Feel Better by Planting Trees and Taking Up Yoga

A review of 19 studies found that outdoor environmental enhancement and conservation activities, such as planting trees and picking up litter, provide perceived benefits like increased social contact and a sense of achievement, although the evidence for substantial health benefits is limited. In the realm of asthma management, a review of 15 trials with over 1,000 participants showed that yoga can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms in those with mild to moderate asthma, but its effects on lung function and medication use remain unclear. Another asthma-related review of 18 trials with over 2,400 participants yielded only low-quality evidence regarding the optimal duration and dosage of oral steroids for asthma attacks. Regarding female pattern hair loss, an update including 47 trials with nearly 5,300 women found that minoxidil (2% or 5%) is more effective than placebo, finasteride is not effective, and laser comb therapy resulted in a significant increase in hair growth, despite not being rated higher than sham therapy by participants.