All around the world, the Polynesian vahine became iconic in terms of beauty thanks to their beautiful hair and golden glow tanned skin. Today, we reveal the beauty secrets behind their looks and their use of traditional beauty oils, which has been a tradition passed down from mothers to daughters...
MEDICINAL PLANTS: FRIENDS OF HUMANITY Hominids of the most remote times have treated themselves with plants. Traces of chamomile have even been found on the teeth of Neanderthal men who were known to be notorious carnivores. As a bitter plant without nutritive qualities, chamomile may have been consumed for medicinal/therapeutic reasons....
If you can’t imagine life without chocolate, you’re lucky you weren’t born before the 16th century. Until then, chocolate only existed as a bitter, foamy drink in Mesoamerica. So how did we get from a bitter beverage to the chocolate bars of today? Deanna Pucciarelli traces the fascinating and often...
Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes or when they may evaporate too quickly. Our eyes are not meant to be dry, similar to our tongues. In fact, our tongues are always moist, covered in a...
Hair loss is fast becoming a common cosmetic issue affecting both men and women. Apart from ageing, there are a number of other risk factors that contribute to this condition. These include all the side effects of modern life, such as stress, unhealthy diet, excessive exposure to toxins and pollution...
Queen Nefertiti and other ancient Egyptian royals were renowned for their stupendous gazes and legendary beauty, and most notably their dark-outlined eyes. The ancient Egyptians regarded beauty as a sign of holiness, and profusely used lead-based substances as cosmetics, including an ingredient in their black eye make-up. But asides using...
Acute bronchitis, a short-term inflammation of the bronchi, is caused by the rhinovirus, which dwells in the nose as its name indicates (rhino, meaning ‘nose’ in Greek). The virus reproduces in the nose before descending into the throat and trachea, and then into the bronchi. The mucous membranes then begin...
Sometimes, no matter how many pairs of wool socks you wear, your feet just can’t seem to warm up. If you’re relatively healthy, chances are the cause of your cold feet is likely something harmless. In fact, cold hands and feet reflect a perfectly natural process by which the body...
The sleep aid industry has a powerful grip on the world, but even the most effective prescription drugs have their downsides: side effects, limited access and prohibitive costs, which is why it is better to turn to soporific plants that have been tested for hundreds of years by herbalists and...
In the spirit of the holiday season, we treat ourselves to mulled wine and traditional Christmas cakes such as Lebkuchen. This isn’t a coincidence, as these winter treats contain a mother lode of spices that are celebrated for their strengthening virtues. With the threat of colds and viruses, and onslaught...