Women on the verge of HRT in England are eating cake instead of taking hormone replacement therapy tablets. The cake was developed by Linda Kearns who, reluctant to take drugs long-term, wanted a natural alternative to HRT, which replaces the oestrogen lost as women age, but which can cause serious side-effects such as depression and blood clots. The cake contains seeds and soya, which are rich in phytoestrogens (natural plant chemicals which mimic female hormones). The HRT cake is to be marketed and may soon be in a supermarket near you. (BBC)
Adopted or fostered people who are considering searching for their birth family are invited to an information session this evening hosted by Barnardos Adoption Advice Service. Topics covered include steps in the search, expectations, preparation for reunion and the importance of support and counselling. Contact Siobhan Canning at Barnardos, 01-4530355.
Herbal remedies may reduce fertility, according to US research and should not be used by couples who are attempting to conceive. echinacea (used to strengthen the immune system against flu), St John's Wort (right, taken for clinical depression) and gingko biloba (thought to boost the memory) were found to damage productive cells and prevent sperm fertilising eggs. The researchers noted, however, that results obtained in a laboratory do not necessarily hold true in the body. (Reuters)
One of the worst things about being tested for diseases such as cancer is waiting days or even weeks for test results. A rapid saliva test, which may reduce the waiting time to 15 minutes, is being developed in the US. The instant test does not even involve drawing blood - a foam stick is placed inside the mouth and the saliva absorbed is then tested. Although it is still in an experimental stage, the researchers hope to have approval by the FDA in 18 months.
La Leche League is well-known for promoting breast-feeding, but there is a lot more to the organisation. This weekend it will host a family-centred conference covering issues such as children's books, the teenage years, home and hospital childbirth, and stress management for families. A lecture, Help your Child reach their Full Potential will be given by consultant psychiatrist Dr Vincent Maloney at Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney. One day £15, both days £25. For further details, tel 047-80922.
The lecture series, Medical Ethics and the Future of Healthcare, continues this month at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght. The director of the Medical Legal Centre at UCD, Dr Denis Cusack, will lecture on Autonomy and Consent (8th). Other lectures are: Ethics in Psychiatry (15th), Legislating the Right to Die (22nd) and Genetics and the Future of the Person (29th). All lectures begin at 8 p.m. in the Education Centre lecture theatre and cost £3. Booking on 01-4142071.