Five years ago this week the National Social Prescribing Network was founded. What started as a spark of an idea has become a hugely successful movement that has seen social prescribing move from the periphery into mainstream health. In a…
Gut bacteria affects how immune system responds to Covid, studies say
Bacteria in a person’s gut could determine how seriously they’re affected by symptoms of Covid, two new studies in Asia have found. Research carried out by scientists at the University of Hong Kong found that some people diagnosed with the…
Lockdown depression: ‘A GP who has time to engage properly with a patient can reduce the need for a referral’
The rise in the number of people being referred for depression – particularly during lockdown – could be directly linked to a reduced number of GPs, the College of Medicine’s Chair has said. Depression rates continue to rise in the…
The College of Medicine looks to the year ahead – as we prepare to publish our 10-year manifesto
In his festive message, College of Medicine Chair Dr Michael Dixon discusses the unfathomable year that has been 2020, including chinks of light centred around community, kindness and our many, free online classes, which have now reached thousands of people.…
New research finds turmeric could have theraputic use for practitioners – including easing pain
New research has examined the effects of the spice turmeric as a theraputic option for GPs and practitioners. The yellow-coloured spice – which contains the compound curcumin – has long been used as a herbal remedy for conditions associated with…
As we await a vaccine, could herbs and spices be an ally in fighting off Covid-19?
While positive news about potential vaccines have offered a chink of light in finding a way to outwit Covid-19, looking to Mother Nature – sunlight, herbs and plants – might help us to improve our resilience in the meantime, say doctors. Research…
Loneliness spikes as dark nights and lockdown take their toll on mental health
New statistics released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that levels of loneliness have heightened in recent weeks with the arrival of darker evenings and a second lockdown – with one in four people reporting increased feelings of…
Ten years of the College of Medicine: We celebrate a decade of huge achievement
The College of Medicine is celebrating its tenth birthday and, on November 12th, its Chair, executives and members threw an almighty Zoom party to mark a decade that has seen social prescribing, which remains at the very core of the…
Plant biologist’s research finds roadside weed kills breast cancer cells without damaging healthy ones
A plant biologist who has dedicated years of research to proving that a roadside weed could help successfully target breast cancer cells has produced her strongest evidence yet. In her latest research, Professor Alessandra Devoto, from Royal Holloway, University of…
Obituary: Hugh MacPherson
College of Medicine members may have heard of the very sad death of Hugh MacPherson, who was a member of the College’s Scientific Advisory Council, Chaired by Professor Sir Stephen Holgate. Hugh passed away in August, aged 72, from pancreatic cancer.…
Matt Hancock: ‘There is no downside to vitamin D’ – as evidence grows that it could help in Covid-19 fight
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he now supports people taking vitamin D, amid growing evidence that those who are deficient in the ‘sunshine vitamin’ fare worse when infected with Covid-19. The College of Medicine has long advocated taking Vitamin…
Brushing your teeth properly reduces risk of oral cancer, scientists say
Brushing your teeth thoroughly could help to prevent oral cancer, new research finds. Scientists at the University of California found that the bacteria that builds up around teeth when regular brushing is absent was responsible for pathogens that enhanced tumour…
Losing weight cuts the risk of a raft of obesity-related health problems, new study finds
A major new study has found that shedding weight significantly cuts the risk of developing a group of chronic health conditions – with a loss of 13 per cent body weight reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by 42…
Honey is ‘better than conventional medicine for sore throats and coughs’, new research says
A new study suggests that honey is better for easing sore throats and coughs than many over-the-counter medicines and antibiotics. The sweet nectar made by bees – meaning it’s cheap to mass produce – has strong antimicrobial properties and has…
Study on the power of yoga for mental health sparks new calls for NHS to ‘clinically prescribe’ it
Practising yoga regularly can be almost as effective in treating anxiety as seeing a talking therapist, new US research has found. The study, carried out by New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, asked 226 people who have generalised anxiety…
Exercise, cognitive therapy and acupuncture could be better than paracetamol for chronic pain sufferers, NICE report finds
GPs treating people suffering with chronic primary pain shouldn’t prescribe painkillers including paracetamol and ibuprofen, new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises. A draft report by a NICE committee suggests that exercise, cognitive therapy,…
Making healthy lifestyle changes could cut dementia cases by 40 per cent, says new research
Cutting back on alcohol, exercising more and not smoking are among 12 lifestyle changes that could help reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia, a major new study has found. A global team of 28 dementia experts conducted the comprehensive…
Study finds medieval eye salve made using garlic and onion could fight antibiotic-resistant infections
Researchers at the University of Warwick have found naturally occurring anti-microbials, which could be used to help tackle antibiotic-resistant infections, in a 1,000-year-old eye salve. Scientists examined natural remedies used in early medieval history in its research investigating alternatives to…
College of Medicine patron HRH The Prince of Wales praises ‘pioneering’ social prescribing project in Cornwall
The College of Medicine’s patron, HRH the Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall have praised a social prescribing team at a GP practice in Cornwall, after a flying visit there this week. His Royal Highness visited St Austell…
Make yourself ‘as fit as possible’ to beat COVID-19 second wave, says deputy Chief Medical Officer
The UK’s deputy Chief Medical Officer has urged people to lose weight and get fit to equip themselves against a potential second wave of COVID-19. Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Dr Jenny Harries said it was now proven that being…
Study finds dance health project reduces falls in the elderly by up to 58 per cent
A social prescribing programme designed to encourage older people to dance could help reduce falls by around 58 per cent, a new study has found. Community-led project Dance to Health combines evidence-based falls prevention principles with the creativity, expression and energy…
New UK study finds broccoli and tea can play ‘significant role’ in cancer prevention
A new UK study has found that broccoli and tea can be helpful in the prevention of cancer. Research by Bedfordshire Hospitals Consultant Professor Robert Thomas, who co-led a national scientific study, suggests that consuming broccoli and drinking tea can…
New study finds regular yoga sessions have positive impact on mental health disorders
Practicing yoga on a regular basis can help alleviate the symptoms of mental health disorders, according to new research. The World Health Organisation says around 264 million people suffer from depression globally. The study’s lead author Jacinta Brinsley, from the…
New UK study suggests that vitamin D could help in the fight against COVID-19
New research from scientists at three UK universities has concluded that vitamin D could be useful in the fight against COVID-19. The study, ‘The role of vitamin D in the prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection and mortality’, is currently…
College of Medicine joins campaign to help aspiring doctors during lock-down
The College of Medicine is proud to be a partner in the Pre-Medicus Campaign, a new online resource that aims to help doctors of the future access vital information during lock-down. Alongside the NHS Social Prescribing Champion Scheme and the Unofficial…
