Cold season is here again and chances are you’ve already caught one. Here are some less mainstream ‘cures’ to try from around the world, plus a few historical treatments.

Research on nearly 70,000 French adults found that those who ate the most organic food were less likely to develop certain kinds of cancer than those who ate the least. Scientists suggest absence of pesticide residues on organic food is reason, but more study needed.

Exercise is a stress on the body just like nervousness or anxiety, so people who work long hours and then hit the gym might need to rethink their routine.

Team of researchers who spent seven years studying 19,000 elderly people in Australia and the United States have published findings in New England Journal of Medicine.

It is especially risky for men with an existing or hidden heart problem when watching their favourite teams, studies suggest – but winning ways could have an unexpected bonus for society.

It takes a lot more than camomile tea and gluten-free breakfasts to fend off mental illness; as writer’s mother found, you’ve got to have a desire to be happy before you can embrace a diet that brings wellness

When she was six, a girl hurt herself so badly she had red marks on her arms and when she was nine, she told her tutors she wanted to kill herself by jumping off a building – it was only then she was diagnosed with ADHD. 

Why are children and teenagers with emotional or mental health problems having to wait up to 17 months for treatment in Hong Kong?

Many parents delay exposing children to allergenic foods, such as peanuts and eggs, to avoid them having food allergies – but eating those foods as part of a wide and varied while pregnant and breastfeeding is a better way to do this

Depression, attention deficit disorder, chronic disease – immersing yourself in the smells and sounds of nature with a slow walk in the countryside can relieve them all and do wonders to ease the pressure of city living, say eco-therapists

The type of coffee you choose and how you prepare it determines how much of its proven health benefits you gain; filter coffee lightly roasted, drunk black and unsweetened, may be your best bet

Low energy, bad moods, low blood sugar, overeating – these consequences of skipping breakfast are well known. Now comes a new study suggesting the habit also contributes to blocked arteries

A recent study suggests being in a good mood before your flu jab can boost the vaccine’s effectiveness, with reducing stress – which produces hormones that can suppress the immune system – among methods to maintain a positive state

Helminthic therapy – ingesting live roundworms – is growing in popularity as a means of fighting various autoimmune disorders, but more evidence is needed of its efficacy, and the treatment is not approved in Hong Kong

A Hong Kong personal trainer says sweat levels are linked to your physiology and the climate you are working out in, not the number of calories you are burning

If your general health is good, there’s no need to be concerned if you go to the toilet more or less often than other people

Despite a number of products on the market promising to fix split ends, there is only one way to deal with the problem: get the scissors out and trim your hair

Some say successful weight loss is 80 per cent diet and 20 per cent exercise – and as a rule of thumb, it’s pretty reliable

When we think of processed foods, we usually think of things that have been drained of their nutrients and stuffed full of salt, fat and sugar to enhance their taste and shelf life. In fact, the reality is more nuanced

A Hong Kong dermatologist says certain ingredients can penetrate the dermis and get into your blood, although the quantities involved would be very small

All you learn from solving brain teasers, puzzles and crosswords is how to solve them better, say experts; there’s no wider application to real-world tasks

You will doubtless have seen the videos of people applying a thick black paste to their faces, pulling it off to reveal a glowing, soft surface. But don’t use these masks too often – and definitely don’t make your own using superglue

It’s a common belief in Asia that emotional stress affects a woman’s unborn child and lifting heavy objects weakens the body, but the facts suggest that neither directly puts a pregnancy in danger

It’s the sixth most prevalent cancer among females in Hong Kong, yet many of us have no idea how it’s detected, its symptoms or risk factors. Ahead of World Ovarian Cancer Day, we look at common misconceptions

Oral contraceptives prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation, but are metabolised quickly once stopped. Doctors advise waiting until after the first period before trying to fall pregnant

Less than seven hours’ rest for adults can cut output of a hormone that signals you’ve had enough to eat, produce more of another that increases hunger and also stir cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie food

Bacteria that thrive on tongues can lead to gum disease and bad breath, so regular scraping can improve your general mouth hygiene

It’s normal to become more forgetful as we age, but it’s not normal to forget names of loved ones or how to perform tasks we’ve done for decades, Hong Kong medical specialist says

Hong Kong doctors warn that while red cheeks and cranky moods are common as first teeth emerge, a persistent high temperature should not be ignored and warrants a medical check-up