Doctor's Order: Aug. 8, 2005

NO CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD The millions of people who buy echinacea to prevent or relieve cold symptoms may be wasting their money, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. In a test of 500 subjects, those taking the herb fared no better than those taking a placebo.

76% of doctors in the U.S. believe in God (83% of all Americans do). But compared with the general public, M.D.s are:

26 times as likely to be Hindu

6 times as likely to be Buddhist

5 times as likely to be Muslim

Source: Journal of General Internal Medicine

NEW HOPE FOR INSOMNIACS The sleepless will soon have a new weapon to use in their nightly battle against insomnia. The drug, available next month under the brand name Rozerem, is related to the hormone melatonin, and will be the first FDA-approved prescription sleep aid not listed as a controlled substance.

SCHOOLKIDS AND PESTICIDES Farmers and building managers rely on pesticides to keep bugs at bay, but they should probably be more careful about spraying in or near schools. There were 2,593 cases of acute pesticide-related illnesses among U.S. schoolkids and school personnel from 1998 to 2002, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported last week. The rates are still low--7.4 cases per 1 million kids--but they are on the rise.