Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    Fungi aid immune system’s fight

    Scientists have discovered that white button mushrooms, the plain Janes of edible fungi, are actually quite stimulating. Their powder seems to jump-start the immune response of cells taken from mice, a new study finds. MUSHROOM MIGHT. Adding white button–mushroom powder to incubating immune system cells from mice revved up the cells’ development and their response […]

    By Rachel Ehrenberg
  2. Health & Medicine

    Rotten Remedy

    The gas well-known for its smell of rotten eggs is, recent studies show, a ubiquitous concoction in the body. New studies suggest that the hydrogen sulfide occurring naturally inside us can be both friend and enemy to our health.

    By Jeanne Erdmann
  3. Health & Medicine

    Medicinal Chocolate . . . Part 2

    Dark chocolate can be healthful, but it isn't always so. Here's why.

    By Janet Raloff
  4. Health & Medicine

    Medicinal Chocolate . . . Part 1

    Therapeutic? - Some health groups are touting the benefits of the antioxidants found in candy.

    By Janet Raloff
  5. Health & Medicine

    Pinning down malaria’s global reach

    A new survey and map of malarial areas worldwide show 2.4 billion people at risk.

    By Nathan Seppa
  6. Health & Medicine

    Sun, inflammation speed aging of skin

    Gene profiles show inflammation is the key to making skin age, and sun exposure speeds the process.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  7. Health & Medicine

    Nurturing Our Microbes

    Nurturing the microbes living in the human body can pay dividends—from shortening the length of colds to fighting obesity and osteoporosis.

    By Janet Raloff
  8. Health & Medicine

    Doctors Without Borders

    A medical brain drain may leave many countries unable to care for their sick.

    By Janet Raloff
  9. Health & Medicine

    Eye Protection: Antibiotic knocks back blinding disease

    Twice-a-year administration of the antibiotic azithromycin to Ethiopian villagers greatly reduces cases of trachoma, a blinding eye disease.

    By Nathan Seppa
  10. Health & Medicine

    Benign—Not: Unexpected deaths in probiotics study

    Acute pancreatitis patients provided nutrition laced with supposedly beneficial gut microbes died at far higher rates than did patients who received just the nutrients.

    By Janet Raloff
  11. Health & Medicine

    Cancer drug limits MS relapses

    The anticancer drug retuximab inhibits nerve damage and relapses in multiple sclerosis patients.

    By Nathan Seppa
  12. Health & Medicine

    Drug Running: Bust nets suspects in counterfeit antimalaria trade

    Investigators have traced the source of counterfeit antimalarial pills in Southeast Asia to southern China, where suspects have been arrested and an illicit factory shut down.

    By Nathan Seppa