Could dandelion juice, used in herbal medicine for more than 1,000 years, help to ease eczema? Researchers point to anecdotal reports over the years that the juice has benefits in the treatment of dyshidrotic eczema — a form of the skin condition that is characterised by tiny bubble-like blisters and intense itching. A study is now under way at Odense ­University Hospital in Denmark — patients are being given the juice to drink for 20 to 30 days and will then have their symptoms ­monitored for signs of improvement.

Scientists do not yet know exactly which compounds in dandelion juice could prove active. However, the juice does contain relatively large amounts of vitamins A, C, D, and B, as well as magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium, and one theory is that these may have a powerful antioxidant effect, minimising damage to cells. Antibiotics could treat your irritable bowel An antibiotic could be an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. The drug not only reduced symptoms while it was being taken, but its effects lasted for ten weeks afterwards, according to researchers.

IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in Britain, with common symptoms including cramps, excess gas or bloating, constipation or diarrhoea. The cause of IBS is not known, but research recently discovered that bacteria fermenting in the gut might be to blame for causing bloating, the most common IBS symptom.

In two clinical trials, scientists at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in the U.S. gave 1,200 sufferers the antibiotic rifaximin — commonly used to treat travellers’ diarrhoea, Some had 550mg of rifaximin and others were given a placebo for two weeks. Both sets were then followed for an additional ten weeks.