Staying well, preventing the common cold, treating ailments or keeping calm - how much of what our great grandparents told us was true? Tonight, science specialist Ed Yeates begins with a potpourri of Medical Myths - from where else, but the old apothecary.

A lot of today's therapies for treating illness came from these early pioneer apothecaries. But we're still serving up bowlfulls of nonsense as well, a menu for what we call Medical Myths.

"Put your coat and boots on before you go out in cold, wet weather, or you'll catch cold!" There's a play on words here, but that's about all. It's a medical myth.

((PAUL WIRKUS MD., KSL MYTH CONSULTANT: IS THERE SOME EFFECT ON LOWERING YOUR RESISTANCE. I SUPPOSE POSSIBLY SO, BUT IT HAS BEEN SHOWN OVER AND OVER IF YOU DON'T GET CONTACT WITH A VIRUS, YOU DON'T GET A COLD."))

Again, regardless of how wet or cold we get--No contact with a virus, NO cold.

How about this one! Quian Yang here has an ulcer. And recent publications still claim scientists know how she got it. Quote: "peptic ulcer is a disease of civilization, closely linked to the close tempo of modern life and the hurry of everyday existence." Stress caused Quian's ulcers because she's a highly competitive Type-A personality. Right?

Wrong! While stress might aggravate symptoms, this bug called (Heliko bacter perloree) which was discovered in 1983 - causes ulcers.

((KEITH TOLMAN M.D., U OF U GASTROENTEROLOGY: "THIS ORGANISM, A BACTERIUM, IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 70 AND 90 PERCENT OF ALL ULCER DISEASE. AND THE WAY TO CURE ULCER DISEASE IS TO ERRADICATE THE ORGANISM.")) CADUCEUS BREAKS

So curing ulcers involves not so much less stess, but a special antibiotic.

Here's another! With holidays coming up, stay away from chocolate and candy. It causes acne, especially in teenagers. Isn't that right doctor?

((PAM NEMZER M.D., U OF U DERMATOLOGY: "THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT CHOCOLATE OR ANY OTHER FOOD PLAYS A ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACNE IN TEENAGERS OR ADULTS."))

So go ahead, endulge the chocolate. Acne is all hormonal.

Wearing a copper bracelet will dilute the pain and perhaps even cure arthritis? This one's been around a long time! In fact, the copper bracelet was the subject of a University of Utah thesis. The conclusion. While it won't do any harm, it's a myth!

((JAMES WILLIAMS M.D., U OF U RHEUMATOLOGY: "YOU CAN GET THEM FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. AND I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO DO THAT. A FIVE DOLLAR ONE WILL MAKE YOUR ARM JUST AS GREEN."))

Here's another one: Tie a bandana around your head to cure a headache. Doctors say the bandanna might make you eligible for a gang, but it won't do much for your headache!