What sets us apart
Personalised, science-backed treatments
We design every plan around your symptoms and health history. Our focus is always on evidence-based outcomes.
Decades of trusted experience
We've been helping you navigate allergy and immune conditions since 1982. Our clinic history is built on real results.
Care that goes beyond symptoms
We take time to understand what's behind your condition. Our holistic view means support for your wellbeing, not just your diagnosis.
Our history
The Burghwood Clinic was founded by Dr John Mansfield and originally opened its doors in May 1982, when it has been involved in both research and the practical applications of the rapidly evolving fields of Allergy, Environmental and Nutritional Medicine. This medical facility has been recognised, since its inception, as one of very few centres offering effective management on a wide range of modern-day conditions.
Dr Apelles Econs MRCS LRCP – Director & Registered Manager
Dr Apelles Econs is the Medical Director/Registered Provider at The Burghwood Clinic. He studied medicine at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, where he graduated in 1976. After working in a number of hospital posts, he entered NHS general practice, where he spent 22 years as a principal, also operating as a part-time allergy specialist since 1992.
During this time, he found that simple dietary changes and safe methods of desensitisation were both more clinically and cost-effective than medications used for common conditions such as chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, irritable bowel, arthritis, eczema, asthma and many others.
He has wide-ranging experience with the management of dietary problems, the treatment of intestinal parasites, the use of oral and intravenous nutrition, dealing with chemically sensitive people and the use of all the modern methods of immunotherapy, including the Enzyme Potentiated method (EPD), the Low-dose method (LDI) and the more "conventional" sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).
Dr Econs has been a guest allergy specialist in some radio and TV programmes, such as Embarrassing Bodies and The Food Hospital; has contributed to local NHS primary care medical groups; and has lectured at several postgraduate medical conferences.
Dr Econs has been privileged to have mentored a number of his colleagues, some of whom have also been excelling, practising in the same field of ecological influences on human health, in the UK and overseas.
Dr Econs is recognised by a number of health insurance companies, including Standard Life, Cigna, PruHealth, WPA, BCWA, Aviva Health, Groupama, SimplyHealth and HSA.
Dr John Mansfield, Founder (deceased 2016)
During his professional career, he gained his medical degree at Guy's Hospital, London, and had worked in both the UK and the USA. He had been working in this speciality since 1976, when he was one of the three original British pioneers. In 1978 he was a founder member of the British Society for Allergy and Environmental Medicine and became president of that society from 1992 to 1995.
Dr John’s Books
The Migraine Revolution
In 1986 his book The Migraine Revolution was published. This was available for about ten years and was printed in four other languages but is currently out of print.
Arthritis – Allergy, Nutrition and the Environment
Arthritis: The Allergy Connection was first published in 1990 and revised and updated in 1995. At this time the title was changed to Arthritis - Allergy, Nutrition and the Environment.
The Six Secrets of Successful Weight Loss
In 2012 The Six Secrets of Successful Weight Loss by Dr Mansfield was published. It offers special insights into lesser-known factors in weight-related problems. It is available from most retailers.
Clinical Trials and Studies
In 1986 we completed two separate clinical trials in conjunction with the Department of Rheumatology at Epsom District Hospital. In these studies, the relationship of food sensitivity to classical rheumatoid arthritis was explored. The results of the second trial were published in the Lancet on the 1st of February 1986, entitled 'Placebo-Controlled Blind Study of Dietary Manipulation Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis'. This study showed that 33 out of 44 patients with rheumatoid arthritis improved dramatically with the simple expedient of an elimination diet.
In December 1998 we had a study published in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine entitled 'Treatment of Equine Allergic Diseases with Allergy Neutralisation – A Field Study'. This was the first major study anywhere in the world of neutralisation in an animal model, useful as it is difficult to imagine a placebo response in a horse. It showed very major improvements, often a complete recovery, in 92% of 13 horses with urticaria and 87% of 23 horses with COPD (equine asthma).
Our approach
The last century has seen huge changes in our environment, in particular the way we produce food and the types of food we eat. The environmental factors we are exposed to vastly differ from those of our ancestors. Our bodies are exposed to the highest levels of artificial chemicals, toxic metals and electromagnetic pollution in our history. For example, prior to 1942, all food production was organic. Human genes have evolved over millions of years in environments very different to those which we encounter in our present-day industrialised society, and it is not surprising that our ability to adapt to these changes in the past century has been inadequate.
These factors are compounded by nutritional deficiencies that have occurred as a result of modern farming and food manufacturing processes as well as changes in our bowel flora. In addition, lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, high alcohol intake, and ingestion of medical and illegal drugs can all diminish nutritional status with a resulting reduction in the individual's ability to adapt to environmental changes. Not surprisingly we see a parallel increase in the incidence of allergies and chronic degenerative diseases.
The environmental and nutritional approach to medical problems is based on the concept of cause and effect as well as seeking out the effects of environmental and nutritional factors on the health of the individual. In many areas of scientific endeavour, such as engineering, the whole science is based on isolating the causes of problems and dealing fundamentally with those causes. In medicine, there are some areas, such as the treatment of microbiological diseases (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.), in which the cause-and-effect approach has predominated and been successful. In other areas of medicine, such as the management of most chronic illnesses, the approach has been neglected to a considerable extent, and treatments have focused on symptom suppression.
Thus, headaches are not caused by a deficiency of aspirin. Arthritis is not caused by a deficiency of anti-inflammatory drugs. Asthma is not caused by a deficiency of asthma inhalers. Eczema is not caused by a deficiency of steroid ointments.
We consider the approach of investigating chronic illness in terms of causation a highly orthodox form of medicine. The term 'Orthodox' is derived from two Greek words meaning 'straight teaching' (Ortho = straight and dox = teaching). In medical science, explicit teaching should mean that the elucidation of basic triggers for illness should take precedence over the current fashion for the predominance of pharmaceutical suppression of symptoms. There have been huge advances, particularly in the last twenty-five years, in determining the fundamental causes of many human illnesses, and there have been several thousand clinical papers published in medical and nutritional journals relating to the fields of Food Sensitivity, Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Toxins, Reactions to Disturbed Gut Flora and Nutritional Medicine. A selection of some of the papers published in this area is available from the clinic.
The British Society for Ecological Medicine (BSEM) is a society of doctors interested in this approach. In the United States of America, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has the same philosophy as the British society. Both societies contain large numbers of hospital-based consultants, board-certified allergists and nutritional authorities. The Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine is readily available and is taken by most members of the British, American and Australian societies.
Our aim
Our philosophy at The Burghwood Clinic is to provide modern, professional investigation and treatment. Sympathetic in our support for patients suffering with a wide range of allergic conditions and other types of reactivity, we always try to maintain a relaxed but professional atmosphere. We pride ourselves on our philosophy of care, which is based on medical excellence combined with an approach directed towards each patient's individual needs.
Our aim is to enable you to overcome and prevent a wide range of allergies and immune conditions and reach a sustainable improved state of health. We believe that this is possible by addressing relevant, causative factors in your lifestyle, and we do our utmost to support you through this process.
Our commitment to you:
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To investigate and identify dietary, environmental or nutritional factors relevant to your health problems.
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To offer expert guidance and treatment in a responsible clinical set-up.
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To ensure personal and patient-orientated care.
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To provide friendly and sympathetic support by our dedicated teams.
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To evaluate our methods and constantly refine them to achieve the best results.
Our team
At The Burghwood Clinic, our experienced staff, led by Apelles Econs (the Registered Manager on top of his clinical responsibilities), and the admin staff are available to help with any problems or queries Monday to Friday (note that the clinic is closed on Fridays).
There are two registered nurses who perform intradermal skin testing (for neutralisation) and carry out or assist with the administration of IV nutritional therapies.
We have two laboratory technicians, who are responsible for the maintenance of immunotherapy testing dilutions and support Dr Econs in the production of vaccines.
When you call the clinic, you will talk to one of our four part-time administrators/receptionists, who will either deal with your enquiry, make a booking or pass you over to another department as appropriate.
Dr Apelles Econs, MRCS, LRCP
Medical Director
Dr Econs studied medicine at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, where he graduated in 1976. After working in a number of hospital posts, he entered NHS general practice, where he spent 22 years as a principal, also operating as a part-time allergy specialist since 1992. He has wide-ranging experience with the management of dietary problems, the treatment of intestinal parasites, the use of oral and intravenous nutrition, dealing with chemically sensitive people and the use of all the modern methods of immunotherapy, including the Enzyme Potentiated method (EPD), the Low-dose method (LDI) and the more “conventional” sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).
Dr Econs is a long-standing member of the British Society for Ecological Medicine and is registered with the General Medical Council and the General Naturopathic Council.
Claire, RGN
Allergy Nurse
After completing her nursing degree at Southampton University and qualifying as an RGN in 1997, Claire spent the next twelve years working in various medical and surgical areas, to include a year nursing in Brisbane. After various postgraduate courses, to include critical care and high-dependency nursing, her interest started to move towards naturopathy and a more holistic approach to healthcare. Claire returned to college and spent a year learning about naturopathy and naturopathic nutrition and subsequently joined The Burghwood Clinic in 2009, where she continues to practise low-dose immunotherapy. Claire also administers intravenous therapies.
Carmen, RGN
IV Clinic Nurse
Carmen joined the clinic in August 2009. She has had over twenty years of hospital-based nursing experience. She is responsible for the supply of injectibles and administration of intravenous therapies.
Stella
PA to Dr Econs / Senior Administrator
Stella is Dr Econs’ PA and joined the clinic in March 2020. Her role is diverse and includes supporting him in his responsibilities for compliance with healthcare regulations and liaising with and coordinating the clinic staff. She brings with her experience from a career as a police officer in the Metropolitan Police for 12 years and from the health sector, where she worked for South East Coast Ambulance Service and NHS Digital for 20 years. In her spare time she likes to keep fit with road bike cycling with her husband and loves to do the parkrun.
Rachel
Receptionist / Administrator
Rachel has worked for Dr Econs since 1998 in both a GP practice and, latterly, in the former Thames Allergy Centre. She moved over to The Burghwood Clinic in March 2014 when the two clinics amalgamated. In this time, Rachel has gained considerable in-house knowledge of diets and nutrition and about the treatments and prescriptions available.
Rachel's accountabilities include the provision of administration support and attendance guidance for existing and prospective clients. In addition, she books clinic appointments and manages communications between patients and clinical personnel. Her friendly expertise is both welcoming and reassuring for visitors to the clinic.
Lesley
Receptionist / Administrator
Lesley started working at The Burghwood Clinic in 2005 and, in this time, has gained a great deal of knowledge of the treatments and prescriptions available.
Lesley is always on hand to deal with patient enquiries & queries and to manage communications between patients and clinical personnel. She also books clinic appointments and provides extensive administrative support. She has a warm & friendly manner and excels at creating a good rapport with new and existing patients.
Sue
Senior Laboratory Technician
Sue started at the clinic in 1993, following twelve years working as a science technician with the research & development division of a multinational pharmaceutical company. Sue does venepuncture and has considerable in-house expertise in making up allergy skin testing solutions and neutralising vaccines. She is responsible for processing various tests and test results for our clients.
Anna
Laboratory Technician
Anna is familiar with and takes a keen interest in complementary healthcare. Along with the laboratory technician, she is responsible for maintaining testing dilutions used in low-dose immunotherapy. A mother of three, Anna likes to keep fit and enjoys travelling.
Lauren
Receptionist / Technician
Lauren joined the clinic in early 2019, having gained experience in a large NHS hospital. She is involved in our reception and in processing our test results.
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Our premises
The Burghwood Clinic was relocated in August 2020 to a modernised building in the heart of Ewell Village, near Epsom, just two miles away from its previous location in Banstead. The nearest railway station is Ewell West, a 5-minute walk away, a 5-minute taxi ride from Sutton and 20 minutes from Gatwick Airport.
Part of the building is the character, grade II listed and of historical significance, totally renovated, tastefully decorated, adapted and equipped to meet the highest standards as a medical unit. The unit contains two consulting rooms, two clinical rooms for skin testing and intravenous treatments, two reception desks/waiting areas connected with a wide corridor and a laboratory and an attached office next to a small internal walled terrace.
The entire unit enjoys the use of several HEPA air purifiers and ecologically friendly cleaning materials to minimise VOC emissions. It benefits from a fragrance-free policy, and many of our visitors with allergies or chemical sensitivities comment on experiencing their effects. Our contribution to a sustainable environment includes cautious use of energy, minimal use of medications and focusing on natural methods of prevention and treatment.
Ethernet access to the Internet allows visitors, who are sensitive to electromagnetism and non-ionising radiation, to feel safe (on request, in advance).
Parking is available in two nearby public car parks, 50 and 100 yards from the clinic. There is disabled access and a WC.
