Quack remedies from history revealed: Sniffing hair to diagnose patients, eating 11 lemons a day to live to 120 and going naked because clothes trap poisonous farts

If you went to the doctor and they sniffed your hair to diagnose you, you might think they'd gone mad.

But this was a genuine technique used by a German doctor in the 1800s, and one of many peculiar quack remedies from physicians through history.

A book has revealed wacky medical tales which include eating only lemons in order to live forever, and rubbing your eyes while imagining buttercups to cure blindness.

Other mind-boggling ideas which seem ridiculous now include the suggestion of living naked because clothes trap poisonous farts, or a coconut-only diet.

To their credit, however, the same doctors did come up with genuine medical revelations like the use of pins to fix broken bones.

Quacks! Dodgy Doctors and Foolish Fads Throughout History was written by Cheshire historian Steven Tucker, who said people have always been 'willing to try anything'.

 

Dr Gustav Jaeger, a German doctor in the 19th Century, (pictured) believed he could diagnose women's illnesses by sniffing their hair and channeling their soul

 

Dr G.H. Earp-Thomas, from New Zealand, thought people should live naked because their clothes trap 'poisons' like sweat and farts, which could go back in through the pores and kill us instead of being released into the air

Dr Gustav Jaeger assembled a huge collection of female hairnets which he obsessively analysed and catalogued, the book reveals.

He believed that by inhaling the smell he was also inhaling part of their soul, allowing him to temporarily adopt parts of their personality.

He once dipped an 18-year-old girl's hairnet into some water, allowing its essences to seep out, placed a few drops of 'soul-infused liquid' from the glass into a mug of beer and took a sip.

Immediately, his voice became 'clearer and purer' and his vocal range increased, he claimed.

One of Dr Jaeger's followers, Professor Arnold Ehret believed human hair was an electromagnetic receiving and transmitting device, which broadcast ‘love vibrations’ into the air to be picked up on by others.

He argued that the bushier someone’s hair was, the more sexually potent they were.

 

The Breatharianism movement, founded by American quack Wiley Brooks, said people could live off only air in order to be as healthy as possible

In 1879, Professor Wilheim Schmoele, of the University of Bonn, also in Germany, published a book claiming lemons had the power to make a person live forever.

He calculated that for a man to live to be 120, he needed to eat 4,015 lemons per year – a staggering 11 per day.

American quack Wiley Brooks said people should live off thin air itself, something he called Breatharianism.

However, his reputation was left in tatters when he was caught eating at McDonalds.

New Zealand-born early 20th century biochemist Dr G.H. Earp-Thomas said humans should live naked like animals in the wild.

His reasoning was clothing trapped 'poisons' such as farts and sweat causing it to go back into our pores and killing us rather than being released into the fresh air.

The author, Mr Tucker said: 'Some of these people were very successful and had a lot of followers. 

'Horace Fletcher had one simple idea that you had to chew your food properly, but he thought this could cure anything, even reform murderers.

'But he sold diet books that became best-sellers and he became a millionaire.

'William Arbuthnot Lane thought every disease was caused by constipation and waiting too long to go to the toilet, but he also invented various surgical instruments, which are still in use today, and got a knighthood.

'He was one of the first surgeons to come up with the idea of putting pins in fractures to fix bones, which people said was insane at the time.

 

Wiley Brooks, who founded the Breatharian movement claiming he only needed air to be healthy and not food, was rumbled when he was caught eating McDonald's

 

An advert claimed to have been used in the 1920s even said tapeworm eggs could be swallowed so the parasites would hatch in your stomach and help you lose weight

 

Professor Arnold Ehret believed human hair was an electromagnetic receiving and transmitting device, and he argued the bushier someone’s hair was the more sexually potent they were

 

August Engelhardt, a German man from the 20th Century, started a cult on a desert island based on the philosophy of only eating coconuts

'There will be medical fads at the moment that seem fine now but will probably be looked back on as crazy. 

'There has always been desperate people who are sick and looking for answers and they are willing to try anything no matter how ridiculous.'

Another of his tales tells of 1920s English optician, W.H. Bates, who claimed rubbing your eyes for hours while thinking of buttercups could cure blindness.  

Aldous Huxley, who wrote the classic novel Brave New World, got caught up in this cult and even penned a book, The Art of Seeing (1942), which summarised Bates' findings and introduced Huxley's own eye-exercise.

Early 20th century health reformer August Engelhardt, from Germany, preached a coconut-only diet.

And some experts suggested a painless childbirth was possible if the woman in labour tightly clutched a comb.

It was not just doctors who were at it, as Romanticist poet Lord Byron came up with his own unique, ill-advised diet to stay slim.

 

Lord Byron, a British poet born in the 1700s, abandoned meat and only ate 'hard biscuits' or 'bruised potatoes drenched with vinegar' and red wine, in order to stay slim

 

Some medics believed women could avoid pain in childbirth if they just squeezed a comb in their hand while going through labour 

He abandoned meat and requested he was only given 'hard biscuits' or 'bruised potatoes drenched with vinegar' to help suppress his appetite.

Byron began eating just a single meal a day, although he did consume several bottles of claret in compensation.

Mr Tucker added some remedies once thought to be helpful later turned out to be seriously harmful, and suggests the same thing could continue to happen.

'In the early 1900s after radium was discovered, before people knew it could cause cancer, it was marketed as a wonder drug,' he added.

 

Mr Tucker said people used to drink water infused with the radioactive element radium because they thought it would be good for them – but it later turned out it would cause cancer

 

Quacks! Dodgy Doctors and Foolish Fads Throughout History by S.D Tucker is published by Amberley and costs £14.99

'People would drink radium-infused water or use suppositories. It was considered plausible at the time that it was good for health.

'So you have to wonder what treatments these days might turn out to be killers.'

Quacks! Dodgy Doctors and Foolish Fads Throughout History by S.D Tucker is published by Amberley and costs £14.99.

Scientists reveal they are on the verge of creating a pill that allows you to eat as much food as you want - without gaining weight

It may sound too good to be true.

But scientists believe they could be on the verge of creating a pill that allows you to eat as much as you want – without gaining weight.

Mice bred to be void of a single gene, called RCAN1, kept off the bulge while gorging on a high fat diet, tests showed.

 

 

Stunning pictures released by the Flinders University researchers show the difference between the two sets of mice used in the study (left, the mice that didn't have the RCAN1 gene and right, the mice that did have it)

Stunning pictures released by the Flinders University researchers show the difference between the two sets of mice used in the study. 

Humans also have the gene and the researchers are hopeful the same innovative approach could work for overweight adults.

Professor Damien Keating, who led the study, described the results as 'exciting', as the world is currently being gripped by an obesity epidemic.

He said: 'We know a lot of people struggle to lose weight or even control their weight for a number of different reasons.

'The findings in this study could mean developing a pill which would target the function of RCAN1 and may result in weight loss.'

Professor Keating, who is the head of molecular and cellular physiology at the university, added: 'We really want to pursue this, it's exciting.'

He revealed the university has received funding from the Australian government to seek out ways of combating obesity.

Professor Keating added that the results show 'we can potentially make a real difference in the fight again obesity'.

Researchers fed the mice missing the RCAN1 gene various different diets, including the high fat one thought to cause weight gain.

The rodents followed the diet for as little as eight weeks and up to six months. Each time period produced similar results.

Blocking RCAN1 helps transform unhealthy white fat into the healthier brown version, according to the team of researchers.

There are two types of fat in the human body - brown fat burns energy, while white fat stores energy.

Obesity is known to raise the risk of at least a dozen types of cancer, and can also lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Cutting back on calories and exercising can aid weight loss but pharmaceutical firms are on the hunt for a pill that could combat weight loss.

Appetite-reducing drugs have been trialled in recent years, and one was even labelled the 'holy grail' of weight management this summer.

But a pill that knocks out RCAN1 would allow people to burn more calories while they are resting – and not affect their appetite.

Professor Keating said: 'It means the body would store less fat without the need for a person to reduce food consumption or exercise more.'

The findings were presented in the scientific journal European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Reports.

Damning figures earlier this year revealed obesity rates have hit a record high in the US, with nearly 40 per cent of adults being classed as obese.

Separate research has also named Britain as being the third fattest nation in Europe, with 27.8 per cent having a BMI of more than 30.

And other medical reviews have warned almost a quarter of the world's population will be obese in less than 30 years.

The crisis has also impacted the waistlines of children, with figures suggesting around one in five youngsters are obese in the UK and US. 

What is the global obesity crisis? 

 Almost a quarter of the world's population will be obese in less than 30 years, according to research published in May 2018. 

Obesity rates have hit a record high in the US, with nearly 40 per cent of adults being classed as obese.

Separate research has also named Britain as being the third fattest nation in Europe, with 27.8 per cent having a BMI of more than 30.

If obesity trends continue, 22 per cent of people around the world will be severely overweight by 2045, up from 14 per cent last year, a study by the Denmark-based pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk found.

One in eight people, rather than today's one in 11, are also expected to develop type 2 diabetes, the research adds.

Lead author Dr Alan Moses said: 'These numbers underline the staggering challenge the world will face in the future in terms of numbers of people who are obese, or have type 2 diabetes, or both.

'As well as the medical challenges these people will face, the costs to countries' health systems will be enormous.'

People with type 2 diabetes have an average life expectancy of just 55 due to them being at a much higher risk of heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease.

Tam Fry, a health campaigner from the National Obesity Forum said the findings were 'desperately sad'. 

Why Is My Mental Health Worse At Christmas? 24-7 Festive Cheer Can Take Its Toll

Oh, Christmas — the time of year for festive cheer, smiles, and big, extravagant events. While the presents, family parties, and Christmas lights are all good fun I find it so hard to ignore the fact that this time of year can be really tough. In the run up to Christmas, in the rare quiet moments I find myself wondering why is my mental health worse at Christmas? There isn’t any other time of the year that I put so much pressure on myself to spend money I probably can't really spare on gifts I'm desperate for family and friends to love. Many people continue to work full time up until the big day itself yet also have to manage to fit in Christmas lunches, work nights out, and all of the Christmas shopping. Heaven forbid you be the kill joy that rejects an invitation out even if it is the fourth festive event in your calendar this week.

This time of year comes loaded with a hell of a lot of expectation and whilst you can try and ignore it, opting to have your own, stress-free style of Christmas it still manages to creep in. There is so much emphasis on all of the great things about Christmas that it is easy to lose track of when your mental health is really starting to suffer. I’m not a scrooge, believe me I love a Christmas market as much as the next overexcited, mulled wine enthusiast. But it is too difficult to ignore the fact that a time of year that is supposed to make us really happy, can also leave my mental health shot.

1Money 

This time of year is expensive. No matter how many secret Santa's you enter, how strictly you stick to Black Friday shopping, and how much your relatives insist “it’s the thought that counts” you still feel like you’re left a little out of pocket by Jan. 1. Mental health charity, Mind conducted a study into why people struggle with Christmas. Of the 1,100 people surveyed, 81 percent said they found the time of year stressful and 41 percent attributed their negative feelings with worries that they would get into debt.

2A Jam-Packed Schedule 

It feels silly to say that my mental health suffers because I am invited to different Christmas occasions, but I feel ashamed to admit that I need some down time which can lead me to spiral. I definitely recharge alone rather than in big groups. During the rest of the year it can be easier to maintain your boundaries — knowing when to go out and when to stay in, run a bubble bath, and listen to Stephen Fry read the Harry Potter audiobook. This seems to go out of the window at Christmas with full-time work and a jam-packed schedule taking precedence over self-care. The Mental Health Foundation offers the super simple tip of “balancing your sense of social obligation with your need for self-care.” This is so much easier said than done but if you can keep your FOMO in check and recognise the value of a quiet evening purely for yourself you may come out feeling all the better for it.

3Social Media & Expectations 

Instagram comes into its own at Christmas. Shots of beautifully, colour co-ordinated Christmas trees, perfect looking couples snuggled up in matching jumpers by the fire, and food upon food fill up my feed throughout December. It's difficult not to get caught up in how much fun other people are having or how perfect they have managed to craft their Christmas. Even if you know deep down that Instagram puts a rose-tinted filter on real life, it's still easy to get lost in it. You end up miserably swiping under a blanket wondering what the point is. In a statement, head of information at Mind, Stephen Buckley said, “If you find Christmas a particularly difficult time to manage your mental health try to take time out to do something you enjoy, whether it's reading a book, painting, crafting, phoning a friend, relaxing or doing physical exercise.”

4The Focus On Food & Drink 

For anyone with a complicated relationship with food or alcohol, Christmas can be particularly difficult. The season is essentially focused on how many mince pies you can eat and pub sessions can you fit in before Dec. 25. A spokesperson for eating disorder charity B-Eat told the Independent, “Christmas and New Year can be an incredibly difficult time for someone struggling with their eating disorder. It is a time where food is central to any social calendar which can cause increased anxiety, pressure and feelings of guilt that they can’t ‘join in’ like they hoped.”

5Winter Weather 

The last thing that can leave me feeling incredibly down is the weather between November and March. The fact that it is dark by 4 p.m. means that many of us go into work in the morning and leave work in the evening in complete darkness. It is difficult to motivate yourself to do anything when it feels like night time is upon you by tea time. This means that exercise schedules often take a bit of a hit and whilst it is difficult to make it out the front door to go for a run in the pitch black (believe me, I know) you will always feel a little bit better for it. The NHS website describes Seasonal Affective Disorder as "winter depression" and states the symptoms can be a persistent low mood, feeling lethargic or sleeping longer than normal, and a loss of pleasure in everyday activities.

It seems that maintaining as much of a normal schedule with time for self-care could be the key to managing metal health over Christmas as best you can. While some things are out of your control Anxiety UK offers helpful tips including making time for yourself, moving at your own pace, knowing where you can get support from, and keeping active. While it's so important to have fun and celebrate this time of year, good mental health is key. I know I am going to try and stop beating myself up this year for not feeling 100 percent all of the time.

Drinking orange juice could slash your risk of dementia by 50 per cent as it protects the brain, study finds

Drinking a glass of orange juice every day could significantly lower your risk of getting dementia, a study suggests.

Researchers tracked almost 28,000 men for two decades to examine how their fruit and vegetable consumption affected their brain power.

They found men who drank a small glass of orange juice were 47 per cent less likely to have difficulty remembering, following instructions or navigating familiar areas.

Lapses in memory, understanding and episodes of confusion can be early signs of brain decline which can ultimately lead to life-threatening dementia. 

An estimated 46.8million people are living with dementia worldwide – 850,000 within in the UK, and five million in the US. 

There is no cure for the condition but scientists have been trying to find a cure for the memory-robbing disorder for years. 

This new evidence reiterates the importance of a healthy diet in staving off the degeneration of the brain which comes with old age.

'Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and nutrients, including antioxidants, that can help protect the brain,' said Dr Hannah Gardener, a researcher at the University of Miami, who wasn't involved with the research.

These health-giving benefits can protect the brain from a build-up of unwanted molecules and maintain a healthy blood supply to the brain. 

Lead study author Changzheng Yuan said long-term intake of veg, fruit and orange juice 'may be beneficial' for maintaining cognitive function.

Participants in the Harvard University study answered questionnaires about what they ate every four years.

The researchers sorted the men - aged 51 on average at the start of the study - into five groups based on their intake of fruit and veg. 

The group with the highest consumption ate about six servings of vegetables a day, compared to two servings for the group with the lowest consumption. 

A serving of vegetables is considered one cup of raw vegetables or two cups of leafy greens. 

For fruits, the top group ate about three servings per day, compared to half a serving in the bottom group. 

A serving of fruit is considered one cup of fruit or a half-cup of fruit juice. 

To measure how this affected brain health, the researchers took tests of thinking and memory skills when the men were 73 years old, on average. 

The tests asked things such as whether the men could remember recent events or items on shopping lists.  

Overall, 6.6 percent of men who ate the most veg developed poor cognitive function and performed badly on the tests, compared with 7.9 percent of men who ate the least.

Fruit consumption, overall, didn't appear to influence the risk of moderate cognitive problems. 

But drinking orange juice did, according to the research, published in the journal Neurology. 

Just 6.9 of people who drank orange juice every day went on to develop poor cognitive function.

In comparison, the figure was 8.4 per cent of men who drank orange juice less than once a month.

'The protective role of regular consumption of fruit juice was mainly observed among the oldest men,' Ms Yuan said.

'Since fruit juice is usually high in calories from concentrated fruit sugars, it's generally best to consume no more than a small glass (four to six ounces) per day.'

The study didn't intend to find the link between a healthy diet and memory, however. 

Therefore it lacked data on participants memory skills at the beginning of the study, which would have shown how their diet might have influenced this over time.  

Dr Hannah Gardener added: 'Fruit and vegetable consumption may be a piece of the puzzle to maintaining cognitive health and should be viewed in conjunction with other behaviors believed to support cognitive health.'  

Why you should never dry clothes on a radiator or light scented candles in your home: Expert reveals how pollution INSIDE your home can cause asthma attacks and damage your lungs

It's the time of year to get cosy indoors with an open fire and candles.  

While both may sound appealing, the pollutants they produce when burning pose risks to our airways - sometimes life-threatening.

The same goes for drying clothes over a radiator, as studies show moisture in the air creates more mould, which can have damaging effects.

Children are the most at risk, according to first aid expert Emma Hammett, who reveals that dust mites in the home are a leading trigger for asthmatics.  

Drying clothes on radiators

Medical experts have issued a health warning about the dangers of regularly drying your clothes indoors on a radiator. 

One study in Scotland revealed 30 per cent of indoor moisture came from drying clothes indoors. 

The problem comes when damp air allows mould to thrive and creates conditions for a fungal condition called Aspergillosis.  

Normally this mould isn't harmful. 

However, those with asthma are more at risk. It's estimated that around 1 in every 40 people with asthma may be affected by allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), typically causing wheezing, shortness of breath, a cough with mucus and sometimes blood.

Aspergillosis can become potentially life-threatening for those with the weakest immune systems, such as those who have had cancer or a organ transplant, or those with a lung condition such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  

It can cause coughing, breathlessness, tiredness and weight loss or coughing up blood. If left untreated, the mould can spread in the blood to places such as the kidneys or brain. 

According to Asthma UK, 42 per cent of people with asthma report mould and fungi as known triggers of their asthma.

The best practice is to dry clothes outdoors if possible, otherwise in a well-ventilated utility room. Although expensive, a tumble dryer is the healthier option. 

If it is unavoidable to dry clothes indoors, then make sure a window is open to keep the area well ventilated. Less humidity results in less mould spores. 

You can also buy heated drying rails with a cover that turns them into an airing cupboard.

Good to know: Mould spores are at their highest in autumn and winter. If your house is damp, be aware that there will be an increase in indoor spores when the central heating is turned on.

Scented candles and incense

Nothing says Christmas more than the smell of a spicy scented candle.

However, be aware that candles and incense let off particles such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - compounds that easily become vapours or gases.

VOCs are released from burning fuel such as gasoline, wood, coal, or natural gas as well as from many consumer products such as cigarettes, scented candles and solvents. 

Carpets, vinyl flooring, cleaning products, cosmetics, hairsprays, paint, heating and cooking fuel all cloud household air with VOCs. 

VOCs are blamed by numerous studies for triggering asthma in children and worsening it in adults, and raising the risk of heart disease. 

Breathing in the irritant can inflame the eyes, nose and throat, cause difficulty breathing, nausea, and damage the central nervous system.

Candles also let off formaldehyde when they burn, a pollutant which is known to be harmful to health over the long term. 

Formaldehyde was first classified as a probable human carcinogen in 1987 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Since then, some studies of humans have suggested that formaldehyde exposure is associated with certain types of cancer, leading to it being named as a known carcinogen in 2011, by the National Toxicology Program.

One study at York University discovered a commonly used ingredient in citric-scented scented candles called limonene reacts with the air creating formaldehyde. 

The study revealed concentrations of limonene in scented candles were up to 100 times higher than previously thought.

The study warned fragrance chemicals could completely dominate the inside of our homes, meaning more exposure to formaldehyde.

The study concluded with the recommendation of opening doors or windows after burning a scented candle or spraying air freshener.

On top of this, incense sticks give off 100 times the amount of fine particles as a scented candle. 

The British Lung Foundation advises you don't light several scented candles or incense sticks in a confined space such as a bathroom. However occasional use is okay.

Good to know: Houseplants such as geraniums, lavender and types of fern would found to remove formaldehyde from the atmosphere.

Burning wood and coal

Nothing conveys cosy better than a blazing fire. However having an open fire or stove that burns wood or coal releases particulate matter that can give you breathing problems, or cause your existing symptoms to worsen by inflaming your airways.

Around 10 per cent of UK homes have an open fire or wood-burning stove, and open fires produce greater emissions than stoves.  

In urban areas, wood burning is thought to increase particulate matter to levels comparable to those from traffic pollution.  

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, wood smoke contains at least five cancer-causing chemicals. 

They issued a report in June that warned smoke from trendy outdoor fire pits and BBQs can cause heart disease, lung disorders and cancer.

Studies show our homes can be affected by smoke from a neighbour's wood fire, too.

Burning wood and coal can release carbon monoxide and lead to poisoning – ensure you have a working alarm that is regularly serviced. Get flues and chimneys cleared annually and know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

The Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, is currently in plans to restrict sales of wet wood and phase out coal for domestic burning in a crackdown on air pollution.   

Good to know: 

Dust mites 

According to Asthma UK's annual survey, 64 per cent report their asthma being triggered by dust mites. Thanks to central heating, dust mites can multiply in winter.

These tiny mites live in the cushions and throws we may use more in winter, as well as pillows, mattresses, and bedroom carpets.

Dust mites feed on dead skin and live in the dust that accumulates in our houses. Keeping your home well ventilated can reduce humidity which allows dust mites to thrive.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that regular cleaning, investing in air filters and washing clothes and bedding at 60 degrees can reduce dust mites. 

However Asthma UK reports no consistent evidence that this is the case and suggests taking regular preventer medicine to manage asthma symptoms.

If you do this your airways will be less inflamed, and less likely to react to any of your asthma triggers, including dust mites.

You must ensure you have your reliever inhaler with you at all times. 

One study found children using dust mite proof covers on their bedding – e.g. mattress, duvet and pillowcase – resulted in the children being less likely to be hospitalised due to an asthma attack. However, Asthma UK wanted more research to confirm this was the case.

10 Types of Common Live Christmas Trees and Their Advantages

Fa la la la! It’s the most wonderful time of the year–and our favorite part of the season! We get to head out with our family and wander amongst all the beautiful types of trees, looking for just the right one.

As you’re searching, do the fresh test! Run your fingers along the needles, grab the branches and bounce the tree a little. If many needles fall off, the tree was cut long ago and has not gotten enough water, so find another!

Also, the hunt for the perfect tree will go much smoother if you already know the type of tree you want. Without further ado, here are the pros and cons of the top 10 most common live Christmas tree types.

What are the advantages and drawbacks of the most common Christmas tree types?

1. Balsam Fir Christmas Trees

• Pros: Classic, strong Christmas tree scent that lasts; doesn’t lose its dark-green needles; perfect, symmetrical pyramid shape
• Cons: Not great for heavy ornaments because of its flexible branches

2. Douglas Fir Christmas Trees

• Pros: Super easy to find; beautiful light or blue-green needles that are soft to the touch and sweetly scented; very affordable; rarely drops needles (unless it runs out of water)
• Cons: Can’t hold heavy ornaments well; a shorter, more compact tree

3.  Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

• Pros: Very fragrant all season; great at holding onto its dark-green needles; can hold heavy ornaments thanks to its sturdy limbs
• Cons: Looks dense and compact

4. Noble Fir Christmas Trees

• Pros: Lasts all season; great at holding heavy ornaments; classic looking and smelling tree
• Cons: Shorter limbs and needles

5. White or Concolor Fir Christmas Trees

• Pros: Blue-green, citrus-scented needles that smell all season; soft-to-the-touch needles that don’t fall off
• Cons: Can be more expensive because it takes a long time to grow

6. Blue Spruce Christmas Trees

• Pros: Beautiful silvery-blue needles; incredibly symmetrical tree shape; holds onto its needles; great at holding lots of heavy ornaments; doesn’t drop many needles (unless the room is too warm)
• Cons: Sharp needles; not much fragrance, unless the needles are broken then they’ll smell unpleasant; smaller in size

7. Norway Spruce Christmas Trees

• Pros: Gorgeous forest-green needles; mild, pleasing scent; cone-shaped tree
• Cons: Loses sharp needles easily

8. White or Black Hills Spruce Christmas Trees

• Pros: Gray-green needles that hold much better than other spruces; holds heavy ornaments
• Cons: Still drops some needles; needles smell bad, like a skunk or cat pee, when crushed

9. Scots or Scotch Pine Christmas Trees

• Pros: One of the most popular Christmas trees; holds needles well; long-lasting pine scent
• Cons: Lack-luster color; crooked trunks are common

10. White Pine Christmas Trees

• Pros: Blue-green needles that are soft to the touch; doesn’t drop many needles; affordable; good tree for those with sensitive noses or allergic reactions to strong pine scents; very tall, making it great for rooms with high ceilings
• Cons: Slight (almost no) scent; can’t hold heavy ornaments; can wilt if lacking water