In recent years there has been a resurgence in traditionally used medicinal plants to improve health – either alone or in combination with conventional medicine. One of the main reasons for seeking herbal therapy or other alternatives to conventional medicine, is the belief that it will promote healthier living. Herbal medicines are, therefore, often viewed as a balanced and moderate approach to healing[1]. With the many side-effects of modern medicines and growing antibiotic resistance, people the world over see herbal medicine as a safe way to stay healthy and to treat and prevent illness. Dr Caren Hauptfleisch, Chairperson of the SA Association of Registered Phytotherapists (SAARP), who has more than 30 years of herbal medicine experience, says the steady increase in the use of herbs can be seen throughout the world. “The introduction of modern healthcare as we know it has led to the disappearance and displacement of many indigenous health practices, however scientists worldwide are now looking to plants and herbs to formulate new phytotherapeutic agents (plant-based treatments) to prevent and treat disease. “South Africa, and in particular the Western Cape’s floristic region, is home to a wide variety of indigenous medicinal plants that have been used safely and effectively since time immemorial. Science and clinical use are confirming their medicinal value.” These herbs include Rooibos, Honeybush, Buchu, Aloe ferox and Devil’s claw, among others. Marketers all over the globe are clamouring to include them in their products as the demand for herbal medicine and natural health products grow. Dr Hauptfleisch highlights the benefits of some of our local herbs and how they can be used to maintain health. Rooibos (Aspalanthus linearis): Rooibos is a herb of great significance. It is rich in antioxidants, also referred to as polyphenols, which are compounds that allow plants to resist infections and insect infestations. Drinking it regularly may help to: – Enhance immunity. – Reduce the incidence of cancer due to its cytoprotective effect. – Regulate blood glucose. – Protect the heart from degenerative damage. – Slow the ageing process, since it is able to reduce oxidative stress, and in turn reduce free radical damage. – Prevent certain skin cancers. – When used topically, its anti-inflammatory properties can soothe skin irritations, such as eczema and dermatitis. “Rooibos is a good daily supplement to improve overall health in combination with a healthy lifestyle.” Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): Dr Haupfleisch notes that herbal medicine should only be used if it is able to be sustainably grown. Human use and trade in a plant should never threaten its existence in the wild. “Herbs like Devil’s Claw, that has been used in the treatment of pain associated with arthritic diseases, liver and kidney problems, fever and malaria was nearly made extinct by its export to the overseas market, which led to the commercial farming of the herb.” Devil’s claw is also used in an ointment to treat various skin problems such as sores and boils. …
Slow ambulance response times? There’s an app for that…
If you’ve ever called an ambulance for a loved one, you’ll know all too well how excruciating it is to wait for help to arrive – minutes feel like hours. And, with South Africa’s current response times not where they should be, the wait can also be detrimental to the person in need of assistance. This is because every second counts in medical emergencies. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, after just five minutes without oxygen, brain cells start to die, and every minute thereafter 10% more die, with complete brain death occurring within 14 minutes. Stroke victims lose the use of two million brain cells every two minutes, and arterial bleeds can result in death in mere minutes. Warren Myers, CEO of AURA, South Africa’s on-demand security and medical response platform, says that the current response landscape is falling far short of delivering a vital service that all South Africans deserve. The Gauteng Department of Health reports that the current average response time for an ambulance in Gauteng ranges from 30 to 60 minutes, well short of the international standard of seven minutes for life-threatening calls. To make matters worse, there are a few numbers a person can call in a medical emergency in South Africa, complicating the process for the person who is already under pressure to help someone and help them fast. You can call 10111 or 10177, 112 from any cell phone, and some private health insurance providers have their own medical emergency numbers. Modern tech can save us Myers says that current technology has huge potential to improve emergency response times for all and streamline the process of getting help. “With the introduction of smart technology into the emergency response sector, the outdated practice of phoning an ambulance, explaining the nature of the emergency as well as your exact location, and then waiting for the agent to dispatch a vehicle, can be simplified to a single touch of a panic button. The AURA platform does all the hard work for you – pinpointing your location and, using a connected device installed in the response vehicles, ensuring that the closest vetted private ambulance is dispatched to you, saving precious time. Think of it like Uber for ambulances,” explains Myers. However, good medical outcomes don’t just depend on how fast a patient is attended to, but also on the quality of care received once reached. Doctors refer to the period of time immediately after a traumatic injury as ‘the golden hour’, when prompt medical and surgical treatment is most likely to prevent death. “A person’s chances of survival are greatest if they receive high quality care within a short period of time after a severe injury,” shares Bernadette Breton from Alliance International Medical Services (AIMS). But what if you don’t have medical aid? The good news is that if you are signed up with an AURA network partner, the cost of a private ambulance is covered by the fee you pay through the partner. Those without medical aid can be taken to a state hospital for further care but can at least rest assured that they had prompt care, from trained personnel, using state-of-the-art equipment in those crucial moments after a traumatic incident. How to access an on-demand emergency response application “We believe that instant emergency response driven by smart technology like that of applications, and the large network of emergency response providers it connects to can help to eradicate the current inefficiencies in the emergency response system and positively improve the lives of countless patients,” says Myers. So, in your panicked state, instead of googling the nearest ambulance service, searching your phone for a number or trying to find that emergency pamphlet you stuck on your fridge, you could have a simple panic button on your phone to do all that work for you. For more information on how you can get an AURA-powered emergency response service, visit our partner page https://www.aura.services/our-partners/.
FNB announces fuel hike relief for nearly 3.4 million customers
Ahead of yet another record-high fuel price increase in South Africa, FNB has announced additional eBucks incentives to help its customers offset the impact of high fuel prices. From 1 July until 30 September 2022, FNB will give qualifying Retail and Commercial customers an additional R2 per litre back in eBucks for fuel purchases made at Engen. This benefit is available to customers irrespective of their reward level and is in addition to what they would have ordinarily earned. To qualify for the additional benefit, customers have to pay with their FNB and RMB Private Bank Virtual Cards when paying for fuel at Engen, and also complete at least one online Virtual Card transaction per month at any merchant. With over 500 000 additional customers set to be eligible to earn eBucks as of 1 July this year, nearly 3.4 million FNB Retail and Commercial customers will automatically have access to the additional benefit. Customers who fill up at Engen and have vehicle instalments with WesBank are still eligible for the Double Up benefit, where they earn up to R8 p/l per quarter in eBucks; these customers will now earn up to R10 p/l per quarter in eBucks over the next three months. Raj Makanjee, CEO of FNB Retail, says, “Fuel is one of our customers’ largest expenses, and while eBucks has been helping customers to mitigate the cost for years, the recent fuel price increases are unprecedented. As a result, we encourage our customers to maximise this limited benefit to reduce the impact of fuel on their budgets, especially in light of other rising costs such as food, electricity and interest rates. Over the years, our fuel rewards with Engen have provided our customers with more than R1 billion in value, and we are delighted to continually increase the impact of our rewards to customers who bank with us.” CEO of eBucks Rewards, Johan Moolman, adds that, “Our efforts to provide eBucks members with fuel relief demonstrates the ethos of our rewards programme, which is to reward members for their behaviour while helping them save and stretch their budgets.” Moolman explains that with this extra benefit, “A customer who uses FNB Aspire would have earned 60 cents per litre at Engen, but due to this benefit, they could earn R2.60 in eBucks until 30 September 2022. Similarly, Private Banking and Commercial Banking customers who earn up to R4 per litre at Engen could earn up to R6 per litre for the limited period. Similarly, FNB customers who swipe their Clicks Clubcard at Engen when filling up will earn an additional 10 cents per litre in Clicks Clubcard points.” With the price of fuel in South Africa expected to reach yet another record high from the second week of July, FNB’s additional eBucks benefits will provide timely relief to many. FNB’s eBucks Rewards programme was recently recognised internationally for its Best Use of Technology and named the Middle East and Africa’s Regional Champion of the Year. It has also been ranked the Best Loyalty Programme in Financial Services for the last 3 years.
Friction-free workspaces booming in Cape Town
Our working lives are at a point of inexorable change. Traditional work patterns and boundaries are now being replaced with flexible, collaborative environments as we …
Considerations to help you save some money and live within your means
South Africa’s annual inflation figures continue to increase with headline inflation accelerating to 6.5% in May from 5.9% in April and March, breaking through the upper limit of the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range. The latest inflation figure has challenged consumers to consider alternative ways to help them save a bit more while trying to maintain living within their means. The latest CPI report by FNB Economics highlights that, “Food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) inflation accounted for most of the shock, with an enormous increase of 2.1% m/m and 7.6% y/y, likely indicating that more of the global price pressures are filtering through to local prices. Cereals and meat inflation provided the most upward pressure (just over 0.6 percentage point each), while dairy and eggs as well as oils and fats added nearly 0.3 percentage point each. Vegetables, NAB, and other foods contributed around 0.1ppt to the monthly pressure.” Households are feeling the pinch. “Inflation coupled with the interest rate increases are putting strain on South Africans’ pockets and households. We don’t foresee interest rates and the cost of living to come down anytime soon, so we encourage consumers to continue saving money, resisting the urge to dip into their retirement savings and look at how they can maximise their short or long-term saving goals,” says Himal Parbhoo, CEO FNB Retail Cash Investments. Ester Ochse, Product Head for Money Management echoes Parbhoo’s sentiments and believes that consumers need to constantly evaluate their spending habits and make conscious spending decisions daily. There needs to be a shift in mindset especially when it comes to money and savings. You need to be aware of how and where you spend your money. This initial step is crucial and will help your money go further. Parbhoo advises consumers to be more frugal with their spending and intentionally look at how to save a bit more by making small daily changes: Plan your week Look at your week ahead and plan your week accordingly. According to FNB Data, amongst the top 10 items that consumers are budgeting for include groceries, fuel, phone contracts and prepaid, savings and investments. “It’s not going to get easier, so plan your week and plan when you will be doing your shopping or travelling to the office. Certain stores have discount or pensioner days, so try and do your shopping on those days. Planning will help you manage your time and save a bit more,” advises Parbhoo. Check your weekly and monthly budget “Going through your weekly and monthly spending will help you identify how much you can afford and how much you can save based on your budget. During this time, it important to intentionally see where your money is going as every rand or cent counts. Use the tools that are available such as the Smart Budget tool on FNB’s app under nav-igate life. You can also free up your weekly or monthly cashflow by using the points earned on your rewards cards or loyalty programmes,” adds Ochse. Shopping online Since the pandemic, local stores have ramped up their services by moving online – to offer a more convenient, safe, and efficient shopping experience. Given the access to these shopping sites look at discounts and possibly use online delivery apps for certain items that you would like to order. This will help you save on fuel and pick up a few bargains that could help you save a bit more. The added advantage is that it is easier to stick to a list when shopping. Consider having a savings account Given that inflation is increasing, look at appropriate savings vehicles that can help you save or invest. Parbhoo adds, “Short-term savings pockets help you contribute monthly through either 7 days or 32 days’ notice account or fixed deposit. Having these savings accounts will help you better manage any emergencies that might creep in as life happens.” Save your change Old school is sometimes cool and when it comes to savings, putting your spare change in a jar or box always works. Save your spare change in a glass jar or box and after a few months see how much it comes up to. For FNB customers, the Bank Your Change® feature allows all FNB customers who have a transactional bank account to save a portion of their change each time they use their FNB debit card to buy goods or services. To date FNB customers have saved over R5.5 billion in the last three years by saving small amounts ranging from R2 to R50 through their FNB Savings Account. Inflation will keep on increasing, so we encourage you to understand the potential of saving over time. “Your savings whether big or small will make a difference to short or long-term financial planning opportunities. It’s important that you start saving now. It’s this step that will help you in the longer term,” concludes Ochse