The active ingredient in soap is what distinguishes one type from another. Antimicrobial, also called antibacterial, soaps are no exception, including active ingredients designed to kill germs as well as clean your skin. The U.S. Food and Drug...
The natural antimicrobial effects of different herbs are becoming more commonly investigated. The reasons for the mounting interest include the recent attention being paid to approaching disease from a natural and holistic perspective....
Commonly known as turmeric, Curcuma longa has many uses as foodstuff, a cosmetic and medicine. Throughout Asia, traditional medicine has long used turmeric as an anti-inflammatory to deal with a wide range of conditions, including respiratory...
Oregano, a plant in the mint family, is a perennial herb native to warm regions of Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean. Oregano essential oil has been used for a variety of purported health benefits, including antimicrobial effects. Some of the...
Spices and herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat medical disorders. According to "The Journal of Young Investigators," the phytochemicals found in certain spices and herbs attack microbes that cause illness. When these plants are...
Whether you're sick, worried about getting sick or have another type of infection, you may be able to use essential oils to help. Microbes cause everything from the common cold to skin infections. Aromatherapist Patricia Davis notes in her book,...
Candida is a grouping of over 150 species of yeast, although only 5 or so tend to cause harm in people. The most common species to overgrow in people and cause infections is Candida albicans. Candida infections can be localized to the mouth,...
Gum disease, including periodontitis and gingivitis, are microbial infections that cause inflammation, bleeding and pain. If you don't treat these diseases, you may lose teeth and surrounding bone, and mouth pathogens can infect other organs,...
The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance is a great public health concern. The role of inappropriate and excessive antibiotic use has been clearly demonstrated in the development of drug resistant bacteria. In contrast, studies...
Bad breath is fairly common but still causes embarrassment and distress among those who have it. Bad breath is caused by putrefaction, whether it is food between your teeth or proteins in your saliva being attacked by bacteria. It can also be...
The search for ways to preserve foods has taken on a new impetus in light of recent contamination of meat and vegetables with bacteria and fungi. At least five essential oils are of interest to the food industry as antibacterial treatments:...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) refers to a strain of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to a certain class of antibiotics known as beta-lactams. Penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems belong to this...
Antibiotics are drugs used to treat diseases caused by bacteria. Your immune system can usually overcome bacteria and keep you from getting sick. Sometimes, your immune system may need a little extra help. However, overuse of antibiotics causes...
Wearing the wrong jewelry or not following the correct aftercare can cause a labret stud, which some people call a lip ring, to become embedded. Actual rings cannot become embedded. The most common cause of embedding is a bar that is too short to...
Beyond providing essential nutrients such as energy, vitamins and minerals, many foods serve as natural antimicrobials. These foods destroy pathogenic bacteria, molds, fungi and viruses, keeping food safe to eat and safe to store for certain...
Blackheads are skin-colored, small papules (skin bumps) commonly found on the forehead and chin of individuals suffering from acne. They are caused by a small plug of sloughed-off skin cells and sebum (oil on your skin) inside the opening of a...
Mullein tea comes from the common mullein, verbascum thapsus, a member of the snapdragon family. Mullein has soft wooly leaves and produces one flowering stem that grows two to eight feet tall. The leaves are dried or used green to make tea....
Bacterial vaginosis is a condition by which the normal flora and fauna within a woman's vagina is disrupted and overgrown with harmful, foreign bacteria. It often causes vaginal pain, itching, burning, a grey discharge and an unpleasant odor....
Before the advent of microbial agents used in soaps, lotions and other consumer products, hand soap was nothing more than bar soap made with oil, water and lye. Today, antimicrobial soaps are ubiquitous in the marketplace and are designed for...
Propylparaben, is a propyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which itself is a derivative of benzoic acid. Although it occurs naturally, all commercial propylparabens are synthesized. Because of their relative non-toxicity and how rapidly they are...
Blackheads, or comedones are small, dark spots that are caused by a tiny plug of sebum and sloughed-off cells in the opening of a pore on your skin. Blackheads appear on the face more than any other part of your body. Treating blackheads involves...
Wearing contact lenses can be a hassle for new users. Although contact lenses are an excellent alternative to eyeglasses, they can irritate or seriously damage your eyes if not put in correctly. If you learn the safest way to insert and wear...
Using colloidal silver for acne is both a controversial topic and approach. This form of silver was used for many years previous to the invention of antibiotics to combat bacteria-related diseases. For acne, some of the purported benefits include...
Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis), also commonly known as orangeroot, is a perennial herb in the family Ranunculaceae, and it is indigenous to the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. Goldenseal is often used as a multipurpose herbal...
According to alternative medicine website Altmd.com, grapefruit seed extract can combat several conditions, including bad breath, gum disease, sore throat, dandruff, shingles, athletes foot, gastrointestinal infections, colds and flu and...
Group B streptococcus (GBS), also known as Streptococcus agalactiae, causes serious, life-threatening dysfunctions such as bloodsteam infections and meningitis in newborns. According to Clinical Infectious Diseases, this same organism causes a...
Oregano, a perennial herb in the mint family, is used as a culinary herb in a variety of cuisines, notably European. The Greeks believed that oregano made goat and sheep meat more tender if they grazed on the plant. Oil of oregano has been used...
Grapefruit seed extract, or GSE, is a liquid derived from the seeds, pulp and connective tissue of grapefruits. Its components are known to contain flavonoids, ascorbic acid, citrus acid and other compounds that have strong antioxidant and...
The ring most commonly worn in a nostril piercing is called a captive bead ring. A captive bead ring is C-shaped and holds an indented bead in place between its prongs. The bead is held in place by pressure. If your nostril piercing has had at...
Facial masks come in a variety of ways and are excellent for removing dead cells from the face and nourishing it. In this video learn how to do this procedure and if it's right for you.
