ITV 1’s flagship current affairs programme Tonight, which airs across the UK in the evening primetime slot after the news, features an extensive interview with Dr Alison about Datshiane’s own struggles with tiredness. During her filmed consultation with Dr Alison in our London clinic, Datshiane reveals that she wakes up every night at 4am – has done so for 20 years – and often struggles with exhaustion.
ITV sought Dr Alison’s deep knowledge and decades of experience, and her expertise in functional medicine, hormonal dysfunction, and nutrition. Dr Alison tells Datshiane that feeling tired all the time is highly prevalent in all ages, and is often accompanied by brain fog, joint and muscle pains, memory issues, difficulty with motivation and momentum and anxiety or depression.
Dr Alison discusses the root causes of excessive fatigue including dietary deficiencies in vitamins and trace minerals including zinc, Vitamin B12, a lack of which can cause brain fog and chronic pain, and iron.
In an un-broadcasted section of the consultation, Dr Alison also discusses chemical exposure from cleaning products, pesticides on foods, mould in homes and modern digital lifestyles. She also highlighted sandwich generation stress among women aged 40-50 who are working, and juggling being carers and mothers, past trauma, and chronic stress leading to adrenal exhaustion.
Dr Alison’s top three recommendations were to reduce household chemicals by switching to natural cleaning products; check Vitamin D levels and aim for optimal, not minimal levels, including around 30 minutes of daily sunlight without sunblock (avoiding midday summer sun). Dr Alison also advised prioritising sleep and using relaxation or breathing techniques alongside morning sunlight exposure.
Datshiane is surprised when Dr Alison advises her not to shower immediately after sun exposure, as this can hinder Vitamin D synthesis from the skin.
In a filmed segment that was not broadcasted, Dr Alison invites Datshiane to try Nova Thor red light therapy in an adjoining treatment room. Datshiane enjoyed 20 minutes of rest on the machine and emerged saying she felt “refreshed and full of energy”. Nova Thor has multiple clinical trial studies proving that it can improve energy levels, even in patients with chronic fatigue. Dr Finlay’s patients have access to one of a small handful of these machines in the U.K.
Datshiane asks Dr Alison when viewers should seek help from a doctor if they feel tired all the time. Dr Alison advises that unusual tiredness persisting for six weeks should trigger a GP visit. Dr Alison says it is important that viewers understand that chronic fatigue is not normal or inevitable and should be medically investigated.
Dr. Finlay’s Private Practice offers longer consultation times than an NHS GP with in-depth hormone and toxin testing and a deeper investigation of underlying causes. In the programme, we watch Datshiane undergoing full blood testing including a Well Person Profile covering tests for cholesterol, Vitamin D, liver function, full blood count and electrolytes. In addition, Datshiane was tested for Vitamin B12, thyroid function and C reactive protein for cardiovascular risk.
In a follow up online consultation with Dr Alison, shown in the programme, the blood test results revealed that Datshiane has borderline low iron, slightly low B12 and folate, and a significant Vitamin D deficiency, which she is going to look to address with diet changes, supplements and increasing her exposure to sunlight.
