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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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, 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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

To help your kitchen become balanced, and stay that way, you can apply the principles of Feng shui. Pronounced ‘fung shway’, it is an ancient Chinese practice of how energy affects people positively or negatively. One of the primary…

Tarot is an ancient tool of divination that first took the form of cards in 14th century Europe. The cards remain popular even today for a reason: Tarot is a tool for understanding yourself deeply. Each card has a highly symbolic picture or…

Abstaining from food and/or drink for a period of time has received both positive and negative attention in recent years. The practice has a long history within dozens of faiths including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, branches of Christianity…

Lack of sleep is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, hypertension and sexual dysfunction. Now a new study from the University of California – Berkeley says that sleep also affects social interactions,…

Legend has it that Angelica gained its name as a result of a monk’s dream, in which an angel appeared and told him that the herb would cure the plague. It was described by Renaissance physician Paracelsus as a “marvellous medicine” during…

Researchers at Tufts University and Harvard University have found that men who consumed high rates of ultra-processed foods were at 29% higher risk for developing colorectal cancer than men who consumed much smaller amounts. They did not…

According to a new meta-analysis led by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers, a person's blood type may be linked to their risk of having an early stroke. The meta-analysis included all available data from genetic studies…

As a home gardener, there's nothing more satisfying than growing your own vegetables but, perhaps, you are looking for a way to increase your yield, or grow healthier vegetables. Well, if you're not already practising crop rotation, you'll…

Single people often get a hard deal - so many thrifty tips focus on buying ingredients in bulk or cooking large dishes for big families. That’s great if you’re feeding a small army but if you’re cooking for one, it’s difficult to make the…

It may come as no surprise that Tibetan medical practices are based on the Buddhist philosophy that everything in existence derives from the human mind and five basic elements: Earth, fire, water, wind and space (or void). Practitioners of…

The advice not to mix drinks when enjoying a boozy night out usually refers to not mixing wine with beer to avoid a nasty hangover. However, experts now warn that mixing alcohol with energy drinks also increases the risk of alcohol…

While you may be familiar with traditional Chinese medicine, few know much about ancient Korean medical practices that share the same roots. Evidence of traditional Korean healing techniques include stone and bone acupuncture needles dating…

If you’re concerned about giving your children tea to drink, a review on caffeinated drinks has concluded that up to two cups of tea daily may safely be consumed by younger children aged 4, while older school-aged children can consume up to…

One of the most fascinating forms of ancient wellness is Unani tibb. This form of Arabic medicine incorporates many influences and principles from early Persian and Greek medicine. Ibn Sina, a Persian scholar, brought a wealth of medical…

Although manufacturers of organic products are unable to claim that their produce tastes better than non-organic versions, it seems that consumers assume ‘organic’ means ‘better-tasting’ anyway. Participants in a Swedish study were given…

Part of the charm of any garden is seeing a wide variety of wildlife. Many creatures will make your garden their home, from birds and butterflies to bees and hedgehogs. Of course, some creatures are not as welcome as others – few gardeners…

Not so long ago, the spring clean was considered essential, but today probably only one in two households undertakes this annual ritual. Our lives are too busy, we couldn’t be bothered, or just don’t think it is necessary. Perhaps it’s…