What's That Rash?

The modification and removal of body hair has been going on for centuries, but our reasons for it have evolved.
Some believe it’s more hygienic to remove, others argue it’s against our nature to be so hairless.
Norman and Tegan trim the evidence on body hair: leg, armpit, pubic and even inside your nose.
References:
Trends in body hair removal as depicted through art
Getting plucked: the history of hair removal - ABC
Effects of pubic hair grooming on women’s sexual health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Bare necessity? Public health implications of removing pubic hair
Effect of Physical and Chemical Hair Removal Methods on Skin Barrier Function in vitro: Consequences for a Hydrophilic Model Permeant
Using the Hair Removal Laser in the Axillary Region and its Effect on Normal Microbial Flora
Shaving of axillary hair has only a transient effect on perceived body odor pleasantness
Cadaver research leads to prestigious science award - the Science Show
Does nasal hair (vibrissae) density affect the risk of developing asthma in patients with seasonal rhinitis?
6 ways to remove unwanted hair - American Association of Dermatology
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Do the benefits of creatine go beyond the gym?
Does magnesium work against muscle cramps?
Which hair loss treatments actually work?

Ashwagandha supplements are rising in popularity, but the herb has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine.
The supposed benefits are broad – from stress to sleep, athletic performance and boosting testosterone.
Norman and Tegan explore where the evidence stands, and uncertainties about potential risks.
References:
An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda
Chemical composition, cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory enzyme inhibitory properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal root extracts
Chemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Health-Promoting Effects of Withania somnifera for Pharma-Food Industry Applications
Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep?
Exploring the efficacy and safety of a novel standardized ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in adults experiencing high stress and fatigue in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males
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Vitamin C: can it cure colds and cancer?
No-poo: why do we shampoo our hair?
Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments?

When you're going through a stressful time it can have knock-on effects on your routine.
Sleep, diet, exercise routines can be thrown out of whack. And when that stress goes for weeks or months, it can have a serious impact.
Norman and Tegan unpack the various forms of chronic stress, like burnout, and how they can disrupt your health.
References:
Chronic Stress - ScienceDirect
Physiology, Stress Reaction
The impact of stress on body function: A review
Stressor-Specific Microbiota Intervention
Stress and the gastrointestinal tract
B cells and the stressed brain: emerging evidence of neuroimmune interactions in the context of psychosocial stress and major depression
Stress, depression, the immune system, and cancer
The effect of multiple adverse childhood experiences on health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
11 healthy ways to handle life’s stressors - American Psychological Association
Stress-related conditions such as adjustment disorder and clinical burnout can be effectively treated with a 12-week cognitive behavioural programme, both when delivered as a face-to-face treatment and when delivered via the internet 
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Why is the internet telling me to lower my cortisol?
Are office jobs ruining our bodies?

Sea sickness, car sickness, space sickness – when it comes down to it, it’s all the same.
But not everybody suffers the same. Some people are even lucky enough to grow out of motion sickness.
Norman and Tegan talk about what’s going on when the world goes topsy-turvy, and what you can do about it.
References:
Motion Sickness
Validating sensory conflict theory and mitigating motion sickness in humans with galvanic vestibular stimulation - Nature
Are evolutionary hypotheses for motion sickness "just-so" stories?
Three studies of motion sickness susceptibility – Federal Aviation Authority
Genetic variants associated with motion sickness point to roles for inner ear development, neurological processes and glucose homeostasis
Motion sickness diagnostic criteria: Consensus Document of the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society 
Survey of motion sickness susceptibility in children and adolescents aged 3 months to 18 years
Hopkins History Moments: Neil A. Grauer explains how Hopkins expertise helped prevent seasickness
Remedies for motion sickness: What works? - Harvard Health 
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Why is yawning contagious?
Do glasses make your eyesight worse?
Is emu oil the new snake oil?

Lately there have been lots of scary headlines about cancer rates rising in younger adults.
What can you do to drive down your cancer risk?
Norman and Tegan offer some practical tips, and discuss what's in your control versus what isn't.
References:
Overview of cancer in Australia, 2025 - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Effects of diets on risks of cancer and the mediating role of metabolites
Be physically active – Cancer Council
Exercise packs a punch in fending off cancer – the Health Report
“You do not get cancer by chance”: Communicating the role of environmental causes in cancer diseases and the risk of a “guilt rhetoric”  
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How worried should you be about microplastics?
Is your (artificial) sweet tooth killing you?
What's so bad about fine particulate air pollution?