Universal Medicine

You're probably thinking that this is related to football and set-pieces taken by the legendary David Beckham...well you're in for a surprise. Today we shall be looking into the ancient Indian art of yoga as well as the benefits from regular practice. The body is a fascinating production from evolution, a species dominating the planet. But whilst still being a great force upon Earth, we do have to boost our traits every now and then. So what actually is yoga? Well, it's a form of exercise which allows the body to focus on strength, flexibility and breathing. This, in turn, helps boost the physical and mental well being of the individual. The art of yoga is often portrayed with religion and praying as well as a leisure activity that the elderly partake in, although it is an art practiced across all genres of people varying in size, age and ability. Originating in north India almost 5,000 years ago, it has spread across the world like a wildfire with countries taking their ...

A dentists' needle...the worst nightmare for a child. The fear of needles is known as "Needle phobia" and is a growing issue with young individuals. This often prevents a treatment from going ahead as the individual is emotionally distressed about the situation. However, research from University of São Paulo has potentially discovered the ideal solution for children who require a local anaesthetic without the fear of the consequences from a needle. This week, Universal Medicine will be exploring anaesthetics as well as the future of local anaesthetics. Firstly, we need to understand the science behind a local anaesthetic. There are two types of anaesthetics, one that can knock out the entire body contrasting to the anaesthetic which can numb a certain area which is often used in dentistry. When the body’s sensory neurone detects a dangerous stimulus it responds by sending a signal to the brain (this does not happen in a reflex). However, a local anaesthetic can bl...

“Overworked doctors make mistakes!” “Strikes will put patient safety at risk!” These two quotes encapsulate the overall points of view towards the epidemic of junior doctor strikes. This week on Universal Medicine, we will be exploring the new proposed strikes and the controversy which has arisen as a result. On 5 th July 2016, the poll results from junior doctors in regards to imposing the new contract was revealed: 42% in favour and 58% opposing. Despite this majority, the Government decided to still impose this new contract from early October; the results of the poll have clearly not influenced their decision, causing much uproar and uncertainty. Following the failure to bring about a mutual agreement, junior doctors have proposed 5 day walkouts every month, beginning from September. These planned strikes have caused much insecurity for the public and junior doctors. On one hand, the public argues that the doctors’ union is striking at the expense of patient safety. Indeed...

With the summer almost over, many students will begin the painful preparation of returning back to school with some adults returning back to work too. An emotional moment for the longest school break, but, is there an easy way to settle back into school? Summer is by far the longest vacation for many students across the world, it's important to settle into the school routine as quickly as possible. There are multiple things that also be done over summer to ensure the best possible start. For example, many experts believe that the summer vacation is pivotal towards their education as it allows students to recharge their brains allowing them to still continue the next year successfully with confidence and without over-working. A lot of suggestions are to make sure that you get enough sleep each day as each year requires hard work. During school time, students sometimes find themselves lacking sleep due to the high demands of work and deadlines that need to be met. Sleep is a main...