Dong quai has been used for centuries as a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), primarily as a treatment for menopause, menstrual disorders and heart disease. As of 2010, evidence of dong quai's efficacy is extremely limited, according...
The body mass index, or BMI, is a number that indicates the total amount of fat on your body relative to your height. A high BMI doesn't necessarily mean that you are unhealthy, but it can mean that you present a risk for certain health problems....
Estrogen, the main female sex hormone, helps your body in a number of ways. For example, it helps prevent cardiovascular disease, control menstrual cycle and promote bone health. However, high levels of estrogen in a women's body may cause breast...
Your body mass index, or BMI, is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. The range for a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. As your BMI increases above the healthy range, your risk of developing serious health problems increases. A BMI of...
Lupron is a trade name for the generic prescription medication leuprolide acetate. It is also sold as Lupron Depot. This drug is a synthetic hormone designed to mimic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Leuprolide is indicated for uterine fibroid...
Flax seed can be considered a superfood based on all of the healthy components contained in these tiny seeds and the beneficial effect they have on the body. Flax seed is high in nutrients such as vitamin E, manganese, folate, carotene, vitamin B1...
Watermelon can be found year-round, but the sweetest, juiciest watermelons grow in the heart of summer. These fruits come in a range of sizes and shapes, but all have a hard green rind, sometimes striped with white, surrounding a sweet crunchy...
According to the National Institutes of Health, Megace, generically known as megestrol, is a drug used to treat extreme weight loss and loss of appetite in patients suffering from diseases like AIDS and cancer. Megace is also used in the treatment...
One of the most challenging things about losing weight can be food restrictions. However, beat feelings of deprivation and lose weight more enjoyably if you concentrate on the healthful foods you can and should have in your diet. Fruit is...
While proteins are the main source for building your body's muscles, bones, skin and blood, you need only 15 to 20 percent of your daily diet from protein if you are moderately active, according to Mariam Nelson, author of "Strong Women Stay...
Dioscorea villosa, also known as Mexican wild yam, contains a phytoestrogen chemical called diosgenin that can be converted to the hormone progesterone. Wild yam cream is claimed to provide certain hormonal benefits, but no evidence supports this,...
Menopause is the time in a woman's life that marks the end of her fertility. It's a natural part of aging, but the hormonal changes accompanying this phase in life can usher in both emotional and physical distress. Not only do women experience hot...
Bioidentical progesterone cream and other hormones have become popular among women looking to treat symptoms of hormonal problems and to prevent certain diseases, but its safety and efficacy are still in doubt. "Plant-derived" doesn't always mean...
Tamoxifen, often sold as Nolvadex, affects the body's estrogenic system. It blocks estrogen binding in the breast and promotes binding elsewhere. Doctors prescribe tamoxifen to treat breast malignancies because cancer cells need estrogen to...
The ovaries, which are responsible for producing the eggs required for fertility, can develop genetic mutations that cause some of the cells to grow abnormally. Endometrioid carcinoma, despite its name, its not a type of endometrial cancer....
Most of the livestock in the United States are treated with synthetic hormones, and some consumers worry that the hormones provide excess estrogen in the American diet. However, this is a controversial subject with limited valid research on either...
Cancer and other illnesses can cause severe loss of appetite, which can lead to malnutrition at a time when the body needs nutrients and calories. One of the side effects of Megace is increased appetite, which has proven beneficial in patients...
Isoflavones and the foods that provide them may be important in the fight against cancer. Epidemiological studies suggest that the higher incidences of some cancers in the West may be a result of a lower intake of foods containing isoflavones and...
Magnesium is instrumental in maintaining normal muscle and nerve function. It promotes a normal heart rhythm and is essential for a healthy immune system. Magnesium may also help to regulate blood sugar, and it helps with energy metabolism and...
Atypical hyperplasia, the accumulation of abnormal cells in a breast duct or lobule, is a precursor to breast cancer, and women diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia are at high risk of developing breast cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic....
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two basic types of phytoestrogens. The first is known as isoflavones, which are plant-derived compounds that can act like estrogen in the body. The second is known as lignans, which are also plant-derived...
Endometrial cancer is cancer of the uterine lining, also called the endometrium. Endometrial cancer is typically responsive to hormones, and estrogen helps some endometrial cancers to grow, according to the National Cancer Institute. Hormonal...
The Provera and Premarin combination drug, called Prempro, is used to treat the symptoms of menopause. The active ingredients, conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone, work together to reduce hot flashes, vaginal dryness, vaginal burning and...
Healthy choices aren't always easy to make, but the benefits outweigh the challenges of your lifestyle change. A healthy diet paired with exercise creates a healthy base. Other factors that usually spawn from a healthy lifestyle include stress...
Estradiol is a form of estrogen, which is a natural hormone for many female sex processes in the body. Estradiol is used to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and vaginal irritation, according to Drugs.com. This medication may also be...
Hamartoma syndrome is a category of genetic disorders that results from a genetic mutation of the PTEN gene. This condition, also referred to as a PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), is a rare condition in which "hamartoma" describes benign...
The hormone replacement drug Premarin is used by women to control menopausal symptoms. While the drug is effective, there are some serious risks involved, including an increased risk of some cancers. A woman interested in using Premarin should...
Red clover, a wild plant, has been used medicinally to treat skin inflammations, respiratory problems and cancer, and to improve circulation. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) states that red clover was traditionally considered a...
While there is no one specific cause for many cancers, there are variables that increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Hormones are risk factors for several cancers, including prostate, breast and endometrial cancer. For some cancers,...
