BODY: Cosmetic beauty more than skin deep

The rush for every product under the sun to label itself as natural and organic has been a huge marketing boom, particularly to lovely smelling ingredients such as lavender. But new evidence suggests that the effects are not unilateral. Case studies recently reported in New England Journal of Medicine have linked lavender and tea tree oil with breast growth in three young boys. Researchers theorized that chemicals in the ingredients were disruptive to the endocrine system. The boys went back to normal after they stopped using products with the ingredients.

However, the small study points to a much larger issue: how are cosmetic additives, both synthetic and natural, affecting our hormones? A recent story in the New York Times focused on phthalates, a chemical compound used to make vinyl and also found in many cosmetics. In some forms the compound is highly hormonally reactive, causing infertility in men. Data has been too inconclusive to categorically regulate the chemicals, according to the FDA, however consumer groups are pushing for more lab tests on cosmetic products. (CN)

MIND: In utero, remember?

A new study shows that infants, as young as six months, can have real memories. But how quickly they forget. Previous memory research had speculated that babies were unable to form memories, but new research shows that they do form impressions - however, they are quickly forgotten. (CN)

MIND: Second grade's long tail

Can't get a date tonight? Go ahead and blame your childhood. A new study, conducted over the past 25 years and counting, reaffirms kitchen-table wisdom of mothers everywhere: early childhood experiences shape adult relationships. The study shows that adults who had positive and well-adjusted early childhood experiences are more likely to have positive and well-adjusted adult romantic relationships. But is the news too little too late for many Americans? Children in the United States have the second worst welfare, right behind Britain, in a study of 21 wealthy countries, according to a UNICEF report. (CN)

BODY: Go ahead, take a nap

It hardly seems like breaking news when studies show that sleep is, well, good for you. But in the amped-up 24/7 lifestyles that we find ourselves, it is useful to remind ourselves how very good it actually is and why our bodies need it. Several new studies made headlines this week. One new study shows that napping is good for your heart while not enough sleep, especially in kids, can lead to obesity and stump brain cell growth.

But how much is enough? New business trends have latched on to this very question. Napping spas are sprouting up in major sleep-deprived urban areas, while the range of sleep aids - from herbal remedies to pharmaceuticals - has boomed. One rule of thumb: if you don't feel sleepy, then you're probably getting what you need. (CN)

MIND: Pioneering study shows talk therapy works

As Woody Allen fans know, psychology comes in many flavors. Those considering a little psychic help would do well to find the style that best fits their needs. Two main styles are cognitive behavioural therapy, which focuses more on behaviour patterns, and psychodynamic therapy, which probes and analyzes past history and underlying reasons for symptoms.

A new study shows the effectiveness of psychodynamic, or talk, therapy when used for panic disorder, a common form of anxiety. The study is a landmark for psychodynamic therapy as it provides the elusive and much-needed quanitative evidence that it works. Cognitve behavioral therapy has grown increasingly popular in recent practice because many of the techniques are evidence-based. Psychodynamic therapy, during which the patient and practioner engage in dialogue over months to years, has grown less popular because there is little clinical evidence to prove it's effectiveness apart from self-report. As a result it has fallen out of favor with insurance companies and institutional settings. The new study could signal a revival in popularity for talk therapy. (CN)

BODY: Cost of birth control triples for students

Birth control at some student health clinics and low-income health providers has as much as tripled in the last month. The price hike, sending a one packet of the popular Ortho-Tri-Cyclen from around $15 to $40, is due to the Defecit Reduction Act of 2005. The measure was signed into law last month and affects organizations who buy birth control through the 340B drug discount program. Student newspapers, including Univ. of Pennsylvannia, UT Austin, Purdue and Pitt, responded to the news. (CN)