Taxol is a chemotherapy drug that is used to treat several different cancers including breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. Some of the side effects of taxol include mouth sores, diarrhea and nerve damage. Vitamin C in an antioxidant that help...
Aloe is an African succulent that the alternative-health industry touts as a medicinal plant with multiple benefits. Its liquid extract, aloe latex, is taken by mouth as juice or by injection. The injections are prohibited in the United States....
The effects of cancer do not always end when treatment is over and remission is achieved. Sometimes treatment side effects can be long-lasting, both physically and emotionally. Depending on the kind of cancer treated and the treatments that were...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking is responsible for one in five deaths each year. You may already know that smoking causes health risks such as an increased chance of developing several types of cancer...
Digestive enzymes play an important role in your body's ability to convert food to energy. They are responsible for breaking down everything you eat and drink, removing toxins that could damage your body and converting foods to energy for your...
One determination of a tumor in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is whether it is malignant (cancer), and another is whether the tumor originated in the brain (primary) or invaded the brain from another site (secondary). Thus, a...
Yohimbe is an evergreen tree that grows on the African continent in the countries of Cameroon, Gabon and Zaire. Yohimbine is the chemical found in the bark of the yohimbe tree. People use the powdered form of the bark for medical conditions, such...
Most people know the dangers of smoking. It's a fact that people who smoke generally die younger than nonsmokers. The health risks associated with smoking are even touched upon in schoolchildren's health classes. But even with the power of all the...
Yohimbe, also known as Pausinystalia yohimbe, is the source of yohimbine, an active ingredient in many herbal supplements marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss, performance enhancement and stimulant effects, as well as a prescription drug,...
The thyroid, located at the front of your neck, is a small butterfly shaped gland that is part of the body's endocrine system. A swollen thyroid, or goiter, occurs when the gland swells to larger than normal. Large goiters, seen or felt at the...
Calcium D is actually a chemical compound known as calcium D-glucarate. More commonly referred to as simply glucarate, this phytochemical can be found naturally occurring in many fruits and vegetables, though you'll often see it as a dietary...
Prednisone is a steroid prescription medication that is used to decrease the body's immune response. This medication can be administered in pill, liquid and intravenous forms and is prescribed for several different problems. These include severe...
A swollen ankle is a common symptom of an ankle sprain--the twisting, stretching or tearing of the ligaments that surround and support the ankle joint. Ankle swelling that is the result of a sprain is graded according to its severity, explains the...
Arnica has been used to treat aches, pains and muscle discomfort since the 1500s. Even the German poet Goethe is reported to have soothed his chest pangs with a cup of arnica tea. Today, fresh or dried arnica flowers are used in a variety of...
Morinda citrifolia is cultivated throughout the Polynesian islands and marketed as noni. Noni is available in juice, capsules and powder. The substance is promoted as beneficial for immune system function and for disorders such as chronic fatigue...
The flowers and roots of the arnica plant are used in herbal medicine and homeopathy to treat inflammation, sprains, infections and bruises. The most common use of arnica is topical, application of gel to the area being treated, although some use...
If you are looking to improve your health, you may want to consider changing your diet. The foods that you eat impact the health of all parts of your body, especially your digestive tract and cardiovascular system. The macrobiotic diet, which is...
According to the American Cancer Society, the kidneys help remove wastes and excess salt and water from the body, as well as help ensure the body has enough red blood cells by producing a hormone called erythropoietin. Kidney cancer, also called...
Enthusiasts tout marine phytoplankton as the next important superfood. Online vendors of phytoplankton supplements describe it as containing every nutrient that human bodies need. Clinical trials do not support any alleged benefits of...
Many organizations and companies, including Estee Lauder, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Avon and even the Washington Redskins football team, have begun breast cancer awareness campaigns, but the original campaign was started in 1985. The campaign...
Cancer is considered to be metastatic if the cancer cells have spread from the part of the body where the cancer originated to a different part (or parts) of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, the common sites of metastasis for...
Turmeric, with its active ingredient curcumin, carries powerful antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. According to the American Cancer Society, turmeric has gained recognition in laboratories that study cancer. The spice shows...
Shark cartilage is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for cancer. This cartilage is taken from the head and fins of a shark and can be sold in pill form or as a powder. While some studies conducted on animals have demonstrated shark...
Black cohosh is a large flowering plant native to North America commonly used by Native Americans for its medicinal properties. Today it is available as a dietary supplement in the United States and other countries to help relieve symptoms of...
There are three main types of tea: green, black and oolong. Each tea is processed in a particular way to give it a distinct flavor. Green tea is produced from unfermented tea leaves. Because green tea is widely consumed around the world, second...
Uncaria tomentosa -- more commonly known as cat's claw -- is a type of vine found in the tropical regions of Central and South America. The root and bark of Uncaria tomentosa is purported to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and act as...
Esophageal cancer occurs when cancerous cells form in your esophagus -- the muscular tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Although it only accounts for about 1 percent of all cancer diagnoses in United States, according to the American...
Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables is a valuable factor in the fight against cancer. According to the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, people should eat at least five servings of...
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, aloe vera was used 6,000 years ago in Egypt, where it was called "the plant of immortality." Known as burn plant, aloe, elephant's gall and lily of the desert, the gel of...
