The AnswerBank Articles

Is it true that eating soya can protect against cancer

asks admason:A. Possibly. Soya is a good source of a type of phyto-oestrogens called isoflavones. According to the British Nutrition Foundation, some studies show that the type of isoflavones found in00:00 Mon 21st Jan 2002

When did hair perming start

asks sporty: A. According to Kay Connelly, L'Oreal's product development manager, perming (and straightening hair) goes back to the Egyptians, who would their hair on sticks coated in mud and let it00:00 Mon 21st Jan 2002

Is there proof that homeopathy works

asks Jaysway:A. Recently, a chance scientific discovery has given conventional science an indication of how homeopathy might work - and has shaken up a few scientists, too! Q. What was it A. A team00:00 Mon 14th Jan 2002

Carl Rogers - what are the concepts of the self about

asks natasha: A. Carl Rogers (1902-1987) is known as the 'father of person-centred therapy'. This is where the counsellor reflects his client's responses back to him or her to set up an atmosphere of00:00 Mon 14th Jan 2002

Is there any disadvantage to being an older parent

asks mayastar:A. Whatever the disadvantages may be, you won't be on your own. According to the Office of National Statistics, over the past 20 years women have been having babies later. And in the00:00 Thu 14th Feb 2002

Why do I get cold sores

asks tonyb:A. If you get cold sores, it means you have been infected by the herpes simplex virus. Once the virus is present - usually on the lips or the skin around the mouth and nose - you've got it00:00 Mon 07th Jan 2002

What causes mouth ulcers I seem to get loads of them in winter

asks PDTV: A. Mouth ulcers are tiny but very painful ulcerations. They are a yellowy colour with a red halo, usually about 2mm wide - although they can grow much bigger. You get them inside your mouth00:00 Mon 07th Jan 2002

I have an embarrassing problem - an itchy bottom. Can you tell me how to get rid of it Please help

asks Jarnold:A. Don't worry - you're not alone. This itchiness - the medical term is pruritus ani - is common. It's estimated that everyone will have an itchy bottom at some time or another. Most00:00 Mon 07th Jan 2002

Is there any evidence for the existence of the star which signified Christ's birth

asks Woolley: A. Many experts think that the star was something spectacular, such as supernova or a comet. However, one American astronomer, Michael Molnar, believes the light in the sky was due to an00:00 Mon 24th Dec 2001

I sweat excessively in bed, usually in a cool ventilated bedroom, heavy or light bedclothes make no difference, this also occurs when I sleep anywhere else in other rooms and beds. Why

asks barrypr: A. Sweating is a natural function of your body and is necessary to regulate your body temperature. You have five million sweat glands on your body - two-thirds of those are on your00:00 Mon 31st Dec 2001

Are there any proven cures for a hangover

asks MissDon: A. People swear by strange concoctions containing things like egg whites or Irn Bru, but what seems to be a miracle cure for some people won't have any effect at all on others. Q. What00:00 Mon 24th Dec 2001

What's the point of ear wax

asks tonyb:A. Ear wax, known medically as cerumen, is a yellow or brown substance secreted by small glands under the skin of the outer part of the ear canal. Q. What's it for A. It's a sticky00:00 Mon 24th Dec 2001

What are the short and long term effects of exercise

asks kellyshewell:A. The major long-term effects of exercise are well-documented - keeping fit helps to ward off the major diseases that come with age. It reduces the risk of heart disease, strokes00:00 Mon 24th Dec 2001

Is telekinesis a reality

asks Shenoy:A. Lots of people think so. Telekinesis is the power to move objects using only your mind - for example, Uri Gellor and his bending forks. If you look up 'telekinesis' on the Internet,00:00 Mon 24th Dec 2001

Why do I get a lump in my throat when I'm sad

ask Sander: A. If the lump in your throat is brought on by emotion and not caused by a physical condition, then it's what doctors call 'globus hystericus' or 'globus sensation'. Q. You what A. It's00:00 Mon 17th Dec 2001

Where do the bags under my eyes come from

asks Adryley: A. There are lots of reasons why you can have bags under your eyes - and, if they worry you, lots of things you can do about them. But there's no reason to worry. Does anyone think00:00 Mon 17th Dec 2001

Are there any health issues with folic acid being introduced into bread

asks johnjo: A. The Government wants white flour to be fortified with folic acid. This is because it is known that women drastically reduce their chances having a baby with spina bifida if they take00:00 Mon 17th Dec 2001

How can I get rid of recurring thrush naturally The usual creams and pessaries don't stop it coming back.

asks MissDon:A. Thrush is an extremely irritating condition which is caused by a yeast organism - Candida albicans. Q. Isn't it normal to have some yeast in the body A. Yes, but too much and you've00:00 Mon 10th Dec 2001

Is antibacterial soap any better than regular soap

asks Allan:A. Everything's 'antibacterial' now - from socks and chopping boards to pillows and skin products. And none are more popular than antibacterial soaps, both liquid and solid, which pander to00:00 Mon 10th Dec 2001

What makes your knuckles crack, and is it as bad for you as my mother says

asks jaysway: A. By 'crack', you mean when you lace your fingers together, turn your palms away from your body and bend your fingers back Q. Yes, when you get that strangely enjoyable cracking00:00 Mon 10th Dec 2001