About

The Optimum Health Clinic

More than just a clinic…

The Optimum Health Clinic is an award winning integrative health clinic specialising in M.E./C.F.S./Fibromyalgia, set up in 2004 by Alex Howard, (author of WHY ME? My Journey from M.E. to Health and Happiness), with Nutritionist, Niki Gratrix (now Director of Nutrition at the clinic).   The clinic is internationally recognised for its innovative approach of systematically researching and testing all available treatments, and integrating them together in the most effective way.  With over half the clinic team having themselves also recovered from M.E., the clinic is also well known for its caring and empathic approach.

The clinic’s team of ten practitioners have treated over 5,000 patients with M.E./C.F.S./Fibromyalgia in over twenty-five countries around the world.  Their patient range is vast, and covers the complete spectrum from medical doctors and board members of Fortune 500 companies, to students and housewives.  As a first step towards one day government funding hopefully being available for treatment, the clinic launched a two year clinical trial with two leading universities in January 2009.

With a very strong commitment to supporting patients in every possible way, beyond just its treatments, the clinic has created a number of additional resources:

www.SecretsToRecovery.com

Secrets to Recovery is an immense resource for those affected by M.E./C.F.S./Fibromyalgia.  Twice a month Alex interviews either someone who has had M.E. and since recovered about their own recovery story, or a member of the clinic team shares their latest tips and techniques.  These sessions last forty-five minutes, and members can either telephone in to listen through their phone, download through the internet, or receive sessions on CD and with a printed transcript.  With two sessions per month available to download in the archive, since May 2007, there is access to a vast amount of information and support.

www.OptimumHealthCommunity.com

Optimum Health Community is a social networking site (similar to sites such as  Facebook), specifically for patients of the clinic.  It provides the opportunity for patients of the clinic to share with others on a similar healing path – this can be a huge help with the isolation often felt by sufferers.  The site is completely free, with member areas relating specifically to various treatment options and courses available through the clinic.

www.OptimumHealthFoundation.com

In setting up their own clinical trials, the clinic team have realised how important research is to further scientific recognition of the kinds of treatments the clinic team use.  Although the clinical trials are being funded by the clinic itself, The Optimum Health Clinic Foundation was launched to support further research projects within this field.  Fundraising events are a great opportunity for both former patients and staff to come together and support this key area.  Events so far have included a sponsored firewalk, climbing Snowdon and parachute jumps!  These events also serve as a great ‘rite of passage’ for recovered patients, such as a half-marathon which was completed by a patient who was virtually housebound for ten years.