Health Zone: Medical Notes.

IT'S hay- fever timeagain, bringing the misery of sneezing, wheezing and runny noses to one in five people. Most sufferers are dependent on antihistamine pills, eye drops and nose sprays.

But a new plant-based supplement could supply a sneeze- free summer. Moducare is made of plant extracts known as sterols and sterolins - plant fats - which are said to be nature's own antihistamine.

Studies show it stops the production of antibodies that lead to the release of histamines.

Manufacturers Nature's Stores are looking for 50 volunteers to take part in a two-month trial.

Send your name and add- ress to Moducare/Mirrortrial, The Marketing Dept, Nature's Stores, Unit 2, Jamage Industrial Estate, Talke, Stoke-on- Trent, Staffs ST7 1XN.

SCOPE, the charity for people with cerebral palsy, needs secondhand books.

The tomes will sellin its 300 shops to support its Turn Over A New Leaf appeal.

Cash raised will help fund the free confidential Cerebral Palsy Helpline, which takes more than 21,000 calls each year. For details of your nearest Scope shop, call the Turn Over a New Leaf hotline on 020 8680 4000; helpline 0808 800 3333.

DESPITE the success of the Back to Sleep campaign, eight babies still die from cot death every week in the UK. During its awareness week, which began on Monday, the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths is asking people to take part in The Big Push - a sponsored walk with a difference. Everyone must push something from a pram to a wheelbarrow and money raised goes to research and bereaved family support. Contact FSID, Artillery House, 11-19 Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RT. Tel: [phone]

24- hour helpline 020 7233 2090.