The Importance of Ginkgo Biloba as a Supplement

Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest tree species in the world and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. 

Today, it remains a popular supplement, particularly for those interested in brain health, circulation, and healthy ageing.

Brain and Cognitive Support

Ginkgo biloba is most commonly associated with supporting memory, focus, and mental clarity. 

It is believed to work by improving blood flow to the brain, helping deliver oxygen and nutrients that are essential for healthy cognitive function.

Circulation and Antioxidant Benefits

By supporting healthy blood circulation, ginkgo biloba may help with overall vitality and wellbeing. Its antioxidant compounds also help protect cells from oxidative stress, which is linked to ageing and long-term health issues.

Easy to Take, Widely Available

In the UK, ginkgo biloba is available in capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts. It is usually taken daily, with benefits often becoming noticeable after several weeks of consistent use.

Safety Considerations

Ginkgo biloba is generally well tolerated, but it may interact with blood-thinning medications and should be avoided before surgery. Anyone with medical conditions or who is taking medication should speak to a GP or pharmacist before use.

In Summary

Ginkgo biloba is a well-established supplement that may support brain health, circulation, and antioxidant protection. While not a cure-all, it can be a useful addition to a healthy lifestyle when taken responsibly.

From Walls to Bloodstream: Are Decaying Conventional Paints a Source of Your Body's Microplastic Load? Free DIY Microplastics Audit Now Available

As the global scientific community raises the alarm over microplastics detected in human blood, lungs, and placentas, their attention is turning to another "hidden culprit" inside our homes: decaying conventional paints.

For decades, we've  coated our living and work spaces in "liquid plastics", acrylic and vinyl resins. Today, a landmark UK-funded documentary reveals the scale of the microplastic crisis, featuring Paint Zero®, a new bio-mineral coating to break the cycle of indoor plastic inhalation.

1. The "Triple Zero" Standard: A New Baseline for Health

Conventional paints rely on 20th-century "plastic film" technology, one that eventually becomes brittle and sheds for a variety of reasons. Paint Zero has skipped a generation of chemistry to offer one of the first indoor decorating paints to achieve a Triple Zero profile:

• Zero Microplastics: No synthetic polymer binders to decay into microplastic particles.

• Zero VOCs: Truly odour-free with no chemical outgassing.

• Zero Toxic Biocides: Natural mineral preservation instead of synthetic poisons.

By replacing petrochemical resins with a patented plant-protein and mineral-bound matrix, Paint Zero doesn't just beautify your walls, it hardens into a breathable stone-like coating by absorbing 12 grams of Carbon Dioxide every square meter.

2. Featured in the Official UKRI ‘Future Makers’ Film

Paint Zero’s ‘Triple Zero’ announcement coincides with the premiere of the UK-funded ‘Future Makers’ documentary on 21st January. The film features Paint Zero as a key alternative to conventional plastic paints, highlighting how the global paint industry is facing customer and regulatory pressures for change.

“Our mission was to create a paint that honours the health of the building and its occupants,” Ross Harling of Paint Zero told That's Health.

“By using minerals from the Earth's crust and plant extracts from the Farmer's field, we’ve created a coating that's vapor-permeable and entirely free of the plastics that eventually decay into tiny particles, impacting all of us. Paint Zero is, quite simply, nature on your walls.”

Paint Zero represents a "sea-change" for the paint world, cleaner, lighter, and fundamentally safer for human health- from raw materials to shipping, usage and disposal.

3. Launching the DIY "Hidden Culprit" Check

If you are concerned that the near-invisible shedding of aged paint polymers is already happening in your home or school, you can now take action.

Available today from www.paintzero.com, Paint Zero has launched the DIY Microplastics Audit. These simple screening tools allow families to quickly assess if the plastic paints on their walls have reached their decay point and may be shedding micro-fragments into the air. This audit is the first step in reclaiming a healthy, plastic-free environment for the next generation.

Paint Zero is based in Frome, Somerset and is the pioneer of 100% microplastic-free bio-technology coatings. Packaged as lightweight powders to be mixed with tap water, Paint Zero reduces transport emissions and eliminates throwaway containers through the use of bio-compostable pouches.

DSM Foundation responds to the updated review of ketamine use and harms from the government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Recent significant rises in the use of ketamine by young people, and in the harms it can cause, especially regarding bladder damage, dependence, and drug-related deaths, have led to increasing concerns for drug education charity the DSM Foundation.

In their student surveys, ketamine is consistently perceived as the most prevalent substance being used by 15-18 year olds, after alcohol, nicotine and cannabis, overtaking others such as cocaine and MDMA, and this has been part of a bigger picture of concern, with cries for help from parents, teachers and healthcare professionals from across the entire country.

Given this context, the DSM Foundation welcomes the publication of this updated review from the ACMD, commissioned by the government more than a decade after its previous review in 2013. 

This detailed, comprehensive, wide-ranging report on the current context in relation to ketamine provides valuable insights into what the specific issues are, and what the ACMD considers needs doing to address these – which is a lot. 

Although much of the attention surrounding the report will inevitably focus on the recommendation relating to its legal classification, we know that there’s so much more that needs to be done to reduce harm to young people, and this is reflected in the long list of recommendations detailed in the report.

Of course it's the recommendations relating to prevention, education, training, and harm reduction that are of most interest to a drug education charity like the DSM Foundation, because they know how essential this is as part of any response to drug-related harm – and they're already working very hard to enable young people to manage risks specific to ketamine, as part of the broader information, skills and strategies their work always integrates.

The charity has developed specialist content which covers the effects and risks of ketamine, identifying early signs of bladder damage and of possible dependence, as well as decision-making skills and strategies contextualised to ketamine, harm reduction and support seeking. Ketamine-focused workshops have been delivered by the DSM Foundation team in schools from the northeast of Scotland to the southwest of England, and information for young people and parents and caregivers can be found on the website. A free ketamine resource pack for schools will be made available shortly to download from the website, which will include a short staff briefing and resources for teachers to use with students in drug education lessons.

Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, founder and director of the DSM Foundation told That's Health: “As we’ve seen the prevalence of ketamine rising, and the numbers of young people coming to harm growing - and in ways quite unique to this particular substance - we’ve been so concerned to do all we can to work with young people to keep themselves safe.

"We’re all about supporting young people to make safer choices about drugs, but we know how many factors can mitigate against that for young people, and how important effective education is. We very much hope the government responds positively to the strong recommendations the ACMD has made in relation to education, and that a better understanding of what’s already available will lead to the development of more evidence-informed resources and programmes that will support young people, and the important adults in their lives, to reduce risk and harm, and to find support that really helps them should they ever find they need it.”

https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk

Brownies’ winter sleepout to help older Cumbrians stay warm

A group of kind-hearted Brownies from near Carlisle have raised thousands of pounds to help vulnerable older people stay warm in winter... and they aren’t quite finished yet!

Since 2013, 1st Wetheral Brownies have supported Cumbria Community Foundation’s annual Winter Warmth Appeal, which gives out vital grants to older people to keep them warm and well through the colder months.

The Brownies have held a sponsored sleepout every winter at chilly spots across Cumbria, including Naworth Castle, Netherby Hall, Wetheral Priory Gatehouse and even in tents, on the shores of Windermere.

So far they have raised over £12,000 – and this week they will be digging out their thermals and doing it all again.

Twenty Brownies and Young Leaders from 1st Wetheral will be joined by 10 Brownies and Guides from Hayton to spend the night in a tipi near Brampton. This year’s theme is a Native American Adventure, and the girls have been making dream catchers and totem poles in preparation.

Their leader Janice Brown, AKA Tawny Owl, explained to That's Health: “We've been learning about Native American culture in preparation for our sponsored sleepout this week. 

"The girls have made dream catchers and lanterns, and we’ve been practising our campfire songs and tracking skills, which we will try out in the woods."

She explained why the Brownies support the Winter Warmth Appeal each year, which last winter gave out over £270,000 in grants, benefitting 1,570 vulnerable older people across the county.

“Sleeping out in the cold gives the Brownies a real understanding of what life must be like for older people who can’t afford to heat their homes in winter. So while we always have a lot of fun, the girls know the serious reason for the campaign and do their best to raise as much in sponsorship as possible. They love that the money helps older people in need right here in Cumbria.”

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, will be visiting the Brownies at their camp to thank them for their incredible fundraising efforts.

He said: “We have been running the Winter Warmth Appeal since 2010 and have raised in excess of £3m since then. I can honestly say there have been no more dedicated fundraisers in that time than our Brownie friends from Wetheral, and their wonderful volunteer leaders and helpers.

“Unfortunately, the need for the appeal is as great as ever. Every winter, as many as 500 older people in Cumbria die because they cannot afford to heat their homes and eat properly.

“Donations and fundraising by kind-hearted Cumbrians such as the Brownies mean older people won’t have to make the impossible choice of whether to heat their homes or put food on the table.”

The Winter Warmth Appeal is open for donations until March.

How to donate

Donate online: https://cumbriafoundation.enthuse.com/cf/cumbria-winter-warmth-appeal-2025

Donate by phone: Call 01900 825760 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Donate by post: Please make cheques payable to Cumbria Community Foundation, writing ‘Winter Warmth Fund’ on the back, and send to: Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, CA13 0PN.

Thanks to Special Event Tipis, Shake, Waffle and Roll, Darren Morgan of Talkin Adventures and Border Group Ltd for supporting the Brownies’ sleepout.

How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home

Excess humidity is a common problem in UK homes, especially during colder months when windows stay shut.

Left unchecked, it can lead to condensation, mould, musty smells, and even health issues such as asthma or bronchitis. 

Fortunately, most humidity problems can be tackled with simple, everyday changes.

What Causes High Humidity?

Everyday activities add moisture to the air, including cooking, showering, drying clothes indoors, and even breathing. Poor ventilation, sealed windows, and cold rooms all make the problem worse.

Signs of a Humidity Problem

Condensation on windows

Damp or musty smells

Mould on walls or ceilings

Peeling wallpaper or paint

Rooms feeling cold despite heating

Simple Ways to Reduce Humidity

Open windows daily, even in winter (even just 10–15 minutes helps)

Use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms

Keep trickle vents and air bricks clear

Dry clothes near open windows or use a dehumidifier

Use lids on pans and wipe down wet surfaces

Heat rooms evenly to avoid cold spots

Improve airflow by moving furniture away from walls

Use Dehumidifiers Where Needed

Dehumidifiers are especially useful in bedrooms, bathrooms, and poorly ventilated spaces. In colder homes, desiccant models tend to work best.

Aim for Balanced Air

Healthy indoor humidity levels sit between 40–60%. A simple hygrometer can help you keep track.

Why It Matters

Reducing humidity helps protect your home from damage, improves air quality, reduces mould, and supports better breathing and sleep.

A few small changes can make a big difference — fresher air, a healthier home, and fewer damp-related problems year-round.

You can purchase dehumidifiers at this link which might generate a modest income for us https://amzn.to/3LXSkzo

New survey highlights life-changing impact of Chilterns Neuro Centre support

A new survey of members at the Chilterns Neuro Centre has highlighted the vital and often life-changing difference the charity makes to people affected by neurological conditions in the local community.

Almost 300 members took part in the Centre’s annual membership survey, representing just under a third of its total membership. An overwhelming 99% of respondents said they would recommend the Centre to someone with a neurological condition or their carer, with the vast majority saying they would be extremely likely to do so.

The Chilterns Neuro Centre is a Wendover-based charity providing a wide range of treatments and services to people affected by MS, Parkinson’s and strokes, as well as their families, empowering them to live life to the full. Other than a £35 annual membership fee, all these services are provided free of charge. 

However, as a charity, the Centre relies heavily on the generosity of individuals and organisations within the community to help maintain its vital services.

Importantly, 95 percent of respondents stated that the Centre provides services they cannot access anywhere else, reinforcing its distinctive role in filling gaps in statutory health and social care provision.

The survey findings shows the Centre’s specialist services play a absolutely vital role in helping people manage the long-term impact of conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s and stroke. Exercise classes, one-to-one physiotherapy and courses and workshops were the most frequently accessed services, underlining the importance of ongoing, specialist physical support for people living with these conditions.

Members also reported significant benefits to their health and wellbeing. Almost nine in ten said the treatment and support they receive helps improve their physical health always or most of the time, while a similar proportion said it improves their mental health and helps them manage their symptoms. More than four in five said the Centre helps them maintain their independence in daily activities, and three quarters said it increases social contact and helps reduce loneliness.

The survey also highlights the compassion and professionalism of the Centre’s staff, with 88 percent of respondents rating staff support and friendliness as excellent and a further 11% rating it as good.

Members’ comments vividly capture the difference the Centre makes. One described it simply as “my lifeline”, while another said: “After my diagnosis I felt very isolated and alone, but the Centre has given me hope again.” Others spoke of feeling understood, supported and part of a community where their condition does not need to be explained.

“These results show just how essential the Centre is to so many people living with neurological conditions and their families,” Richard Parkin, Chief Executive of the Chilterns Neuro Centre, told That's Health.

“We are incredibly proud of the impact our staff, volunteers and supporters make every day, providing specialist support, friendship and hope in a safe and welcoming environment.”

If you or someone you know has MS, Parkinson’s, or has experienced a stroke, the Chilterns Neuro Centre can help. Call 01296 696133 to learn more about their services and how to get involved.

New national campaign encourages victim-survivors of domestic abuse to make use of ‘Safe Spaces’ this winter

Crisis support charity, Hestia, has launched a new national billboard campaign, made possible thanks to the JCDecaux Community Channel, highlighting the different forms of domestic abuse and how risk can escalate gradually over time. 

The campaign is backed by high street banks and pharmacies including: AIB (NI), Boots, Cooperative Bank, Medicare, Metro Bank, Morrisons, Nationwide, NatWest, Progressive Building Society, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, TSB, Ulster Bank and more. 

It aims to raise awareness of the thousands of designated Safe Spaces in their high street branches for victim-survivors of domestic abuse. Charities and police forces often report an increase in domestic abuse incidents over the winter months, as conditions surrounding the holidays, such as heightened alcohol consumption, financial stress and tensions due to family gatherings, can create an environment where abuse is more likely to occur.

This makes it even more crucial that victim-survivors know where to seek help safely. Some banks participating in the Safe Spaces scheme have also noted an increase in usage of Safe Spaces during winter months.

The powerful, impactful campaign is appearing on billboards and on high streets in key cities across the UK (including London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester). The campaign was created and produced by Toaster, an international creative agency with an HQ in London.

The Safe Spaces scheme, originally launched by Hestia during the pandemic as part of its UK Says No More campaign, can be accessed by asking a member of staff at a participating location to use their Safe Space. 

Victim-survivors are then shown to a private room equipped with a phone or tablet, providing a safe and discreet way to reach out to friends and family, contact specialist support services and start their journey to recovery. Visit www.hestia.org/safe to find your nearest Safe Space.

Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive at Hestia told That's Health: “Winter can be a particularly dangerous time for those experiencing domestic abuse. More time at home, financial pressures, and higher alcohol consumption can increase isolation and risk, while access to support services may be limited".

“That’s why Hestia is launching this campaign to promote Safe Spaces, places where anyone feeling unsafe can escape, and find the support they need. Everyone deserves to be safe; no one should suffer in silence.”

Chris Dooley, Head of Responsible Media at JCDecaux UK, said: “At a time of year when the risk of domestic abuse can quietly escalate, we are proud to use the power of our public screens nationwide to help Hestia shine a light on Safe Spaces and signpost people to confidential, life-changing support.”

Louise, a survivor of domestic abuse, said: “In winter, offices close and clubs and community centres take a break. For victims of abuse, this brings isolation... It means there is no break from the abuse. As the victim, you are more helpless now than ever, your life more at risk. 

"You can't see a way out, especially when your every move is being monitored. “With Safe Spaces, you are not alone. You have the opportunity to reach out, put together an escape plan and find refuge... all while visiting something unassuming like a bank or a pharmacy. Safe Spaces could be lifesaving”.