Author Archives: marktsaloumas
In the early months of this pandemic I often read comments about how the flu killed many thousands of vulnerable people every year and that the threat from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would probably turn out to be no more serious. That was despite the increasingly disturbing evidence coming out of China where it originated, and later Italy and the US.
(more…)There are many potential benefits from regularly eating oily fish such as sardines. They contain protein to build and repair the body, fibre to support the digestive system, and omega-3 fatty acids for heart, skin and brain health. Then there are the vitamins A, B, D and E, as well as important minerals including calcium, magnesium and potassium, because we eat the bones. And don’t forget iodine for the thyroid, zinc for the immune system, and on it goes—more than we may find in a multivitamin pill.
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While most readers would have a reasonable idea about what kind of food constitutes a Cafeteria-style diet, few would be aware that it is actually a fast-evolving scientific construct used for clinical research into common metabolic diseases. In fact, a lot of our current evidence-based research is founded on clinical trials involving lab-rats such as pedigree Wistar or Sprague Dawley rats, which are fed a variety of controlled pelletised diets called ‘rat chow’.
(more…)The eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.) occupy a genus of about 500 trees in all habitats of Australia. Some eucalypts such as bloodwood (Eucalyptus gummifera) secrete an edible gum, others have a starchy root bark, while the flowers of many species produce a sweet nectar. Some gum-tree exudates such as manna can be collected and then soaked together with honey or nectar to make an edible liquid that sets much like jelly. The seeds of a few species may also be eaten, including the river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and blue mallee (Eucalyptus gumophylla), while the roots of other gum-trees can be dug up and tapped in order to obtain drinking water.1
(more…)The modern industrial world presents us with many potential causes of malignancy and it is therefore surprising that this condition is not more common. The body, however, is resilient and it can take several sources of stress working in concert over a long period of time to ware down its protective mechanisms and regenerative power.
(more…)Itching, otherwise known as pruritus, is a common symptom of many conditions. Nerves in the skin become activated and trigger a scratch reflex, then scratching may or may not relieve the itching. Inflammation involving histamine and several inflammatory mediators can intensify itching and pain.
(more…)Diverticulosis is a disease of the large intestine characterised by protrusions of the mucosa through the muscle wall. These protrusions form pouches which can trap food or waste and become inflamed, resulting in the condition diverticulitis. This can progress to an abscess, fistula, or perforation. Perforation of an individual pouch will lead to peritonitis.
(more…)Apple cider vinegar was made famous by D.C. Jarvis in his book Folk Medicine, which was published in 1960. He worked as a doctor among the rural people of Vermont (USA), and in the course of his work discovered that the use of simple remedies such as apple cider vinegar, seaweed, and honey was often effective in treating common health problems.
(more…)The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by rhinoviruses, coronavirus, enteroviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza. The usual route is by inhaling airborne particles spread by an infected person coughing or sneezing; however, viruses can survive on surfaces and be picked up by physical contact.
(more…)Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a type of blood-cleansing herb known as an ‘alterative’. A very useful herb for detoxification, burdock works through the bowel, liver and the kidneys, stimulating these channels of elimination so that they function more efficiently.
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