Julianna Szwancyber

Background: Yerba mate is a Paraguayan kind of herbal tea prepared from the dried and roasted leaves of trees called Ilex paraguariensis St. Hill. It is known for high content of polyphenols, methylxanthines and saponins. According to the studies products rich in those nutrients may have a positive influence on the humans cardiovascular health. Materials and methods: We reviewed publications obtained from PubMed and Google Scholar. Articles were selected based on keywords such “yerba mate’’, “Ilex paraguariensis’’, “cardiovascular diseases’’. For the final analysis, qualified articles were published from 2005 to 2024. Results: Confirming positive impact on serum lipid levels individuals using mate tea. Long – term positive influence on blood pressure. Moreover subjects with obesity took advantages of Yerba beverage by decreasing waist-to-hip ratio. Patients with diabetes were observed to have a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose level and HbA1c concentration. Conclusions: Most of the cited researches support the hypothesis of benefits coming from drinking mate infusions for patients with elevated lipid serum levels, obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes mellitus. All of mentioned health issues can lead to the cardiovascular problems therefore using mate infusions can prevent CVDs. Taking everything into consideration, medical professionals might recommend Yerba mate tea for their patients especially as a replacement of a coffee.

Introduction: Regular yoga practice positively affects physical and mental health, including stress reduction, emotional regulation, and cognitive enhancement. Recent research highlights yoga's potential to strengthen the nervous system's adaptability, promoting well-being and managing stress and anxiety. Aim of the study: This review aimed to demonstrate yoga's influence on nervous system adaptability and provide an overview of how yoga practices enhance neuroadaptation, highlighting benefits in improving neural resilience and adaptive capacities. Materials and methods: This paper analyzes current knowledge on the neurological consequences of excessive body weight. The review focused on clinical studies from 2018 to 2024, including review papers and meta-analyses. Literature was reviewed from PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords: “yoga,” “nervous system,” “stress,” “anxiety,” “depression,” “sleep problems,” “Alzheimer's disease,” “Parkinson's disease,” “epilepsy,” and “emotion regulation.” Discussion: Yoga significantly impacts the nervous system's adaptive capacity, improving mental and physical health. Regular practice enhances neuronal plasticity, aiding stress management and cognitive functions. Yoga breathing techniques reduce cortisol levels and increase certain neurotransmitters, regulating mood and autonomic nervous system function. The study did not explore different types of yoga on specific disorders, indicating a need for further research. Conclusions: This paper underscores yoga's role in enhancing the nervous system's adaptive capacity. Yoga shows promise in improving neural resilience and adaptive capacities, making it a valuable holistic healthcare approach. Understanding these benefits can guide healthcare professionals in integrating yoga into strategies to improve patient well-being, emphasizing its role in fostering physical and mental resilience.

Neuralgic amyotrophy(NA), is a rare and highly variable neurological disorder of unknown aetiology that causes serious diagnostic problems. We described a case of NA with atrophy of the brachialis muscle in order to enrich clinicians’ knowledge about this disorder and to help them in the proper diagnosis of NA. A 21-year-old man presented with sudden, severe pain in the right biceps muscle. The man had consultations with several doctors and physiotherapists. Three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, a nerve conduction study (NCS) and needle electromyography (EMG) were performed. Only after 6 months, based on medical history, physical examination and ultrasound imaging (USI), the physiotherapist suggested NA, which was later on confirmed by a neurologist. This case description of NA showed a variety of symptoms that made it difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis for a longer period of time. The diagnostic procedure, as well as the prolonged time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis, indicates the need for further education of clinicians to better understand the symptoms of NA.