The genus Mentha comprises of over 20 individual species with a diversity of varieties and chemotypes, most of which have aromatic foliage. However, only the essential oil extracted from Mentha piperita and Mentha arvensis (Cornmint), has the sharp, crisp and familiar aroma we associate with the term ‘peppermint’. Read more…

As the chilly winter weather continues it’s hardly surprising that almost every other person you meet seems to be sniffling and coughing with the misery of a cold or flu. Given the fact that there are up to 200 types of virus groups circulating at this time of year, it is hardly surprising that sooner or later you will eventually succumb to one of them.
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Now that winter is in full swing it is not uncommon to find ourselves wanting to stay in bed that little bit longer to keep snug and warm. I must admit, it’s certainly much easier to get out of bed on a bright summers morning than it is when it’s cold, dark and raining outside. And on top of all that, the colder weather brings with it the misery of blocked noses, cold feet, aching joints - and summer seems so very, very far away. . . . . .
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The vast genus of Eucalyptus includes almost 700 species, and continues to expand as unknown species are discovered and catalogued. The close physical similarity of many species and the wide variability in leaf biochemistry has proven to be a huge challenge to botanists ever since it was first discovered.

Initially, some species of Eucalyptus were incorrectly identified and even today revisions of taxa continue to take place in an attempt to clarify the state of affairs, with apparently varying levels of success. To say that the taxonomy of this species is confusing and incomplete would be something of an understatement! Read more…

When I first reported the emergence of Swine Flu back in May there had been only 27 reported cases in total throughout the United Kingdom. Last week alone 110,000 new cases were reported nationwide, and although the Health Protection Agency predicts that figures are about to plateau, they also warn there will be ‘a very big surge’ to follow in the autumn.

As it currently stands, an estimated 1 in every 158 people in England are thought to have contracted swine flu since the outbreak began in April. The government has recently admitted that there are now so many cases of swine flu in the UK that the outbreak cannot be contained any longer. Read more…

Swine flu continues to dominate the world news, and at the time of writing this article (May 4th) 9 new cases have just been confirmed in the United Kingdom, bringing the total here now to 27 according to the Health Protection Agency. Out of the 9 most recent cases, at least 7 appear to have been acquired through person-to-person contact.

The Department of Health reports there are now 23 cases in England and four in Scotland, and the total in London has reached 13, according to NHS London. This brings the current total to at least 985 confirmed cases worldwide. Read more…