Dr Alison Grimston grew up on her family’s farm in Sussex where her parents worked long hours every day – and founded one of the country’s first farm shops. Christmases were spent delivering chocolates to patients in hospital with her nurse godmother. Those early experiences planted the seed of Dr Allie’s life’s work to heal people, allied with a ferocious work ethic and intellectual rigour that’s made her one of the country’s leading Women’s Functional Medicine GPs.
Although Allie initially dreamed of being a vet, she realised she would find it difficult to put an animal to sleep, and after applying to medical school, a devastating car accident just weeks before she left for university changed everything. At only 17, Allie broke her back. Rather than defer her place, she carried on, attending lectures lying flat, relying on regular physiotherapy and living with severe pain for the next 25 years. ‘My own experience of chronic pain taught me that spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, chiropractic, Alexander technique, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and acupuncture were an important part of my recovery. I had to understand scientifically why this was so.’ While completing her medical degree, Allie went on to add BSc and MPhil qualifications and has also since studied integrative medicine, qualifying as a GP and then a Functional Medicine Doctor.
Dr Allie filming for ITV‘
At the heart of functional medicine is a patient-centred approach that connects physical health with emotional wellbeing using advanced testing, personalised diet, individualised lifestyle changes and targeted complementary therapies to optimise health,’ she explains.
Although Allie has a lot of letters after her name, her legions of satisfied patients – many of whom say she’s transformed their lives – believe Allie has an unusual ability no textbook can ever teach: genuine and heartfelt empathy. Allie deeply understands the frustration of patients who feel gaslit, unheard, or whose conditions are complex and multifactorial. ‘I genuinely want to find and treat the root cause of my patients’ health problems – not just manage symptoms,’ she says.
After qualifying, Allie spent many years as a highly popular and sought after NHS GP. Yet while she was helping others, she admits she neglected herself.
Like so many ambitious women, she was trying to be the perfect doctor, the perfect wife, the perfect mother and the perfect business partner. Eventually the cracks began to show. She found herself crying between patients, staying later every evening, missing precious family moments and running on empty.
It was only when her practice manager insisted she take a break that she recognised she had burnt out. Time away from medicine, spent reconnecting with horses, animals and the countryside, gave her space to recover and rediscover what mattered most.
That period also opened the door to functional medicine and a more holistic approach to health. Rather than looking only at symptoms, she became fascinated by understanding why people become unwell in the first place – considering hormones, nutrition, lifestyle, stress, sleep and the wider picture alongside western medicine.
Today, as Head of Women’s Health at Dr Finlay’s Private Practice, she has found a role that perfectly reflects that philosophy. Patients often arrive after years of feeling dismissed, exhausted or told that their symptoms are ‘just stress’ or ‘just menopause’.
‘We have time to listen,’ she says. ‘Sometimes that’s where healing begins.’
Throughout our conversation, one message kept coming through. Women are exceptionally good at looking after everyone else but often ignore the signals their own bodies are sending them. Allie believes that needs to change.
She shares five simple habits every woman can adopt today to feel instantly better:
• Prioritise sleep – quality rest is the foundation for physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Eat enough protein – particularly through perimenopause and menopause, when maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important.
• Spend ten minutes outside in natural daylight each morning to help regulate your body’s natural rhythms.
• Put your phone away at least an hour before bed and create a calming evening routine.
• Ask yourself every day: ‘What does my body need today?’ instead of ‘How much more can I push through?’
It is a refreshingly compassionate message from someone who has experienced chronic pain, burnout, and the pressure of trying to do it all.
As our conversation ends, it strikes me that Dr Allie isn’t simply treating patients – she’s encouraging women to give themselves permission to pause, listen and put their own wellbeing back on the priority list.
Contact Dr Allie
Dr Allie Grimston is Head of Women’s Health at Dr Finlay’s Private Practice, specialising in functional medicine, hormones, optimising nutrition and personalised healthcare. Visit www.DrFinlays.co.uk to learn more or book an appointment.
