"When researchers at the University of Patras Medical School in Greece probed the old tale that seizures are more likely to occur under a full moon, they found that there could be something to it. They reviewed all records of 859 patients admitted for seizure and found "significant clustering of seizures" around the full moon."

"Just how this old wives' tale got going is not known, although legend has it that British military intelligence during the Second World War spread the word that plane-spotters were eating carrots to cover up the fact that it was radar which was responsible for the increase in downed German planes. But researchers at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam have found that ingesting high levels of beta carotene - the compound that gives carrots their colouring - as well as vitamins C, E and zinc lowers the chance of age-related macular degeneration by up to 35 per cent. Other sources of beta carotene include pumpkins, sweet potatoes, pink grapefruit and spinach."

"While a lot of research says this is not true, a small Dutch study at the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, suggests there may be something in it. Volunteers fasted overnight and then were given either water or a meal the next day. Those that drank the water showed raised levels of a compound that fights infections linked to fevers, while those who had the meal experienced higher amounts of a compound that tackles viral infections like colds."

"Many people with arthritis claim that their joint pain varies with weather conditions. The idea is often rejected, but a study based on 130 patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis at the Instituto Poal de Reumatologia in Barcelona found that arthritic patients had increased joint pain when there was a drop in atmospheric pressure. They also found that low temperatures increased joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. "Our data demonstrate that osteoarthritic patients experience increased joint pain in response to a decrease in pressure,"say the researchers."

"Ultrasound scans may have taken the mystery out of knowing whether it's a boy or a girl, but for those who still rely on old technology, this tale may have some truth in it. Research at Dublin's National Maternity Hospital, based on 8,000 births and reported in the British Medical Journal, showed that male births were significantly more likely to result in longer labour. "When we say 'it must be a boy', as a humorous explanation of complications of labour and delivery, we are scientifically more correct than previously supposed," say the researchers."

"It may sound unlikely, but researchers at Johns Hopkins University found some truth in this. They examined 64 pregnant women, ranked the severity of any heartburn, and compared it with newborn hair coverage using photographs of the infant's head taken shortly after birth. Most (23 out of 28) women who reported moderate or severe heartburn gave birth to babies with average or above average amounts of hair, while most (10 out of 12) women reporting no heartburn had babies with less than average or no hair. "Contrary to expectations, it appears that an association between heartburn severity during pregnancy and newborn hair does exist," say the US researchers. Exactly how it works is not clear, but the theory is that one doesn't cause the other, rather that they share a common cause, which is probably hormonal. "The findings suggests that sometimes old wives may be right," they add."

"Research at New York University College of Dentistry shows a link between the number of pregnancies and dental problems. The team looked at 2,635 women aged 18 to 64 who reported at least one pregnancy, and found that many also experienced problems with their teeth. Dr Stefanie Russell, who led the research, says that pregnancy raises the risk of gingivitis, and if a woman has repeated outbreaks of gingivitis, she may develop periodontal disease. Mothers with several children may also be more likely
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