Q. My therapist told me that massage and bodywork can be helpful for eating disorders. How can this be?

A. The truth is, millions of American men and women suffer from some sort of eating disorder. Bodywork, however, can help lessen the chasm between body and mind that helps “feed” these disorders. According to author Merrill DeVito, who went on her first diet in the fifth grade, the self-loathing that accompanies eating disorders gets trapped in the entire body, but bodywork helps release it.

Q. Being fairly new to massage, I’m always unsure about whether to tip or not? Is there some sort of tipping protocol like in dining, or is tipping my massage therapist like tipping my doctor?

Mention flexibility and most people envision twisting themselves into a pretzel. But as we age, maintaining flexibility is less about being a contortionist and more about the ability to perform everyday activities. This is why regular stretching is especially important to stay limber and prevent atrophy as our bodies mature.

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), an ingredient common to many cold and cough remedies, can cause strokes in men and women ages 18–49 after prolonged usage, reported the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PPA is included in many remedies because of its effectiveness at alleviating nasal congestion. However, the FDA is warning 200–500 strokes might be linked to the ingredient. In a related story, the herbal cold and flu remedy Aller Relief has been recalled due to the FDA’s warning the product contained small amounts of the cancer-causing agent aristolochic acid.