Podcast
What's That Rash?
Hosted by ABC Australia · EN
Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.
67episodes
Episodes
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Ashwagandha: what's the evidence?
4d ago00:20:42Summary readyAshwagandha 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 AyurvedaChemical composition, cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory enzyme inhibitory properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal root extractsChemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Health-Promoting Effects of Withania somnifera for Pharma-Food Industry ApplicationsClinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver InjuryAshwagandha: 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 trialA Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight MalesIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Vitamin C: can it cure colds and cancer?No-poo: why do we shampoo our hair?Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryHow does chronic stress affect the body?
2w ago00:23:10Summary readyWhen 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 - ScienceDirectPhysiology, Stress ReactionThe impact of stress on body function: A reviewStressor-Specific Microbiota InterventionStress and the gastrointestinal tractB cells and the stressed brain: emerging evidence of neuroimmune interactions in the context of psychosocial stress and major depressionStress, depression, the immune system, and cancerThe effect of multiple adverse childhood experiences on health: a systematic review and meta-analysis11 healthy ways to handle life’s stressors - American Psychological AssociationStress-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 If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Why is the internet telling me to lower my cortisol?Are office jobs ruining our bodies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryWhy do some people get motion sickness?
3w ago00:23:49Summary readySea 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 SicknessValidating sensory conflict theory and mitigating motion sickness in humans with galvanic vestibular stimulation - NatureAre 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 homeostasisMotion 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 If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Why is yawning contagious?Do glasses make your eyesight worse?Is emu oil the new snake oil? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryHow to drive down your cancer risk
4w ago00:21:49Summary readyLately 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 WelfareEffects 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” If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!How worried should you be about microplastics?Is your (artificial) sweet tooth killing you?What's so bad about fine particulate air pollution? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryShould you be taking calcium supplements?
Jun 2300:21:39Summary readyOur 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 optionNorman 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 ReportNutrient Reference Values - CalciumEffect of age on calcium absorption in postmenopausal womenBiochemical Variables in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Reconciling the Calcium and Estrogen HypothesesCalcium Content of Common Foods - Healthy Bones AustraliaChoosing a calcium supplement: What you should know about taking calcium to boost your nutrientsCalcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical TrialsAssociation Between Calcium Supplementation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAssociation Between Calcium Supplementation and Recurrence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Population‐Based Cohort StudyCalcium 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 UltrasoundIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Multivitamins: Are they a scam?Don’t Die: Is Bryan Johnson going to live forever?Can peptides keep you young and buff? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryCan tapping calm your nervous system?
Jun 1600:19:59Summary readyThere's a scene in the Devil Wears Prada 2 where a character is so stressed she starts "tapping" to calm herself down.What is this self-soothing technique, and should you try it out?Norman and Tegan talk through what Emotional Freedom Techniques, or tapping is and whether there's any evidence it lowers anxiety.References:How ‘tapping’ is dividing opinion in therapy circlesClinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of HealthNeural changes after Emotional Freedom Techniques treatment for chronic pain sufferersEmotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis Commentary: Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysisA Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot StudyFood for Thought: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Treatment of Food CravingsThe impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief in people with cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Can you train yourself to sleep less?Why everything hurts when you turn 30MSG's messy myths and racist tropes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryIs farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy?
Jun 900:19:36Summary readyEveryone wants a healthy gut, and your microbiome plays a big role in keeping you well.So how do you know your microbiome is in top shape? Are there stinky signs that things are going right, or wrong?Norman and Tegan breeze through the research in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane.References:The Invisible College of Experimental FlatologyExplainer: The chemistry of fartsA widespread hydrogenase supports fermentative growth of gut bacteria in healthy peopleIntestinal gas production by the gut microbiota: A reviewAssociation of the Gut Microbiota With Cognitive Function in Midlife Gut microbiome predicts cognitive function and depressive symptoms in late life The Relationship between Gut Microbiome and Cognition in Older Australians Chart Your Fart - CSIROIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Why is yawning contagious?Why are some people right (or left) handed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryStill coughing — are you still infectious?
Jun 200:19:41Summary readyCold season is upon us, so it’s no wonder you’re side-eyeing that person coughing on the bus.But does a cough mean someone is still infectious? How do you know you’re in the clear to go back to work?Norman and Tegan talk through the science, and also how attitudes have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.References:How Long Does a Cough Last? Comparing Patients’ Expectations With Data From a Systematic Review of the LiteratureAcute cough in outpatients: what causes it, how long does it last, and how severe is it for different viruses and bacteria? Estimating influenza latency and infectious period durations using viral excretion dataDuration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort studyHow the pandemic shaped presenteeism trends between healthcare and non-healthcare workers using the Korean working conditions surveys (2010–2023) Sickness Presenteeism in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Is Presenteeism Remote-Work Behavior the New (Ab)normal? Over‐the‐counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settingsComprehensive evidence-based review on European antitussivesIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Is it OK to exercise when you're sick?Are office jobs ruining our bodies?Should you add snail slime to your skincare routine? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryCan your joints predict the weather?
May 2600:20:08Summary readyHave you heard the phrases, "aches and pain, coming rains" or about "ill health due to evil winds"? Many people believe they can feel a change in weather coming on because pain flares in their joints. Norman and Tegan unpack what could be going on, and whether it's backed by scientific evidence. References:Associations between weather conditions and osteoarthritis pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis Come rain or shine: Is weather a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis of case-crossover studiesCloudy with a chance of pain: How the weather affects the pain of citizen scientists using a smartphone app Temperature extremes causing gout flare hospitalisationCan aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate What triggers weather-related joint pain? - Harvard HealthIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!You'll catch your death! Does cold weather cause colds?Can consuming dairy really give you acne?How risky is sharing a toothbrush? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryShould you get a full-body MRI?
May 1900:23:23Summary readyIt’s good to be on top of your health – but how far would you go to ensure you’re staying healthy?Ads have popped up for full-body MRIs, promising to catch things from cancer to aneurysms.Norman and Tegan scan through the potential benefits and risks of looking inside seemingly healthy bodies. References:Principles of screening - Cancer CouncilIncidental Findings and Low-Value CarePrevalence of abnormalities in knees detected by MRI in adults without knee osteoarthritis: population based observational study (Framingham Osteoarthritis Study)Whole‐body MRI for preventive health screening: A systematic review of the literatureThe effects of incidental findings from whole-body MRI on the frequency of biopsies and detected malignancies or benign conditions in a general population cohort studyClinical value of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in health screening of general adult populationLong-Term Psychosocial Consequences of Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Reporting of Incidental Findings in a Population-Based Cohort Study Impact of whole-body MRI in a general population studyElective MRI Screening of the General Public—Buyer BewareIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!At-home DNA tests — what can they tell you?Do glasses make your eyesight worse?Can functional mushrooms really help treat cancer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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