Sleep and your brain, the popular drug that's useless, what's living on your face

This week: How sleep deprivation affects your body; what to know about melatonin ; decongestants that actually work; 6 herbs used to treat common ailments; scented candles and your home's air quality; postpartum depression is older than you think; the tiny critters living on your face .

We're not getting enough sleep. Here's why that's so bad—especially if you're a woman

More than a third of us aren't getting enough sleep—and that has serious implications for our health, from heart disease to obesity to type 2 diabetes and depression. Here's how sleep helps our bodies, why women are more prone to sleep disorders, and how to improve the sleep you're getting .

What's really in melatonin—and is it giving you nightmares?

The dosing in these popular over-the-counter sleep supplements can vary wildly from what's printed on the label, which can result in side effects. Here's how to use it safely .

How even mild sleep apnea can take a toll on your body

It can cause you to stop breathing several times an hour, setting off a cascade of threats to your brain and heart health. But how do you even know if you need to get tested ?

This popular oral decongestant is utterly useless. Here's what does work.

More than 200 over-the-counter oral decongestants contain a key ingredient that was just revealed to be ineffective. It turns out scientists have long known that it was useless—yet you've been buying it for decades anyway. Here's why—and a look at the decongestants that actually do work .

Looking for home remedies? These herbs might be able to help

Chamomile tea to ease cramps and restlessness. Aloe to heal burns. Rue to ward off the evil eye. Natural remedies have been used for generations to treat a host of common ailments. Here is a roundup of six herbs that have long been used to treat everything from allergies to poison ivy .

Are scented candles polluting your home?

When we light a scented candle, aromatic molecules are warmed and lifted from the wax in an updraft from the flame, attaching to?sensors?in our nose.?But a warm glow and nice smells aren't the only thing candles give off .

The ancient history of postpartum depression

This summer, the FDA approved the first oral medication specifically designed to treat postpartum depression—a common childbirth complication that affects an estimated 1 in 7 women after giving birth. Here's a brief history of the condition, and why it may be partly driven by societal roles, not biology .

Meet your face mites

Hundreds or thousands of tiny eight-legged animals are nestled deep in the pores of our faces—my face, your face, your best friend's face, and pretty much every other face you know or love. Scientists aren't sure what these microscopic face mites do, but here's what we do know—from their sex lives to their biology, to how many species we're hosting .

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