Universal Medicine

Natasha Lynch Evidence that led to the discovery of the Circadian Rhythm and the endogenous pacemaker. The first evidence of an internal body clock came not from our species but from a particular plant. In 1729 two scientists discovered that plants generate their own internal time. They focused on the plant Mimosa Pudica, this was because at night the leaves would collapse down almost as though they had wilted, but the next day the leaves would open again like an umbrella. This behaviour would repeat every morning and every night. Originally it was believed that this behaviour was due to the rising and setting of the sun. A researcher named Mairan completed a study where he placed a Mimosa Pudica in a sealed box for 24 Hours, taking away the natural cycle of light and dark of the earth. It was found, despite no longer having the influence of light and dark, the plant still behaved the same, the leaves would expand during the day and retract during the night even without the natural si...

Natasha Lynch A speech disorder refers to any condition which affects the way a person is able to create and form words. Speech, language and communication are some of the most important things in everyday life. To be understood we must understand. We communicate what we need, what we know and what we want. Learning speech and communication as a child lies the foundations of all relationships, developments and achievements. It allows children to learn, without the basics of listening, talking and understanding a child is unable to learn new things like reading and writing. From childhood all the way through adulthood a person with a speech disorder will struggle. Try to think of a day where you have not communicated or spoken to someone. I doubt there are many and if there are I guarantee it was pretty lonely. Or imagine if every time you went to say a word or sentence different words came out- frustrating right? This is living with a speech disorder.  Types of speech disorders: - ...

How sleep is the best painkiller. Have you ever suffered from some sort of pain then gone to sleep and woke up with the pain as a memory? New research has found an explanation for all of this. The research found that sleep deprivation increases the sensitivity of pain as it numbs the pain killing response. The effects of not getting enough sleep are endless from reduced memory, losing the ability to learn as well as cognitive impairment. Research Walker and Krause used 24 healthy, young participants and applied heat to their legs and scanned their brains examining the process of pain. The first time they completed this after participants had had a good night sleep and established the pain threshold, then again with no sleep. The researchers found that the brain's somatosensory cortex, a region associated with pain sensitivity, was hyperactive when the participants hadn't slept enough. This confirmed the hypothesis that sleep deprivation would interfere with pain-p...

Phantom limb If someone has had an area of a leg or arm amputated, there are many cases where the patient will still experience the pain of the limb. It is most common in leg and arm amputees but can also be present when other body parts are removed like breasts. The pain usually occurs within 6 months of the amputation and can last anywhere from a couple hours to years without treatment. The cause is not yet known, but researchers believe it is related to nerves in the brain and spinal cord rewire when they lose signal with the missing limb, its then believed that they will send pain signals as they sense something is wrong. It may also just be caused by the damaged nerve endings and damaged tissues. Phantom limb syndrome was first described in 1552 by French surgeon Ambroise pare, who operated on wounded soldiers and wrote about patients who complained of pain in amputated limbs. The same syndrome was later observed and noted by a Scottish physician William Porterfield who w...

The effects of caffeine Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance but what is it really doing to our bodies? Some believe this is a drug we all abuse. Addiction to a classic drug is usually related to an increase in cerebral functions and dopamine release in the part of the brain responsible reward, motivation and addiction. Caffeine however, does not induce release of dopamine in this area of the brain instead dopamine is released in the prefrontal cortex- which is important for reinforcement. This may be something that explains why drinking caffeine has become such trend and obsession for many people. Psychologists have said that these people have become dependent on caffeine similar to drug dependence. This is where a pattern of behaviour focussed on repetition and compulsive seeking of the psychoactive drug.  This means that once the caffeine stops an individual will experience withdrawal reporting the following: -Headaches -Fatigue -Weakness -...