CONTENTS

Introduction

WELLBEING THROUGH TIME

How are you today?

Wellbeing – a positive cycle

Wellbeing through the ages

THE APOTHECARY

A spicer, a grocer and a pharmacist

Branding wellbeing through the ages

anatomē: London’s modern apothecary

What is aromachology?

WELLBEING PILLARS

Today’s wellbeing yearnings

1. Sleep

Sleep through the ages

2. Balance

3. Movement

Exercise through the ages

4. Focus

5. Diet

Diets through the ages

Wellbeing villains

WELLBEING PRACTICES

What are wellbeing practices?

Sleep practice

Bathroom practice

Create your haven

Meditate

Massage

Get outdoors

HERO BOTANICALS

The power of botanicals

Further reading

Acknowledgements

About the authors

HOW TO USE THIS EBOOK

Select one of the chapters from the main contents list and you will be taken straight to that chapter.

Look out for linked text (which is in blue) throughout the ebook that you can select to help you navigate between related sections.

You can double tap images and tables to increase their size. To return to the original view, just tap the cross in the top left-hand corner of the screen.

INTRODUCTION

Wellness isn’t a new concept. Humanity’s quest for wellbeing has been consistent throughout history, spanning civilizations and cultures. From the ancient Egyptians’ belief in the balance of mind, body and soul to the teachings of Greek philosophers such as Hippocrates emphasizing holistic health, we find evidence of early pursuits of wellbeing that still serve as a reference in modern medicine.

Eastern traditions, such as Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, offer comprehensive systems promoting harmony and vitality. As centuries progressed, the Renaissance sparked a renewed interest in physical and mental wellbeing, with the likes of Leonardo da Vinci studying anatomy and pursuing holistic health practices.

Apothecaries and health purveyors have played an important role in wellbeing history, evolving from ancient civilizations where merchants traded spices, herbs and remedies. Over time, they transformed into esteemed establishments offering medicinal compounds, advice and healthcare services.

Humanity evolves, but our basic wellbeing needs remain: this enduring pursuit continues as we explore innovative approaches that integrate ancient wisdom with modern scientific advancements to nurture our wellbeing.

That’s why anatomē was born: to bridge health and lifestyle, bringing life-enhancing practices and formulations to communities and helping people look after themselves. To recreate the apothecary experience in an era of scientific knowledge, losing the witchcraft connotations and maintaining the trustworthy aspect of the community merchant with solutions to people’s needs.

Moreover, anatomē brings a new answer to consumer lifestyle cravings: viewing wellbeing as the ultimate luxury – more valuable than any other status symbol. You’ll wear your wellbeing better than any new watch or handbag.

This book explores the history and ingredients in our formulations, recipes, practices, anecdotes and the knowledge behind our brand and philosophy. It gives readers a glimpse into aromachology – the science that studies how scent can support our body functioning and provides comprehensive guidance on how to incorporate this science and harness its benefits to enhance busy, dynamic lifestyles.

Rather than establish rules or increase anxiety around how we feel, this book highlights simple ways to improve everyday life with easy-to-follow practices and practical ways of incorporating powerful botanical ingredients to help us feel better.

If you left your home today and interacted with a human being or two, you likely asked them how they were doing. And you were probably asked the same, either in return or as an opener.

When did showing interest in another person’s wellbeing become a form of social etiquette?

‘How do you do?’ ‘How do you fare?’ These and other how-do sentences can be traced back to the 1370s, mostly in plays, as official documents are less likely to register this colloquial form of language.

As far as research goes, however, the specific question ‘How are you?’ wasn’t recorded, at least in writing, until the 1600s. The record in question is an exchange in Thomas Middleton’s play Women Beware Women (c. 1621):

‘How are you now, sir?’ ‘I feel a better ease, madam.’

Today, as societies grow increasingly self-centred, even the politest replies of ‘I’m well, thank you’, can annoy the interlocutor. There’s no need to ask it back either: no one wants to know.

But we do want to know how we are feeling. And we want to talk about it, too. The truthful answers, positive or negative, reveal our wellbeing yearnings. And we all have them.

anatomē’s aim is to create a culture, a conversation, where our community can discuss their wellbeing needs and challenges with a team prepared to address them. This book is a curated selection of this information, with anecdotal and science-backed facts that will help you embrace health and wellbeing from a preventative perspective.

Sleep, focus, movement, balance and gut health aren’t health emergencies, but lingering subjects we avoid or ignore while we get on with our days. Often results of careless routines and not-so-great habits, these challenges can be faced with practices, natural ingredients and a welcome dose of awareness.

After reading this book, you will probably need to keep your polite ‘I’m doing well, thank you’. But, with manageable lifestyle changes, you’ll master ‘I could have slept better’, or ‘I am struggling to concentrate’. Most of all, after this journey of revisiting wellbeing from the past and interacting with it in the present, we want you to be more aware of what equilibrium means for you, what foods work for you, how many hours sleep is enough, your own moods and the practices you need to adopt so you can live, and live well, to be well.

WELLBEING – A POSTIVE CYCLE

The term wellbeing refers to being comfortable, happy and in good health. It can refer to an entire society, our planet, a nation or an individual.

We can interpret wellbeing in many ways. Someone saving money may be thinking about their future wellbeing (secured with financial backing). A government may be concerned about social wellbeing and taking social measures to ensure people are well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US defines wellbeing as an overall perception that life is going well. The level of this measure can start with the basics, such as housing, employment and nourishment. It then evolves and changes meaning depending on the demographics analyzed.

WHAT IS WELLBEING?

For someone with a job, appropriate housing and a lifestyle where all their living needs are met, the definition of wellbeing applies to their mental and physical health.

We will look at the anatomē community as a demographic with a comfortable lifestyle. Financially stable and provided with all their basic needs, plus their luxury of choice (with the idea of luxury varying from one individual to another). That may seem an obvious observation, but understanding the relativity of wellbeing ensures we’re not insensitive to societal problems. Addressing the sleep quality of someone with a heated home, quality food and a comfortable lifestyle is different from addressing the needs of people without a home or someone unemployed facing financial difficulties.

LINK TO HEALTH

At anatomē, we see wellbeing as a positive cycle we can generate and nurture. It involves everyday health aspects often ignored or overlooked, such as the quality of our sleep, disposition, energy and focus.

Wellbeing manifestations – as well as symptoms from lack of wellbeing – are linked. Once you tackle one aspect of your wellbeing, you’ll likely notice improvements in other areas of your life too.

We will discuss some wellbeing aspects in depth, addressing the subjects we’ve mastered with our research. We will also gently discuss some of the repercussions of a successful regimen of wellbeing practices. For example, someone with improved sleep quality will likely enjoy sex more.

Each wellbeing aspect we tackle at anatomē comes with a list of ‘halo-effect’ improvements. These are benefits that go beyond the initial challenge and improve many aspects of life, thanks to our increased resilience, better physical health, improved cognitive function and greater life satisfaction.

Once you tackle one aspect of your wellbeing, you’ll likely notice improvements in other areas of your life too.

WELLNESS: AN ANCIENT CONCEPT

Wellbeing originates from wellness, a modern concept with ancient roots. We only began to discuss and understand wellness as we do today in the mid-twentieth century.

What changed is the rapid development of the perception of an individual and their psychological and physical state. Also during this period, the idea of ‘healthy habits’ and preventing illnesses became mainstream. Rather than being ‘healthy’ or ‘ill’, today we assess our health risks, we have routine checks and we’re learning to talk about ourselves and our mental health.

We also take a more nuanced (less black-and-white) approach to how we feel. There’s a broad spectrum of health and wellness levels – all relative and individual. While your medical exams may show overall good health, your self-care may need a switch to make you feel at ease.

Being healthy is also about our daily paths. Drinking more water, taking an outdoor walk, meditating and practising awareness, improving your sleep, managing your diet, feeling focused and present: how do you keep your health in check day-to-day?

WELLBEING THROUGH THE AGES

Wellbeing, as a concept, has existed for a long time. While civilizations have always sought ways to improve their health, the understanding of wellness has evolved and changed with time. Understanding the breakthroughs of wellbeing through the centuries, medicine’s oscillating approach between cure and prevention of illnesses and the advent of wellness beyond physical health helps us understand the present.

3,000–1,500 BC

Ayurveda is a holistic health and wellness system of practices and formulations that strives to create harmony between body, mind and spirit. Ayurvedic regimens are tailored to the individual’s constitution, including their nutritional, exercise, social and hygiene needs – aiming to create a physical and mental balance that prevents illness. Among Ayurvedic practices now widely used are yoga and meditation.

500 BC

In ancient Greece, Hippocrates was arguably the pioneering physician to propose preventative medicine. He believed in working against sickness before it happened over treating diseases. Hippocrates was also the first physician to state that health problems can be consequences of diet, lifestyle and environmental factors, such as air quality, water purity, climate and sanitation.

50 BC

In ancient Rome, medicine was highly preventative – based on the Greek philosophy – focusing on the individual’s diet and lifestyle. Romans also had a highly developed public health system and public infrastructure. With aqueducts, sewers and public baths, their high hygiene standards prevented the spread of infections and earned them a healthier population.

200–300 AD

Historical records of women in medicine are rare, as are studies focusing solely on women’s health. In On the Diseases and Cures of Women, Metrodora wrote about conditions affecting the uterus, abdomen and kidneys, fertility treatments and even shares recipes for contraception.

1730s

The plates of A Curious Herbal, published between 1737 and 1739, were illustrated and engraved by the Scottish botanist and author Elizabeth Blackwell. The book featured illustrations of medicinal plants and was created as a resource for pharmacists and doctors.

1650s

Wellness becomes a word in the English language. In the earliest published reference, dating from 1654, this term referred to the antonym of ‘illness’. The record in question was a diary entry of Sir Archibald Johnston: ‘I … blessed God … for my daughter’s wealnesse.’

The Oxford English Dictionary dates this expression to this decade. This term, however, referred to more than simply ‘not being ill’, but to ‘the state of being healthy, especially when you actively try to achieve this’.

1790s

Homeopathy appears in Germany. Physician Samuel Hahnemann led the development of a health system utilizing natural substances to promote self-healing responses from the body. Homeopaths, a category of 200,000 physicians in practice today, believe in curing sick people with substances that cause symptoms of a given disease in those who are healthy.

1870s

Osteopathy, a holistic system based on the manipulation of muscles and joints developed by Andrew Taylor Still develops. In modern medicine, osteopathy is a speciality practised by nearly 200,000 physicians.

1880s

Chiropractic is born. American chiropractor Daniel David Palmer manipulated the back of janitor Harvey Lillard, readjusting bones and joints and discovering a way to mechanically fix the skeleton. Today, chiropractic is a recognized alternative, complementary type of medicine.

1890s

Nutritional research is at the heart of the work of Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner. He advocates a diet with higher, consistent portions of fruits and vegetables to keep an individual healthy, holistically protecting bodily functions.

Also during this period, the first recorded movement of cure promoted by a healthy mind appeared: Theories of Mentally Aided Healing by Phineas Parkhurst Quimby.

1860s

Also in Germany, a Catholic priest named Sebastian Kneipp introduced his eponymous cure system. Naming it ‘Kneipp Cure’, he combined herbalism, hydrotherapy and a regime of exercise and nutrition to treat and prevent disease.

1900s

John Harvey Kellogg, director of Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, advocates an early version of what we today understand as a healthy, wholesome lifestyle. Naturopathy consists of exercise, fresh air, a healthy diet and hydrotherapy, composing an overall notion of ‘learning to be well’. This system was supported by herbal formulations, massages and other wellbeing practices – close to anatomē’s practices.

In Austria, Rudolf Steiner, a philosopher interested in spirituality, develops the anthroposophy movement, which emphasized the spiritual nature of humanity, and anthroposophical holistic medicine, an approach that sought to treat the whole individual, including their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

1960s

Chinese pharmaceutical chemist, and malariologist, Tu Youyou discovers artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin, compounds used to treat malaria, by reading traditional Chinese medical texts. This breakthrough has helped save millions of lives in South China, Southeast Asia, Africa and South America.

1950s

Wellness gets its modern meaning. The pioneering concept appears in a work by Halbert L. Dunn called High-Level Wellness (published in 1961). Dr Dunn was one of the first physicians to broaden the understanding of wellness by recognizing alternatives to evidence-driven, disease-focused biomedicine, which was then the only recognized form of health treatment. He assembles studies, practices and beliefs to develop the idea of wellness, which was abstract at the time. From this moment, a series of movements would defend wellness as a holistic societal challenge, as well as something that could be fostered with public policies on everything from farming to pollution control, and later to mental health management and support.

1980s

The wellness movement is taken seriously by corporations, medical organizations and academia. One of the most prominent publications of this movement was the Berkeley Wellness Letter, which began in 1984. It presented science-backed articles, often contradicting medical beliefs, gaining momentum and followers.

Actress and activist Jane Fonda launched Jane Fonda’s Workout in 1982, an exercise routine on video, launched with a focus on helping women exercise at home. The VHS tape became a bestseller and led to a movement of celebrity-endorsed wellbeing practices and guides, still in vogue today.

Also during this period, wellness reached the mainstream as a new industry, with fitness programmes, workplace awareness and celebrity-created and endorsed products and brands.

2010s

The advent of social media allowed audiences to publish their ideas. First in images, then through videos, a growing number of individuals share their wellbeing practices, including diet, skincare, exercise and haven-creation on social media. Known as influencers, they achieve global success and recognition and reach celebrity status, shifting perceptions of trust and research and focusing on individual experiences and stories.