…
Should Comedy Be Prescribed on the NHS? Exploring the Healing Power of Laughter
The saying “laughter is the best medicine” might be more than just a cliché. In a time where mental health conditions are on the rise, innovative approaches to wellbeing are gaining attention—including the prescription of comedy. A recent article in the Bristol Post highlights an exciting initiative in the UK where comedy shows are being…
Social Prescribing: Transforming Healthcare Through Community and Connection
Social prescribing is an innovative approach in healthcare that connects individuals to non-medical community services to enhance their health and well-being. Recognising that factors such as social isolation, loneliness, and lack of physical activity significantly impact health, social prescribing addresses these determinants by linking patients to activities like arts programs, nature-based interventions, and exercise groups.…
A Prescription for Connection: How Social Prescribing is Transforming Lives in Australia
Introduction When Claire, a 52-year-old Melbourne resident, visited her GP complaining of persistent fatigue and low mood, she expected a prescription for antidepressants. Instead, her doctor handed her a referral to a community gardening group. Confused but open-minded, she attended the first session. Within weeks, Claire found herself looking forward to mornings spent among sunflowers…
The Rise of Gut Health in Lifestyle Medicine: A Key to Overall Well-Being
Introduction Gut health is increasingly recognized as a foundational component of overall well-being, influencing everything from digestion and metabolism to mental health and immune function. A balanced gut microbiome plays a crucial role in preventing chronic diseases, improving nutrient absorption, and enhancing quality of life. As research continues to highlight its significance, lifestyle medicine has…
Social Prescribing in the United States: A Growing Movement for Holistic Health
Introduction In recent years, the concept of social prescribing has gained traction as healthcare systems worldwide recognize the importance of addressing social determinants of health. While the practice has been well-established in the UK and other countries, the United States is now beginning to integrate social prescribing into its healthcare framework. This shift represents an…
Prescribing Culture: The Power of Museums & Heritage-Based Prescriptions
The Healing Power of Culture Social prescribing has been gaining traction as a holistic approach to well-being, moving beyond traditional medical interventions to embrace the power of community and cultural engagement. One particularly compelling form of social prescribing involves museums and heritage-based prescriptions, where individuals are encouraged to immerse themselves in cultural experiences as a…
A New Prescription for Life: Mark’s Journey with Social Prescribing
Mark sat in his doctor’s office, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. At 58, his type 2 diabetes was getting harder to manage. His doctor had already adjusted his medications twice in the past year, but his blood sugar levels were still unpredictable. More concerning than that, though, was the fatigue, the creeping loneliness after his…
Unlocking Better Health: How Social Prescribing Can Change Lives
What If Your Doctor Prescribed You a Community? Imagine visiting your doctor for stress, chronic pain, or loneliness, and instead of just receiving medication, you also get a “prescription” to join a walking group, an art class, or a financial counseling session. This is the core idea behind social prescribing, an emerging healthcare approach that…
The Power of Narrative Medicine and Social Prescribing in Cancer Care
Bridging Medical Expertise with Personal Stories Cancer treatment extends beyond medical procedures—it’s a deeply personal journey that affects the mind, body, and spirit. While traditional oncology focuses on physical healing, emerging approaches like narrative medicine and social prescribing offer holistic support, helping patients regain a sense of control, connection, and emotional resilience. What is Narrative…
A New Path to Wellness: Sarah’s Journey with Social Prescribing
Sarah, a 52-year-old woman living in a bustling city, had been grappling with type 2 diabetes for several years. Managing her condition felt overwhelming, leading to anxiety and a sense of isolation. Regular visits to her GP addressed the medical aspects, but Sarah yearned for more holistic support. A Different Kind of Referral During a…
A Prescription for Life
Not all healing comes in bottles,not all wounds need a name.Some are carried in silence, unseen,a whisper of loss, a flicker of pain. So here’s a script, not for pills,but for something deeper, truer still—A brush dipped in color, a song on the air,a garden that blooms with hands that care. Walk the trail where…
Social Prescribing: A New Path to Healing for Cancer Survivors
For many cancer survivors, the journey doesn’t end when treatment does. Life after cancer comes with its own challenges—fatigue, anxiety, and fear of recurrence can weigh heavily on survivors. A new study published in Current Oncology sheds light on a promising approach: social prescribing. This research explores how connecting cancer survivors with community-based activities can…
The Art of Prescription: How Social Prescribing and the Arts Can Enhance Well-being
What Is Social Prescribing? When we think about healthcare, we often picture medications, surgeries, and tests. But what if healing could also come from art, music, writing, or creativity? Social prescribing is an innovative approach that acknowledges the holistic nature of health, recognizing that factors like social connection, creativity, and self-expression can play a significant…
Healing in Color
They gather in quiet, a circle of hands,brushed by the weight of what once was.The air hums with whispers of fear,soft as autumn leaves that never fell. Here, beneath the canvas sky,they dip their hands in light—stroke by stroke, color by color,a quiet rebellion against the dark. Each brush a breath, each hue a pulse,saffron…
Move More, Feel Better: How Nature-Based Physical Activity Can Improve Your Health
We all know that exercise is good for us, but did you know that where you exercise can be just as important as how you move? A recent study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine explores how nature-based physical activity can transform your health by demonstrating that spending time in nature while being…
How Lifestyle Medicine Can Transform Your Life
Adopting lifestyle medicine principles is not just about avoiding disease; it’s about thriving. By making deliberate, sustainable changes in nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, relationships, and avoiding harmful substances, individuals often experience profound transformations more energy, better mental clarity, improved mood, and a greater sense of purpose. How Lifestyle Medicine Can Transform Your Life is…
The Echo in Her Bones
The scan was clean. The doctor said the words she had prayed for, rehearsed in her mind like a mantra, whispered into the dark corners of her fears. “Everything looks good.” She smiled, nodded, even laughed at some small joke the nurse made as they handed her a printout of follow-up appointments. She walked out…
Riding the Dragon
The river shimmered in the late afternoon sun, a restless, golden ribbon winding through the city. The air smelled of water and distant rain, the kind of scent that made Helen close her eyes and breathe deep. It had been a long time since she’d been near water—years, maybe. Years spent in hospital corridors, under…
The Soil Beneath Her Hands
The waiting room smelled of antiseptic and old magazines, a scent that clung to everything—the chairs, the walls, even the silence between conversations. Outside, the rain tapped against the windowpane in soft, persistent rhythms. Margaret sat with her hands folded in her lap, staring at the pamphlet on “Life After Cancer” without really reading it.…
A Place to Grow
The first time Rachel stepped into the community garden, she almost turned back. The scent of damp earth, the chatter of strangers, the overwhelming green of it all—it was too much. Her fingers twitched at her side, the phantom weight of the chemo port long gone but never forgotten. She wasn’t a gardener. She was…
Beyond Medicine: How Social Prescribing Could Transform Cancer Care
What if your doctor prescribed community, not just medicine? When we think of healthcare, we often picture hospitals, chemotherapy, and medications. But what about the other side of healing—the part that happens outside of clinics and pharmacies? For cancer patients, life after diagnosis isn’t just about surviving; it’s about living well. And that’s where social…
What is Narrative Medicine? The Power of Story in Healthcare
In the ever-evolving world, the art of forging genuine connections remains timeless. Whether it’s with colleagues, clients, or partners, establishing a genuine rapport paves the way for collaborative success.
Welcome to My Blog: Medicine, Storytelling, and the Spaces Between
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from practicing medicine, it’s that healing extends far beyond prescriptions, lab results, and diagnoses. Medicine is deeply human—shaped by the stories we tell, the communities we build, and the resilience we cultivate. This blog is my space to explore that intersection: where science meets narrative, where healthcare goes beyond…
Dr. Katie Zippel 