What's That Rash?

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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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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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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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?
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Our calcium needs can increase as we age, especially for women going through menopause.
Most Australians aren’t getting enough calcium from their diet, so are supplements a good option
Norman and Tegan discuss the conflicting evidence on calcium – in particular, could it be good for your bones, but bad for your heart?
References:
Calcium supplements have 'very little place' in modern medicine - the Health Report
Nutrient Reference Values - Calcium
Effect of age on calcium absorption in postmenopausal women
Biochemical Variables in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Reconciling the Calcium and Estrogen Hypotheses
Calcium Content of Common Foods - Healthy Bones Australia
Choosing a calcium supplement: What you should know about taking calcium to boost your nutrients
Calcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials
Association Between Calcium Supplementation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Association Between Calcium Supplementation and Recurrence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Population‐Based Cohort Study
Calcium Intake From Diet and Supplements and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcification and its Progression Among Older Adults: 10‐Year Follow‐up of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Oral Calcium Supplements Associate With Serial Coronary Calcification: Insights From Intravascular Ultrasound
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