Ancient

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Romans understood the role of dirt and poor hygiene in spreading disease and created aqueducts to ensure that the inhabitants of a city received clean water. Their superb level of personal hygiene and obsession with cleanliness…

In Egypt of the yore, medicines were usually mixed with beer, wine, or honey, and each of these had their own medicinal properties. Beer was the most popular drink, frequently serving as one's wages, and was considered a gift from the gods…

The ancient Greeks appreciated the effects of a good, long soak. The Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) also wrote extensively about the healing power of water. Also known as hydrotherapy, Balneotherapy is hydro-medicine for…

Many ancient therapies used today include the concept of ‘centring’ yourself. To be centred implies balance, calmness and mindfulness of the present moment, and is usually achieved by a combination of contemplation and controlled breathing.…

Healing methods used by Native American nations have a heritage stretching back thousands of years. Native American healing is based around spirituality, and traditionally holds that physical illnesses and ailments arise when your spirit is…

In ancient times, when food was scarce, our ancestors ate all the food they could get their hands on before it went ‘off’. Researchers believe that when this ‘survival instinct’ kicks in, we automatically seek an energy-rich diet if…

Anthropologists have found evidence that meat was essential for the survival of our ancestors, over one and a half million years ago. Say anthropology researchers at the University of Colorado, meat eating has always been considered one of…

In ancient Greece, oil pressed from olives was a prevalent source of fat for the population and was widely used because of the absence of butter. It was used in cooking as well as spread on bread. The nutritional value of olive oil has been…

Figs appear in the earliest recorded history with mentions in the Bible and other ancient writings. They were a staple food of both the rich and poor, providing energy and the highest mineral content of all common fruits. Cleopatra even…

Archaeologists excavating Iron-Age remains have concluded that they indulged in ‘competitive feasting’ and tried to out-do one another through drinking. Artefacts dating back over 2,600 years suggest beer was the ‘barbarian’s beverage’, the…

Teff is one of the most ancient grains in the world, and also one of the smallest. Its name even comes from an old word ‘teffa’ meaning ‘lost’ because if you drop it on the ground you won't find it again! Teff originated in Ethiopia as a…

When did we start drinking the milk of other animals? And how did the practice spread? A new study led by scientists from Germany and Kenya highlights the critical role of Africa in the story of dairying, showing that communities there were…

The Abbey Library of St. Gall in Switzerland is home to approximately 160,000 volumes of manuscripts dating back to the 8th century - all hand-written on parchment, in languages not spoken in modern times. Now, researchers at University of…

Using energy consumption as a measure, a team of international scientists has found that ancient civilisations engaged in globalisation more than previously believed, suggesting that an integrated global economy is nothing new and may have…

According to the University of Cincinnati, ancient Maya built sophisticated water filters in the once-bustling city of Tikal using natural materials they imported from miles away. A multidisciplinary team of UC anthropologists, geographers…

Says a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers used archaeological evidence of lighting remains found across several Paleolithic caves featuring cave art in Southwest Europe to experimentally replicate the artificial lighting…

A new species of large prehistoric croc that roamed south-east Queensland's waterways millions of years ago has been documented by University of Queensland researchers. One of the largest crocs to have ever inhabited the earth, the species…

When patients said that travel helped to relieve the tremors of Parkinson's disease, a 19th century French neurologist took action. Professor Charcot developed a jerking chair to mimic the movements of a long carriage or train journey. Many…

Amber was revered in Ancient Egypt for its restorative properties and was believed to enhance immunity against illness and negativity. Ancient Romans wore amulets of amber to instil courage, disperse fear and protect against danger. During…

In ancient times, our ancestors ate significantly more fruit and vegetables than we do today. Not only that, the varieties they consumed offered greater nutritional value with a wider range of fibre and antioxidants. Scientists have…

Market economy is largely considered a modern phenomenon. But, says a study from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, an integrated market economy existing in ancient Greece. By analysing sediment cores taken from six…

A new study from the American Museum of Natural History is the first-ever to identify the genes for creativity in Homo sapiens that distinguish modern humans from chimpanzees and Neanderthals. The research identified 267 genes that are…

There were some non-tobacco plants in ancient pipes. Washington State University researchers have found that Rhus glabra, a plant commonly known as Smooth Sumac was smoked more than 1,400 years ago in what today is north America. Smoking…

Who’d have thought it? Archaeologists have concluded that our ancestors recycled stone artefacts for other uses as far back as the Upper Palaeolithic Age, 13,000 years ago. Stone tools found in Tarragona, Spain, suggest that sustainable…