https://www.scmp.com/rss/24/feed All the latest fashion and beauty news, style advice and tried-and-tested products en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Hot lemon and ginger cola is a uniquely Hong Kong drink. A few slices of ginger are heated in cola until boiling, then the mixture is poured into a glass and topped with a few fresh lemon slices. While some older-style restaurants or traditional Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng cafes still serve it, it is usually an off-menu item, known only to older Hongkongers. The drink is widely believed to help cure colds and flu. But does it really? The TCM perspective Ginger is a warming rhizome and a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373868/does-hot-lemon-and-ginger-cola-really-help-cold-and-flu-symptoms https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373868/does-hot-lemon-and-ginger-cola-really-help-cold-and-flu-symptoms Tue, 10 Nov 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Pilates studios are a dime a dozen in Hong Kong – and that is partly what motivated Valeriia Kim and Caden Chan to launch their dream studio when they arrived in Hong Kong in 2025. Fresh out of university in the UK and barely settled in the city, the couple hit the ground running. “I’m very impatient,” Kim, 22, says. “Once I want something, I do anything to get it. Studios are opening all the time, and we need to be ahead.” In contrast, Chan, 23, was hesitant when Kim first floated the idea and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373502/gen-z-couple-changing-hong-kongs-pilates-scene-their-studio-about-community https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373502/gen-z-couple-changing-hong-kongs-pilates-scene-their-studio-about-community Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu If you have dull skin, dark circles under your eyes or brittle nails, social media algorithms may be quick to diagnose you with “ferritin face”. Though not a formal medical diagnosis, the buzzy term has emerged as the latest viral beauty-and-wellness trend describing traits supposedly caused by low ferritin – the cellular protein that stores iron in the body. While iron deficiency anaemia frequently shows up with these visible symptoms, Western medical doctors caution that a complex metabolic... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373401/what-ferritin-face-and-how-does-tcm-view-trending-ailment https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373401/what-ferritin-face-and-how-does-tcm-view-trending-ailment Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service By Deborah Vankin Walking is my salvation. Vigorous solo walks through Griffith Park in Los Angeles are both my go-to exercise and meditations in motion. I regularly “walk the day off” there, or stroll around the city’s Silver Lake Reservoir after work to unwind. I do not listen to music or podcasts or even the news. Instead, I tune into my rhythmic footsteps and the medley of background noise: squawking birds, yapping passers-by, whooshing traffic. It’s soothing. But when a family member’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373529/walking-therapy-making-strides-what-it-and-why-its-good-mental-and-physical-health https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373529/walking-therapy-making-strides-what-it-and-why-its-good-mental-and-physical-health Sat, 07 Nov 2026 10:15:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters For 42-year-old Allison Vecchio, GLP-1 drugs were “a reset button on life”, but came at a price – with side effects like gastrointestinal distress, brittle nails and feelings of weakness so intense that at times she could not leave her bed. But Vecchio, an emergency room nurse based in Fort Pierce, in the US state of Florida, says the symptoms eased when she began a cocktail of supplements that included fibre, collagen and electrolytes, a haul that costs US$200 to US$300 a month. “You really... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373100/glp-1-side-effects-have-users-turning-supplements-why-doctors-are-worried https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373100/glp-1-side-effects-have-users-turning-supplements-why-doctors-are-worried Fri, 06 Nov 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani Edgar Tang was 32 and on holiday in London when a call from his doctor changed his life. He was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. His only symptom had been a swollen lymph node on the left side of his neck, something he had been inclined to ignore. The diagnosis left him contemplating his mortality, his future and how he would care for his parents. He recalls walking from Covent Garden towards the Tate Modern art gallery, crossing the Millennium... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373118/cancer-32-laid-50-how-singaporean-rebuilt-his-life-after-major-setbacks https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3373118/cancer-32-laid-50-how-singaporean-rebuilt-his-life-after-major-setbacks Wed, 04 Nov 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Think you can steer a drone using nothing more than your own concentrated thoughts? It may sound like science fiction, but mind-controlled drone-flying is one of the free activities the public can take part in at the upcoming Being Human Festival in Hong Kong. Running from November 5 to 15, the festival is the first Hong Kong edition of the UK’s national festival of the humanities, which was founded in 2014. Organised by the University of Hong Kong (HKU)’s Faculty of Arts under the theme... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3372981/mind-controlled-drone-flying-hong-kongs-being-human-festival-among-varied-programme https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3372981/mind-controlled-drone-flying-hong-kongs-being-human-festival-among-varied-programme Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Morning Studio editors Morning Studio editors The opening of Hong Kong’s first predominantly Chinese medicine-led hospital last December is a milestone for the city’s healthcare system. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK), in addition to providing pure Chinese medicine services, represents the first time patients are able to receive treatment plans led by that system of healing – while also factoring in expertise from Western medical perspectives where appropriate. By leveraging Hong Kong’s role as an international gateway to... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/gateway-modern-chinese-medicine/article/3372713/hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-aims-become-global-model-integrated-healthcare https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/gateway-modern-chinese-medicine/article/3372713/hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-aims-become-global-model-integrated-healthcare Tue, 03 Nov 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 101st instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. My mother and I often walked together during the time I cared for her, around the garden or in the fields beyond it. Sometimes she resisted, complaining she was too tired or inventing some small ailment as an excuse not to get up and get out (“My legs are sore”). But once outside she always responded, and she always returned to the house in a better... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372569/why-walking-nature-could-benefit-ageing-brains-more-we-thought https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372569/why-walking-nature-could-benefit-ageing-brains-more-we-thought Sun, 01 Nov 2026 23:15:15 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan When her left shoulder began to ache shortly before she turned 50, my sister Carol Wilson ignored the pain and put it down to a poor-quality mattress. She hoped the situation would resolve when she moved house in the UK – and got a new bed. The pain continued. “I kept hoping it would get better,” she says. “But it didn’t.” Her doctor diagnosed a frozen shoulder and alluded to it being something that occurred in “women of a certain age”. He prescribed physiotherapy, which didn’t help her much,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372696/what-frozen-shoulder-symptoms-treatment-risk-factors-and-exercises https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372696/what-frozen-shoulder-symptoms-treatment-risk-factors-and-exercises Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters From cherry and banoffee pie to Tabasco and sesame, the list of food aromas popping up in luxury fragrances keeps growing. Now some perfume makers are starting to ask if weight-loss drugs might be reshaping what consumers want in a scent. So-called gourmand fragrances like Thierry Mugler’s pioneering candyfloss-inspired Angel and Nina Ricci’s toffee apple scent Nina have been around for decades. More recent growth in the segment has been attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic-era boom in online... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3372515/why-glp-1-users-impact-food-inspired-fragrance-market-nothing-sniff https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3372515/why-glp-1-users-impact-food-inspired-fragrance-market-nothing-sniff Sat, 31 Oct 2026 04:45:07 +0000 dpa dpa As winter draws closer in some places and darker mornings become part of the daily routine, getting out of bed can feel more difficult than ever. Psychotherapist Shazna Khanom, head of clinical mental health at healthcare company Bupa in the UK, explains that the shorter days and reduction of daylight during autumn and winter can have a significant impact on our energy levels. “The darkness doesn’t just impact people’s mood – it can also change their energy levels and make them feel slower,” she... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372278/10-expert-tips-help-you-wake-winter-feeling-refreshed-happy-and-energised https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372278/10-expert-tips-help-you-wake-winter-feeling-refreshed-happy-and-energised Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam White Flower Oil is a familiar scent in many Chinese homes – you may even have had a whiff of it on public transport. The sharp, pungent fragrance of eucalyptus and mint is unmistakable and memory-evoking, and has traditionally been used to treat ailments such as headaches, nausea and bug bites. The origins of White Flower Oil, also known as Hoe Hin Pak Fah Yeow, can be traced to 1927 Penang, then part of Malaya, where founder Gan Geok Eng developed a medicated oil initially intended for private... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3372507/6-ways-use-white-flower-oil-home-repelling-pests-removing-stickers https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3372507/6-ways-use-white-flower-oil-home-repelling-pests-removing-stickers Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Halloween weekend in Hong Kong offers far more than the usual bar or club crawl. From big-stage music and carnival energy to an artsy cocktail night, themed workouts and a family-friendly market, there are many ways to mark one of the city’s biggest celebrations. Read on to plan your perfect Halloweekend. 1. Spooky Halloween 2026 festival After its inaugural run in 2025, Hong Kong’s Halloween music carnival is officially back, taking over the Wan Chai Harbourfront Event Space from October 30 to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3372501/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-halloween-weekend-october-30-november-1 https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3372501/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-halloween-weekend-october-30-november-1 Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun It all started with a sandwich at 7-Eleven. Ada Cheng Suet-ngan was on holiday in Japan and grabbed a quick bite before rushing to catch a train in Osaka. Suddenly, she felt itchy and sweaty even though it was winter. She took off her jacket and saw rashes over her arm and neck. “I knew something was wrong, so I sat down, drank some water and tried to calm down,” says Cheng, recalling her first serious allergy flare-up in 2019. “I knew the station’s information centre must have an English... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372300/what-living-severe-wheat-allergy-and-how-brisk-walk-can-make-it-fatal https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372300/what-living-severe-wheat-allergy-and-how-brisk-walk-can-make-it-fatal Wed, 28 Oct 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service By Deborah Vankin My boyfriend turned 50 this year. He didn’t buy an expensive sports car. Or quit his job and form a garage band. He started taking creatine. “What is that, exactly?” I asked. “Oh, one of those things everyone takes after 50,” he said. Or 30. Or 80, as it turns out. My 84-year-old mother called the other day: “What’s, um, cree-ah-teen?” she asked. “Oh, and what’s some new popular music I should be listening to?” (She stays on top of the trends.) Creatine seems to be everywhere... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372226/what-creatine-health-benefits-supplement-experts-recommend-almost-anyone https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3372226/what-creatine-health-benefits-supplement-experts-recommend-almost-anyone Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung At 22, Luca Yang was running a small teaching company in New Zealand after quitting a six-figure finance job that he hated. It had humble beginnings, where he tutored English online for A$25 (US$17.55) per hour just to get by. When one of his students got into Oxford, word spread: one student became 50, then 500. By most measures, he had already won the start-up lottery. “It was producing a lot of money, but it wasn’t something I actually loved doing,” says Yang, who was born and raised in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371860/o3s-luca-yang-hated-studying-so-he-built-24/7-study-cafes-motivate-people-him https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371860/o3s-luca-yang-hated-studying-so-he-built-24/7-study-cafes-motivate-people-him Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa If you feel lost or overwhelmed now your children have left the nest, you are far from alone. Many parents experience empty nest syndrome at this time of the year. “Empty nest syndrome isn’t a mental health condition, but a set of feelings or symptoms that parents might feel when all their children have left home,” says Dr Elizabeth Wakeland, consultant, clinical and forensic psychologist at Cygnet Health Care in the UK. “It’s a period of significant life change where parents are trying to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371762/do-you-have-empty-nest-syndrome-5-signs-and-expert-ways-cope https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371762/do-you-have-empty-nest-syndrome-5-signs-and-expert-ways-cope Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis “Have you made that doctor’s appointment about the lump on your back yet?” your spouse asks. You sheepishly mumble that you have not. Walking past a packed wardrobe – a daily reminder of a decluttering project put off for months – you settle onto the sofa to finish binge-watching that new Netflix series. Sound familiar? Procrastination is no big deal; everyone puts off tasks they don’t want to do, right? Wrong, according to Fuschia Sirois, a professor of social and health psychology at Durham... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371864/how-procrastination-can-harm-your-physical-and-mental-health-and-practical-tips-stop-it https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371864/how-procrastination-can-harm-your-physical-and-mental-health-and-practical-tips-stop-it Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu As we inch closer to the end of October, the city is ready to embrace the spooky and cosy ambience of the season – though the sweltering weather means we cannot ease into an autumnal mood just yet. Whether it is trying dishes with seasonal ingredients or checking out a new movie, here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. M+’s Myths and Monsters As the first major survey exploring two centuries of Asian fantasy visual culture, the latest exhibition at M+, “Myths and Monsters: The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371736/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-23-25 https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371736/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-23-25 Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:15:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. This ancient Chinese warrior queen led huge armies and stole a king’s heart Fu Hao is one of the earliest documented female military generals in history, yet relatively little is known about her. Most of the information gathered about her life is from her tomb. 2. How to prevent osteoporosis, from training to eating... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371716/ancient-chinese-warrior-queen-how-prevent-osteoporosis-7-lifestyle-highlights https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371716/ancient-chinese-warrior-queen-how-prevent-osteoporosis-7-lifestyle-highlights Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:15:06 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Georgina Tang’s childhood was deeply unhappy. Growing up in poverty in Hong Kong’s New Territories in the 1960s, as one of eight children born into an arranged marriage, her first memories are of physical abuse at the hands of her jealous mother. “When they were forced to marry at the age of 21, my father was in love with another woman, whom he never quite forgot about,” says Tang, now 63. “It drove my mother crazy. It made her furious that I was my father’s favourite – she hated me because he... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371491/he-my-driving-force-how-hong-kong-born-mother-built-legacy-her-disabled-son https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371491/he-my-driving-force-how-hong-kong-born-mother-built-legacy-her-disabled-son Wed, 21 Oct 2026 03:00:38 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Plain old water could be responsible for making plastics harmful to people, according to a new study that portends significant consequences for human health. The study, published in the journal Nature, found chemical reactions between water and six types of fossil fuel-based plastic-created particles that damaged red blood cells and proteins in laboratory tests. As plastic in the body breaks down into smaller and smaller bits – known as microplastics and nanoplastics – the potential danger... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371477/how-microplastics-react-water-damage-our-bodies-and-cause-inflammation https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371477/how-microplastics-react-water-damage-our-bodies-and-cause-inflammation Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan Osteoporosis is a stealthy condition. The disease, which weakens bones by making them thinner, less dense and more likely to break, advances slowly and silently, says Dr Edith Lau, founding president of the Asian Pacific Osteoporosis Foundation (APOF), and for most people the first sign is a broken bone. That break can follow something that does not seem serious – a minor fall, lifting something heavy, even a bout of coughing or sneezing. Sufferers most commonly break their forearm, spine or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371338/how-prevent-osteoporosis-strength-training-eating-calcium-rich-food https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371338/how-prevent-osteoporosis-strength-training-eating-calcium-rich-food Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 100th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. When this series launched, my mother was still by my side. My first column explored what looking after her taught me about dementia. Now, as I write this 100th piece, I reflect on what dementia taught me about the nature of care itself. Before she was diagnosed with dementia – but likely as her memory began to fray – my mother was admitted to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371107/what-dementia-care-around-world-teaches-us-about-dignity-community-avoiding-burnout https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371107/what-dementia-care-around-world-teaches-us-about-dignity-community-avoiding-burnout Sun, 18 Oct 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When Ria Xi set off on her 20,000km (12,400-mile) endurance challenge, she had no idea what the impact on her body would be. But she was curious to find out. The Beijing-born former tech executive who used AI to develop running training plans has now developed a daily test to track her biometric data alongside memory, motivation and energy levels as she runs across Eurasia. The extraordinary journey, which began on May 1, 2026, from Vladivostok, Russia, will see Xi run the ancient Silk Road... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung When Sonia Chandiramani lost her mum to ovarian cancer in 2017, she found solace in an unexpected place: the rugby pitch. “I was spending five nights a week with my team, plus weekends,” says the 33-year-old Chandiramani, who had been playing since she was 14. “It was my second family. “At her funeral, people showed up, and it meant a lot,” she says. “It’s just a reminder that there are more families than just your family.” Two years later, Chandiramani and some fellow players established... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370857/hong-kong-rugby-player-and-cancer-survivor-why-screening-key-even-young-and-fit https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370857/hong-kong-rugby-player-and-cancer-survivor-why-screening-key-even-young-and-fit Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Mid-October is a tease for Halloween fans – spooky season feels tantalisingly near, yet still just out of reach. Luckily, Hong Kong offers plenty to keep you busy until then, and remember that Monday is a public holiday. Whether you are after a new piece of ink, a perfect pour-over, a night at the ballet or a deeper stretch, there is more than one way to fill the long weekend. 1. Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition 2026 The Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition 2026 will... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3370938/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-long-weekend-october-16-19 https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3370938/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-long-weekend-october-16-19 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:16:56 +0000 dpa dpa Colds may be spreading where you are as the end of the year nears, and they are usually followed by plenty of tips on staying well – but are any of them worth your while? We asked scientists whether we should drink warm beer, head to the sauna, take vitamin C supplements and more. 1. If you let yourself get cold, will you catch a cold? This is partly true. However, feeling cold does not automatically make you ill, which requires viruses. “It is true that your body’s defences are weakened to some... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370959/8-old-wives-tales-about-colds-and-how-avoid-them-vitamin-c-sleep-warm-beer https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370959/8-old-wives-tales-about-colds-and-how-avoid-them-vitamin-c-sleep-warm-beer Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:15:05 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales When 73-year-old Rosemina Hamzah stepped up to the hex bar at Singapore’s Mbold Seniors Hex Bar Deadlift Challenge in August, she was not just attempting her first deadlift competition ­– she was rewriting what ageing looks like. Latching onto 67.5kg (149lbs), more than her own body weight of 64kg, the novice lifter pulled it with ease – a personal best to win her category. It was a remarkable feat for a woman who, just over a year ago, could hardly walk and was constantly in pain. Before August... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370800/singaporean-grandma-73-couldnt-walk-without-pain-today-she-deadlifts-675kg https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370800/singaporean-grandma-73-couldnt-walk-without-pain-today-she-deadlifts-675kg Wed, 14 Oct 2026 03:01:13 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung In the last instalment of a four-part Health Matters series on traditional Chinese medicine, Chloe Loung experiences the patient journey at Hong Kong’s new Chinese medicine hospital, where Western doctors and TCM practitioners work side by side to streamline holistic healthcare. There are no receptionists barking ticket numbers in chaotic waiting rooms at the new Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong. In fact, stepping into the complex’s sunlit atrium, you can barely hear a footstep. Hong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370262/inside-hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-where-eastern-and-western-healthcare-meet https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370262/inside-hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-where-eastern-and-western-healthcare-meet Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press To most, the plague is an ancient nightmare, a scourge that wiped out tens of millions in medieval Europe and killed more than 20,000 people in colonial Hong Kong between 1894 and 1929. A recent death at a plague research facility in Siberia is a stark reminder that the bacterium that causes it, Yersinia pestis, was never eradicated. While modern medicine has transformed the former “Black Death” into an easily treatable bacterial infection, the disease continues to circulate quietly across the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370337/plague-isnt-history-where-it-still-exists-how-it-spreads-and-cure https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370337/plague-isnt-history-where-it-still-exists-how-it-spreads-and-cure Sat, 10 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa You spend the evening alone on your couch, decline a party invitation or prefer to stay at home instead of going out to a pub or cafe. Some people withdraw, consciously or unconsciously, from social interactions. Sometimes it is just a phase that can help you recharge your social battery. If it is prolonged, however, it can be harmful to your health. People naturally need time for themselves, say, after partying or during stressful periods in their lives. It is perfectly normal to keep to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370310/how-much-alone-time-too-much-experts-differences-between-recharging-and-withdrawal https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370310/how-much-alone-time-too-much-experts-differences-between-recharging-and-withdrawal Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Does your knee crunch like a coffee grinder whenever you move it? It could be a sign of patellofemoral osteoarthritis, the breakdown of cartilage on the underside of the patella (kneecap) and groove of the femur (thighbone). “Degenerative changes behind the kneecap are the cause,” says Dr Sven Ostermeier, an orthopaedist based in Freiburg, Germany, adding that the condition should be treated as early as possible or, ideally, prevented in the first place. The kneecap does more than merely protect... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370127/knee-pain-and-crunching-causes-and-3-exercises-ease-osteoarthritis-kneecap https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370127/knee-pain-and-crunching-causes-and-3-exercises-ease-osteoarthritis-kneecap Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:15:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu As the weather cools in October, it is finally pleasant enough to venture out on weekends, so it is time to trade the indoor hustle for this season’s best offerings. This weekend’s line-up brings together meaningful community events, immersive storytelling and unique local flavours across the city. Here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. ‘What We Regret Most’ “What We Regret Most” is a community-driven, story-led exhibition that invites people to embrace the messy, awkward and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3370126/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-9-11 https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3370126/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-9-11 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur In the punishing world of Hong Kong endurance sports, few events command as much respect as the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC), a gruelling 298km (185-mile) test across the city’s major trail networks. While 51-year-old ultra-runner and coach Elliot Froidevaux has conquered the challenge twice, his journey from a 100kg (220lbs) heavy smoker to elite trail runner was no solo effort. Standing next to the Swiss-born, Hong Kong-raised Froidevaux is his older sister, Joanne Nixon, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369882/hong-kong-siblings-who-bond-over-fitness-reveal-why-endurance-runs-family https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369882/hong-kong-siblings-who-bond-over-fitness-reveal-why-endurance-runs-family Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 99th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. Will using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preserve a woman’s brain health and protect her from dementia or not? The debate continues. Various studies have looked at the effects of menopause and hormone treatment on the brain – and dementia risk. Some have suggested that HRT has no impact on brain health in older women, and that it has a neutral... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369547/can-hrt-help-prevent-dementia-new-research-suggests-it-might-depending-key-factors https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369547/can-hrt-help-prevent-dementia-new-research-suggests-it-might-depending-key-factors Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick In the third instalment of a four-part Health Matters series on traditional Chinese medicine, Aidyn Fitzpatrick speaks to a Hong Kong fencer studying TCM and local practitioners to see how athletes, both elite and amateur, are using TCM alongside Western medicine for smarter injury recovery. Fresh off helping Hong Kong clinch a bronze medal in the women’s foil team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, fencer Janelle Leung Ya-lei – ranked 53rd in the world – knows the fine margin between peak... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369447/tcm-or-western-medicine-sports-injuries-why-hong-kong-athlete-chose-both https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369447/tcm-or-western-medicine-sports-injuries-why-hong-kong-athlete-chose-both Sun, 04 Oct 2026 11:00:07 +0000 dpa dpa With proteinmaxxing and fibremaxxing trends both taking over, it can be difficult to understand which is more important. Should we focus on eating enough protein each day and hitting our targets, or should fibre be the priority for gut health and well-being? To answer these questions, we spoke to two dietitians, who shared their expert advice and explained how protein and fibre can complement each other. “Both are important,” says Dr Linia Patel, a UK-based women’s health dietitian, performance... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369511/fibre-or-protein-which-more-important-its-about-balance-experts-say https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369511/fibre-or-protein-which-more-important-its-about-balance-experts-say Sat, 03 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 dpa dpa Ever heard of lipoprotein(a)? Don’t worry if you have not. That is the name of a cardiovascular risk factor that many people are genuinely unaware of. Two experts explain why it makes sense to have this value measured with a blood test at least once, and what to do if the result turns out to be too high. What exactly is lipoprotein(a)? Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a component of the blood. “It is structured like ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol,” says Anja Vogt, a specialist in internal medicine and deputy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369498/how-high-your-risk-heart-disease-lipoproteina-blood-test-can-help-you-find-out https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369498/how-high-your-risk-heart-disease-lipoproteina-blood-test-can-help-you-find-out Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung The National Day “golden week” break is upon us, and with it comes the familiar dread: packed MTR carriages, huge crowds and a slow-moving tide of visitors. But as always, there are several ways to escape the hordes, whether that is trying experimental gelato, practising poolside yoga or checking out an exhibition of Hong Kong’s beloved neon lights. 1. Ciao! Gelato Fest 2026 The city’s first large-scale Italian gelato festival is back at PMQ for another edition, bringing together 20 brands from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3369409/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-2-4 https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3369409/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-2-4 Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Julius Brian Siswojo is as well known for co-founding Hong Kong’s pioneering hip-hop group 24Herbs as he is for championing skateboarding in the city. Having been “on the deck” – skateboarding, for the uninitiated – since 1988, the 52-year-old is acutely aware of the negative stereotypes associated with the culture: rebellious youths causing trouble in the streets late at night. But Siswojo, who says he does not drink, smoke or touch drugs, stays focused on a healthy lifestyle – not just for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369175/52-how-hong-kong-skateboarder-julius-brian-siswojo-redefining-ageing-and-longevity https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369175/52-how-hong-kong-skateboarder-julius-brian-siswojo-redefining-ageing-and-longevity Wed, 30 Sep 2026 03:01:26 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for a third of all deaths. The tragedy? It is largely preventable. On World Heart Day on September 29, which continues its “Don’t Miss a Beat” theme, three prominent cardiologists share their hopes and fears for the future of heart health, the technologies that excite them, the simple daily choices that could save your life, and essential habits they practise to safeguard their own. 1. An early diagnosis advocate Among the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369038/whats-future-heart-health-cardiologists-advances-life-saving-habits https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369038/whats-future-heart-health-cardiologists-advances-life-saving-habits Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan For millions across Asia, high blood pressure is more than just a clinical metric – it is baked directly into the region’s rich culinary spread. From soy sauce and fish sauce to dim sum broths and salted egg patties, high-sodium condiments and preserved ingredients are at the core of daily flavour. While public health groups have long urged people to cut back on salt, fresh research suggests we have been missing half the equation: balancing sodium by significantly increasing dietary potassium at... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368746/how-potassium-can-lower-your-blood-pressure-without-cutting-back-salt-or-flavour https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368746/how-potassium-can-lower-your-blood-pressure-without-cutting-back-salt-or-flavour Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick In the second instalment of a four-part Health Matters series on traditional Chinese medicine, Aidyn Fitzpatrick investigates the drug-interaction risks of combining Chinese remedies with Western medicine, and how Hongkongers can protect themselves from avoidable complications. An elderly woman with a mechanical heart valve was taking warfarin, a blood thinner to prevent and treat blood clots, when she began using the Chinese herb danshen, often marketed for “blood circulation”. Her blood lost... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368656/hidden-risks-using-traditional-chinese-medicine-western-prescriptions https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368656/hidden-risks-using-traditional-chinese-medicine-western-prescriptions Sun, 27 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter Halfway up a long hill in the Kenyan wilderness, a photographer pointed towards the bush. Just 20 metres (66 feet) away, a hyena was running through the undergrowth, chasing its prey. It was exhilarating – and a little terrifying. I was taking part in Beyond the Ultimate’s For Rangers Ultra, a five-day, 230km (143-mile) race through five Kenyan wildlife conservancies, where encounters like this were all part of the unique experience. Armed rangers were stationed around 300 metres apart along the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368581/what-i-learned-230km-ultra-marathon-race-kenya-over-5-exhausting-days https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368581/what-i-learned-230km-ultra-marathon-race-kenya-over-5-exhausting-days Fri, 25 Sep 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers, is a form of expression that dates back more than 500 years. It continues to blossom quietly – not only with traditionalists, but also with newcomers who find its blend of creativity and mindfulness to be restorative. Ikebana can be a bit like solving a puzzle, except there is no fixed answer. Because each flower and human individual is different, there are multiple solutions. “There’s a ‘detox’ purifying factor and a healing,” says Hiroyuki Okada,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368755/how-relax-and-detox-through-ikebana-ancient-japanese-art-flower-arranging https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368755/how-relax-and-detox-through-ikebana-ancient-japanese-art-flower-arranging Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:15:06 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. All about Hong Kong’s herbal teas and how Gen Z is reviving the health tradition Long before modern chain pharmacies and over-the-counter painkillers were readily available in Hong Kong, there were leung cha: intensely bitter herbal “cooling teas” brewed in massive brass cauldrons in traditional open-front shops. 2. How... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368592/hong-kongs-gen-z-revives-herbal-teas-experts-couple-intimacy-7-lifestyle-highlights https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368592/hong-kongs-gen-z-revives-herbal-teas-experts-couple-intimacy-7-lifestyle-highlights Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:15:06 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu When Kevin Cureau first spoke to his oncologist about the mass behind his knee, he was not stressed out. “It was more, ‘Oh, this is just something I have to get through.’ I wasn’t scared or anything,” says Cureau, 37, a French-Chinese cancer survivor born and living in Hong Kong who was diagnosed with stage-three liposarcoma in late 2025. Cureau took the news so calmly that even his doctor was a little surprised. But he admits that, at the time, he did not fully understand what liposarcoma was.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368369/i-wasnt-scared-young-hong-kong-rare-cancer-survivor-who-stayed-positive https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368369/i-wasnt-scared-young-hong-kong-rare-cancer-survivor-who-stayed-positive Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 98th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. Dementia news is almost relentlessly grim – a steady drumbeat of rising cases and elusive cures. More bad news came in 2025, when semaglutide, the blockbuster GLP-1 drug celebrated for treating diabetes, obesity and various other conditions, failed to slow Alzheimer’s progression. The setback prompted semaglutide’s developer, Novo Nordisk, to pull the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000