General Health Maintenance

Most animals depend upon their pheromones – their airborne hormones – to orientate themselves within their environment and to communicate with other members of their own species. Pheromones are expressed by skin glands, in urine and faeces, and in vaginal secretions and exhaled breath. In addition to the main olfactory…

There are certain things we accept as inevitable effects of ageing. Your hair goes grey, you start to thin out a little on top, and your waistline – like the inevitable creep of time – expands. But in recent years there’s been a noted growth in ‘old man strength’. We’re…

Only the female “little flies”, the mosca-itos, feed on blood – they require protein to make eggs. For energy, both sexes rely on the carb calories in nectar. Mosquitoes on evening patrol will find you by sight and smell. They can see you perfectly well: their large compound eyes pick…

A strand from Les Liaisons Dangereuses has the morally righteous Madame de Tourvel seduced by Le Vicomte de Valmont as a bet with his ex-lover La Marquise de Merteuil.  Valmont and Tourvel fall deeply and passionately in love. Merteuil is furiously jealous and forces Valmont to reject Tourvel. Tourvel retires,…

Dr Richard Petty is founder and medical director of The WellMan Clinic which he established in 1986. More posts by the Author: Coveys of Naked Ladies

During the festive period many people take the opportunity to relax, celebrate and over-indulge a little bit. It’s Christmas! It’s a great excuse to have some fun. But there’s a tendency to forget about taking care of our health during the period. Winter comes with cold weather, less sunshine, and…

… have appeared – shockingly pink, slender and tender, uncovered and unabashed –but lethal. Some unfortunates have mistaken them for edible ramsons, wild garlic. Cardiovascular and respiratory failure follow, around the third day post-ingestion. Initially the symptoms are much like cholera. All parts of the autumn crocus are highly poisonous.