- A collaborative systematic review on homeopathy for tonsillitis has been published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine. The study finds associations with symptom relief, reduced infection frequency, and lower antibiotic use, with no safety concerns identified across the included studies. With antimicrobial resistance a growing global health challenge, evidence on alternatives to routine antibiotic prescribing is of increasing relevance.
- The amount of time spent in good health in the UK has dropped by 2 years to just under 61 years of age in a decade. A new report from The Health Foundation reveals that Britons are spending more years than ever in poor health — getting sicker younger and staying that way longer. Despite decades of NHS investment and endless government health strategies, the UK has tumbled to second-from-bottom in a league table of 21 wealthy nations, ‘beaten’ only by the United States. The report gives more impetus for the widespread introduction of a root-cause, prevention-first approach to nutrition and lifestyle that conventional medicine has long dismissed.
- The amount of time spent in good health (known as healthy life expectancy) in the UK has dropped by seven months according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. Men can expect to spend 18 years of their life in poor health while women can expect 22.5 years of poor health. The new data underscores the growing health crisis, not just in the UK but globally, and the urgent need to move from a system built around managing disease to one that prioritises the body’s inherent capacity to be healthy. An area in which BRCP registrants are uniquely placed to help people make the changes needed to improve their health and wellbeing.
- Parents reaching for the chicken nuggets and flavoured milk may want to think twice after a study published in JAMA Network Open found that higher UPF intake at age 3 was associated with worse internalising (anxiety, withdrawal) and externalising (aggression, hyperactivity) behaviour scores at age 5. The researchers found UPFs accounted for nearly half of the children’s total caloric intake. Modelling a 10% swap of UPF calories for whole foods was associated with improved outcomes, with sugary and artificially sweetened drinks emerging as being particularly harmful. The mechanisms likely involve gut-brain disruption and depletion of nutrients critical for neurodevelopment. Real food isn’t just about physical health — it shapes the developing mind.
- Researchers reviewing recent evidence say acupuncture may do more than simply relieve symptoms—it appears to influence the immune system by activating specific nerve pathways. According to the study, stimulation at certain acupuncture points sends mechanical signals through sensory nerves to the brain and autonomic nervous system, which can then adjust inflammation, immune cell activity, and even gut health. This suggests acupuncture may work as a form of targeted neuromodulation, potentially offering new non-drug approaches for conditions involving chronic inflammation or immune imbalance, though more clinical research is still needed to confirm how these mechanisms translate into everyday treatment. Read more…
- The team at the Alliance for Natural Health warn about European regulator’s efforts to ban a range of botanicals used in supplements. If adopted in the EU such regulations could well be imported to the UK.Read more…A new study suggests that complementary health practices—such as yoga, massage, herbal remedies, acupuncture, and spiritual practices—are now a regular part of wellness for many older adults. Researchers found that nearly 59% of seniors had used at least one of these approaches in the past year, and more than three-quarters had tried them at some point in their lives. The findings highlight how mainstream these therapies have now become.
- Think your afternoon kip is harmless? Think again. New research suggests that long, frequent daytime naps—especially morning snoozes—could be a red flag for serious underlying health problems and may even be linked to a higher risk of early death in older adults. Scientists tracking seniors for years found that every extra hour spent napping raised mortality risk, with excessive dozing potentially signalling issues like heart disease, poor sleep, or neurodegeneration. Experts stress this doesn’t mean the odd power nap is dangerous—but if you’re regularly nodding off for lengthy stretches, it might be time to speak to your doctor.
Research update August 2026
