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HINTS FROM HELOISE: Grandpa’s solution will help garden grow marvelously

DEAR HELOISE: There’s an old recipe that my great grandfather used to use in his garden, and it made everything grow quickly and in abundance. It was lost for a long time, but we found the recipe in an old book that he once owned. I used it for the first time this past year, and my vegetable garden has never looked healthier or given me such a large yield of tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. It’s very simple and cost less than $2 to make. Get 1 packet of baking yeast. Mix it into a large bucket of very warm water. Stir well. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and stir. Let it sit for 2 ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Diseases of liver differ in symptoms

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on primary sclerosing cholangitis. What is the difference between this condition and primary biliary cholangitis? Where can I find information on how to get on a waiting list for a liver transplant? — C.V. ANSWER: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are similar in some ways. They are both chronic and progressive liver diseases, whose initial symptoms can be vague (such as fatigue or skin itching) and can be found incidentally on laboratory testing. They are both largely thought to be autoimmune ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

All things considered, there is practically no such thing as a blind guess in bridge, for there is nearly always some clue a zealous player can uncover. Some of the clues he might lean on are, admittedly, very thin, but they are better than no clue at all. Take this deal from the Canada-France match in the 1968 World Bridge Olympiad. When the French held the North-South cards, they reached three notrump as shown, and West led the six of hearts. East took the ace and returned the jack, South (Gerard Bourchtoff) contributing the four and West the eight. East continued with the five, West ...

Mop, broom, calmer mind

NEW YORK — It’s spring cleaning season, and for some people that can mean drudgery or anxiety. But experts from Zen monks to psychologists say there are mental health benefits to be found in such manual chores as sweeping, mopping and clearing away clutter. These tasks can encourage ...

What to know about the Japanese-style scalp massages catching on in the US

SAN FRANCISCO — Getting a scalp or face massage is often a relaxing highlight of getting a haircut or a facial. Now, head spas are popping up across the country offering deep cranial and facial relaxation. “Typically, when you go get a massage, the focus is always like your back, and I ...