WellBeing

There have been five mass extinctions on Earth, and the concern is that we might be in the midst of the sixth. A mass extinction is defined by the disappearance of 75 per cent of species. Amazingly, there is a species living today that has survived a

If you want to blow your mind, try contemplating how many grains of sand there are on Earth, or how many stars there are in the universe. If you want to go a step further, try deciding whether there are more grains or stars. If you want the answer, s

Dearest you, let’s check in. How is your mental health? What type of content lurks in your mind? Is it mostly non-fiction or is there a lot of storytelling? What is the quality of your thoughts; are they positive, intrusive or incessant? Mental healt

I dance and shake my booty! Recently I held a disco club at my house. Twelve women, a bit of food, some awesome tunes, sneakers, no sleazy men, no lines, no cover charge … Just singing and dancing the night away with the girls! It was glorious and so

Diversity is a marker of life, and one of the things that concerns us about climate change is the loss of biodiversity that it threatens. It also tickles the awe gland, however, when lack of diversity is observed as when a constant appears across spe

“Ghosting” is the act of ending a relationship without offering a clear explanation. As online dating and dating apps proliferate, so does ghosting, yet we know little about why people do it or its effects. In this study researchers wanted to see wha

It has traditionally been believed that any sort of farming or gardening has a negative impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. This impression has arisen mainly from intensive monoculture-style farming where one, or maybe two, crops are grown on a ma

I had lunch recently with a friend, let’s call him Nadger, who I have known for many years. It’s one of those friendships that is so entrenched in our respective lives that we don’t question it: it’s part of the life furniture. We don’t see each othe

Nigella sativa is a powerful medicinal plant that is native to Bulgaria and Romania in Eastern Europe and Cyprus, Turkey, Iran and Iraq in Western Asia. The name refers to the Latin niger, meaning black from the seed colour, and it has been called by

Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds found in fruit, vegetables and drinks such as tea and coffee. In a new study researchers investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenols when they were combined with proteins such as you get from milk or

WARNING: This article contains offensive language (or at least the suggestion of it). “Swearing” is the use of taboo language. The paradox is that while swearing is the use of words that are unacceptable, it is also ubiquitous. It is also not new; hu

Chickweed’s botanical name is Stellaria media. The plant is native to Eurasia but these days has naturalised throughout the world so successfully that it is also considered a weed in many places. Chickweed is an annual plant in colder climates, but p

A little over a decade ago, Natalie Isaacs’ lifestyle looked very different. As a cosmetics manufacturer her life was consumed by packaging and waste. Now, she’s the founder of 1 Million Women, a movement that empowers and educates women and girls ar

Have you ever joined a gym or planned to start a new fitness program, but struggled to get out of bed on Monday morning when the alarm went off? Then you spent the rest of the day berating yourself and ended up engaging in unhealthy behaviour because

Are you your harshest critic? Do you say things to yourself that you would never dream of uttering to a good friend? You probably know you should be kinder to yourself, but often it’s difficult to be self-compassionate. This is especially true if you

When was the last time you were awestruck? Feelings of awe help us form a clearer perspective of our own small place within the world. Research suggests that regularly experiencing awe can make you happier, lower stress levels and increase humility.

Imagine a small lifestyle tweak that could simultaneously reduce your weight and risk of depression and boost your productivity. Not only is this free, but something almost anyone can have a go at. An old-fashioned behaviour our grandparents would ha

“Empathy fuels connection. Sympathy drives disconnection,” says Dr Brené Brown in a beautifully animated video that narrates the chasm between sympathy and empathy. “Rarely, if ever, does an empathic response begin with ‘at least…’” she says. True em

Artist Cat Jones is best known for merging the art and plant science worlds, working in collaboration with neuroscientists, physiotherapists, biologists and botanists to create performative art. While it may seem like an odd pairing to some, working

According to my mother, the reason I should make my bed every morning is not for aesthetic purposes, or even to meet any kind of standard, but for a sense of achievement early in the day. I’m sure she’s not the initiator of this theory, but she’s cer

I have finally arrived. I take a deep breath in and look around. The waves at Mollymook beach are gently breaking against the rocks, the sun is shimmering on the water and I spot an eagle soaring through the pink sky. I take another deep breath in an

The use of medicinal mushrooms as a food and medicine dates back thousands of years. Traditional and folk practitioners have revered these special fungi for their healing properties. Medicinal mushrooms are particularly popular in China and other Eas

Do you have good nunchi? A Korean approach to emotional intelligence, nunchi is similar to what Australians might call “reading the room” or “reading between the lines”. Nunchi is not mind-reading; it’s being sensitive to subtle emotional cues: body

Imposter syndrome is an internalised feeling that your achievements or successes are undeserved, that you are not as smart and skilled as everyone may think you are and that any moment now you will be caught out as a cheat, no matter how much evidenc

Many beauty brands are stepping up their game when it comes to offering organic, sustainable products that are non-harmful to humans and Mother Earth. While this is encouraging, there are many cosmetics that still contain harmful ingredients along wi

Three-year-old Noah looked up at his mum’s very pregnant belly, and said, “Mummy, how did the baby get into your tummy?” Thinking quickly, Jade said, “Well, God took a little bit of me and a little bit of Dad and made a baby.” Noah looked alarmed as

Breath is synonymous with life. You can potentially survive weeks without food, days without fluid but only a matter of minutes without air. In 2020–21 an estimated 30 per cent of Australians were suffering from chronic respiratory infections, accord

Our daily movement has changed, and we now need to move our midsection habitually. Our midsection mobility is central to a supple spine. To ensure you maintain your spine health, you must twist and turn through movements daily that ignite the core an

Has the answer to a dilemma ever come to you after a good night’s sleep? Or your best idea bubbled up when you’re in the shower? That’s the underestimated power of rest. Often wrongly painted as the antithesis to success, rest is when you are most li

Are you constantly glued to your screen, putting in long hours at work and sacrificing your personal life in the name of achieving success? You’re certainly not alone in the overwork cult. Many people fall victim to the idea that we should “go hard o

When the Rolling Stones sang “Time Is On My Side” in 1964 they surely would not have predicted or presumed that, almost 60 years later, they would still be strutting on centre stage. As octogenarians, this song is surely not on their playlist now. In

For decades, transport in countries such as Australia and New Zealand has been dominated by the car. Fortunately, more environmentally benign alternatives are now being taken seriously for local travel, propelled by issues such as climate change, tra

“I forgive you.” Sometimes those three small words can be the hardest to say, especially when we’re hurting. But forgiveness has healing properties that no pill or practitioner can provide. Whether it’s towards someone else who has done you wrong or

I’m about to escape for three blissful weeks of road tripping when I read a snippet of news that turns my holiday on its head. It’s the latest list of worldwide animal extinctions, and I’m appalled to discover that most of them are ours. Australia —

MADE FROM 100% BREATHABLE ORGANIC COTTON Occi O is an Australian sleepwear label ethically produced in beautiful Sri Lanka. Each piece is thoughtfully designed with both the wearer and environment in mind and crafted to make you feel comfortable as y

JANE HARPER, MACMILLIAN “We see what we expect to see” is what British-Australian author Jane Harper unpacks in her newest book, Exiles. Cleverly, the book unfolds in three time frames: a week in the present, a year earlier and three years later. Thi

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where meals are cooked and consumed, where aromatic flavours are shared and enjoyed. It’s a place for the family to gather and for good friends to linger. Kitchens are also a place of chaos and of mess. Lots

Please share the Organic Merchant’s purpose and vision. Our purpose is to sustain nature to experience wellness. Our “earth to earth” sustainability model has been created to support people and planetary health now and in the future. We also align wi

The ocean contains a bounty of marine life that is widely used around the world for nutritional, cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. When it comes to natural beauty, there are a few standout sea treasures that contain unparalleled mineral and medic

Sadly, integrative care for cats and dogs with cancer makes up a large proportion of the caseload of holistic vets. Pet parents seek alternatives to conventional care, or maybe want to help their pets through toxic treatments like surgery, chemothera

A 45-year-old female visited the clinic. She was slightly overweight for her height, and on questioning she was complaining of regular headaches, anxiety, difficulty breathing when stressed, lightheadedness, deteriorating vision and occasional but ra

Since we first speculated that cholesterol was the root cause of heart disease we have obsessed about nuking it out of existence, essentially with weaponsgrade pharmaceuticals. Yet afflictions of the heart remain the number one cause of death in the

1 BALANCE by Young Living Collection Elevate your skincare routine with BALANCE by Young Living Cleanser, Dual-Phase Toner and Mattifying Lotion to make skincare simple and effective. This collection is carefully formulated to help prevent breakouts,

Those who have experienced body dysmorphia or disordered eating may relate to feeling utterly consumed to fix what you believe to be wrong with yourself. You may have developed hypervigilance too, constantly monitoring your reflection to seek out any

Line, 40 years: —After I started using Natural Magic™ Anti-Aging Cream, my skin looks radiant. It feels amazing and soft. And the best part is that the bags around the eyes are completely gone – it’s almost like magic. —I have been through a grueling

Since 1955 the Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA) continues to be a historic, trusted association of highly skilled practitioners, qualified in traditional and natural therapies. ANTA Student members get access to world-class scientific

The dogū are small clay figures with humanoid or animal features that originate from prehistoric Japan. They are small, ranging in size from 10cm to 30cm, and most of them have the appearance of a female body, although they do come in different style

• May 18–21, Sydney, AU Mind Body Spirit Festival mbsfestival.com.au • May 19, Global World IBD Day worldibdday.org • May 19–21, Melbourne, AU The Good Food & Wine Show goodfoodshow.com.au/Melbourne • May 22–28, AU ATMS Natural Medicine Week naturalm

The moai of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) are impressive and have provoked many theories. The monoliths are carved from volcanic stone found on the isolated island and date to between 1100 and 1500 CE. Initially they were thought to be just heads, but exc

You probably have a few events in your life that were very important to you, and think that you have a clear memory of those events. Ironically, it is the very nature of memory and how often you think of those moments that make your recollection of t