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Monday 9am - 7pm Tuesday 9am - 7pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

https://centreforintegralhealth.com/, https://linktr.ee/bencalderintegralhealth

Centre for Integral Health, Unit 8, Hartley Business Centre, 272-284 Monkmoor Road, Shrewsbury (2026)

10/01/2026

One of the central principles in Chinese dietary therapy is the importance of red meat and certain animal products in building blood and thick fluids and preserving jing (essence, our original energy). These substances are considered important for strength, vitality, and hormonal balance. Yet, with careful planning and attention, it is possible to live well as a vegan using the wisdom of Chinese medicine.

The Su Wen (475–221 BCE), a foundational text of Chinese Medicine, introduces the doctrine of correspondences. This is used in some schools of holistic medicine to understand the nature and quality of a substance via their inherent characteristics- appearance, taste, smell, and colour. For example, the same quality that makes a substance red in nature resonates with the element that gives our blood its colour. In this way, red foods and herbs are understood to strengthen, invigorate, and move the blood.

For vegans, incorporating red foods can help reduce the risk of blood deficiency. Examples include beetroots, red beans and lentils, red rice, berries, pomegranates, red jujube dates, and watermelon. These foods share an affinity with the blood and can be used to nourish and support it.

Similarly, foods that are dark or black in colour are associated with the kidneys and the preservation of jing essence. Black beans, black rice, seaweeds and algae, black grapes, and black sesame seeds are excellent choices for supporting vitality and longevity. Homemade almond milk or soaked, peeled almonds are also supportive of jing.

In Chinese nutrition, saturated fats- including butter- are valued for their role in producing thick fluids and supporting hormonal health. Improved fat digestion assists hormone production. Some commentators suggest that it is only through saturated fat that we can actually produce post-natal jing. For vegans, substitutes like high-quality coconut oil and avocados can be used instead.

Alongside a carefully planned diet, it’s also imperative that the digestive system itself is working well to enable nutrients to be processed and absorbed. By thoughtfully selecting foods according to their correspondences, a vegan diet can be healthy and aligned with the wisdom of Chinese dietary therapy. Red foods build and invigorate blood, black foods sustain essence, and plant-based saturated fats support fluids and hormones.

Learn more and get support through Acupuncture with Anna https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/anna-wells-2/

07/01/2026

If your aches and pains feel worse in winter, you’re not imagining it. Many people notice an increase in joint pain, muscle stiffness, and flare-ups of old injuries during the colder months — and there are several reasons why.

Cold temperatures cause muscles and connective tissue to tighten. When tissues lose warmth and flexibility, joints can feel stiffer and movement may become uncomfortable, especially first thing in the morning.

Circulation also slows in winter. The body naturally prioritises keeping the core warm, which means less blood flow to the hands, feet, muscles, and joints. Reduced circulation can lead to stiffness, slower healing, and increased sensitivity to pain.

Winter weather often brings changes in air pressure, which can irritate joints and surrounding tissues. This is particularly noticeable for people with arthritis or previous injuries. Damp, cold conditions can make symptoms feel heavier and more persistent.
On top of this, we tend to move less in winter. Shorter days, cold mornings, and spending more time sitting can all contribute to reduced mobility and increased stiffness — especially in the back, neck, hips, and shoulders.

Finally, stress, low mood, and poor sleep are more common at this time of year. A sensitised nervous system can amplify pain, making existing issues feel harder to manage.

How acupuncture can help
Acupuncture supports circulation, relaxes tight muscles, calms the nervous system, and helps reduce inflammation. Regular treatments through winter can help keep the body moving, warmer, and more comfortable, rather than waiting until pain becomes overwhelming.

If winter pain is affecting your daily life, acupuncture can be a gentle, supportive way to get through the colder months with more ease.

For more information, please visit https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/philippa-brant-1/
📍 Align Acupuncture | Shrewsbury

03/01/2026

Unlike medical systems shaped by Cartesian dualism—which separates mind and matter—CM views the mind as a processor, with emotions residing in the blood and being housed within the organs. When emotions fail to move freely, it mirrors poor blood flow: like a stream clogged with debris, leading to obstructions and turbulence. This stagnation can manifest as unstable moods, unprocessed feelings, and reduced resilience to stress.

Acupuncturists work with emotions by supporting organ and channel health and ensuring smooth circulation and good quality of blood. For example, worry and overthinking weaken the spleen-pancreas, while anger and frustration overheat the liver. This holistic framework allows practitioners to treat each person as an interconnected whole rather than as separate parts.

Stress, a major driver of illness, often lies at the heart of patients’ struggles. Years of overwork and overcommitment leave many feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and depleted. By treating mind, body, and spirit as one, responses to acupuncture can be profound. Through careful observation, practitioners see how emotions shape the body’s morphology—posture, facial fascia, muscle tension, and even creases. In CM, function determines structure, so even the way someone walks can reveal which organs and channels, and therefore which emotions, may be in distress.

For my patients, the most profound healing often comes when they understand that their emotions, stress, and physical symptoms are not separate struggles but interconnected expressions of the same whole. International Mind Body Wellness Day is an opportunity to embrace this perspective: by supporting organ and channel function, harmonizing blood flow, and tending to the spirit, we can restore balance and resilience.

Contact Anna for more information on how Acupucture can help you https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/anna-wells-2/

02/01/2026

Why your body does NOT want change in January

If you feel tired instead of motivated in January, it is not because you are 'weak', 'lazy' or 'lacking in willpower'. You are simply biologically normal. The problem is not with you.

The problem is with the calendar. January as the beginning of a "new start" is an administrative construct, not a biological one. Our bodies – much to the disappointment of planners, coaches and productivity apps – were not designed for Excel. They still respond to light, temperature and seasons, not arbitrary dates.

In Chinese medicine, winter is the season of the kidneys – the storehouse of life energy. Winter is for rest, regeneration and conserving resources. Metabolism slows down, the need for sleep increases and motivation naturally decreases. This is not a system error. It is a survival strategy. In nature, no one starts a marathon or a restrictive diet in January. Trees do not produce leaves "in reserve," and bears do not sign up for New Year's challenges.

Historically, the beginning of the year fell in spring – March or April. It was only politics and administration that moved the "start" to the middle of winter because it was more convenient to manage people and resources that way. To disconnect us from Nature.

The body never agreed to this. That is why in January the body resists change. When it hears "now diet," "now new life," it responds, "not now, it's dangerous." Apathy, fatigue and guilt appear – not as failure, but as a protective signal.

January is not for starting. It is for closing, tidying up and regenerating. For fewer decisions, less pressure and more sleep. Because the real start comes on its own, with the light of spring. Sometimes the biggest change is to understand that it is not yet time for change.

To learn more about how Biodecoding can support your health this January, contact Agnieszka Kozak via our website at https://tinyurl.com/3jy6zvwk

01/01/2026

From All of Us here at Centre for Integral Health, we wish you a wonderful New Year.

May 2026 help you be healthy, vibrant, stable, loving and well.

Remember, January IS NOT the time to start detoxes, massive changes, brand new routines.
Better to continue to let the winter energy, one of quiet, calm, internal cultivation, be the seed ready for sprouting in the spring.

If there is any help or support you need with your health and life, get in contact with the team via our website.

30/12/2025

We are very happy to welcome back Anna Wells, Acupuncturist, after her travels to other places.

"I am delighted to be back in Shrewsbury offering classically inspired acupuncture at the Centre for Integral Health. Here is a little bit about me and how I work.
I am an experienced and compassionate acupuncturist with a strong foundation in Chinese Medicine. My journey into Chinese Medicine was shaped not only by my formal education but also by my two decades of experience working within animal welfare in India. During this time, I observed the power of nature-based approaches, (namely ayurveda) both in veterinary and human healthcare. This has deeply instilled in me a belief in the efficacy of traditional, holistic medicines.
After studying for 3.5 years at The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, I qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture and a Licentiate in Acupuncture. Driven by a deep curiosity and respect for the roots of this medicine, I went on to study for another 18 months with Dr. Sean Tuten, immersing myself in a Classical lineage. This experience profoundly shaped the way I practice. I continue to learn and grow within this tradition, guided by teachers who are deeply committed to Classical Chinese Medical principles as taught by Daoist priest, Master and Scholar Jeffrey Yuen.
My approach is holistic and tailored to address a wide range of conditions, including pain, stress, emotional imbalances, digestive issues, and more. With several years of practice, and having run clinics in Shropshire, Devon and India, I am committed to promoting wellness and empowering my patients to take control of their health. I utilize acupuncture and adjunct therapies such as guasha, cupping, tui na, and moxibustion to help restore balance and improve overall health. I am continuously expanding my knowledge, currently focusing on advancing my Tui Na (Chinese medical massage) skills and exploring the integration of Classical Chinese Herbal Medicine into my practice."

You can contact Anna via her page on the Integral Health website here https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/anna-wells-2/

29/12/2025

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Link - https://foundations.makeyourlifecount.co.uk

28/12/2025

National Call a Friend Day

“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” (Woodrow Wilson)
📞 As social beings, connection is vital. Real friendships hold space for our joy and our struggles. They help us feel safe, seen and understood.

But sometimes, anxiety, stress or disconnection makes it harder to reach out - even when we want to.

💫 Support with Tracey-Anne Holloway Includes: Hypnotherapy, EFT, Bowen Therapy, Therapeutic Yin Yoga, and Wellbeing Coaching — support emotional reconnection and nervous system balance, so reaching out feels lighter and more natural.

✨ Today, call someone. Reconnect. Or turn inward and ask: What connection am I truly craving?

https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/tracey-anne-holloway/

25/12/2025

Season's blessing to you all out there.

However you celebrate this darkest point in the year, please think about your health as you do so.

We try to encourage you all to live a win-win life, one where you and everyone around you gains from the choices you make and the world becomes richer and greater from the collective focus on health and wellbeing.

At Integral Health, we would love to see more goodness, truth, beauty and functioning at all levels of Mind, Body and Spirit.

Have a wonderful yuletide and we'll see you all in 2026.

22/12/2025

Tattoo – a symbol of the soul or pain on your own terms?

In Biodecoding/ Total Biology, the body is a map of emotions.

And the skin? A boundary – between me and the world, between what I feel and what I show.

So a tattoo is not just a decoration. It is a sign. Sometimes a memory. Sometimes a scream. Sometimes a whisper: ‘Look. It hurts. But I'm in control of it now.’

A quote after a break-up? It can mean: ‘I will leave a mark because I lost you. I want to feel that I exist.’

A tattoo as a ‘wound I choose’ – pain that I can control when others overwhelm me.

An animal, a totem, an angel? Perhaps an unconscious echo of ancestors. The skin remembers more than you think.

In Total Biology, a tattoo is often a record of the conflict of separation:
‘I need a mark of someone who has left. Or of myself – the one who has disappeared. Through loss. Through shock. Through the system.’

It is also a marking of boundaries: ‘You can touch me up to this point. Beyond that – it's mine.’
But a tattoo is not just pain. It is also a return.
To the body. To oneself. To influence. ‘It's my body. My decision. My symbol.’
A record of change. The seal of a new chapter. The moment: ‘I am no longer the person I used to be.’

A tattoo can also be meditation. Grounding. The intention of the ‘why’ is engraved on the body. Quietly, but forever.

Sometimes it says more than a hundred words spoken in therapy. It's like a dialogue with my former self. And with the one who survived.
It can also be a form of coming to terms with a history I didn't want to carry — but now I carry it differently. By choice.

Sometimes a tattoo liberates — not through forgetting, but through honouring. It is an act of strength, not weakness.

And if it hurts... that's good. It means that something is being recorded. And it stays.

Other approaches:
Systemic — loyalty, rebellion, memory.
Somatic — the body speaks when words are silent.
Psychological – identity, ritual, rebirth.
Spiritual – a sign of the soul, protection, initiation.

Ask yourself:
Why this symbol? Why this place? Why then?
Because the body does not lie. And a tattoo is one of the most intimate letters we write to ourselves.

If you would like to explore some of the psychology behind your tatoos, contact Agnieszka Kozak and see how Biodecoding can help you

https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/agnieszka-kozak/

20/12/2025

International Human Solidarity Day

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

🌍 Solidarity begins with empathy - the ability to see another’s pain and not turn away. It grows through listening, presence and collective care.
When we care for ourselves, we build the capacity to care for each other. Healing is not just personal - it’s global.

💫 Support with Tracey-Anne Holloway: Wellbeing Coaching, EFT, Hypnotherapy, Yin Yoga, and Bowen Therapy - help regulate your nervous system, restore resilience and support you in becoming an anchor for others, too.

When you heal, you ripple healing outward.
✨ Today, take one action - small or bold - in solidarity with yourself and someone else.

https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/tracey-anne-holloway/

17/12/2025

Feeling the Winter Blues? Acupuncture Can Help

As the days grow shorter and darker, it’s completely natural to notice your mood shifting.

Many people experience a dip in energy, motivation and emotional wellbeing at this time of year. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the winter blues can make everything feel a little heavier, but you don’t have to navigate it on your own.

Acupuncture offers a gentle, supportive way to help you feel more balanced through the winter months. Treatments work to calm the nervous system, lift low mood and ease feelings of stress or anxiety.

Many people find that sleep improves and energy becomes steadier, helping them feel more grounded and resilient even on the greyest days.

By supporting circulation and overall wellbeing, acupuncture can help you reconnect with your body and feel more like yourself again.

Each session is tailored to what you need most. If you’ve been finding this winter difficult, you’re always welcome to reach out, ask questions or book some time for yourself.

You don’t have to go through the season feeling low, there is support here for you. 💛

Contact our acupuncture team via our website or through our page.

Centre for Integral Health

10/01/2026

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03/01/2026

02/01/2026

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Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm