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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...