Common Names: dandelion, lion’s tooth, blowball Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale Background • Originally from Europe, dandelions now grow widely across temperate climates in the Northern Hemisphere. The plant’s flowers, leaves, and roots have been used historically in traditional medicine across parts of Mexico and North America. • These days, dandelion is available in oral forms for issues like digestion, while both oral and topical forms are marketed to help with joint discomfort. How

A recent investigation led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), and the University of Liverpool—published in the New England Journal of Medicine—reveals that a well-structured and lasting infection prevention strategy can significantly reduce maternal infections and deaths. The study found that this approach led to a 30% decrease in severe infections and fatalities among pregnant women when compared to standard care. Maternal infections

Health Capsule Specialists advise that children under the age of two should avoid consuming added sugars. However, many children encounter added sugars much earlier than that—even while still in the womb, as sugar can pass through the mother's bloodstream. Researchers wanted to understand how early exposure to sugar might impact long-term health. They focused on adults in the UK who were either conceived or born during the period around the end of government-imposed sugar rationing. This

Cupping is a traditional healing method practiced in various regions across the globe, notably in countries like China and those in the Middle East. The technique involves placing cups made of materials such as glass, bamboo, ceramic, or plastic on the skin to create suction. This suction effect is achieved either by heating the air inside the cup before placing it on the skin or by using a mechanical pump to draw out the air once the cup is in place. There are two main types: in "wet

Can Physical Activity Boost Brain Health? It’s widely known that staying active benefits overall health. Health professionals recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week — activities like walking briskly, cycling, playing pickleball, or mowing a lawn with a push mower. They also suggest incorporating strength training exercises, such as lifting weights, doing push-ups, or crunches, at least twice a week. Exercise brings a range of physical benefits. Aerobic workouts

image: Researchers have obtained the first thorough data on how a superstorm compresses Earth's plasmasphere, shedding light on why it took more than four days to recover—an event that led to disruptions in GPS and communication networks. Credit: Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research (ISEE), Nagoya University A geomagnetic superstorm is a powerful space weather phenomenon initiated when the Sun shoots vast bursts of charged particles and energy at Earth. These rare events happen

Image: Brenda Davy and Alex DiFeliceantonio working in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion’s metabolic kitchen, where dietary and behavioral studies are conducted. Credit: Clayton Metz/Virginia Tech Obesity is on the rise among young Americans. A recent study featured in The Lancet projects that by 2050, about one-third of individuals between 15 and 24 years old in the U.S. will be classified as obese, placing them at significant health risk. Although various

The Development of the Human Face and Head There’s a reason we can recognize someone we know, even in a crowd—humans are naturally drawn to faces. Our brains are excellent at picking out subtle differences in facial features, like jaw shape, eyebrow curves, or the height of cheekbones. Faces hold a special significance, not only in art and poetry but also in technology through facial recognition. The traits we see in faces play a big role in identifying who we are. “A face contains a lot of

image: Large chick Credit: Jacqui Glencross A recent investigation led by the University of St Andrews has revealed that critically endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) are far more likely to forage in areas used by commercial fishing boats during years when fish populations are low. This increases food competition and places additional stress on a species already facing severe decline. The findings, published today (17 November) in the Journal of Applied Ecology, introduce a new

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Highlighted Resource As people get older or experience specific health issues, their bones may lose density. This reduction in bone mass can result in a condition called osteoporosis, where bones become fragile and more likely to break. Discover the types of medical exams used to assess bone mineral density. Understand how these test results help evaluate bone health and the potential risk for bone fractures. For more details, explore trusted medical resources about bone density testing and

Cranberry Overview Common Names: cranberry, American cranberry, bearberry Scientific Names: Vaccinium macrocarpon (also known as Oxycoccus macrocarpos), Vaccinium oxycoccos Background • Cranberries grow on evergreen shrubs found in wet environments, primarily in northeastern and north-central regions of North America. • Historically, Native American communities and European settlers used cranberries both as food and medicine. Traditionally, cranberries were believed to help with issues related

Health Capsule Kidney stones are a fairly common health issue, affecting roughly 11% of men and about 6% of women at some point in their lives. A sudden, intense pain in the lower back, abdomen, or groin can often be the first sign. Other symptoms to look out for include blood in the urine, discomfort during urination, or a frequent urge to urinate. These stones develop when there is a high concentration of specific minerals in the urine. Over time, these minerals can crystallize to form

Complementary Approaches and COVID-19 What’s the Takeaway? What’s Known About Complementary Methods for Short-Term COVID-19 Symptoms? Some alternative therapies, including practices like traditional Chinese medicine and nasal rinsing, may help with COVID-19 symptoms, though the research supporting these benefits is limited. Many of the studies are either small, not rigorously conducted, or lack randomization, which makes their conclusions uncertain. A 2023 analysis of 33 studies (covering over

Image: A scene from the theatrical production Oxímoro, entre Solstícios e Equinócios Credit: The Marionet Theatre Company “People often use the term ‘bipolar’ casually, saying things like ‘my mood changes all day, I must be bipolar,’ or ‘everything is bipolar.’ But bipolar disorder is a serious condition with a biological basis.” This remark features in a short promotional video on YouTube about bipolar disorder, tying in with the play Oxímoro, entre Solstícios e Equinócios (Oxymoron, Between

Health Update Breakthroughs in modern medicine are enabling people worldwide to live longer lives. However, with longer lifespans comes a gradual decline in physical capabilities. As people age, they often notice reductions in strength, balance, and mobility, but how these changes progress hasn’t been fully understood. To investigate this, researchers backed by the NIH evaluated the physical performance of 40 healthy adults. Half were between 50 and 64 years old, while the other half were 65 or

You’ve probably come across the terms "complementary," "alternative," and "integrative," but what exactly do they mean? This overview breaks down these concepts to help you better grasp their meanings and explains the purpose and contributions of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). While the field and its language are continuously progressing, here are the definitions commonly used by the National Institutes of Health today.

What Is Colloidal Silver? Colloidal silver refers to a liquid that contains small silver particles suspended in it. While it is often marketed online as a supplement, there is no substantial scientific support for the health claims made about its use. Is Colloidal Silver Safe? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that colloidal silver is neither safe nor proven effective in treating any medical condition. In fact, both the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission have taken

A fresh report unveiled today at the G20 Health Ministers Meeting in Limpopo, South Africa, underscores the urgent need for strategic funding and access plans to deliver new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines to adolescents and adults in countries most affected by the disease. The publication, titled “Catalyzing Solutions for Equitable Global Access and Sustainable Financing for New Tuberculosis Vaccines for Adults and Adolescents,” offers an unprecedented assessment of the challenges, limitations, and

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Bayer AG, a pharmaceutical company based in Germany, have extended their partnership to aid countries affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through the provision of free treatments. Since 2002, Bayer AG has contributed medicines to WHO’s NTD efforts, now overseen by the Department of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (MNT). The agreement, renewed for another five years from 2025 to 2030, will continue supplying certified medicines and