Transfusion is the process of giving whole blood or one of its components--plasma, red blood cells, platelets and cryoprecipitates--to a patient through an intravenous line. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, almost 5...
Blood transfusion risks range from mild to severe reactions. Some occur infrequently, while others are more common. Some occur within minutes, and others can take weeks to manifest. Risks depend, in part, on the blood product being transfused....
Pulmonary infections include pneumonia and bronchitis. These are often very serious and are best treated by conventional medicine. While there may be a role for alternative therapies, such as curcumin, in minimizing symptoms, you should always...
ARDS, or acute respiratory distress syndrome, is characterized by excess fluid in the lungs, which interferes with breathing. It is typically a secondary condition that occurs with another illness or trauma and may cause death. For people who...
Smoking is just one of the many uses for cloves, which come from the tropically grown evergreen clove tree. Cloves are the unopened flower buds picked from the trees and dried. People have used the clove since ancient times to treat or ward off...
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure in which donated blood is added to the patient's to supplement various components of the blood. Patients may receive red blood cells, plasma or platelets dependent on the condition being treated. Patients...
Platelets are a component of the blood that help prevent bruising or stop bleeding. If you do not have enough platelets in your blood, you may need to have a blood platelet transfusion. This treatment infuses your body with blood platelets that...
Inflammation is a sign that your body is trying to repair tissue damage or fight off invading pathogens. This is normal, but persistent inflammation can lead to chronic illness. Rheumatism, arthritis and eczema are examples of chronic inflammatory...
According to an article in the journal Phytotherapy Research, Peppermint oil has significant antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant and antitumor actions. Peppermint oil relaxes gastrointestinal tissue, has analgesic and anesthetic effects in the...
An ulcer is an open sore that develops in your internal organs or skin. Gastric ulcers affect your stomach, while peptic ulcers may affect your stomach, the beginning of your small intestine or, less commonly, your esophagus. Ulcers are often...
Ulcers, commonly called peptic ulcers, are sores that occur along your digestive tract from your esophagus to small intestine. Helicobacter pylori, a pathological bacterium, and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, are the...
Decubitus ulcers, more commonly referred to as pressure ulcers or bedsores, commonly affect individuals with limited movement, such as the bedridden or those confined to a wheelchair. Treating and preventing these ulcers requires a multi-pronged...
A transfusion supplies whole blood or one of its components through an intravenous line to an ill or injured patient. In most cases, transfusing one unit of blood---about one pint---takes about four hours. Life-threatening hemorrhage from...
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest medical systems and originated in India. It is considered by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to be an alternative medicinal treatment plan and utilizes herbs, massage and...
The Mayo Clinic reports that common symptoms of alcoholism are both mental and physical. These symptoms include: inability to limit the amount of alcohol consumed, craving a drink, having a high tolerance to alcohol's effects, and experiencing...
Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is by chemical definition classified among the substances known as phospholipids. Phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylcholine, the precursor of lysophosphatidylcholine, in general, are part of the structure of...