Author: Hill Castle
Researchers from Washington State University (WSU) have proven that it is possible to combine natural remedies with advanced biomedical devices, using curcumin to augment the ability of ceramic bone scaffolds to stimulate bone growth. Susmita Bose, Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair Professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and her team coated 3D printed ceramic bone scaffolds with curcumin, a compound found in turmeric. A bone scaffold is a biomedical tool that allows bone tissue to recover and regrow following disease or an injury. It contains tiny holes in its structure which stimulate and support growing cells. Although artificial, it…
A study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine has established that Cinnamomum cassia, or more commonly known as Chinese cinnamon, has been found to have anti-cancer effects. The study was a collaborative effort from researchers at the National Institute of Forest Science, Andong National University, and Kyonggi University in South Korea. In particular, they took an extract from the twigs of the Chinese cinnamon, which they studied its ability to prevent cell growth and induce cell death (apoptosis) in human colorectal cancer cells. To understand the antiproliferative effect, that is, the ability to inhibit growth, of the extract – as well as the change of…
Obesity and overweight are serious problems the world over, but a study in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine may have revealed an unlikely ally in garcinia cambogia, with results indicating that it can help in weight loss. The study, led by researchers from the University of Cordoba in Spain, looked at the effects of garcinia cambogia and glucomannan on a person’s weight. In particular, they studied how administering the two can help overweight or obese people lose weight. In the clinical trial, researchers recruited 214 people who were all noted to be overweight or obese. They were then provided with 500 mg of garcinia cambogia…
If you’re expecting a baby or considering starting a family soon, you’ve probably been reading up on how to give your child the best start in life. You probably wouldn’t dream of lighting up a cigarette or getting drunk while you’re pregnant, but you could very well be doing something that can be quite harmful to your unborn child if you’re being exposed to pesticides. This isn’t a warning that only applies to farm workers; 33 million pounds of organophosphate pesticides were used in the U.S. in 2007 alone, putting countless people at risk. Three studies that examined children from…
A surprising new study is casting serious doubt on the popular theory that modern animals are the result of millions of years of evolution. After looking at the mitochondrial DNA of thousands of animal species, including humans, researchers reached the stunning conclusion that nearly every species dates back just 100,000 to 200,000 years. The study was carried out by the University of Basel’s David S. Thaler and The Rockefeller University’s Mark Young Stoeckle. According to the conventional narrative of evolution involving adaption based on genetic mutations and survival of the fittest, one would expect older species and those with big…
Many people will choose to suffer in silence than discuss their problem with hemorrhoids — which is baffling, considering that the condition affects over 20 million Americans. These are also dangerous: Over half of those with hemorrhoids are at risk of these developing into more advanced stages which can cause serious medical conditions. Fortunately, treating hemorrhoids is possible: All it takes is the right diet, an active lifestyle, and some traditional Chinese medicine. Hemorrhoids reflect an unhealthy diet and lifestyle Hemorrhoids, also called piles, refer to the swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum. The condition is similar to…
When talking about taking care of the body, it’s essential to look at the spine – often, the part of the body that is worked (and overworked) the most. This is true for a lot of people, especially those who don’t take proper precautions while lifting heavy items or sitting down for long periods. Forgetting to take care of the spine can take its toll, with injuries and spondylosis being the usual outcomes. This usually means a trip to the doctor to get pain relief drugs, which often bring a whole new set of side effects. That is, of course,…
You’ve probably heard this phrase one too many times – how breakfast is “the most important meal of the day.” There’s some truth to the phrase, however, as researchers found that people who regularly eat breakfast are less likely to gain unwanted weight and have reduced risk of developing dangerous belly fat. Results from a study involving 350 adults showed that those who regularly took their breakfasts only added three pounds in their weight over the past year. Those who sometimes ate breakfast gained five pounds, while those who almost always skip breakfast put on as much as eight pounds, what’s worse…
Air pollution is known for negatively impacting the lives of many. It causes several health problems such as increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and respiratory issues. More than that, it’s really bad for the environment. But recently, another adverse effect of air pollution was added to the list. In a study published at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics, researchers from the London School of Economics (LSE) found that air pollution also triggers higher crime rates in London. By looking into 1.8 million crimes in over two years, and comparing them to pollution data, they discovered that air pollution levels directly affect the…
While trains in Singapore are a convenient way to travel, living near train tracks could mean that you sometimes have to suffer through the constant noise of trains passing by. However, researchers are currently working on noise reduction technology that could soon help address this issue. According to a team of researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the noise-canceling device that they’re currently developing could benefit countless individuals who reside near busy roads, construction sites, or train tracks. The NTU researchers explained that the device, which can be mounted on window grilles, can reduce at least 50 percent of noise from the…
Acupuncture is now a widely known medicinal alternative to relieve chronic pain. Through skin penetration using small needles, certain nerve endings in our body become stimulated which help relieve us from a lot of health conditions including cardiovascular diseases. Acupuncture does a great deal in promoting a healthy circulatory system. In just one session, blood vessels are more dilated and our blood flow improves thanks to the stimulation of our energy pathways. Here’s exactly how this traditional practice benefits our circulatory system: Helps in poor circulation in the legs – People often experience poor blood circulation in the legs since it’s…
Lead poisoning has been an ongoing issue in Milwaukee City, Wisconsin as 11 percent of their children suffered from it back in 2016. More recently, parents of a five-year-old boy victim called out the city government for being “complicit.” Nazir Al-Mujaahid and his wife Aminah shared the horrific story of finding out that their youngest child, Shu’aib, had extremely high levels of lead in his blood in 2017. They detailed that through a finger-prick test, they learned that Shu’aib’s blood lead level was at 11.4 which is alarmingly more than twice the level that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deem dangerous.…
Cancer remains one of the trickiest medical conditions to treat, with no clear solution or completely effective treatment. Because it strikes so many people, it has also been the subject of countless studies. In this huge body of research, some foods have been repeatedly identified as being effective at killing cancer stem cells. This is critical because the fact that chemotherapy doesn’t eradicate cancer stem cells is believed to be the reason that people experience recurrences and metastasis. These cells, sometimes called “mother cells”, only make up a small portion of the cells in tumors but continuously self-renew and resist…
Many of us still interchange Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It can be a little confusing, especially since they’re both related to memory loss and the deterioration of our cognitive abilities, but this can be easily remedied with a short explanation. In essence, dementia is an overall term used to categorize a group of symptoms and has no definitive diagnosis. This means it is not a disease, but rather a syndrome that has a negative effect on our cognition. At least 47.6 million people are diagnosed with dementia globally. There’s a chance that a person can have more than one type…
Drinking whey protein before eating does wonders for a person’s blood pressure, according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism. In particular, “preloading” on it before a person’s heaviest meal not only improves blood pressure, but it also helps keep fasting blood sugar and lipid profile at bay for people who are overweight or obese. The study, led by researchers from the Iran University of Medical Sciences and the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, compared the benefits of whey protein concentrate (WPC) with soy protein isolate (SPI) in a 12-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Pitting whey and soy head-to-head Most…
If you happen to have irregular heartbeats, chances are your healthcare provider will tell you to skip caffeinated drinks. But a new review by Australian researchers suggested that these drinks are safe for people with abnormal heart rhythms. Coffee and tea can even lower the prevalence of arrhythmia, according to an article on Medical Xpress. If your heart beats too quickly, slowly, or irregularly, you probably have arrhythmia. Some instances are not dangerous to the patient and might even be overlooked for many years. Other times, though, arrhythmia could raise the chances of a sudden heart attack. The most common…
Ketamine started out as an anesthetic for surgeries, only to quickly get abused as a hallucinogenic party drug. Now a U.S. study is claiming it can serve as a “fast-acting” treatment for people afflicted with clinical depression, an article from the BBC reported. The researchers administered ketamine to participants via nasal spray. It claimed that volunteers with symptoms of depression showed “significant” improvements within 24 hours of treatment. The U.K.’s Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) described the study’s findings as a big step for ketamine, which has not yet been accepted as an antidepressant by the country’s National Health Service (NHS). Conducted by researchers…
Pecans are so much more than the main ingredient for pecan pie. For one, they are packed with essential nutrients that help protect us against cardiovascular disease (CVD). Referred to as Carya illinoinensis in scientific literature, pecans are a member of the Juglandaceae family, which makes it a relative of the hickory and the walnut. Pecans are also considered native to North America; their existence has predated even the earliest human settlements. Despite being referred to as a nut, pecans are actually drupes, a type of fruit where the fleshy part surrounds the pit containing the seeds. Some examples of…
Aside from keeping us in good physical condition, a study has shown that regular exercise can help prevent breast cancer. However, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) warns that even though exercise like brisk walking can help reduce the risk of breast cancer among women of all ages, only a handful of Americans are aware of this fact. For this study, researchers have collaborated on an analysis of the global research on lifestyle and breast cancer risk. Based on data from AICR’s 2017 awareness survey, only four of 10 Americans (or 39 percent) were aware that physical activity can help lower cancer…
Skin rashes and other forms of allergic reaction on the skin are terrible, and most mothers would feel ten times worse seeing those rashes on their newborn. An entry from the American Herbalists Guild provides some natural remedies for your baby’s protection, as well your own, against infantile dermatitis. (h/t to AmericanHerbalistsGroup.) Infant’s treatments Internal Oral use of flax seed oil 1/4 tbsp three times a day (TID), sucked from a dropper. Botanical formula containing equal parts of the following tinctures: Chamomile Wild violet Lavender flowers Wild strawberry leaf Mix the tinctures into a one-oz bottle. Dose: 12 drops of the mix in one-tbsp…
It is well-known that plastic contributes a great deal to worldwide pollution problems, not just on land but also in the world’s seas and oceans. Now a team of researchers has revealed that the problem of plastic pollution in Earth’s bodies of water may be much worse than previously thought. To be more specific, a close look at the amount of microplastics in one specific area in the U.K. resulted in the discovery of a much higher level of microplastic pollution than expected. This means that the world may be majorly underestimating the amount of pollution everywhere else as well.…
Every single one of us is involved in a war that we probably know nothing about. There are villains and heroes on both sides of the battle, and the battleground is littered with landmines that have to be navigated every single day. What is this war? The epic battle between conventional medicine and natural health. You see, every time you take a supplement, get medication at the pharmacy, eat a meal, choose whether or not to exercise, or make one of a thousand other small choices, you are choosing sides between modern medicine that promises to medicate all your symptoms…