Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood with a high mortality rate, partly due to the fact that leukaemia cells show a remarkable ability to survive initial chemotherapy treatments. These surviving cells are often resistant to treatment, allowing the cancer to spread and become fatal. It has always been thought that the leukaemia cells saved […]
Salt has been used as a flavour enhancer for thousands of years, but unfortunately, eating too much salt can have serious health consequences. Salt is one of the most important factors affecting high blood pressure, which raises the risk of stroke and heart attack. The maximum recommended allowance is 6 grams of salt per day, […]
Have you heard about the NHS trust that recently introduced an incredibly brutal, and possibly illegal, form of drug rationing to save money? Patients suffering post-operative pain will get half the dose normally required to keep them comfortable, kidney dialysis will be done twice a week rather than three and all diabetics will get the […]
Thousands of years after humans discovered the pain-relieving effects of resin from opium poppies, clinicians still rely in opioids to treat severe pain, which reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain. Medications that fall within this class include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet) and morphine (Kadian) and codeine. ‘Opiods still work best for […]
Herbalism is an ancient form of medicine. Herbs and plants can be used to treat a wide range of conditions ranging from burns, to ulcers, flatulence, laryngitis, insomnia and psoriasis. Here are some common herbs and their uses. Never take herbal supplements if you are on medication without checking with your doctor first. Echinacea: Echinacea […]
Garlic, a pungent bulb that is a rich source of manganese, selenium and vitamin C, has a long history of use as a medicinal plant and one with a host of established health benefits. According to a report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, garlic boosts the body’s natural supply of hydrogen sulfide, which […]
If you feel exhausted when you come off shift or even facing the prospect of hauling yourself out of bed, you are not alone. According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, one in five people at any given time feels unusually tired and one in 10 suffers prolonged fatigue. Staying energised and alert throughout the day […]
Rebecca Wallersteiner reviews Making Nature a new exhibition which explores how humans relate to other animals, opening at the Wellcome Collection, London on 1st December The question of how humans relate to other animals has captivated philosophers, anthropologists, scientists, ethicists and artists alike for centuries. Making Nature, an exhibition opening at Wellcome Collection, London on […]
Conor Kenny is a doctor who has recently returned from Greece. He began his assignment working at Idomeni, a transit camp for refugees on the Greek border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. After residents of the Idomeni camp were evicted, Conor moved to Lesbos to work providing healthcare in specialised camps designated for […]
Read More… from A lost generation – working with young refugees in Greece
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions affecting people of all ages in the UK. Although it primarily affects teenagers (around 80 per cent of adolescents aged 13-18 years have acne at some point), it can occur for the first time in adulthood and can even flare up in women approaching the menopause […]