
Here’s a brief round-up of stories hitting the news lately.
Goops!
NHS England have called out fads and trends that lack scientific backing, with a recent focus on Gwyneth Paltrow. Her Goop brand has faced criticism previously for selling controversial remedies and products, most notably with the likes of vaginal jade eggs and a so-called ‘vampire repellent’ designed to ‘conjure up positivity’. The Goop Lab, a new series on Netflix, sees medical professionals brand Goop as ‘potentially harmful’ and even ‘horrifying’. NHS England’s Chief Exec, Sir Simon Stevens, considers the ‘dubious wellness products and dodgy procedures’ to be dangerous as consumers risk their health and waste money on products that have no proven benefit.
Forget proven benefits. I’m not sure there’s any possible benefit to her latest scented candle, ‘This Smells Like My Vagina’. I kid you not. It’s even available on eBay.

You can read more here.
Autoimmune Condition Masquerades As Schizophrenia
30 year old Samantha Redfield developed peculiar symptoms over two weeks as she began hallucinating, thinking the Mexican cartel were chasing her down. A psychiatrist misdiagnosed her with schizophrenia. Further tests uncovered the true issue, diagnosing her with autoimmune encephalitis where the immune system mistakenly starts attacking healthy brain cells.
You can read more here.
£1.2m Dysons To Be Dumped
Remember when the NHS proved their high tech, forward-thinking momentum when they invested in Dyson fans? They started springing up in hospital waiting areas and on bedsides in the wards. It took me a long time to figure out how to adjust the power on them because for ages I thought they were very weak; my cat’s sneeze could provide more air than them. Then came the day when I was off my face somewhat on IV morphine and could barely breathe in the stuffy ward so I decided to finally have a play around, grabbing the fan and pressing things and pushing things and…voilà, a huge gust of air caught me by surprise as I tried to wrangle the thing back onto the table, with tubes flying and curtains gusting open. I took back my original criticism. They’re pretty good.
Just as I’ve discovered how to use them, they’re being recalled. Again, I kid you not.
Between 2013 and 2017, over £1.2 million was spent on Dyson fans alone. Now they’ve been scrapped after NHS guidance has suggested they’re not as clean and healthy as they first thought, that they’re actually suspected to be ‘linked to healthcare associated infections’.
I’d still rather a Dyson fan than the frigid, stuffy, can’t-breathe-in-here wards where stale air carries the scent of microwave mush, incontinence, vomit and whatever virus of the month is going around.
Maybe they’ll hand out a piece of cardboard and we can fan ourselves instead.
You can read more here.
Kristen Bell Talks Mental Health & Medication
Actress Kristen Bell has discussed her experiences with anxiety and depression, as well as her use of medication to help manage them. Prescriptions for mental health issues still have a lot of stigma attached, so it’s great to see someone in the public limelight showing society that it’s okay to seek help and that some people may need and benefit from medications. There should be no shame and no judgement.
You can read more here.
Forget The Gym – Head To The Cinema
A study conducted by the University College London studied 77 people and concluded that while watching films most spent on average 45 minutes in a heart rate ‘zone’ that was the equivalent to a light workout. Losing yourself in a movie also gives your problem-solving and concentration a healthy boost. So there you have it – being pumped up about watching the latest action or comedy flick could count as exercise, and not just when you’re working your biceps reaching for the popcorn. As if we need an excuse to watch more movies.
You can read more here.
Gender Bias – Do Men Make The Best Surgeons?
Research undertaken by the Washington University (St Louis) uncovered more interesting finds in the area of sexist gender bias within the medical field. They basically found men were considered to be better surgeons and were associated with careers, while women were considered better family physicians and were associated generally with family medicine. This is also reflected in ongoing pay grade differences, such as how women in orthopaedic surgery are paid around $40,000 less per year than their male counterparts.
You can read more here.
Therapy For Fortnite Addiction
Talking of NHS budget cuts and not granting desperate patients the likes of cancer drugs and migraine treatments they need… by late last year the first NHS clinic was launch for kids addicted to video games. The youngsters hooked on Fortnite and glued to their Playstations will be offered one-to-one psychiatrist therapy, while parents will be offered advice on how to help their children reduce their ‘addiction’ and spend less time online.
Of June 2018, gaming addiction was recognised by the World Health Organisation as a mental health issue on the basis of reported scientific evidence.
When you compare the problems the NHS are having and the ill, dying and desperately in need patients to the wasted resources, bureaucracy and inane new ideas the NHS come up with, it’s hard not to think common sense has gone out the window. It’s unsurprising that this initiative for video game use in children has proven quite controversial.

You can read more here.
Tree-Based Wound Healing
Exciting new developments are being made when it comes to wound care. A new product, FibDex, is a tree-based wound bandage consisting of fibres from birch trees in Finland. They allow for a ‘scaffold’ to form so that healthy new skin cells are able to grow. This bandage, which has been approved for UK use, is soft and extra absorbable. FibDex has been shown capable of helping even difficult wounds heal with just one application and the wood fibres can also result in better skin elasticity and less scarring compared to typical dressings.
This reminds me of how our ancestors used to apply leaves and dirt to wounds hundreds of years ago. Seems like we’re going full circle. If it could help improve wound healing while requiring less bandages and fewer changes, then it sounds like a promising alternative to conventional methods.
You can read more here.

I’ve obviously skipped past Coronavirus, not because it’s not important but because I think everyone has heard a fair bit about it lately and the situation is continually evolving.
What do you think about any of these news stories, or have any others caught your attention recently?
Caz ♥
71 comments
Wonderful post! Gwyneth is beyond belief. Wouldn’t touch a Dyson product now after his backing of Brexit and moving all his production overseas — his hoovers are rather dreadful anyway and the fans are painfully expensive. We’re off to the cinema 😀
I’m quite glad I opted for Shark when investing in a cordless hoover the other year, it’s been fantastic ???? I think Dyson are pretty successful and innovative but the products are veeeeeery expensive. I doubt a overseas move will be too detrimental to the brand overall but it’s a shame they took the decision to up and leave, their image has obviously been poorly affected as a result. Thanks for the comment – enjoy all your video viewing exercise! xx
Are you freaking kidding me??? OMG I can’t believe the Gwyneth Paltrow candle “smells like my vagina” are women really buying this??? Or men??? Incredible
“Forget the Gym – Head to the Cinama” this is my kind of workout LOL.
It really buggles my mind that kids are addicted to online video games, and parents have no control. This is really sad.
Great stuff, thank you Caz
Love your response to the candle, Masha – you’ve echoed my thoughts exactly! ???? xx
Jesus. What a moron she is! Who buys such shit?
Mind-boggling, isn’t it?! ????
Goop is so totally bizarre, plus insanely expensive! I don’t know how so many people are falling for their quackery.
Desperation, intrigue, curiosity… it’s the desperation that concerns me with health-based products, when companies prey on vulnerable and ill people who are running out of options and want to try anything and everything to see if it can help them. As for who falls for a vagina candle, I have no idea whatsoever! ????
Another rare disease for us to worry about, glad she got diagnosed and cured.
I never take much notice of what celebrities say, but it’s their children I feel sorry for, goodness knows what they are fed on or treated with.
That poor lady, I’m glad they figured out what was going on for her. Good point about celeb fad children, it’s a bit disconcerting.x
Whaatttt??? This post is the bomb! I’m going to wrap myself in birch bark, go to a movie and NOT buy a vag smelling candle. (Seriously? Leave it to the conscious uncoupler!)
Caz! I updated my Tribe Bracelet page. I would love to get your take! Easier to purchase or too rigid???
Thanks my friend. Whenever you get around to it! No rush. Mailed your Tribe Bracelets today!!!
Thanks, Kim! Love the new page, splitting into colour categories makes it easier to choose and then if someone has a particular favourite within the category it’s also easier to say something like ‘second from the left’. Love it. The Bill Gates of the fibro fashion world ???? xx
Dyson fans taking a dive? I always loved the design of them but never bought one. Guess that worked out for me. I think Gwyneth Paltrow decided if the world can have an off-Broadway play called “The Vagina Monologues,” why can’t she have a vagina candle? When do you light one up? Maybe while watching one of her movies?
One final thought. I remember the punchline of a joke years ago about a doctor refusing to treat a patient after exclaiming “I can’t treat him, that’s my son.” I’m supposed to ask WHY? At that time nobody guessed that the doctor was the boy’s mother. I guess the double standard that men are the “doctors” and should be paid more still exists.
I think you’re right, Darnell – the question for the candle isn’t “why”, it’s “why not?”. Now everyone can watch her movies and light her vagina candle and fully immerse yourself in Paltrow in ways you wished weren’t possible ????
Absolutely, there’s still the double standard and ingrained beliefs where sex comes into it in the medical industry as a whole. Thanks for the thoughtful comment as always – I hope the weekend ahead treats you well! x
Brilliant. Funny post. What can I say about our wonderful NHS? Over the years I worked there, I saw so many computer systems come and go at the cost of £millions each time, I saw services being set up – at great cost – only to close down within the year and I could go on…….
So nothing surprises me there. Someone should really audit the whole NHS service to see where the money is being wasted and those Senior Managers should be held accountable. When in reality, all that happens is that the ‘useless’ Senior Manager gets moved to another area.
As for whatsername’s candle that smells like her vagina – yew!!!
I really, really do think a huge audit is well past due, but by a team that aren’t bias and headed by someone with an ulterior motive and agenda (who preferably isn’t getting paid £100k p/month to do it). I think this is what frustrates so many of us because we can see the NHS is good in essence but there’s so much waste, so much wrong in terms of who gets what, and it ‘should’ be better than it is. Thanks for your thoughts on it! xx
Smells like a vagina? Good grief. That’s just gross.
Have a fabulous day, Caz. Big hug. ♥
Worth noting I have zero idea what it actually smells like but one would hope it’s vagina in name only! ???? x
I have the worst under eye wrinkles from spending too much time in the sun without sunblock. When I saw GOOP I was like, Yes! Something to help! Then I saw she was like the spokesperson selling it, and it was crazy expensive – and I’ve seen my share of infomercials (I don’t care what they want to call that Netflix thing – it’s an infomercial geared to sell) to know to just slowly back away with my money still in hand. And thank goodness! Who knows how harmful that stuff can be! P.S. That candle is ridiculous!
For what it’s worth, I’m glad you stepped away. If something is a fad but it’s reasonably priced then it’s not so risky but with these kinds of things they’re hugely over-priced and the companies are usually gearing up to take advantage of people’s insecurities, ‘flaws’, needs.. Think you dodged a bullet, Robyn! x
I couldn’t have coped without a days on fan when I was in hospital I would buy one myself if they weren’t so expensive.
Same here – I’m usually cold most of the time but hospitals are something else, it’s like there’s no air! x
Hahahah… Caz, that gave me such a good laugh. From Gwyneth to Dyson and ‘Forget the Gym’; you have me smiling from ear to ear! So that’s why I felt so good after seeing Margot in Birds of Prey! I was actually having a great ‘light’ workout. Bring on the movies…
On a serious note, Caz, I’m loving the FibDex initiative – could be really helpful for so many.
Have a great day… Hugs
xoxoxo
Hurrah, glad it made you laugh! I wanted to round-up some good, bad and ugly stuff because there’s a lot of morbid and depressing news around, so we need a balance. Thanks for your thoughts, Carolyn – keep working out this weekend because I’m pretty sure it’ll be the same thing whether you’re watching a film in the cinema or at home! ???? Have a lovely weekend xx
Wow. Wow. And wow for most of these.
Yep, there are just no words..! ????
Fascinating, wacky, and great fun.
All my hard work in the gym could be replaced by sitting on my rear in the movies? Usually, the ones that make the heart race are the ones I avoid,
Cool roundup, Caz.
Annie xx
If you’re not watching the heart-racing ones then make sure you have plenty of drinks and snacks on hand – I reckon the movements for reaching for the chocolate count as light exercise too ???? Glad you liked the articles – thanks, Annie! Have a great weekend ahead xx
I didn’t know about a lot of these stories,- thanks for the round-up. Are you thinking of doing this as a regular feature?
I think it’s really important that people are being called out for claims not based on science. So many people claim to be experts nowadays and people follow them, even if what they’re promoting, usually to sell things, could be harmful.
I totally agree with your comment on the companies making fad products, especially when it’s all expensive stuff, who knows how safe, and takes advantage of people. I think I would quite like to do it more regularly, especially if there are things people haven’t come across in the news that I’m able to share rather than some of the bigger, more obvious stories. Would you want to read these sorts of news round-ups more often, Kirsty? xx
I heard about this candle thing and I find it so confusing! Thank you for sharing this information! Thank you for sharing!
I don’t think we want to know how they came up for the candle idea! ???? Thanks for the comment, Lauren – Hope you’re having a good week.xx
Brilliant post, I saw the Gwyneth Paltrow candle smell on tv recently. Who on earth would buy that is totally beyond me lol ???? x
If only TV’s had smell-o-vision! Aside from a rude joke gift, I can’t see why anyone would want it either ???? xx
Sorry aobut my post a few minutes ago I’m not sure what I video I was watching! It’s not one of the articles which are all very interesting. I must have clicked onto some sort of advertisement in error!! Thanks for a very interesting read. Jane
Oooh, no worries, Jane – I think you did click somewhere else, I haven’t included any videos and certainly wouldn’t want to suggest any food causes arthritis, it’s just not the case. There are foods that they say can be triggering of inflammatory responses and those which can reduce them but I think it’s a stretch to think (in my opinion) that it could have any real marked impact on things like RA. And yes, immune systems change throughout life irrespective of other health conditions, like with the flu vaccine and the urging for those with weaker systems (ie. children and the elderly) to get them. Anyway – totally agree, Jane, and don’t worry, it wasn’t my video or anything I was including in this post that you saw ???? xx
Lolol…oooh….ugh…. & so the world of people taking advantage of the misery of others turns unfortunately
You’ve summed it up well – Lolol oooh ugh! ???? xx
I really enjoyed this post, Caz! I live in the States, so we don’t have a national health service (yet), but we do have Medicare and insurance companies, and they operate the same way. It’s sad to think how many more people could be treated if they didn’t waste so much money. But I did laugh at the candle and the idea that going to the movies counts as a work out….Your post was a bright spot in an otherwise dark day!
I’m sorry there are still similarities in the products and treatments given the green light for usage, and I know insurance often doesn’t cover the stuff that people need that is available anyway, which is awful. Glad this news round-up could provide a little light relief, Ann! I really do hope the weekend can be a little brighter for you ♥ xx
hahaha I read that candle as “smelly vagina” hahahaha who wants a candle to smell like a vagina???OMGoodness…is she crazy or what? any air is better than stuffy air. Don’t they have any type of air conditioner? Although I know people who didn’t realize they had to clean the filters of their air cons….one we saw the filters were black!….probably hadn’t been cleaned in years. With all the fires here in Australia and our area in a smoke haze we managed to get an air purifier and we cleaned our filters on our air con. Actually it needs cleaning again now the smoke haze has gone.
I didn’t think the candle name could be any worse but yep, “smelly vagina” would be worse!! I’ve actually no idea what it smells like, but one would hope it’s vaginal in name only. I don’t think any NHS wards have air con; I could be wrong but there’s certainly never been anything in any of the places I’ve been, no air con in any parts of the hospital at all. I wonder if that’s a hygiene issue. Good point about the filters, the fires must turn those black pretty quickly. Air purifiers probably take in a lot of muck each day as well but it’s good you’ve managed to get one. There’s been nothing on the news recently about the fires, the last thing was the flooding; one extreme to the other. I hope it’s going to settle soon, there’s already been so much damage done. Stay safe and well and have a relaxing weekend ???? xx
Thanks for this roundup Caz! Health misinformation is so prevalent these days. It’s good to have someone watching our backs. I love the “watch a movie instead of exercising” idea. As far as the candle goes….well, you can probably guess what I think about that…. I wonder if people actually buy them???
You’re right, misinformation is rife and sometimes it’s easy to spot, other times it’s not. I think you’ve either got to be a die hard Paltrow fan or have a friend you want to practical joke on their birthday to buy that candle! ???? xx
Great post! I really appreciate you leaving out the coronavirus stuff – of course it’s important but we’ve had so much of it rammed down our throats lately that it’s getting a bit too intense. The Gwyneth Paltrow stuff has cracked me right up – I can’t believe she’s allowed to market that crap at the prices she sells it for!
So true, there’s been Coronavirus non-stop in the mainstream media. The Paltrow/Goop stuff really is pretty funny – odd to think it’s a real business and not an April Fools joke! xx
I’ll take watching a movie over going to the gym any day!
Me too! ????
The cinema suggestion interesting. I’m such a jumpy person that I think even when I watch TV I’m in the heart-rate zone ha ha ha ha 😀
On the plus side, think of all that light exercise every time you watch the TV! ????x
I have a neighbor who may be seriously addicted to Fortnite, and so might his kid. I still don’t know the first thing about it, except that when I walk through his living room from his backyard to grab my ice cold addiction out of his garage fridge I generally see someone running around with a light saber. But I used to be addicted to video games, too. I didn’t know it at the time I would just spend all day playing. At the end of each day, my back would hurt and my brain was mush and I smelled worse than a Paltrow candle. And even though my heart raced a lot I probably gained two pounds each day and I never felt like I actually accomplished anything, ever.
Now I waste my time blogging instead. Much more satisfying addiction. 😉
Great post, Caz!
You’ve managed to combine several news stories into one moral-filled story; never sniff a gamer!
I do wonder where the line between gaming a lot and being addicted is drawn. And also if/when it comes from being a parental responsibility to a therapeutic intervention. Addiction is real, to so many things. But one could also say that a parent taking away their kid’s X-Box or enforcing time limits would make this a moot point. I don’t know.
Love this comment! ????x
I think that candle is so bizarre…
You’re not alone in that! ???? xx
That was an interesting share and fun to read. Hope you are doing well Caz!
Thanks, Nisha – glad you liked it! Hope you have a lovely weekend xx
Excellent post!!
Thank you lovely, glad you liked it! xx
I am glad that the NHS is calling out those fads and snake oil cures. People are always ready to take advantage of people who are desperate to feel better. But wow…Gwyneth Paltrow. She really takes the biscuit. As for her vagina scented candles..eugh! Who wants that?
It’s always interesting when meds start to turn back to nature, where they first began. I hope that Fibdex takes off and is successful.
That’s the part that gets me, too, the way these companies are taking advantages of vulnerabilities and our insecurities. It’ll be interesting so see how other aspects of healthcare moves forward (or backward) towards nature. A blend of science and nature can be a powerful thing! Thanks for the comment, Liz. xx
I like the alerts from Dyson fan (could never figure it out), gym vs cinema and fortnite addiction.
Although I would have to say it made me loads better to think that watching movie is equal to light exercise…this way weekend marathon is justified. Nice Post!!!
Glad you liked the articles – I think there’s a lot of sense in a weekend movie marathon, now we have a little science to prove it! ???? Thanks for the comment lovely xx
Uhh … yeah … I don’t think I’ll be buying that candle …
Well, I’m sure there will still be plenty in stock if ever you change your mind, James. Maybe Charlie, Chaplin or Lulu might like one to show the Smurf? ???? xx
Oh yes I saw this yesterday – thank you very muchly, Gail! ♥ xx
Caz, you are one of my favorite comediennes! You always make me laugh! Still recovering from a terrible bout with the flu here so your comic relief this day was warmly welcomed! ????
As I sit here with 3 candles on my desk – it’s safe to say that I will NOT be adding the “this smells like my vagina” to the mix. Seriously?!? Do people no kidding buy this crap?? My faith in humanity continues to be shaken, LOL.
Gotta tell you – your description of what happened with the Dyson fan in the hospital cracked me up! I could see that perfectly in my mind’s eye! You’re a mess. I am surprised that they’re being recalled though. I always thought they were probably more sanitary than traditional fans with the blades. Those blades get foul! And to try and clean them (sigh).
Think I’ll head out to my movie workout now. That’s awesome! 😀
Great post Caz. I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Sending you my very best, my friend. Hope you are well! ????
Aw no, is the flu easing up at all yet..? Rest up, maybe indulge in a little movie exercise with plenty of tea and chocolate (which also counts as exercise – bicep strengthening as you reach for each sip or bite ????).
Are you suuuuuure you don’t want a candle? Well, you know it exists so if ever you change your mind.. I’m sure there will be plenty left in stock because surely nobody else is going to be buying them! The mind boggles..
Take good care of yourself lovely, I really, really do hope you’re feeling a little less flu-ridden and a little brighter soon ♥ xx
While Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina candle is definitely something I can live without, I’m fully on board with the tree-based healing. If aloe vera has therapeutic healing properties, it only makes sense that there would be countless other natural wonders, like birch trees, that have similar properties and benefits. At least that’s something I can get behind as I light my calming all-natural lavender (and vagina-scented-free) candle to soothe my frazzled nerves. 😛
Absolutely, and such a good point about aloe vera. Maybe it’s time for science to harness the power of nature a little more. I can’t understand why you don’t want a vagina candle, I’m sure one day they’ll be all the rage. I do have to wonder about the sanity of those that came up with it and actually decided to mass produce it! ????xx
So much interesting stuff, here! I was particularly excited about the bandage, which sounds fascinating, and possibly helpful for those of us with collagen disorders and other things which prevent proper healing. I’m even more intrigued by the woman misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. My grandmother was duagnosed as schizophrenic, which I suspected had medical origins… very likely EDS related. Then I read it’s a fairly common occurrence in EDS. I have idiopathic encephalitis that has caused hallucinations, but nothing like what she experienced. I think we’ll eventually find schizophrenia is always driven by neurological damage or disorders. Unfortunately, they lobotomized her in the 50’s, making the extent of her issues even worse. I will never understand how they thought such barbary would ever solve such a thing. It only creates more brain damage, scar tissue and encephalitis! Her life was a terrible tragedy and she lived for nearly 50 years in mental institutions before her death. I’ve just read over several posts and you’re putting out some fantastic stuff! Great start to 2020, Caz. I look forward to reading more. Xx
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful comment. Hopefully the ‘return to nature’ kind of angle with the bandages can open up more avenues for research and more treatments that, as you say, may be especially of interest for those with problematic healing. The schizophrenia article made me sad; just think if she hadn’t been properly diagnosed at all until it was too late, but I’m glad it was eventually discovered. It’s hard to get your head around (so to speak!) the links with EDS, encephalitic and the likes of hallucinations, mental disturbance and schizophrenia. I do think far, far more research is needed in this area and you’re right, there’ll probably be more to suggest a neurological disorder/damage basis. I’m so sorry for your grandmother. Thank goodness such rampant lobotomies aren’t the norm these days but that’s so, so sad, not just to go through that but mental institutions too (which likely weren’t the supportive places they should have been) ♥
Aww I’m really glad you’re liking the posts, Mykie, that means a lot! I think I’ve been struggling content-wise lately due to being so poorly, so the time and ability to write continues to whittle down. Is there anything you’d like to read more about in future, any types of posts you find particularly useful or interesting..? xx