Traditional medicine: Ancient wisdom meets modern science
For thousands of years, people have relied on traditional medicine to heal and stay healthy. Ancient knowledge in traditional medicine and herbal remedies has shaped how people care for their bodies and minds. Some of today’s most important medicines – like aspirin (for pain and inflammation) and artemisinin (for treating malaria) – have their roots […]
Catching and detecting deadly viruses
In recent years outbreaks of arthropod transmitted viruses (arboviruses) and zoonotic viruses (viruses that jump from animals to humans) have increased with significant public and veterinary health implications. Diverse factors including climate change and various anthrogenic factors will drive the emergence and re-emergence of viruses. Climate change influences the survival and abundance of mosquitoes and […]
Clean air: Symbiosis of plants and humans
To breathe is to draw vitality from our atmospheric interdependence with others. This vitality derives first and foremost from the photosynthesising capacities of plants. Without plants, our planetary atmospheres would have remained hostile to human life. It is this foundational debt to plants that informs the current research of Prof Helene Strauss from the Department […]
Next generation sequencing – A vital tool for better health
Health experts and the World Health Organization (WHO) agree that the world was not prepared, and is perhaps still not prepared, for the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Along with this, the risk of new health emergencies also continues to increase. In an effort to better prepare and respond to future health emergencies, Dr […]
Bananas – a power fruit in purifying water
Bananas! A versatile, tasty and accessible power fruit, packed with vitamins and good for blood sugar, digestive health, the heart and excellent in purifying water. Prof Jeanet Conradie, Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS), and her team are researching the use of banana peel, amongst other […]