Figure 1. Essential oils and diffuser commonly used in aromatherapy practices. Image generated using OpenAI Introduction The scent of lavender after a long day, peppermint during a headache, or eucalyptus when dealing with a cold—many people use fragrances to feel better. But can pleasant scents actually improve health? Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy that uses essential oils extracted from plants to promote physical and emotional well-being. Although it has roots

Tolulope Oladimeji The immune system is the body’s primary defense against disease and foreign agents. It operates across multiple layers, from the physical barrier of the skin to highly specialized adaptive immune cells such as T and B lymphocytes. The immune system is broadly divided into the innate and adaptive immune systems, which work together to mount coordinated responses against pathogens. Together, these systems comprise organs (primary lymphoid organs such as the

The liver is one of the body's hardest-working organs, processing nutrients, filtering substances from the blood, producing important proteins, and helping regulate metabolism. What makes it particularly unusual, however, is its ability to repair itself after significant damage. Unlike many organs, the liver can replace lost tissue and restore much of its original function, even after a large portion has been removed. This remarkable ability, known as liver regeneration, depe

Image Link: https://guysandstthomasspecialistcare.co.uk/conditions/sarcoidosis/ If you've been diagnosed with sarcoidosis or your healthcare provider suspects you may have it, you may wonder what it is and how it affects your lungs. Although sarcoidosis can involve different parts of the body, it most commonly affects the lungs and nearby lymph nodes. What Is Sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease in which tiny clusters of immune cells, called granulomas, form in

Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining good health, but many people underestimate its impact on the immune system. Sleep is not simply a time for the body to rest, it is an active biological process during which the body repairs tissues, regulates hormones, and strengthens its defenses against illness. Whether recovering from an infection or trying to stay healthy, consistently getting enough quality sleep can help the immune system function at its best. Why Sleep

Celiac disease is managed through a strict gluten-free diet. However, because gluten-free processed foods rely heavily on rice, patients face an unintended risk: rice efficiently absorbs heavy metals from flooded soil. Studies show that individuals on a gluten-free diet have significantly higher levels of arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium, which can lead to long-term health issues. To minimize this risk, patients should diversify their diets with alternative grains like qui

What is Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and why is it significant? Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) refers to a form of liver cancer, often associated with fatty liver disease, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. HCC has established itself as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with 90% of all worldwide liver cancer is considered HCC (Alawyia & Constantinou, 2023). Alongside its prevalence, it poses several significant challenges that make it difficult to develop a standard

Figure 1: Antimicrobial Resistance & Phyto-Pharmacotherapeutics (Source: https://vegconomist.com/science/plant-based-nanoparticles-can-combat-antibiotic-resistance/) What is Antimicrobial Resistance? Antimicrobial resistance is the tendency of a microorganism to counteract the microbistatic or microbicidal effects of an antimicrobial drug. Antimicrobial resistance arises in a single microbe and is inherited in the newly reproduced microbes. The resistant microbe is able to gr

Eosinophils in our Immunity While Eosinophils account for less than 5% of our white blood cells, they pack quite a punch (Jackson et al., 2022). Most people have likely heard about eosinophils in terms of their role in allergies, but their original purpose is to fight parasites (Vieira et al., 2026). Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell we call granulocytes. They’re named because they store toxic granules which they use to fight and kill infections. But this is far fro

Overview Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves, the network that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. This can cause weakness, numbness, and in severe cases, paralysis and difficulty breathing. Most people recover, but because symptoms can escalate quickly, early recognition and medical care are crucial. (1,2) What exactly is GBS? In GBS, the body’s defence sys

Natural Killer cells are part of the body’s innate immune system. Think of them as fast-acting armed guards—they’re the body’s first responders to threat. Scientists are working on turning these cells into something more akin to trained assassins. Numerous and diverse studies are being conducted around the world to use them against cancer. (1, 11) NK cells got their name in 1975 when Swedish researchers discovered them in mice. What made them unique was their ability to quick

In modern healthcare, cleanliness is more than a best practice it is a norm. From hand hygiene campaigns to hospital-wide protocols for sterilization, infection control has saved many lives. Yet as medicine continues to push toward higher levels of sterility, but there is a quieter concern: could over-sanitization itself be creating new risks for patients? This question challenges long held assumptions about how cleanliness, immunity, and microbial exposure affect healthcare

In the United States, sarcoidosis affects four Black Americans for every one White American diagnosed. Black patients, particularly Black women, experience more severe disease, more multi-organ involvement, higher hospitalization rates, and mortality. Factors such as genetics, environmental toxins, socioeconomic conditions, and unconscious bias contribute to worsening outcomes in sarcoidosis (Hena, 2020). What is sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition in which

Mother provide immune protection both in utero and during breast-feeding. Passive Immunity: Our immune systems are vital for our protection against the various pathogens we are exposed to. There are two arms of immune protections: Innate and adaptive immune responses. Innate immunity provides protection through recognition of pathogen-associated products, triggering an immune response aims to clear the pathogen. The adaptive immune response is more trained and establishes l

Introduction In the vast landscape of autoimmune diseases, a significant proportion are driven by pathogenic Immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies. These antibodies attack the body's own tissues, leading to debilitating conditions such as generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Traditional treatments, such as broad immunosuppression or plasma exchange, are often indis

Our immune system wields immense power, but things don’t always go to plan. Sometimes it tries to help and succeeds. Other times, it fails and makes things worse. Gamma delta T-Cells are extremely effective at detecting and killing cancer cells. But certain subsets release IL-17, and depending on the type of cancer, that can make things worse.

Histamine is a natural chemical produced by our body. It plays a crucial role in helping various functions, such as supporting immune responses and acting as a messenger in our brain. However, histamine can be problematic for some of us, and not necessarily due to food allergies, but rather because our bodies have difficulty breaking it down, a condition referred to as histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerance has garnered a lot of attention from scientists over the past d

SPS is an autoimmune disorder where the body's "brake" system fails, causing severe muscle stiffness, spasms, and heightened sensitivity.

Introduction Imagine a cancer treatment designed entirely for you, built using the exact mutations inside your tumor, and created with the goal of training your immune system to eliminate every trace of cancer cells that remain after surgery or therapy. This idea once sounded like science fiction. Today, it’s becoming reality.Ultra-personalized cancer vaccines are emerging as one of the most exciting developments in precision medicine, offering a new way to harness our immune

By Kristine Burneko, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, APHN-BC Introduction Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines the tridirectional interaction of psychological processes, neurological activity, and immune function. Within clinical practice, PNI provides the mechanistic foundation for mind–body medicine, an evidence-based approach that complements conventional biomedical care by enhancing psychophysiological regulation and response to concurrent treatmen