So how are you sleeping these days? Having trouble shutting down all the nervous thoughts running around your head at night? Reschedule that pediatrician appointment, kid needs new soccer cleats again, why won't the baby's cold go away, where did our dog go, why is the electric bill so high this month ...

Or is that just me?

The folks at Dream Water had the notion that the moms at The Stir might need a little help getting to sleep, so they sent some samples for us to try.

I can't say I was particularly surprised to hear the latest research on over-the-counter insect bite ointments and creams: Most of them don't work. I wasn't surprised because as someone who's super-allergic to mosquito bites, I've tried pretty much every anti-itch/pain/swelling product out there -- and the amount of "relief" they offer is, well, not much of a relief.

I know this is dismal news for my fellow mosquito magnets, but don't despair!

Because I have, over the years, discovered a few remedies that really do help soothe the sting.

But you probably won't find any of them at the pharmacy ...

You gotta give science props when it comes to breast cancer. They're all over looking for treatments that might prevent or actually kill cancer cells. And thankfully, they're not just sticking to the book on this one. Researchers all over the world are looking into some seriously quirky cures. For instance ... baking soda and spider venom. Yes, really!

At the University of Arizona, scientists have won a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to check out baking soda as a possible way to reduce the size of tumors. Skeptical? Well, they actually showed it to be effective ... in mice, at least.

Even when a woman has successfully battled breast cancer, there's a 50/50 chance she'll have another challenge to face: A bad case of the blues. Previous research has shown that as many as half of breast cancer survivors fight depression, so it's about time we found a solution for these ladies! Finally, it's here ... and although it could be a complement to other treatment options like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, it doesn't come in the form of a prescription. (I know, can you believe it? Ha.)

University of Missouri researchers say Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which is basically a long, fancy name for a meditation technique, improved breast cancer survivors' emotional and physical well-being. Awesome!

Judging from how packed my gym is at all hours of the day these past couple of weeks, it's obvious that New Year's resolutions are still in full effect. And any health food store you walk into is pushing supplements and detoxes galore, hoping people looking to turn over a new leaf in the New Year are also interested in "cleansing" after a year season full of gluttony. Even Gwyneth Paltrow's jumped on the cleansing train with her new "GOOP in a box" kit that'll run ya a hefty $425.

It's these kinds of cleanses that you'll shell out big money for and that come in a box that are triggering a negative backlash from experts (usually those who make a habit of dissing alternative medicine) who say cleansing is a waste of time and money. But they're failing to tell the whole story.

After going through the trauma of breast cancer itself and having a mastectomy, women's options for breast reconstruction often don't feel like options at all. And far too many breast cancer survivors have become victims of botched reconstructions that doctors try to pass off as "amazing." That's why Suzanne Somers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, felt compelled to pass on the options offered to her and most women -- implants (plural, meaning they would have to also remove her healthy breast) or a TRAM flap, a procedure that uses muscle, fat, and skin from the abdomen to create a new breast. Now, in the latest installment of her CafeMom Studios series, Suzanne Somers Breaking Through, the actress, author, and activist tells the story of her brave exploration of another route: stem cell breast reconstruction.

It's a controversial procedure that hasn't been given the green light in the U.S. yet -- for various reasons.

Happy winter solstice, fellow Earthlings! Today is the shortest day of the year. The days have been getting so short lately, 5 p.m. was starting to feel like the middle of the night. But that all changes after today. The light is coming back: Starting tomorrow, the days will start growing longer.

Did you know that winter solstice can also be good for your health? For most of us, New Year's is a chance to take stock of our lives and set new goals. But for me, winter solstice seems more fitting. It's a chance to slow down in the middle of the holiday madness. And I like getting in sync with the seasons. Find out how celebrating winter solstice can help you get 2012 off to a fresh, hopeful start.

Remember the Blair Witch Project? Well, star and filmmaker Heather Donahue is back with a slightly less scary stunt: A memoir about her year growing marijuana titled Grow Girl. Apparently the acting thing didn't work out -- plus that darn PMS kept turning her into a witch month after month. And that's how Heather hooked up with her medical marijuana license to treat her PMS and embarked on the grassy adventure of a lifetime.

Smoke Pot for PMS?!? At first glance that sounds like an EXCELLENT solution. Yes, we should definitely look into that. Sign me up for that medical study! But when I really think it through (while sober), I have to admit that maybe it's not for me.