Why is meningitis so dangerous?
In 1987, thousands of people gathered in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. But what started out as a celebration led to a worldwide health crisis: more than 2,000 cases of meningitis broke...
Tagged: inflammation
What is salt therapy?
Q: What is salt therapy, and what might it be good for? A: Though you might think “salt therapy” involves squirting saline solution into your nostrils to relieve nasal congestion, this growing trend—of dry salt...
Soy lecithin NSAID combo drug protects against cancer with fewer side effects
When scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston applied a chemical found in soybeans to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), they increased its anticancer properties and reduced its side effects....
Drinking baking soda could be an inexpensive, safe way to combat autoimmune disease
A daily dose of baking soda may help reduce the destructive inflammation of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scientists say. They have some of the first evidence of how the cheap, over-the-counter antacid can...
Bacteria play critical role in driving colon cancers
Patients with an inherited form of colon cancer harbor two bacterial species that collaborate to encourage development of the disease, and the same species have been found in people who develop a sporadic form...
How aspirin was discovered
4000 years ago, the ancient Sumerians made a surprising discovery: if they scraped the bark off a particular kind of tree and ate it, their pain disappeared. Little did they know that what they’d...
Algal oil for omega-3s?
Are algal oil supplements a good alternative to standard omega-3 (fish oil) supplements? They seem to be. Derived from various types of micro-algae, algal oil is gaining popularity among vegans and other people who want...
8 questions about peripheral neuropathy
All of us have had that sensation of numbness or “pins and needles” in our arms and legs at some point—perhaps after sitting the wrong way or sleeping in a funny position, causing the...
Inflammation trains the skin to heal faster
Scars may fade, but the skin remembers. New research from The Rockefeller University reveals that wounds or other harmful, inflammation-provoking experiences impart long-lasting memories to stem cells residing in the skin, teaching them to...
Do spicy foods cause ulcers?
Years ago it was accepted as fact that spicy foods were the culprits behind many peptic ulcers. Doctors’ advice was to avoid curries, salsas, hot peppers, and anything else that “burned,” the theory being that...