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 ...
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 ...
Q. During World War II in the Pacific, British and Australian medics were told to give soldiers aspirin as a substitute for quinine. They quickly learned that the problem of bad sunburns dropped noticeably. I thought you’d find this history interesting. A. There is indeed evidence that aspirin can help protect the skin from ultraviolet damage. It is quite a bit more recent than WWII (Journal of Investigative Dermatology, January 2023). Aspirin may help guard against sunburn, but dermatologists still warn people to use effective sunscreen or protective clothing as well. Chronic sun ...
DEAR ANNIE: My 15-year-old daughter and I used to be extremely close. She was the kind of child who would climb into the car after school and tell me everything before I even pulled out of the parking lot: who sat with whom at lunch, what her teacher said, which friend was mad at which friend and what song everyone was listening to that week. Now, I feel like I am living with a very fashionable attorney who cross-examines everything I say. If I ask how school was, she says, “Fine,” in a tone that makes it clear the conversation is over. If I ask whether she has homework, she says ...
DEAR HELOISE: How can I deal with plastic produce labels that won’t break down in compost? — Gordon C., in Corona, California Gordon, these stickers cause a lot of trouble for anyone who composts. Plastic fruit labels refuse to decompose, so you’ll find them scattered in your finished compost, even if one slips by. Your best bet is to handle them right at the kitchen counter. Peel the labels off as soon as you put away the groceries and toss them straight into the garbage. Set a dish or cup nearby so that you have somewhere to drop them; otherwise, they get buried under ...
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read about a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease called NeuralCIM from Cuba. Do you think this is real? — J.B. ANSWER: NeuralCIM, aka NeuroEPO, is derived from erythropoietin — the hormone that stimulates red blood cell precursors to make more blood cells. However, this intranasal form doesn’t stimulate blood cells; it does act like a similar hormone that is made by astrocytes, which are some of the “support cells” of brain tissue. Among the activities of NeuralEPO in the brain are decreasing amyloid deposits; reducing programmed cell death ...
