Global Wellness Institute

“Dr. Andrew Weil Says We’re Taking Too Many Medicines” – The New York Times – June 22, 2017

Dr. Andrew Weil, the integrative medicine pioneer, has a new book, “Mind Over Meds: Know When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better”. He argues here that people are now taking far too many medicines (whether statins, antidepressants or common cold remedies)  – a problem that’s been building this last century because of a mindset on the part of doctors that medication is the only legitimate way to treat disease. (Dr. Weil will keynote at this October’s Global Wellness Summit.)

Chinese outbound tourism will shape the future of the global wellness industry for years to come. Not only because Chinese tourists are becoming much more health/wellness conscious, but because the Chinese traveling population is so incredibly massive, that even a marginal future increase means big numbers.

The issue of whether global populism is negatively impacting tourism in general – and wellness tourism in particular – is a burning one, but not easy to address right now. When you look at countries like Turkey or the U.S., there are so many causes to disentangle. Malleret argues that in the long term, countries that “turn inward” will ultimately deter tourism and lose travellers to other more welcoming destinations.

Europe pioneered spa/bathing culture thousands of years ago – and it’s a surprising history. Watch global spa experts (moderated by Anna Bjurstam, VP, Six Senses Hotel & Resorts) discuss some “naked truths” about unique European traditions.

The Danish charity, GAME, is creating utopian spaces fashioned out of abandoned warehouses where teens can skateboard, play sports and even create animation – combining wellness with architectural revitalization.