Understanding The Dharma Chakra

Falun Gong is an exercise and meditation system that has its roots in ancient Buddhist spiritual practice. It involves physical exercise, broadly similar to Qigong and T’ai Chi, as well as contemplative meditation and the cultivation of…

Have You Tried Mien Shiang?

The ancient Chinese practice of Mien Shiang – face mapping or reading – is enjoying a new lease of life internationally. The principles of Mien Shiang can be traced back to 3,000-year-old Taoist practices, and are based on the belief that…

Mysterious Rituals In Ancient Egyptian Temple

A study, published in the ‘American Journal of Archaeology’, that describes the excavation of a religious complex from the Late Roman Period (between the fourth and sixth centuries) has found a mysterious ‘Falcon shrine’. It has an…

The Clean Potato?

With low or no-carbohydrate diets rising in popularity in recent times, the humble potato is now regularly overlooked in favour of other vegetables. Research has previously indicated that potatoes may have a detrimental effect on health,…

Oldest Evidence Of Using Fire To Cook

A remarkable scientific discovery appears in the journal ‘Nature Ecology & Evolution’: A close analysis of the remains of a carp-like fish found at the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (GBY) archaeological site in Israel shows that the fish were…

Key Measurement Of Overall Fitness

Cambridge researchers have developed a method for measuring overall fitness accurately on wearable devices -- and more robustly than current consumer smartwatches and fitness monitors -- without the wearer needing to exercise. Normally,…

The Way We Evolved

A team of researchers from the Duke University has identified a group of human DNA sequences driving changes in brain development, digestion and immunity that seem to have evolved rapidly after our family line split from that of the…

Don’t Spank Your Kids!

A new study, published in the journal ‘Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging’, has found that corporal punishment might impact neural systems to produce adverse effects in children. They noticed a decline in…

Food Gardening In Small Spaces

If you live in a small apartment in the city or only have very limited space to grow your food plants, you don’t have to give up on the idea of food gardening. There are several solutions to gardening in small spaces. A simple solution…

Black Seed Popular Even Today

The seeds of Nigella sativa – known as black seed or black cumin – were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb, and have been widely used both as a spice to flavour food, and for their many medicinal benefits. It has been cultivated for many centuries…

When The Old Heads Hurt

Headaches are not a modern phenomenon, and in ancient times popping a pill wasn’t an option. Instead, natural remedies such as lemon, ginger and chamomile were used to dull pain, and some of these traditional remedies are every bit as…

Dairy Fat Not A Villain

New research amongst the world's biggest consumers of dairy foods has shown that those with higher intakes of dairy fat, measured by levels of fatty acids in the blood, had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with low…

Ancient Tooth Care

Despite our common view of people from olden times with black and pitted teeth – or indeed, no teeth – there is evidence that the ancients took oral hygiene seriously. The basic design of the toothbrush has never really changed – it still…

Hand Dryers Spread Bacteria!

Good hand hygiene is essential to stop the spread of bacteria. However, scientists from the University of Leeds have found that modern hand dryers spread more germs than paper towels. The ‘jet air' hand dryers actually spread germs into the…

Gardening On A Budget

Even for those with the greenest of fingers, maintaining a garden in tip-top condition can seem like a financial luxury. Yet creating a beautiful garden needn’t be an expensive pastime if you take a frugal approach. Where possible, grow…

Beauty Products In Your Kitchen

Kitchen food scraps are not good only for the bin or your garden compost heap. A number of kitchen leftovers can offer effective beauty treatments. Here are just three kitchen beauty secrets that could have you rethinking what you do with…

Hair Extensions In Ancient Egypt

The traditional depiction of Nefertiti shows the ancient Egyptian love of make-up, while tales of Cleopatra’s bathing habits support their use of a skincare regime. What might be less well known, however, is the attention the ancient…

Shilajit, Destroyer Of Weakness

Shilajit, an ancient herbal substance used in Ayurveda, is a tar-like substance, thick and sticky, and is found oozing from cracks between rocks in the Himalayas. According to folklore, in ancient times the indigenous people found that it…

Eating Late Bad For Weight Loss

Obesity contributes to the onset of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and other conditions. A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, has found that when we eat significantly impacts our energy expenditure,…

Why Ancient Chinese Favoured Horse Chestnut

The horse chestnut is a large deciduous tree native to the Balkan peninsula. The seeds – glossy reddish-brown conkers inside a spiky green husk – drop in autumn and are favoured by schoolchildren, who use them in the popular game of the…

Vegetarian Women, Beware Of Hip Fracture

A study of over 26,000 middle-aged women reveals those with a vegetarian diet had a 33% higher risk of hip fracture compared to regular meat-eaters. The University of Leeds research, published in the journal ‘BMC Medicine’, investigated the…

Night Owls And Early Birds

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Research published in the journal ‘Experimental Physiology’ has found that wake/sleep cycles cause metabolic differences and alter our body's preference for energy sources. The researchers found that…

Easy Lawn Care

Are you seeking a picture-perfect lawn or just a healthy one? The results will depend on your effort. A healthy lawn needs some work on your part. Here are a few things to remember: The type of grass – As a rule, low maintenance lawn…