Social Isolation Associated With Dementia

Social isolation is directly linked with changes in the brain structures associated with memory, making it a clear risk factor for dementia, scientists have found. The study, published in the journal ‘Neurology’, has found that socially…

Heard Of Auricular Acupuncture?

Auricular acupuncture, in which needles are used to stimulate specific points in the ear, originated in Ancient China and proved popular in Ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. Sharp stones, fish bones and bamboo clips were used to treat war…

Coffee Is Safe During Pregnancy

Researchers from the University of Queensland have found that enjoying a daily latte or a black coffee causes no increased risk to pregnancy and that limited coffee consumption during pregnancy doesn't increase the risk of miscarriage,…

How Healthy Do You Think Your Diet Is?

Says the American Society for Nutrition, most people think their diet is healthier than it actually is. Examples of foods ranked as healthy include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, lower-fat dairy products, seafood and…

How Bee-Friendly Is Your Garden?

Some people don’t like bees. The slightest buzz sends them into full-on screaming-and-arm-flailing mode. But although few gardeners would welcome a bee nest on their patch, there are some real advantages from inviting these fuzzy, buzzy…

Smart Tips For Busy Cooks

Do you want tasty, healthy meals without spending hours in the kitchen? Sometimes, it’s the little short cuts and clever tricks that can save you time and improve your cooking. Here are some tips for savvy home chefs: Get more juice from…

The Chinese Art Of Moxibustion

While the practice of acupuncture is widely accepted the worldover, a related form of Chinese healing – moxibustion – remains less familiar. Today, moxibustion practice takes the form of either burning moxa (mugwort) directly on the skin,…

Why Pinhole Glasses Were Used

A pair of pinhole glasses, dating back to the 8th century, was found in a tomb along the Silk Road. Pinhole glasses have a series of pinhole-sized perforations in an otherwise opaque sheet of plastic. Each perforation only allows a very…

Fruitier, Flowery Dark Chocolate

Researchers have found that an alternative processing step called ‘moist incubation’ results in a fruitier, more flowery-tasting dark chocolate than the conventional fermentation process. After cocoa beans are harvested, they are…

Ancient Egyptian Hair Care

Contrary to what you may think, anxiety over greying or receding hair isn’t just a modern concern. Various ancient cultures used natural cures and remedies to treat greyness and hair loss, suggesting that it was as big a deal in ancient…

COVID Lowers IQ!

There is growing evidence that COVID-19 can cause lasting cognitive and mental health problems, with recovered patients reporting symptoms including fatigue, 'brain fog', problems recalling words, sleep disturbances, anxiety and even…

Choose The Right Garden Lighting

We spend a lot of time considering different lighting options for our home, but most of us never consider adding lights to our outdoor spaces. Outdoor illumination can transform the appearance of your garden, making it a space you’ll want…

Lose Weight With A Kitchen Scale

When you’re trying to lose weight, the kitchen can be a dangerous place, fraught with tempting foods and hidden hazards that are just waiting to derail you from your weight loss journey. Fortunately, the kitchen can be your friend, and can…

Bundjalungs And Tea Tree Oil

The Bundjalung aboriginal people from Australia used the tea tree for medicinal purposes even 3,000 years ago. Recognising it as a disinfectant, they crushed tea-tree (or paper bark) leaves and applied the paste to wounds, cuts and bites as…

Egyptian Mummies Had Heart Problems, Too

Ahmosa-Meryet-Amon, an Egyptian princess living in Thebes (Luxor) around 1550 BC, has become the earliest person in history to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The Horus research programme used whole body CT scanning to identify a…

Daily Coffee Benefits The Heart

Drinking coffee, particularly two to three cups a day, is not only associated with a lower risk of heart disease and dangerous heart rhythms but also with living longer, says a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st…

What The Romans Knew

The Romans did a lot in terms of building the infrastructure for future generations, but did you know they focussed on wellness too? The Romans developed the first known public health measures, when they realised their workers were no good…

Way To Make Walking Easier

Findings from the Oregon Health & Science University describe a novel way to reduce the energy people spend to walk, as much as by half, which could have applications for therapy received by patients with impaired walking abilities.…

Follow The Request Of The Stone

Zen gardens, also known as Japanese rock gardens, have a fascinating history dating back over a thousand years. The original versions involved creating a kare-sansui, or dry landscape, using rocks and stones. This type of garden was ideally…

Heard Of Halogen Oven?

Here is a fast, healthy and energy-efficient cooking method... The halogen oven is a compact, stand-alone cooking unit that consists of a transparent glass bowl and a lid that contains the heating element – a metal filament inside a…

Brew Up Some Good Health

Tea has been popular for thousands of years. The origin of the wild tea plant, Camellia sinensis, has been traced to Assam, and also to China. As far back as 1906, tea was believed to be an antibacterial substance, which could help to…

Exercise Helps Retain Memories

New research led by University of Pittsburgh psychologists has pooled data from dozens of studies to find that specific exercise helps episodic memory among those who are between 55 to 68 years. And 3 times a week for 4 months can do the…

Even Gentle Touch Is Healing

The sense of touch is one of our most ancient, and also one we can least survive without. It’s vital for survival. The ability to sense gentle touch develops early in the womb and provides comfort even before birth. Yet until now the…

Thank You, Immune System!

Until recently, it was believed that the immune system was mostly dormant unless the body was under attack in connection with infections. However, it now turns out that the immune system most likely also plays an important role for…

Old Wives’ Fishy Tale Was Right!

Fish was traditionally known as ‘brain food’ and was said to be good for your grey matter. Recent research suggests that people who eat the most fish are least likely to develop depression, and that eating fish can lower your risk of a…