Common Name: Ginger Scientific Name: Zingiber officinale Background • Ginger originates from tropical regions of Asia and is now widely cultivated in Africa, South America, and parts of the Middle East. The plant’s underground stem, known as the rhizome, is commonly used in cooking and for health-related purposes. • Historically, ginger has played a prominent role in traditional remedies. It has been used for centuries to manage conditions such as respiratory issues, colds, digestive

Image: Artistic reconstruction of Foskeia pelendonum Illustration by Martina Charnell Fossils belonging to at least five individuals were discovered by Fidel Torcida Fernández-Baldor from the Dinosaur Museum in Salas de los Infantes. “From the outset, we realized these remains were unusual because of how tiny they were. What’s more, studying this species has changed our broad understanding of ornithopod dinosaur evolution,” he remarked. The new dinosaur was named Foskeia, a term inspired by

2025 Global Health Simulation Exercises In 2025, countries within three regions under the World Health Organization (WHO) actively engaged in large-scale simulation exercises designed to evaluate and enhance their implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR). These drills were designed to strengthen their capacity to detect, notify, and manage public health events that could pose international concerns. The simulations — known as SAPHIRE in South-East Asia, JADE in the European

Health Capsule Many people in the United States are not getting enough physical activity. Not moving enough can increase the risk of long-term health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Recent research shows that the way your neighborhood is built may influence how much you walk each day. Walking is a great way to stay healthy. However, not all communities are designed to support walking. Some areas may not have sidewalks, green spaces, or convenient shops that

Understanding GERD and Complementary Treatments What’s the Bottom Line? If you’re experiencing persistent symptoms like heartburn or a burning sensation in your chest or throat, speak to your doctor. • Your provider may recommend a combination of medications and lifestyle adjustments based on your individual symptoms. • If you’ve been diagnosed with GERD, talk with your doctor before using any additional complementary remedies or therapies. How Well Do Complementary Methods Work for GERD? New

Ocean Oxygenation Study Image: Scanning electron microscope visualization of fossilized planktonic foraminifera. Image Credit: Anya Hess Key Discoveries Oxygen levels in the Arabian Sea were significantly higher 16 million years ago compared to present, even during a warmer global climate. Regional climate systems like monsoons, water movement, and sea pathways affect how oxygen circulates in the ocean, adding layers of complexity to future predictions. In the long-term geological future,

Providing nutritious meals in schools can play an essential role in helping children establish lifelong healthy eating habits, according to a new global guideline from the World Health Organization (WHO). For the first time, WHO calls on governments to adopt a comprehensive school-wide strategy to ensure that all food and beverages offered in and around schools are wholesome and supportive of good health. As childhood obesity rates climb around the world and problems of undernutrition continue,

The United States, as one of the founding nations of the World Health Organization (WHO), has played a pivotal role in many of the organization’s major public health successes. These include the eradication of smallpox and significant progress in combating polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety challenges. Given this longstanding collaboration, WHO expresses concern over the United States’ formal notice of

Immediate steps are needed to improve national water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems in order to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 and safeguard public health, particularly as climate-related threats and disease outbreaks increase. The latest report, titled State of systems for drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: Global update 2025, offers fresh insights into obstacles to effective WASH services. This UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and

Common Name: garlic Scientific Name: Allium sativum Background • Garlic has been grown and used around the world for centuries. Historical records from civilizations like Egypt, India, and Greece document its application in cooking and in treating ailments such as digestive issues, respiratory infections, and headaches. • Today, garlic is often taken as a supplement for various health reasons including managing high cholesterol, regulating blood pressure and blood sugar levels, supporting the

Common Names: garcinia cambogia, garcinia, Malabar tamarind, brindle berry Scientific Name: Garcinia gummi-gutta Background • Garcinia cambogia is a tropical species native to regions of India and Southeast Asia, found primarily in moist, evergreen areas. Traditionally, its fruit has been brewed into teas in folk remedies to alleviate digestive discomfort and reduce inflammation. Additionally, its rind has been valued as a natural food preservative. • The rind of the fruit contains

Common Names: flaxseed, flax, linseed Scientific Name: Linum usitatissimum Background • Flaxseed has been used for centuries both for medicinal and practical reasons. First cultivated in regions around the Middle East, flax was later valued in ancient Egypt for producing linen, served in dishes in Ethiopia, and used as a laxative in Greece. Early European settlers in North America used flaxseed in poultices for minor wounds and burns, and its oil for making paint. • In modern times, flaxseed

Leprosy Treatment Access Crucial to Global Elimination Efforts Ensuring access to leprosy treatment remains a pivotal step in the global push to end the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the lead-up to World Leprosy Day on January 25. Leprosy, a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, is one of the world's oldest known infections. It mainly targets the skin and peripheral nerves. If not treated, it can lead to lasting damage and disability, often

Image: A still captured just before a powerful solar flare erupted on the Sun, shown in remarkable clarity by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Credit: ESA & NASA/Solar Orbiter/EUI Team Much like an avalanche begins with a minor shift in snow, the ESA-led Solar Orbiter has revealed that solar flares also originate from small-scale disruptions that escalate into more intense activity. This series of turbulent processes generates streams of plasma droplets that continue to fall even after the

Are you curious about what types of studies the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) or the broader National Institutes of Health (NIH) have supported in the field of complementary and integrative health? You can explore this information by using NIH RePORTER, an online resource available at reporter.nih.gov. This tool offers access to a vast database of research projects funded by the NIH. RePORTER received significant updates in 2020, bringing several improvements

Health Capsule Over one-third of older adults in the United States experience persistent lower back pain. This type of pain is classified as chronic when it lasts longer than three months. While some manage discomfort with medications or physical therapy, others find these methods insufficient. A recent study explored whether acupuncture could serve as a beneficial treatment option for seniors coping with ongoing back pain. Acupuncture involves inserting very fine needles into targeted spots on

Image: Distribution of microplastics from polymer-coated fertilizers. Of the total fertilizer capsules applied to rice paddies, approximately 77% remain in the fields, while just 0.2% make their way to beaches. Around 22.8% of the plastic is unaccounted for. Source: Tokyo Metropolitan University Tokyo, Japan – Scientists at Tokyo Metropolitan University have conducted a detailed investigation into how plastic from polymer-coated fertilizers (PCFs) ends up on coastlines and in marine

Q&A Highlights from our interview with Dr. Meryl Waldman, a kidney disease expert at the National Institutes of Health. Explore related insights in the article “Curbing Chronic Kidney Disease” found in NIH News in Health. NIHNiH: How does diet play a role in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD)? Waldman: Adjusting your diet is one component of a broader approach to caring for chronic kidney disease. It should be considered along with medication, healthy lifestyle habits, and addressing

Guide to Using PubMed for Complementary Health Topics Curious about what science says about a particular complementary or integrative health topic? You can search PubMed®, a government-run database with references to over 32 million biomedical research papers. A new and improved version of PubMed launched in 2020, allowing access via computer, tablet, or mobile device. This walkthrough demonstrates how to perform several types of searches. Follow along as we explore topics like: • A popular

What’s the Summary? What is known about complementary methods for managing fibromyalgia? Mind and Body Therapies • Practices such as tai chi, yoga, meditation, and biofeedback have shown some signs of benefit, but there’s not yet enough solid research to confirm just how effective they are. • There is still uncertainty about the effectiveness of acupuncture for managing fibromyalgia pain. • Some early research points to potential benefits of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in reducing