Just the very mention of a trip to the dentists can send even the bravest of us into a cold sweat, but looking after your mouth and teeth is a really important part of keeping yourself feeling at your best.  It has been suggested that there are links between health in the mouth and health in the body, as well as the reverse – ill health.  For example, one researcher found that gum disease raised the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients by around 2%.  It is thus in everyone’s best interests to look after their teeth.

But what is the best way of doing so?  For thousands of years, people in some Middle Eastern, Asian and African countries have used the miswak, a stick from a certain type of tree (Salvadora persica), to clean their teeth and gums effectively.  Recent research from the King Saud University has shown that this contains many natural substances which help to protect the gums from disease, kill micro-organisms in the mouth and increase salivation. More...

A major new study found that a daily dose of fish oil supplements had a dramatic effect on the abilities of underachieving children in Durham.

After just three months on the fish oils, they were reading at 18 months above their age. More than half showed a 10 per cent improvement in memory, while eight pupils improved by 20 per cent and one by 30 per cent.

Among the parents, about 35 per cent say their children showed significant improvements in reading, concentration, focus or behaviour. Many also reported that the children were much ‘calmer’, more ‘confident’ and ‘grown up’. More...

A major new study found that a daily dose of fish oil supplements had a dramatic effect on the abilities of underachieving children in Durham.

After just three months on the fish oils, they were reading at 18 months above their age. More than half showed a 10 per cent improvement in memory, while eight pupils improved by 20 per cent and one by 30 per cent.

Among the parents, about 35 per cent say their children showed significant improvements in reading, concentration, focus or behaviour. Many also reported that the children were much ‘calmer’, more ‘confident’ and ‘grown up’. More...

Something is very wrong somewhere, but what? The answer, says Hilary Freeman, may be uncomfortably close to home. Millions of Britons are waking up to the facts that our daily personal hygiene routines could be making us ill.

A study at the University of Reading linked chemicals called parabens in underarm deodorants with a possible breast-cancer risk, after discovering traces of parabens - preservatives thought to mimic oestrogens - in human breast tumour samples. More...

If we accept the principle of trying to avoid synthetic chemicals in our lives, it makes sense for us to try and use organically produced products wherever possible. This applies not only to the food and drink that we consume, but also to the products we use to clean our homes, our clothes and most importantly, ourselves. More...

“What’s all the sweat about?”

One of the most common personal hygiene issues concerns a process that is absolutely essential for human life and yet which is perceived by many to be undesirable and dirty. This process is called perspiring or sweating, and it plays a vital role in maintaining normal health. More...

An increasing number of consumers are adding organic produce to their weekly shopping list. We are all becoming more aware of the health hazards from pesticide-residues in fruit and vegetables to hormones in meats and the addition of artificial sweeteners in almost everything else.

But are you aware of what goes in your personal care products? More...

No-one can have failed to notice all the publicity that has been given to the dangers of exposure to sunlight over the last couple of years. Most of the advice that has appeared in the press relates to adults and teenagers - people who can generally be expected to take some responsibility for their own health.

But what about babies and young children - what advice should parents follow to ensure that they avoid the pitfalls of too much sun exposure? More...

To look and feel at your best... it has to be a wet shave. Although a dry shave can save a few vital minutes in the morning, nothing beats a wet shave for closeness, smoothness and freshness. More...

The skin reflects the general health of the body, and skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis are a clear sign that all is not well on the inside.

It is a good indication that you are either not eating or absorbing foods properly, or are exposing your skin or your entire organism to something it doesn't like. More...

One of the latest trends in human nutrition is the increasing importance being attached to fatty acids in the foods we eat and the supplements we take.

Is this just a fad or is there some scientific backing for the claims and theories being put forward? More...

Are you one of the six million people in the UK suffering from pollen allergies that are known as hayfever?

The term hayfever has been around for about 150 years and is a misleading name. Pollen allergy does not cause fever, and hay is not involved! More...

Lack of energy, weight problems, insomnia, mood swings, inability to concentrate, headaches, pains in muscles and joints, eczema, asthma, allergies, hayfever.... Complaints not exclusive to the elderly or unfit, but now frequently experienced by almost everybody - even children! More...

It is now well recognised that UV exposure is the major cause of skin cancer, including both melanoma and non-melanoma.

Sun exposure and particularly sunburn before 15 years of age have a significant correlation with the incidence of skin cancer in later years. More...

A herbal tonic to help us survive in a polluted world. Our bodies consist of several different systems, all of which depend on each other.

Hawthorn & Artichoke Formula contains a synergistic blend of 12 cold-pressed herbal juices and 4 tinctures selected to help support every system in the body. More...

Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is an anionic surfactant (detergent) which is included as a foaming agent (to clean and make bubbles) in a huge variety of commonly used products.

These include shampoos, soaps, face and body washes, toothpaste, washing up & laundry detergents and also industrial cleansing chemicals such as engine degreasers. More...